Preview Contingency Friday Saturday
UROC
Goes Au Natural in St. George, Utah
St. George, Utah (June 14, 2005) The UROC Pro-National
Series competition is a form of entertainment. Some have
regarded it saying it’s becoming more an entertainment
factor than a professional motorsport while others tow the
line to make UROC the best it can be and say its all motorsport.
Regardless of one's particular stance in the entertainment
vs. competition debate, for the first time this season,
a top ranked event will go back to a au natural course.
Trekking into St. George, Utah this weekend from all over
the United States, will be 45 of the nation’s top
ranked rockcrawling teams, in search of a title win at the
UROC Pro-National Series. This third round of the five round
series is do or die for many teams who are on the bubble
as they put everything on the line for a top five finish.
“This is a big event for many teams who are vying
for the title run. We’re bringing our big guns this
weekend so beware,” commented On Track Krawler Team
Owner – Dean Bulloch.
At the first event of the 2005 season in Salt Lake City,
Utah, the Pro-National Series tour revisited the Rocky Mountain
Raceway, which was the location of the now famous Supercrawl
III. Last month, teams converged on the Firebird International
Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona, where Mad Max Rock Racing –
Bruce Zeller ruled on the man-made rocks in the final obstacle
of the weekend to capture his first UROC win of the 2005
season. Some found this to be especially entertaining, yet
others said it wasn’t as competitive. Nonetheless,
the fans of Arizona descended upon Firebird International
Raceway to give UROC their biggest crowd of the young 2005
season.
However, heading into St. George is reminiscent for many
teams in the Pro-National Series.
Rockcrawling competitions have long been part of the Utah’s
history and especially Southern Utah. So it’s not
strange by any means that the series heads into a familiar
place, au natural in Southern Utah.
We’ve been told this weekend’s competition is
being held at a location different than previous competitions,
at the Devil Rocks of St. George. Rumor central has been
hush-hush all month long as UROC CEO - Ranch Pratt has been
busy designing and prepping the course for the world’s
top rockcrawlers. One thing for sure...it's gonna be hot-hot-hot!
Just what the world class spotters ordered. Temperatures
are predicted to triple digits and their will be no shortage
of worn out spotters as this event is slated for late morning
starts and throughout the hottest part of the day into early
evening.
Transitioning from the so-called “slick rock”
of the man-made courses to au natural terrain will be difficult
for some, as they change and tweak their advanced rockcrawlers
to be ready for Friday’s first obstacle.
You can be sure the likes of Johnny G, Tracy Jordan and
Mike Shaffer, will be ready to gobble up some big rock obstacles
on familiar ground, the Southern Utah terrain. All three
of these professional rockcrawling stars have been big event
winners in the past, but all have won on all natural terrain
and pre-moon buggy era. Each of these drivers have shown
some big moves early in the 2005 season, however they’ve
yet to capitalize on the momentum gained.
The moon buggy’s have dominated the first two UROC
Pro-National Series events this season, as Campbell Enterprises
- Shannon Campbell and Mad Max Rock Racing’s Bruce
Zeller, both of Phoenix, Arizona; have captured Super Modified
Class victories.
The
defending 2004 Modified Stock Pro-National Series &
Supercrawl Champion – Dean Bulloch - is expected to
be back in top form, as he to puts his top rated Suzuki
rock rig back on terra firma. For over 20 years, Bulloch
has trailed through the rocks of Southern Utah with his
spotter – Karl Munford. Both driver and spotter are
local boys residing only 40-miles away in Cedar City, Utah.
But Bulloch has his work cut out for him as Rock Runner
Racing’s Brian Errea and Joachim Schiesow have dominated
the 2005 Modified Stock season, with two convincing wins
back-to-back.
The Modified Stock division is one of the most exciting
competition as you can watch. Farmington, New Mexico’s,
Sisson Brothers, have been consistently pounding on the
door all season long, as has Colorado’s Lovell Brothers.
The Lovell Brothers captured third place at the Phoenix
event using strategy and creativity in the main event when
they battled head-to-head with Rock Runner Racing’s
Brian Errea and Rockstar Racing’s – Craig Stumph.
The well-known Godfather of Rockcrawling – Craig Stumph,
pushed his Maxxis sponsored rock rig to a second place finish
at the Firebird International Raceway. Stump, founder of
UROC, has slowly been moving up the charts in the past couple
events. At this rate you should expect to see him giving
Brian Errea a run for his money as the season progresses.
Stump has long been associated with competition rockcrawling
and many times he has demonstrated his nerves of steel.
With a big damn spotter like Dallas Stumph screaming at
him non-stop, he’d have to have nerves of steel not
to run him over like he did three years ago.
The dark horse heading into St. George has to be the Red
Bull Rock Her team of Becca Webster and Rich “Lil
Rich” Klein. Lil’ Rich is a well-respected professional
rock crawling course designer and the working stiff of the
World Extreme Championship Series, the series competitor
to UROC. He brings a tremendous wealth of knowledge to the
rocks at St. George. With his background and physical stamina,
look for Team Red Bull to be rockin’ early in the
competition.
But the question remains, what team will capitalize on the
au natural surroundings of St. George, Utah. Will the moon
buggies crawl over the sensual curves of St. George or will
the trucks ravage the rocks with their first win of the
season. And who will come out on top?
Find out here as the Pirate4X4.com crew will be on hand
providing the full story live from the rocks of St. George.
