CRANDON, Wisc. – Kent Brascho of Pell City, Alabama etched his name in off-road racing's history books by dominating a field of two and four-wheel drive heavy metal truck competitors and grabbing the 15th annual Forest County Potawatomi Chairman's Cup Challenge race and the lion's share of a $50,000 posted purse for the 10 lap shootout-style race at historic Crandon Raceway. His win capped a weekend of Lucas Oil World Series of Off-Road Racing action that also saw Brascho move to the top of the PRO 4x4 class points race with a pair of podium finishes.
Ironically, Brascho's big win in the prestigious FCP Chairman's Cup race came in a truck once owned by off-road legend Walker Evans who was never able to accomplish the feat. Brascho's Lucas Oil Goodyear Chevrolet put on a powerful performance and he carefully picked off his competitors one-by-one on a muddy track doused with heavy rain showers and then steadily drove away for the win. Brascho joked after the race that his Southern mud racing background was a huge asset in pulling off the career-making victory. Brascho won $20,000 and a Miller Electric Welder, along with the coveted Cup.
Due to the conditions, ten two-wheel drive trucks were given a special extended head start of about a half-a-lap at venerable Crandon Raceway and when the green flag dropped, the mud started flying and the four-wheel drive pursuers started tracking them down. Mike Oberg in his Amsoil Kumho Chevy and Scott Taylor in the Skyjacker BFG Ford were the fastest of the PRO 2WD racers and it took Brascho nearly three laps to get them in his sights. Johnny Greaves, a two-time Chairman's Cup champion, was also in hot pursuit but his Potawatomi Monster BFG Toyota was spun around on the slippery track when he encountered slower traffic and he was never able to catch the speedy Brascho and settled for second. Jerry Daugherty in the Racin' Dirty JD Construction Mastercraft Goodyear Chevy powered his way to third. Oberg finished fourth overall just ahead of Taylor and took home the big check for the fastest PRO 2WD truck. Ben Wandahsega in his Potawatomi Toyo Chevy finished seventh overall and took top honors as the fastest SRT Super Stock Truck in the field.
Forest County Potawatomi Community Chairman Phil Shopodock congratulated all of the top finishers in victory circle and presented the 15th edition of the Chairman's Cup trophy for the longest running race of its kind in the nation to a happy Brascho and his Lucas Oil and Goodyear sponsors. The top finishers by class were also presented Traxxas® Slash™ radio controlled short course race trucks.
Earlier in the day, Jeff Kincaid of Argonne, Wisc., was in the spotlight as he won his fourth consecutive round of WSORR racing in the PRO Light Pickup feature driving his Traxxas Potawatomi BFG Toyota to victory circle ahead of Mark Oberg in a Goodyear Ford and Randy Eller in the Maxxis Ford. Coincidentally, that is the order of the class points battle although Kincaid enjoys a sizable points lead over his competition.
Things are much tighter in the PRO 2WD class battle, as Kevin Probst, in the E3 Spark Plugs Toyo Chevy and Dan Vanden Heuvel in the Maxxis Chevy are deadlocked at the top with the WSORR season now a third of the way complete. Probst and Vanden Huevel both made it to the podium in Round IV action in that order behind the winning effort of Scott Taylor, of Belvidere, Ill.
In the PRO 4x4 race that took place before the rain showers rolled in, Johnny Greaves of Abrams, Wisc., made it two wins in a row with new points leader Brascho in second place for the third time in four races and Mike Jenkins in the Traxxas Slash™ BFG Ford completing the podium. It was a very successful Crandon Raceway debut for newcomer Jenkins from Fairview, Tex., as he finished third in both Rounds III and IV.
The PRO Super Buggy class wasn't so lucky as that race took place just as the heavy downpour commenced forcing the big crowd to run for cover and leaving the buggies to battle on a drenched track. Points leader Tim Lemon, Harrison Twp., Mich., on Goodyear's was the Round IV winner cementing his lead in the points battle. Rival John Mason in his Mendeola Goodyear Honda was second in the race and in the points and Ryan Mulder on Nokian Tires rounded out the muddy podium.
In the WSORR SRT Super Stock Truck class, Keith Steele of Madison, Wisc., in the Monster Energy Goodyear Chevy won his second race in a row and now moves atop the class points battle. Ross Hoek in the Skyjacker Goodyear Chevy repeated with a second place effort with Ben Wandahsega third.
Stock Class points leader Craig Metz of Rhinelander, Wisc., in the Able Distribution BFG Ford was the Round IV winner in a tight battle with defending class champion Scott Beauchamp in a Goodyear Chevy and Al Konitzer in a Goodyear Dodge joining them on the podium. Tim Moeller was the Formula 4x4 Round IV winner in a Goodyear Ford with Jim Ridderbush in a BFG Chevy second and defending class champion and points leader Dave DeMaegd third in his Goodyear Jeep.
1600 Buggy racer Mark Steinhardt of Rhinelander, Wisc., is starting to distance himself from the rest of the class with his third consecutive win in his BFG buggy. Terry Fitzgerald on Goodyears was second followed by Mike Seefeldt on BFGs in third which also reflects the current class point standings. It's now two in a row and the class points lead for Matt Gerald of Neenah, Wisc., in his 1600 Light Buggy Potawatomi Goodyear machine. Chad Dewall was second and Greg Stingle on Goodyears third in the Round IV battle. In the Grassroots division, Ben Wierzba won the Enduro Truck race and Rob Weiland was the Classix winner.
WSORR Tour 2008 Round V & VI action moves to Bark River International Raceway July 12-13 for the Island Resort and Casino Boss Snowplow Off-Road Challenge. For more information visit www.wsorr.com.