Cody Rahders recently embarked upon his first race in the XP 1000 class.
|
Cody Rahders would likely be quick to agree that 2013 was a productive
year for R3 Motorsports. "It was a really big accomplishment for myself,
to say the least," he recalled. "Finishing every race on the podium really
rounded a solid year.
After a stellar 2013 season, Cody Rahders set the standard for the 2014 season during round one of the LOORS.
|
"My biggest memory was the last race of the season with only a two point
lead, " shared the driver. " I wasn't sure how the race was going to play
out. But I knew I had to be on my game. So when I came out with the win,
it was a great feeling."
When the 2014 season rolled around, the driver was ready to put the
previous season behind him and focus on continuing a streak of impressive
finishes. Although many races lurk ahead, Rahders set the standard early
on.
Rolling into the Glen Helen Raceway, the driver and his crew were eager to
get round one of the series under their belts. The team's confidence level was
high, as this was the exact location of the 2013 Awards Banquet, where the
driver received his championship trophy for the stock RZR XP900 class.
Most drivers would have been more than elated to earn the prestigious
award, but the pot had been even sweeter for Rahders, as he also received
a plaque, rewarding him for the logging the greatest combined points
during of all the LUCAS regional competitors throughout the season.
Lining up in the Stock RZR XP900 race, Rahders wasted no time fighting to
the front of the pack at the waving of the green flag. Although the
victory lap was eventually his, that was no indication the win came
easily. In fact, it went down to the wire, the type of competition fans love to see.
There was little time to savor his victory though, as Rahders was on the
verge of embarking upon a new adventure. He was scheduled to experience
his first race in the XP 1000 class.
Qualifying fourth on the opening day and with a four-place inversion, the
driver was situated at the pole position. Fourteen cars were prepared to
battle it out in his class. However, the field also consisted of 12
drivers competing in the SR1/Unlimited UTV class.
At the waving of the green flag, Cody Rahders didn't tarry, maneuvering
his way through the conglomeration of SR1 racers. The driver quickly
reached the front of the pack, and led his class for the first nine of the
12-lap event.
Things were looking promising. But anyone who is familiar
with the sport of racing will be quick to agree that it isn't over until
the waving of the checkered flag deems a winner.
In fact, Following a late-race restart, Rahders happened upon a lapped SR1
driver who wasn't content with allowing the leaders to continue their quest
toward the finish line. During this particular battle Rahders' competitor
evidently missed a shift, forcing Cody to slow.
In turn, Cody Rahders fell behind two of his fellow XP Production 1000
class competitors. With less than two full laps remaining, the he lacked
sufficient time to catch the two other drivers, and crossed the finish
line in third place.
Although he would have obviously rather led the pack at the waving of the
checkered flag, Rahders did manage to earn a spot on the podium during
his first-ever Production 1000 race.
However, the driver is eager to make a few changes on set up here and
there and is anticipating even better finishes in the near future. Of
course driving skills play a predominant role in the outcome of each race,
but Rahders and his crew are also certain that proper maintenance is of
utmost importance.
Experience has taught the driver that it is essential to take all steps to
ensure one's engine does not fail. One of the keys is protecting their
internal components from the harsh and unforgiving environment they tackle
during every event.
That in mind, he and the rest of R3 Motorsports are strong advocates of
using the best filtering products on the market. In turn they depend upon
K&N products to keep the dust and grit out of the engines, and where it
belongs.
"K&N filters really helps," he ensured. "We get huge support with anything
we need for the truck and the RZR. Huge performance gains are a big
factor, and K&N really performs well.
As the 2014 season is just underway, Cody Rahders and team R3 Motorsports
have aspirations of yet another run of productive races. With a little
luck and a lot of perseverance, one would suspect that the driver and his
crew will experience their share of much coveted time on the podium in the
races to come. |
