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April 5,
2007
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For
Immediate Release
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Arlington
Hts., IL
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California Tomatoes Takes Class 300 Honors at Mojave 250
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After a
solid second place finish at the Baja 250,Chris Raffo took
the California Tomatoes, Hot Creek Capital, Fig Partners, D
&L Performance, Phil’s Inc., and BFGoodrich Tires Chevrolet
K5 Blazer to Barstow, CA to complete in MDR Mojave 250.
Chris entered the “Raffonator” in MDR’s Class 300, which is
very similar to SCORE’s Class 3.
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The event
consisted of 4 laps around the 40-mile course just outside
of Barstow. Chris Raffo would drive the first three laps
with Jeff Dolan bringing the California Tomatoes Blazer
around on the final lap. Pete Raffo, Chris’
seventeen-year-old son, would ride shotgun for the entire
four laps.
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The first
lap saw the team with a 5 minute lead over second place #316
Chad Ulwelling. During the lap, the truck began to struggle
with its fuel pressure. This problem caused the truck to
stall repeatedly. Eventually Chris was a
 ble
to keep the truck running, but couldn’t run faster than
35mph.
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On lap 2,
after stalling out, the starter finally gave up. Quickly
Chris and Dennis went to work installing the spare starter
the truck carries onboard. Unfortunately, the spare starter
was not an exact replacement as the original, and the team
lost about an hour while under the truck.
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On the
final lap, Jeff Dolan took over the driving chores; the team
was hoping to make up enough time to come home in second
place. The last lap became a survival of the fittest as
three of the four Class 300 trucks were still running.
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Then, in
amazement, Jeff radioed to the crew that he had just passed
the leader at mile marker 31. At the checkered flag, the
team took home the top spot. As Jeff crossed the finish
line, the team celebrated the truck’s first class win in
desert competition.
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“We knew
we had a fuel problem almost from the start, but we
persevered. The starter finally gave up after two years and
probably 2500 miles of competition. Heck, we probably had to
restart the truck close to hundred times, due to the fuel
problems between today and our last race in Mexico. Our guys
never gave up and kept Jeff and I headed for the finish.” –
comments from team owner and driver Chris Raffo.
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After
looking back on his 34 years of off-road competition, Chris
has won heat races and exhibitions, but this was his first
official win. His storied off-road racing career has seen
Chris compete in a stock Toyota Landcruiser, a Chenowth
buggy, and his current Chevrolet Blazer. The events have
varied from 15-minute heat races at the World Championships
in Crandon to the Baja 2000.
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The
Raffonator will go back to Complete Fabrication in El Cajon
CA for preparations for the Baja 500. Since Complete
Fabrication has taken over the race prep for Raffo Racing,
the team has finished all four races, recording three second
place finishes at SCORE events, and a win at the MDR event.
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The next
race on the schedule for Raffo Racing is the Tecate SCORE
Baja 500, June 1-3. Before then Chris ensures the team that
the entire fuel delivery system will be replaced before they
head to Ensenada.
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Chris
Raffo would like to thank his supporters including:
California Tomato Commission,
FIG Partners,
Hot Creek Capital,
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D & L
Performance,
Bilstein Shocks,
BFGoodrich Tires,
Powermaster,
Phil’s Inc.,
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Rich’s
Signs &
Sunoco Race Fuels.
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Raffo Racing has marketing opportunities available for the
2007 Desert Racing season.
For more information or to schedule an interview, contact:
Mike Reusche (847) 869-2434 –
mike@mt-graphics.com
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-Mike
Reusche, marketing - MTG
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