FOX RACING SHOX
NEWS & EVENTS
ROB MACCACHREN TRIUMPHS AT THE 2009 TRAXXAS TORC SERIES
Rounds 7-8, Bark River, Michigan July 11-12, 20091. Ricky Johnson 160 2. Rob MacCachren 159 3. Todd LeDuc 150
Bark River, Michigan - Rockstar Energy Racing’s ROCKSTAR, Rob MacCachren, demonstrated shear brilliance over the weekend as he raced his #11 FORD PRO2WD to the podium, both Saturday and Sunday, in front of thousands of Midwest off road racing fans.
Bark River Raceway welcomed the 2009 Traxxas TORC Truck Series to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with gorgeous 70 degree weather as a weekend total of 12,000 fans stacked into the amphitheatre style fan zone to watch the nation’s top off road racers battle for the top spot.
Bark River Raceway is located ten miles Southwest of Escanaba, Michigan, on U.S. Route 41. The original off-road track was 5 miles, racers were expected to complete 20 laps for a total of 100 miles, and thus the U.P. Off Road 100 was born. Over the years, the course continued to be shortened and reconfigured into the modern day track (1.5 miles.) Bark River Raceway is said to be one of the most challenging courses on the TORC Series schedule, where drivers speed over 100 miles per hour.
In his first return to the Bark River Raceway since 2001, MacCachren spent a good deal of time on the track evaluating the recent changes along with the ever-changing conditions of the dirt. The Las Vegas, Nevada based off road racing veteran wasted no time working hard with his crew chief in setting up the ROCKSTAR Energy Racing Pro2WD for race conditions. After the Friday evening practice, “The Doctor,” and his crew spent the rest of the night fine-tuning the FORD F150 for the final 4-lap practice before racing action kicked off.
MacCachren established the fastest practice lap time early Saturday morning, with a time of 1:23:567 besting all other Pro 2WD racers easily.
Rob MacCachren transitioned his same speeds into Round 7 that kicked off late in the afternoon. MacCachren started from the second row behind Jeremy McGrath and Dan Vandenhuevel in the front row. With the race underway, MacCachren put his #11 FORD race truck on rails and took the outside line, with Vandenhuevel and McGrath battling for the inside position.
MacCachren ran in third position, awaiting the outcome between the two leaders and in fact, McGrath suffered a problem and pulled off the track. MacCachren raced hard from the second position until the final lap of the race when he was able to get past the #77 driven by Dan Vandenhuevel. Amid the cheers of thousands of fans, MacCachren carved a clean line through turn 7 enroute to the checkered flag. However, between turns 7 and 8, the #11 ROCKSTAR FORD F150 was hit by Dan Vandenhuevel that caused the #11 Pro2WD to spin out, allowing Vandenhuevel to claim his first victory of the season while MacCachren finished second.
“No one wants to finish second after a great race like we had today. I’m disappointed with the results and being spun out near the end of the race, but we’ll head into Sunday’s Round 8 with a goal to win the race and continue our charge for the season championship. All of my crew performed like a well-oiled machine and I feel that we’re becoming a cohesive unit as the season continues on. We’ve not yet peaked and the #11 ROCKSTAR Ford F150 is getting better each and every race,” said MacCachren.
The Rockstar Energy Race team arrived to the Bark River Raceway Sunday at 7:00 a.m. as another beautiful day along the shores of Lake Michigan kicked into high gear. Team Owner/Driver, Rob MacCachren climbed into the Mastercraft 3G race seat for an early practice Sunday morning.
MacCachren was well rested and all business as he put the #11 FORD race truck through the paces in a short 4-lap practice.
“I’m feeling good about the truck’s performance and the suspension set up. We’ve established some good lines for today’s race and I am hoping to have as good or better run than we did on Saturday,” commented the off road racing champion.
Amid a large crowd of off road racing fans, MacCachren started Sunday’s TORC Round 8 from the third row. The 15-truck field all charged into the first turn after the two abreast side-by-side starting grid. Dust flew 25 feet in the air as the first turn was filled with chaos and fiberglass exploded all over the place. Out of the dust cloud and amid the carnage came the #11 ROCKSTAR Energy Racing FORD F150, sliding through the right hand turn on the outside. MacCachren avoided the pile up between turns and narrowly threaded his way through the field finding himself in the 4th position overall after the start.
It was a good place for the short-course racing champion as he settled into a groove and began setting his sights on the front of the field. Jeremy McGrath and Dan Vandenhuevel diced it up and it wasn’t long before Vandenhuevel was parked on the side of the racetrack out of the race. At the mandatory midway competition yellow flag, MacCachren was in prime position to make his move to the front of the pack. As the green flag dropped, Rob Mac, jumped to the second position challenging Jeremy McGrath for the top spot several times. The 6,000 plus fans were standing on their feet cheering for the two off road racing superstars as they race hard side-by-side and bumper-to-bumper over the 1.5-mile off road race track.
MacCachren nosed his #11 Pro2WD truck inside McGrath several times, attempting to make the pass and gain the lead, but each time, the tough racing McGrath held off the Las Vegas-based Pro 2 racer.
In the final lap, MacCachren had a the solid run out of turn 4, a left hand turn that transitions into a slight turn five and the massive 160 foot TRAXXAS jump. MacCachren railed his Pro2WD out of the corner and passed McGrath on the outside and flew big over the TRAXXAS jump. Rob MacCachren charged towards the checkered flag in the final few turns claiming his second victory of the season.
MacCachren grinned, “It was a good race. The battle with Jeremy was great fun and this win is just another piece of the puzzle of the ROCKSTAR Energy Drink Racing 2009 season. Once again, my entire crew meticulously prepped the race truck. Our team has great long-term marketing partners and every victory is a special win for our sponsors as well. BFGoodrich Tires has been working on their continued tire development and FOX Racing Shox continues to provide us with incredible suspension products. Patton Racing Engines combined with our Rancho Drivetrain provided the go power to put us in the winner’s circle again. I wouldn’t race in anything but a 3G Mastercraft Race Seat and the crew spends countless hours working on the race truck with Makita power tools. ROCKSTAR Energy Drink is a great race team partner. Our entire team is powered by ROCKSTAR and we don’t go anywhere without it. The team goal is to win the season championship and we’ve got 6 races to go. We are on track to be there in the end and it’s in reach as long as we keep performing as we have so far this season. Wins like this one are important.”
Rob MacCachren drove his #11 ROCKSTAR Pro2WD race truck to another OAKLEY Bomb Award, which ties him with Ricky Johnson at 3 total OAKLEY Bomb Awards so far this season.
After 8 rounds of the 2009 TORC Series, Rob MacCachren is positioned in second place in the overall championship point’s race. MacCachren has a total of 159 points, a single point behind leader, Ricky Johnson at 160 points.
Rockstar Energy Drink Racing returns to racing action in the 2009 TORC Series on August 8-9 for Rounds 9 & 10 in Bark River, Michigan, the same race course that this weekend’s race was held at. Three weeks later, the team heads to Crandon International Raceway for the 40th Anniversary of the famed track where short course racing began in the Midwest 40 years ago.
The 2009 TRAXXAS TORC Series Rounds 7 & 8 will be broadcasted on ESPN2 on Sunday, July 19, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. Check your local listings for broadcast times near you and visit www.torcseries.com for additional information.
About Rockstar: Bigger. “ROCKSTAR is the world's most powerful energy drink. Enhanced with the potent herbal blend of Guarana, Ginkgo, Ginseng and Milk Thistle, ROCKSTAR is formulated to provide an incredible energy boost for those who lead active and exhausting lifestyles - from athletes to rock stars.
ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK is available in eleven amazing flavors: Original, Sugar Free, Zero Carb, Juiced Mango Orange Passion Fruit, Juiced Guava, Juiced Pomegranate, Tropical Punched, Punched Citrus, Roasted Mocha, Roasted Latte, and Roasted Light Vanilla. ROCKSTAR ENERGY SHOTS are available in Wild Berry and Tropical Punch flavors.
ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK is available at convenience and grocery retail outlets across the United States, Canada, Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Finland, Spain, The Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, and throughout the United Kingdom.”
2009 Rockstar Energy Racing Sponsors: Rockstar Energy Drink, BFGoodrich Tires, FOX RACING SHOX, Mastercraft Race Seats, Pro AM, Rancho Drivetrain Engineering, Patton Racing Engines, MAKITA Industrial Power Tools, KC HiLites, DIRTnewz and Racin’ Dirty.
Rob MacCachren Racing: For 28 years, Rob MacCachren has been racing in the open desert. As a second-generation desert racer, Rob began his career following in the footsteps of his father while growing up in the Nevada desert. His career accomplishments include winning three consecutive Borg-Warner Championships, as well as three Governor’s Cup Championships, all at Crandon International Raceway in Wisconsin. Rob has also accumulated 5 SCORE Baja 1000 victories and another 5 SCORE Baja 500 wins. MacCachren was heralded as the premier driver after winning the longest distance (1296 miles point-to-point) SCORE Baja 1000 ever held in 2007. The multi-disciplined championship racer has accumulated over 150 victories and numerous championships between closed short course and open desert racing.
Rob MacCachren Media and Management:
ROMM, Inc.
Tim Sanchez
714-514-7450
tim@rockonmotorsports.com
PHOTOS
ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK RACING 'The DOCTOR' MacCachren at TORC Bark River, Michigan.
Rob MacCachren enroute to his Sunday Pro2WD victory.
Rob MacCachren flying high in the ROCKSTAR ENERGY RACING Pro 2WD.
Rob MacCachren WINS the Race and the OAKLEY Bomb Award.
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