2006 ITP/ Yamaha QuadCross Series Round 6 - Glen Helen Raceway Devore, CA July 30th, 2006 By: Corry Weller / Weller Racing

ITP / Yamaha Quadcross Round #6 - Links Photo Gallery Videos Forum Coverage Pro Race Results Current Standings

Along with the quads that came out in the rain, this round saw a large number of race prepped Rhinos, complete with rollcage mods, side panels, aftermarket suspension and pilots who were crazy enough to drive them up the muddy hills and through the deep ruts. The Rhinos are definitely a crowd favorite, and perhaps they will be promoted sometime from last moto so more people will be around to watch them race.

Even the Rhinos were having a hard time getting through the muck. These highly modified Side x Side vehicles feature aftermarket accessories such as Suspension Components, Rollcages, and Side Panels.

One thing about rainy race days and muddy tracks is they have a tendency to cause unpredictable race results, as round 6 would prove during both motos of the Pro Production class. As the Pro riders lined up at the gate and prepped their gates as best they could, the tractor worked on trying to scrape off the layer of soupy mud that covered much of the straight before the first turn. When it was done, the start was still a mess and chewed up from the blade, but the race was going to start anyway.

MOTO ONE

The rain stopped just before the gate dropped, and all 16 pro racers raced into the first sweeping right hand turn, getting traction when they could and sliding out when they couldn't. For the first time this season, number 55 TJ Dietrich got the holeshot, followed closely by a fast moving Dustin Nelson with the rest of the field close behind. Nelson got around Dietrich quickly, and began his amazingly fast pace - already starting to put a gap between him and the rest of the field as Dietrich held down a solid 2nd place

This is what the holeshot looked like on the first Pro moto- yuck!		Eichner puts the heat on number 98, John Shafe, in the first moto.

Due to the layout of the track, it was hard to see alot of the action in this race as you were either watching the National track or the Vet track, so places changed in this race and one wouldn't realize it until the riders came back into view. The field headed into the back portion of the Vet track, as a healing Mike Machado took it easy, nursing a healing collarbone injury. Some racers chose to jump the jumps, while others decided the take-offs were too messy to try them all, as all of the riders negotiated the mucky track as fast as they dared.

As the riders came back into view, it was Nelson still out front, with a commanding lead over Dietrich, who was riding his best moto yet, staying ahead of a very fast Jeff Spooner. Doug Eichner was riding in fourth place with Chris Riley and Darrell Patton keeping up pace behind him, but trying not to get mudded out in the process. This moto was all about having enough tearoffs and riding smart, as the field began to spread out for the grueling six lap Pro moto.

The leaders kept their positions for a few laps, with some lead changing happening midpack, as the number 23 quad of Jason Schoneck started dropping back, and John Shafe and Rafael Guzman began moving up. Chris Riley, who had some back luck at the beginning of the series, seems to have changed things around for the better, and he ran a solid race behind Doug Eichner throughout the whole first moto. This was also the best round so far for Darrell Patton, as it seems he has healed fully and is back in riding shape, once again staying up in the top five, until quad problems would drop him back later in the moto.

As moto one began winding down, mother nature decided to mix things up, and Cyle Chisock got stuck in the deep mud in the "s" turns. As he tried to get himself going again, the field headed towards him with Nelson being the first one to reach him. Forced to take a different line through the deep mud to get around Chislock, Nelson also became stuck, and had to watch as Dietrich, Spooner, and Eichner all managed to get past him. Finally getting free, Nelson charged after the pack to try to make up the time he lost in the deep mud, but with the sloppy track and sketchy jumps, the field would finish this moto in the very same order.

Dustin Nelson would have some bad luck at this round, but still put in a great ride in moto one.		TJ Dietrich not only got his first holeshot for the season, but he got his first ITP win in moto one after Nelson had some mud issues.

As the checkers were thrown, a thrilled TJ Dietrich claimed his first ITP win, as he raced a fantastic race in very unlikely conditions. Jeff Spooner, fighting off a hard charging Doug Eichner, came in second place, with Eichner on his rear wheels to the finish. Dustin Nelson had stayed with Eichner for the entire last lap, looking for him to make a mistake so he could get around, but it wasn't meant to be, as Nelson would finish in fourth place for moto one. Darrell Patton had disappeared from the front of the pack, leaving an unchallenged 5th place finish to Chris Riley, who cruised in under the checkered flag. John Shafe, who worked his way through the field, finished in 6th place, with Guzman, Weller, Schoneck and Helsley rounding out the top ten.

MOTO TWO

There is no argument as to who got the holeshot here, as Spooner pulled in front of the pack on the long start in moto two.

Once all of the mud had been cleaned off, gear had been changed and new packs of tearoffs had been installed, the Pro riders lined up to a drier gate for moto two, as the rain had stopped for good and the track was beginning to actually dry out a bit. As the riders were prepping their gates, Darrell Patton loudly asked if anyone cared if he raced his Raptor in the Pro Production class - his YFZ was not ride-able. No one minded, so Darrell ran off to get his quad and join the second moto.

As the gate dropped for the second time and the riders once again charged into the famous, long, sweeping first turn, it was Jeff Spooner with a definite holeshot, followed closely by John Shafe. As the riders rounded the first turn, it was like De Ja Vu, as a white YFZ went cart-wheeling through the field of hurtling Pro riders, barely missing Weller as he swerved to avoid the riderless quad. Dustin Nelson had gone down in the front of the pack, but due to some quick reflexes of fellow racers, no one hit him and he was able to get back up and find his quad. As he got it started, it was apparent that he was having trouble steering it, and it was soon to be discovered he was out of the race for good, with a broken front end. This would be the first DNF for Nelson for the season.

Jeff Spooner was out in front, and wasn't about to let go of his first place position as he developed a fast and steady pace for the rest of the field to follow. John Shafe was following in second, as he got a much better start for this moto, while Chislock and Eichner put on the pressure behind him. TJ Dietrich didn't get such a good start, and was starting out behind Eichner and staying ahead of a fast moving Chris Riley. Darrell Patton, racing his Raptor, held his place behind Riley while Jason Weller followed behind Patton.

Jason Weller and Rafael Guzman swapped positions a few times in moto two.		Darrell Patton cleared it with his fellow racers before racing his Raptor in moto two, after some problems with his YFZ.

Chislock wouldn't get very far in the second moto, as his engine failed and he was not able to finish his race either, which moved everyone behind him up one more position. Jeff Spooner was continuing to lead with John Shafe not far behind, and this is the way it would stay until Doug Eichner began moving up behind Shafe and looking for a way around his fellow WORCS racer. Challenging him several times, yet giving him plenty of room, Eichner finally made the pass around John Shafe and wound up taking over the second place position before the end of the moto.

While he didn't get as good of a start as the first moto, Dietrich was holding his own behind Eichner and still staying ahead of Riley, who was once again running a great race with no quad issues. Patton was running strong on his Raptor 700, and staying ahead of Jason Weller, who was having a good race with the number 45 quad of Guzman. They changed leads as Weller lost traction going up Mt. St. Helens, but Weller managed to get back around Guzman when he got hung up in a rut. Jovany Pimental was also able to get around Guzman and began heading after Weller by the last lap.

Another first time ITP winner, Jeff Spooner ran a flawless race and took the checkers for a first place overall, managing to stay ahead of Eichner, who probably would have liked very much to have those first place points! Eichner came through in second place, earning him a second place overall finish, and closing the points gap between him and Nelson a bit more. John Shafe followed in third place, also giving him a third place overall finish and putting him in the money as well. Chris Riley's luck held all day, and his fourth place finish earned him a fourth place overall for round 6. Darrell Patton's Raptor got him through with a well-earned 5th place finish, with Jason Weller coming in with one of his best finishes of the season in 6th place. Pimental gave Weller a race to the finish, coming in with one of his best finishes as well, in 7th place, followed by Dietrich, Guzman and Schoneck to round out the top 10 for the day.

Jeff Spooner took home his very first ITP Quadcross overall win for the season with a 2/1 finish for the day.		Doug Eichner didn’t seem to have any problems dealing with the muddy track as he rode to a second place overall finish for round 6.

Despite the morning starting out as a muddy mess, and the long and grueling new track layout, the day turned out to be a good one for most racers and the new layout was well-received by most. With only a two week break between this round and round 7, our racers will barely have enough time to get everything cleaned up and cleaned out before heading back out to Glen Helen for Round 7. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate a little better and the track will be a bit easier on man and machine, as the 2006 ITP Quadcross Series continues on August 13. Hope to see everyone there!

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