Bark River, MI (July 11, 2009): Traxxas, title sponsor of THE Traxxas Off-Road Championship descended upon the famous Bark River Raceway to bring off-road racing fans the excitement and fun of The Fastest Name In Radio Control^®. Deploying a virtual flotilla of interactive family fun, Traxxas entertained the crowd of more than 12,000 with high-performance R/C trucks and some of the best battles the TORC series has seen yet as Traxxas’ top drivers stormed the podium in the Pro Light and Pro 4X4 classes.

Traxxas pride was on display and literally larger than life as an immense Traxxas Slash racing truck, over 30 feet long from bumper to bumper, and a nearly three-story-tall transmitter let fans know that Traxxas was in town and ready for racing action. The giant inflatables were just the beginning of the weekend’s fun.

Since Traxxas is The Fastest Name In Radio Control, R/C racing was the centerpiece of the Bark River scene as local racers entered the TORC R/C Challenge for two nights of high-energy R/C racing under the lights on a specially constructed race course patterned after the full-size Bark River layout. Three classes gave racers plenty of opportunity to test their skill. Slash Spec put competitors against one another with basically stock vehicles, all but guaranteeing close and exciting racing as the high-performance trucks were perfectly matched. Pure driving skill was left to determine the best driver on the stand. Slash Open allowed racers to modify their vehicles with as much power as traction would allow. The class was a showcase for the most precise and controlled racers to demonstrate their prowess. The Slayer class was the “feature event,” as the wail of high-revving two-stroke engines filled the night sky and racers unleashed their 50+mph Traxxas machines in a 50-lap stampede to the finish line.  

With all the racing action on the track, it was only natural for the many spectators to want their own turn at the wheel of a high-performance Traxxas radio-control racing truck. Everyone had the opportunity to do just that at the Traxxas Try-Me Track, which put a transmitter in the hands of anyone who wanted to drive the best-selling Traxxas Slash 2WD short-course racing truck. The trucks were set for Training Mode™, an exclusive Traxxas feature that allows even total beginners to enjoy high-performance R/C models like the Slash. 

 Drivers entered for a weekend of exciting R/C racing and the chance to earn an official TORC R/C Challenge plaque to commemorate their spot on the podium, but that wasn’t the only way to win. All the R/C racers were also automatically entered in a drawing to win a ride in the Traxxas TORC pace truck! This would not be a leisurely cruise down pit lane; the TORC pace truck is nothing less than a fully outfitted Pro 2WD racing truck equipped with a passenger seat, and is as capable on the track as any of the racing machines it leads out before the green flag drops. Fully decked out in fire suit and helmet for three race-pace laps on the Bark River racecourse, ride winner James Ivey strapped into the thundering machine for the experience of a lifetime with Luke Johnson, son of Pro 2WD points leader Ricky Johnson, behind the wheel. “That was awesome!” exclaimed James as he pulled himself out of the roll cage. “I definitely want to do that again!”  

After watching experienced racers show their stuff and perhaps taking a turn at the wheel themselves, many TORC fans flocked to the Traxxas Mobile Support Center to learn more about radio control. The Support Center was on hand helping out with service and technical advice from Traxxas' expert tech team. With free DVDs, catalogs, Traxxas apparel, and lots of other Traxxas gear, the Mobile Support Center became the RC hangout for the weekend. 

Spectators had full access to the TORC pits, where Traxxas’ Mike Jenkins and brother Mark Jenkins prepared for the on-track action as the crew prepped their 900+horsepower Pro 4X4 and Pro 2WD racing trucks. Always available to fans, the Jenkins brothers signed posters and greeted spectators, who enjoyed the opportunity to experience the behind-the-scenes excitement as the Traxxas team prepped for racing at Bark River. 

 As the races drew near, fans filled the stands and the drivers strapped into their trucks to challenge each other for a spot on the Traxxas TORC series podium.

Jeff Kincaid: Pro Light

 Technical troubles ended Traxxas racer Jeff Kincaid’s Round 7 run after 8 laps, but not before Jeff threw down the fastest lap of the race in his Traxxas Toyota Tacoma, earning himself an Oakley Bomb Run award and whetting the crowd’s appetite for Round 8 action. Jeff didn’t disappoint; after an incident on the first lap of the race pushed him back in the field, Jeff took advantage of the mandatory mid-race yellow to slingshot into third place. With victory in sight, Kincaid unleashed the skills that have earned him six Pro Light championships and quickly chased down Casey Currie, passing him on the inside of the Back 40 loop just two laps after the restart. Now in second, Jeff raced to close the gap on leader Mart Hart, but the battle would not be hard fought as Hart’s engine failed, allowing Jeff to easily pass for the lead. Proving he was indeed the fastest driver in the weekend’s Pro Light competition, Jeff earned another Oakley Bomb Run award for carving the fastest lap of the race on his way to the top step of the podium. Jeff and his Traxxas Toyota Tacoma are now sitting number one in points in Pro Light. 

Rick Huseman: Pro 4X4

After a disappointing DNF on Saturday that saw Rick Huseman’s Monster Energy/Traxxas Pro 4X4 exit the track on the first lap, the Bark River crowd was anxious to see the Pro 4X4 points leader show what he could do in the weekend’s final battle. Starting from third, Rick quickly found himself pushed back to seventh as Kyle Leduc bobbled in turn three on the first lap, forcing Rick to find a way around him. On a mission, Rick poured on the power to overtake Traxxas teammate Mike Jenkins and move into fifth in the next lap, then farther up field to fourth as Steve Barlow spun out and allowed both Huseman and Jenkins to move up. Now within striking distance of the podium as the mandatory yellow bunched the field, Rick steeled himself for the restart. Unleashed, Rick drove furiously in a two-way battle with Curt LeDuc ahead of him and Kyle LeDuc behind, even going off the track twice as he flung his Monster/Traxxas truck through the turns. With a huge blast of dust and dirt in his wake, Rick made a wild, crossed-up pass to momentarily overtake both LeDucs before dropping back between them. The intensity of Rick’s effort was apparent as he launched off the track’s signature big-air jump with enough hang-time to land his truck near vertical at the 200 foot mark, on the very edge of control. With a burst of power and a good patch of  traction, Rick finally shot past Curt LeDuc and into third. With clear track ahead, Rick set to work on second-place driver Scott Douglas. Rick steadily narrowed the gap, getting right on Scott’s bumper in the final lap, but Rick ran out of race before he could make the move into second place. Though lower on the podium than he had become accustomed to after five wins, Rick certainly gave a winning performance—and kept himself securely on top of the Pro 4X4 points standings.  

Mike Jenkins, Pro 4X4

In what seemed to be a pattern for Traxxas racers during Rounds 7 and 8, Mike Jenkins also had to sit out Saturday’s action due to mechanical problems, and pulled his number 47 Pro 4X4 truck off the course during the first lap. Back on the track in Round 8, both driver and truck looked dialed as Mike skillfully piloted the #47 from eighth to fifth in the first 2 laps, briefly dueling with Pro 4X4 points leader Rick Huseman. Mike maintained his fifth place position and was steadily gaining on the lead pack. A testament to Mike’s intense speed, #47 flew to the 200-foot mark over Bark River’s spectacular big-air jump on lap 4. Unfortunately, a hard landing on the right front wheel broke a heim joint on the suspension and ended Round 8 early for Mike. After the race, Mike said, “Breakage is always disappointing, but I was pleased with the speed of the truck and the pace I was maintaining just before that last jump that tore the suspension apart.”