Johnny, Jeremy and CJ All Hit the Podium in TORC Series Opening Action in Crandon, WI
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010
Crandon, WI (June 22, 2010)–Johnny Greaves and Jeremy McGrath and the entire Monster Energy/ Toyota/ MasterCraft Safety/ BFG team of Greaves Motorsports headed back to Crandon, Wisconsin, all stoked and ready to kick-off of the 2010 Traxxas TORC Series presented by AMSOIL season. A great Father’s Day weekend crowd showed up at the fabled track to see the best of the best take on the 1.5 mile track at the “Big House.”
With a new season and a new feeling like they had their respective trucks dialed-in, Greaves and McGrath were ready to get the Pro class opener underway with sponsors onboard Monster Energy, Toyota, BFG Oakley, Fox Shox, Boatec, Method Wheels, VP Racing Fuels and new comers MasterCraft Safety and Liquid Force.
Also, making his Crandon debut, 15 year old CJ Greaves—this time, instead of riding his bike and hanging out with his friends, behind the wheel as a professional race car driver.
On Saturday’s opening round or racing, Johnny would complete the epic Father/Son victory sweep by winning the Pro 4X4 and CJ Greaves winning the Super Buggy class earlier in the day. Johnny started on the pole with Monster Energy/ Toyota/ BFG teammate Rick Huseman along side. Johnny took the hole-shot and checked-out, leaving the rest of the field to battle for the other podium spots. When the green flag flew following the competition caution, Johnny slammed the door on a hard charging Rick Huseman. Both Greaves and Huseman pulled away from the rest of the field with Johnny holding off several attempts by Huseman to get around him. Johnny fought off one more attempt by Huseman in the final turn (Calamity Corner) to take the first win of the season with Huseman a close second.
Seven-time AMA Supercross Champion, Jeremy McGrath took on the Pro 2WD class which featured 9 competitors including several drivers moving up from the Pro Light class such as local guys Jeff Kincaid and Chad Hord. Jeremy qualified third on the starting grid and ended up taking the 3rd podium spot for Monster Energy/ Toyota/ MasterCraft/ BFG.
Earlier in the day, Johnny’s son, Colton “CJ” Greaves, made his first race at Crandon in the Super Buggy class. Even though CJ has grown up going to Crandon, this was his first time to compete as a racer. And compete he did, sweeping the entire weekend and walking away with first place in the points and a 23 point lead over veteran Scott Schwalbe for Traxxas, Monster Energy, Toyota, and BFGoodrich.
“Racing Crandon was very exciting-something I’ve dreamed about all my life,” said the teen Greaves. “I was a little nervous about turn one but after getting the hole shot, I just tried to keep smooth lines and not make any mistakes.”
Sunday’s Pro 4X4 action was a little tougher for the Greaves team. Johnny got off to a good start, winding up in the 3rd spot behind Scott Douglas and Steve Barlow. At the restart, following the competition caution, Douglas missed a gear causing him to be rear-ended by Steve Barlow. As the racers bunched up and Barlow swung wide to get around Douglas, he slammed into Johnny, who was also taking the outside line around Douglas, pushing him into the wall breaking the sway bar.
Johnny continued in the race but well off the pace finishing in 6th place.
Johnny said this about the race: “Barlow apologized for the incident but it was just one of those racing things that happens. I was bummed because we were sitting in the third spot-I had a great truck-the Toyota and BFG’s all working great. I was just going to be patient and look for the opportunity to get around Barlow and Douglas.”
Jeremy also ran into some bad luck on Sunday. He was running hard and making his way to the front battling hard with Scott Taylor. Jeremy drove in hard in the heir pin turn on the back stretch taking the inside line in front of Taylor. But he swung wide and tried to hold the position, but Taylor got into the rear spinning the Tundra around, off the track and to the rear of the field. Jeremy worked hard to recuperate but time ran out and he managed a 6th place finish.
For CJ, Sunday’s race was much more difficult than the one on Saturday. The track was very wet at the start of the race. CJ patiently took the high and dry lines during the first half of the race. As the track dried out, he was able to move into the racing groove and pushed his way to the front to complete the weekend Super Buggy sweep.
“It was a great win for the family, especially on Father’s Day weekend,” said Johnny as he watched his son take the checkered flag. “I was sitting on the line and was getting so nervous when he took off because he’s never been through that first turn and I know what it’s like. It was a fast car and when he got out in the lead and led the race and on the last lap came around and won, it brought a tear to my eye. That’s not fair! How can I go to battle when he’s got me all soft now! It was a great feeling.”
Greaves Motorsports and the Traxxas TORC Series head to Bark River, MI for rounds 3 and 4 on July 10-11th.
