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World Series of Off-Road Racing
NEWS
For Immediate Release, June 25, 2007
Lucas Oil Nissan Titan PRO 4x4 a WSORR Winner in Cup Race Debut
at Crandon
Renezeder Takes Spectacular Win
CRANDON, Wisc. -- Off-road racer Carl Renezeder made the debut of
his Lucas Oil Nissan Titan PRO 4x4 race truck a championship one by
winning the 14th running of the Potawatomi Chairman’s Cup Challenge
race at Crandon International Off-Road Raceway Sunday afternoon.
It was Renezeder’s second Chairman’s Cup win. But none of his
victories has been more spectacular than taking the checkers under
Crandon’s Skyjacker Finish Line in the 2007 version of the longest
running Cup race in the nation.
The race was the marquee event at the Forest County Potawatomi Brush
Run race weekend including Rounds III and IV of the Lucas Oil World
Series of Off-Road Racing (WSORR).
In an off-road race for the ages, “Crandon Carl” Renezeder picked
off 15 of the 17 race machines in the starting field to take the win
by passing PRO 2WD racer Michael Oberg (Eagle River, Wisc.) on the
final lap. The 10 lap romp over Crandon’s fast but punishing 1.5
mile track earned Renezeder $20,000 in first place prize money. He
also won a Miller Electric Welders plasma cutter ($1,400)– a
traditional prize to Cup race winners in Crandon’s Victory Circle --
and a $1,000 contingency bonus from BF Goodrich tires. Renezeder
accepted the Chairman's Cup and the prize winnings in Victory Circle
from Al Milham, vice chairman, Forest County Potawatomi Community.
“We debuted this truck for the first time at the Lucas Oil World
Series of Off-Road Racing event at Crandon this weekend,” exclaimed
Renezeder (Newport Beach, Calif.). “I raced it in two class races
before entering the Cup race and here we are in Victory Circle. It
took me a couple of races to adapt to the new 6-speed manual
gearbox. It’s a great feeling to deliver in this huge race in a new
race truck for my team, Lucas Oil, Nissan, BF Goodrich, SoBe and my
Crandon fans,” he said.
The Crandon challenge race format pits PRO 4x4 trucks against PRO
2WD trucks. The PRO 2WD trucks receive a handicap start. Ten trucks
were lined up for a LeMans style start on Crandon’s main
straight-away in front of the spectators. The balance of the field –
PRO 4x4 trucks – lined up on the traditional land rush starting
line.
At the green flag, Kevin Probst (New Lenox, Ill.), in his Simply Wow
Toyo Tires Chevrolet jumped to an early lead from the pack of PRO
2WD trucks. Probst lost an engine belt relinquishing the race lead
to Oberg’s Amsoil Kumho Chevy.
As the group of seven PRO 4x4 machines roared around Crandon’s
famous Potawatomi Turn One in pursuit of the PRO 2WD trucks, the
Amsoil Kumho Ford of Scott Douglas (El Cajon, Calif.) led the way,
quickly followed by Johnny Greaves (Abrams, Wisc.) and Kent Brascho
(Pell City, Ala.).
As the race sorted itself out, Oberg continue to lead with
stablemate Douglas in second place. Renezeder was far off the pace
in next to last position. But a flat tire slowed Douglas, while
defending champion Greaves in his Monster Forest County Potawatomi
BF Goodrich Toyota was sidelined with a suspension failure.
Over the course of the next six laps, Renezeder picked off truck
after truck, gaining steadily on Oberg’s 2WD machine. Both trucks
were literally flying around the truck with Renezeder in hot
pursuit. Renezeder clocked the fastest lap of the race on the eighth
lap. Oberg drove brilliantly in an attempt to hold off the 4x4 of
Renezeder but succumbed on the last lap, giving Renezeder the win.
“Carl once again earned his nickname,” said Cliff Flannery,
president, Crandon Raceway, referring to the “Crandon Carl” moniker.
“I’ve watched 14 of these events and this was the most exciting we
have ever witnessed at the track. We are pleased so many spectators
and sponsors joined us to see this brilliant display of off-road
driving. Congratulations to Carl and Lucas Oil and all his sponsors
on this huge win at our World Championship track,” he said.
Oberg won $11,000 for his efforts including prize money for first
PRO 2WD and 2nd place. With a Saturday class win and contingency,
Oberg left Crandon with more than $16,000. Brascho claimed $2,000
for the last podium spot. Dan Vanden Heuvel (Appleton, Wisc.) won
fourth place and runner-up 2WD money clearing $2,500.
The race also includes Super Truck 2WD racers and Ben Wandahsega
(Bark River, Mich.) won $2,000 finishing 6th overall and first in
the class in his Forest County Potawatomi Toyo Tires Chevy. Race
rookie Dave Waldvogel (Fond du Lac, Wisc.) finished 8th earning
$1,000 in his Bendix Toyo Tires Chevy. Complete results are
available at WSORR.com and mylaps.com.
Under bright sunshine and hot weather, the largest Crandon June race
two-day crowd since 1994 – 15,065 spectators -- witnessed the romp
by Renezeder and the 2007 Forest County Potawatomi Brush Run Races
over the weekend. WSORR will feature the entire race on SPEED TV
later this coming Fall.
Crandon International Off-Road Raceway conducts the annual
BorgWarner World Championship Off-Road Races® this coming Labor Day
weekend, August 31-September 2. Known as the “Big House of Off-Road
Racing”, the Crandon track will feature three days of World
Championship off-road racing, including the 13th annual race for the
$125,000 BorgWarner Cup – the BorgWarner Shootout.
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