Holland, MI (8/27/2015) -
Racer Tech’s Mouse and Marcus Pratt
overcame some stiff competition to claim their
second straight GBC Heartland Challenge UTV
overall win. The racing brothers survived an
epic four-hour UTV race into the night to take
home an impressive combined $6,000 plus in contingency
money for the overall UTV win including the
Racer Tech $1,000 overall win bonus. Racer Tech’s
Jesi Stracham also rounded out the podium in
the ACE race.
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Racer
Tech's Andy Prins awarded his Racer
Tech Can-Am Team a $1,000 Check for
taking the GBC Heartland Challenge
SxS Overall Win
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The unique endurance race is held just outside
Des Moines. With wet weather leading up the
event, the track became rough quickly, giving
racers ruts and difficult terrain to contend
with for much of the race. The unique course
also included The Racer Tech Challenge Section,
which comprised a mixture of tires, logs,
concrete, and a huge dirt hump to challenge
those racers looking to take a short-cut on
the course.
Racer Tech also offered a $1000 overall win
bonus, as well as its sponsorship of the Challenge
Section. Racer Tech owner Andy Prins said
the race is the perfect proving ground for
its products.
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Racer
Tech's Mouse & Marcus Pratt take
on the Racer Tech Challenge section
at the GBC Heartland Challenge
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“The Heartland Challenge is definitely one
of the longest and most brutal endurance races
in the country,” said Prins. “We believe in
our product and we really wanted it exposed
to something that puts it to the test. Anybody
can be a competitor in an endurance race.
It’s not always the fastest racers, but the
best program that wins. It’s the team that
puts together the best car. The Jack’s Team
is an excellent team. It’s amazing to see
that happen two years in a row.”
The Pratt brothers used Racer Tech’s A-Arms
on their Jack’s Excavating Can-Am Maverick
X XC to win the race by more than eight minutes.
“This track was rough and brutal. There were
some deep ruts out there. If it wasn’t for
these Racer Tech A-arms we wouldn’t have made
it,” said Mouse Pratt. “I couldn’t ask for
anything else. It took us 15 hours to get
out here. Winning in the end makes it all
worthwhile.”
Racer Tech Polaris ACE competitor Jesi Stracham
finished third in class. After nearly taking
the holeshot at the start, Stracham, who is
paralyzed from the waist down and uses Racer
Tech hand controls, rolled her ACE while battling
for second. Race promoter Andy Kyner, who
was also competing in the race, got her righted
and going again. She gained time and finished
third.
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Racer
Tech's Jesi Stracham scored a Podium
finish at the Heartland Challenge
1.5 Hour Polaris ACE race
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“I just blew a turn and rolled over. It’s
not a big deal. I’m used to wrecking and rolling.
It was an awesome race. This track was amazing.
I love racing again; I forget I’m paralyzed
when I’m out there,” said Stracham.
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Jesi
Stracham launches the Racer Tech Polaris
ACE
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Racer Tech’s John Henry actually led the
UTV race for five laps until a sway bar component
failed on his No. 40 Coastal Polaris and destroyed
a radiator hose, taking him out of contention.
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Racer
Tech's John Henry ran up front early
in the 4 Hour race
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The 2015 GBC Heartland Challenge proved to
be another successful event for Racer Tech,
and this event continues to gain attention
around the world with more and more racers
taking on one the most challenging off-road
endurance races in the country, and Racer
Tech is proud to be associated with it.