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The starting line of the Best in the Desert 1000 mile Vegas to Reno off-road race
Stuck in one of the most desolate areas in the United States, the Torchmate Ford Ranger crew waits for rescue
Brad Lovell is looking forward to the Primm 300 and the XRRA National Finals in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Two hundred race trucks kick up a blinding amount of silt across the desert floor from Las Vegas to Reno, Nevada, photo by Chad Jock Photography
Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno race is one of the longest and toughest point to point races in the United States, photo by Chad Jock Photography
The Torchmate Racing Team finished 4th in the 7200 class and 63rd overall in the Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno 1000 mile race
The 2009 Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno 1000 mile race is raw. The treacherous terrain is full of rocks, silt, whoops and danger.
“It’s also death defying at times,” said racer Brad Lovell. “But we did it to face challenges and test our abilities. We also tasted the freedom of the untamed wild.”
The BITD off highway race began in Nevada north of Pahrump and ran through Beatty, Tonopah and Hawthorne before it ended southeast of Dayton. “We prepared for this race for months,” said Lovell. “After near destruction in the Baja 500, our No. 7231 Torchmate Ford Ranger was completely rebuilt.”
Each day of the three day race covered 330 miles. A moving camp of RV’s repaired the vehicles at night. Bill Kunz and Lovell charged into the dust prepared to win. “Two hundred race trucks kicked a blinding amount of silt in the air and the dust hung around for hours,” said Lovell. “The plumes could be seen across the desert floor miles away.”
Drivers drove into dust storms at 60 mph without being able to see past the hoods of their trucks. “There were times when I could not see the GPS mounted in the dash,” said Lovell. “The danger of speed was real, but the danger of stopping was even greater. If one truck slowed down, the next truck would ram into it. It’s even worse if you have to exit your vehicle.”
Kunz and Lovell went into a dry lakebed and laid into the throttle when a bush came into their view. “I thought we were done,” said Lovell. “The No. 7231 smashed into it and was launched into the air at more than 80 mph. Bill managed to maintain control and 230 miles later we reached our pit, changed driver crews and rehydrated.”
Later, the No. 7231 had a bad accident. The truck struck a series of jumps that cascaded it into a barrel roll and nearly ripped it apart. “The No. 7231 was on its side with an injured driver and frantic navigator,” said Lovell. “Our navigator ran on foot over two miles across the desert back to the pit.”
The cage was heavily damaged above the driver door and parts were scattered across the desert. Medics arrived and brought the driver to the hospital in Reno. “There was nothing else we could do and we formed a plan to push on,” said Lovell. “Our team repaired the truck and we took off.”
Lovell said he was distracted and wondered about the condition of his injured teammate. “As we continued down the course we hit silt beds,” he said. “If you stop in silt, you will never get going again.”
About eight miles from the next camp at Mile 690, Lovell faced a huge silt hill with rough boulders. “Our best efforts failed and the injured truck floundered,” he said. “Despite our best efforts to get out our chase crew rescued us.”
The pit crew started making repairs around 3 am and stayed up all night. In the morning the final leg of the race began.
“After a total of 996 brutal miles we crossed the finish line,” said Lovell. “Our injured teammate rejoined us at the finish line after being discharged from the hospital in good spirits.” The team finished 4th in the 7200 class and 63rd overall.
Lovell is looking forward to the Primm 300 if the No.7231 can be repaired in time. He and his brother Roger will also race for the title in the XRRA National Finals in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Roger Lovell uses K&N products. “There is a lot of silt and fine dust on these courses but our K&N air filters keeps the debris out of our engines and prevents our sensors from clogging up,” he said. “We need K&N air filters on these difficult courses.”
Dan Fletcher and Thomas Fletcher are the fourth father and son to win at the same national racing event
Twin 1969 Chevy Camaro race cars owned by Sportsman Class racer Dan Fletcher
Thanks to K&N products, my cars outlast and out perform, said 63 time national event winner Dan Fletcher
Dan Fletcher won in Comp Eliminator and joined his son in the Winner's Circle as Thomas Fletcher took his first ever national even win in Stock Eliminator
1969 Camaro Super Stocker has the most wins in NHRA history
Proud father and son at Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Pennsylvania
Racing royalty is a little like rock star royalty, the talent is in the gene pool. Dan Fletcher and Thomas Fletcher recently became the fourth father and son on record to win at the same national racing event. The duo drove to the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Pennsylvania hoping to win, and they did.
Thomas Fletcher, 19, had his first ever national event win over Kevin Fogerty in Stock Eliminator in his father’s 1969 K&N Chevy Camaro. Right after that race Dan Fletcher jumped in Rick Braun’s 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt for an emotional win in Comp Eliminator and his 63rd national event win.
“It was a dream come true,” said Dan Fletcher. “My son drove my high-school car to the win. He’s a gifted talented racer. He’s smooth, like butter on the track.”
The race weekend did not start out so well for the Fletchers. “This has been a very tough year with weather on the NHRA circuit,” said Fletcher. “It rained a little and quickly turned hot, humid and nasty. The sun brought out the water on the track and we sat in the pits. Thomas got one time trial run in stock. That’s not the way it’s supposed to be.”
When racing resumed the junior Fletcher made it to the final round and Dan and his wife held their breath. “I watched Thomas leave and I told my wife it looked decent,” said an emotional Fletcher. “Then I was standing behind her, holding onto her and I cringed when I heard the other guy ripping the gas. But, Thomas won and we jumped on the scooter and went down the end of the track, held Thomas and we all cried. It was so amazing.”
“When I got to the thousand foot mark, I figured I had a good shot at the win,” said Thomas Fletcher. “I love driving my dad’s car. I’ve been around racing all my life and this national win was a great way to thank my dad.”
There is another car in the Fletcher stable, a matching K&N 1969 Camaro that belonged to Dan’s father or Thomas’ grandfather. “The Super Stocker has the most wins in NHRA history,” said Dan Fletcher. “It was my dad’s car and there is a lot of sentimental value attached to it. He bought it as a race car and it was never on the street.”
Dan Fletcher won’t let Thomas drive his grandfather’s Camaro yet, he said it is a sacred vessel in the Fletcher family racing history. “If I could have won in my dad’s Camaro, it would have made our great day even better,” said Dan Fletcher. “I’m still not ready to let Thomas drive that car.”
Either way, wins-are-wins, and for the Fletchers, it’s not the passing of the torch but the passing of another racing era. That racing era includes K&N. “Thanks to K&N air filters and oil filters my engines have outlasted and outperformed,” said Fletcher. “K&N helps us keep winning in the family.”
Bobbie Rader and her husband John of Willow Springs, Missouri build custom show trucks.
Mother and son tear up the local race track in Missouri with her 1970 Chevelle and his junior dragster
This year, Bobbie Rader decided she wanted something new, something to break up the monotony of everyday life. She bought a 1970 Chevelle, modified it and took it to the bracket races at Ozark Raceway Park.
No Coast Kustoms Driver Bobbie Rader puts her 1970 Chevelle to the test at Ozark Raceway Park
No Coast Kustoms Driver Bobbie Rader will next race at The O’Reilly Auto Parts 20th Anniversary Street Machine Nationals at the Missouri Entertainment and Events Center in Springfield, Missouri
“The first time I went down the track, I was hooked,” said Rader. “The Chevelle is my ultimate dream car and it’s awesome to race.”
The Rader’s found it for sale in St. Louis. They purchased it without a floor, or a motor. It took three months to get it ready for racing.
“We use K&N air and oil filters on our vehicles,” said Rader. “K&N protects our engines and gives us excellent filtration.”
Rader’s 13 year old son, Joey McCune also started racing this year. The family picked up a junior dragster for him and he’s first in points at Ozark Raceway Park. “This is something we can do as a family,” said Rader. “My husband and daughter Krysta will race for the first time next year. Krysta is only 8, but she knows her cars.”
Rader will next race at The O’Reilly Auto Parts 20th Anniversary Street Machine Nationals at the Missouri Entertainment and Events Center in Springfield, Missouri.
Vojens Speedway in Denmark will host the Nordic Speedway Grand Prix and Australian Jason Crump said he is ready for another win.
Jason Crump hopes his motorcycle is the fastest to further increase his lead over the opposition
Crump is 35 points ahead of his nearest rival Tomasz Gollob of Poland in the World Speedway Grand Prix championship chase. Crump is also chasing his third World Title.
Double World Speedway Grand Prix Champion Jason Crump has used K&N filters since he was 10 years old.
“Vojens is a great track and I am out to win the Grand Prix there,” said Crump. “I don’t expect it to be easy. All the Danish riders (Hans Anderson, Kenneth Bjerre, Nicki Pedersen and Niels-Kristian Iversen) are riding well and they will be going there to win and doing their best to impress their home crowd.”
Australia has produced only four World Champions since the sport took on World Championship status in 1936. They include Lionel Van Praag, 1936, Bluey Wilkinson, 1938, Jack John 1951, 1952 and Jason Crump 2004, 2006.
“I started racing junior speedway when I was 10 and used many brands of filters that resulted in many engine problems,” said Crump. “One day a friend of my dad gave me a K&N motorcycle filter to try. The difference was amazing, my bike ran better and I had cured the problems with dirt getting into my engine. I also won the Australian Junior Speedway Championship that year. K&N was really my very first sponsor, and it was a big thing at 10-years-old to have a sponsor. I’ve used K&N ever since.”
The World Speedway Grand Prix resumes August 29 in Denmark.
Michael Lewis crossed the finish line ahead of the pack in the No. 60 Western Speed Ford Focus midget at Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino, California in the USAC California Pavement Ford Focus Series.
USAC California Pavement Ford Focus Series event won by No. 60 Western Speed Ford Focus midget at Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino
Lewis began the evening with a strong qualifying effort by setting a quick time of 12.838 which put him ahead of teammate Cody Gerhardt. Lewis started fourth in the four-lap Trophy Dash and finished third.
Driver Michael Lewis steps in Victory Lane after winning the USAC California Pavement Ford Focus Series event, photo by Mary S. Secord
In the 30 lap main, Lewis started on the outside of the second row and went to the high groove at the drop of the green. He quickly passed the front row drivers and built a huge gap on the field as the race progressed. Despite several cautions later in the feature, Lewis had good restarts and continued to maintain a healthy lead until the end of the race.
“Michael was quick from the time we unloaded and tested,” said Western Speed Team owner Kevin Gerhardt. “Michael dominated the race stretching his lead by half a lap at times. The team is extremely happy.”
“The best and greatest race drivers have raced and won at the Orange Show Speedway,” said Michael’s father Steve Lewis. ‘URA midget greats Billy Cantrell, Johnny Morehouse, Allen Heath, Roger Ward and Troy Ruttman are among the winners. It was truly a special moment for Michael to cross the finish line first in the very competitive Ford Focus Feature event.”
The next scheduled Ford Focus event for Lewis will be a Madera Speedway in California on September 19.
Western Speed cars are equipped with K&N products. “Our K&N products give us extra power and excellent filtration,” said Gerhardt. “The K&N air filters are washable and reusable and protect our engines from track debris.”
