Monster Energy’s CJ and Johnny Take Turns Atop the Podium in Bark River

Bark River, MI (August 8, 2012) — Bark River International Raceway has been a place that Johnny Greaves has had a lot of success over the years. It’s no wonder Bark River has become one of Johnny’s favorite tracks. Both Johnny and CJ Greaves took turns ascending to the top of the podium with victories this past weekend as The Off Road Championship (TORC) series held rounds 9 and 10 in the upper peninsula of Michigan.

Johnny has flirted with wins all year but has been snake bit. He shook the snakes off and the monkey off of his back in Sunday’s race, driving his Monster Energy/ Toyota/ Maxxis Tire Pro 4×4 to a dominating victory. He also claimed the Oakley Bomb award for the fastest lap time in both the Saturday and Sunday races. Saturday, Johnny was dominating the field with a comfortable lead almost the entire race. He found out there is no such thing as a comfortable lead. Johnny had mechanical issues on the next to the last lap that crippled him. He gave it everything he had but had to settle for a 4th place finish in a heart-breaker.

CJ’s win also came on Sunday. He started on the front row and, after a couple of laps of riding in second behind Steve Barlow, the younger Greaves took the lead. He kept a nice lead the rest of the race, holding off a hard charging Rob MacCachren on his tail on the last lap. CJ also landed a 3rd place podium spot in the Pro Light class on Sunday.

Saturday, CJ started on the third row for the rolling 2×2 start. He made it through the turn 1 holeshot in 4th place for the 11 lap race. Greaves had his #33 Monster Energy/ Toyota/ Oakley/Maxxis Tire Pro Light running in the top-5 most of the race. He suffered a flat tire late in the race due to contact with Ross Hoek and wound up finishing in the back.

He jumped out of his Pro Light and crawled into the Pro 2WD Toyota which started on the back row. In Qualifying on Friday night, CJ only made it one lap because an oil line broke. Following practice Saturday morning, the team noticed the motor was losing oil pressure. Not wanting to take any chances, the team decided to swap motors between practice and the race that day. Incredibly they were able to pull off the change and got CJ to the starting line on time. Because of the motor change, and only one lap of qualifying CJ had to start in the last position.

When the green flag flew, CJ began to patiently pick off one position at a time. Many of the drivers were having trouble with the slick track but CJ played it smart and was able to make it up into the top-5 by the competition caution by passing Mike Jenkins just ahead of the waving yellow flag.

CJ lost a position on the restart to Scott Taylor. On the white flag lap, Chad Hord’s motor gave out, moving everybody up one spot. CJ battled with the 35 year veteran and made the pass, only to have Taylor take it back. Greaves was able to squeeze out a hard fought top-5 Pro 2WD finish.

CJ was up first in the Pro Light as racing resumed on Sunday. Once again CJ would have to work from the back of the field–meaning he would have to pass a lot of trucks and eat a lot of dirt in the process. After making it through the holeshot undamaged, he went to work picking off one spot after another. Several trucks were having tire issues and had to pull out for tire changes. The Maxxis tires were hooking up which gave CJ the opportunity to move up to 5th by the competition caution. CJ battled door to door with Ross Hoek and Keegan Kincaid. Hoek and Kincaid got together causing Kincaid’s wheel to come off taking him out of the race. Hoek also took himself out of the race in the scuffle. Greaves was able to claim the 3rd place spot and his 6th Pro Light podium of the year.

Crandon International Raceway is the next stop on the TORC schedule on the Labor Day weekend, September 1 and 2. Replays of the Bark River races can be seen on XSAN’s USTREAM channel.