2017
TORC Series
Round #1
Chicagoland Slam
Joliet, Illinois
May 13, 2017 |
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CJ Greaves Takes TORC Pro Stock
UTV Win
::Contineud::
In the TORC Pro Stock UTV race, Greaves had issues
in practice and qualifying. So his team threw
everything at the car, including a new engine
for the race. Despite having to start at the back
of the field, Greaves found the dry lines on the
track and passed everyone, taking the lead in
Joker Lane from Ken Masch on the final lap to
net the win. Masch was second, ahead of Zach Martin.
All three were driving Yamahas. Scott Wasz was
fourth, ahead of the Bikeman Polaris of Jason
Luburgh.
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TORC Pro
Mod SxS / UTV Podium (left to right)
Ken Masch (2nd), CJ Greaves (1st), Zach
Martin (3rd)
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“We busted our butts, took an old engine out
of another car that we knew ran well, but we had
to start at the back,” said Greaves. “The track
was really wet and slick. We just worked out the
dry lines and that’s what did it; I was just finding
the dry lines. They brought in a ton of dirt and
put in some impressive jumps.”
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Yamaha's
CJ Greaves battled his way from last place
to the front of the pack to take the win
in the TORC Pro Stock UTV class
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Greaves was happy with Yamaha YXZ 1000’s competitiveness
during the race. The marque is quickly becoming
the one to beat in short-course competition.
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Monster Energy's
CJ Greaves celebrating the TORC Pro UTV
Opener
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“All three cars on the podium are Yamahas with
Maxxis Tires, so these are definitely the cars
to beat in short course,” said Greaves. “Now we
have to do a little more work and bring it out
the desert and some of the other events.”
Masch qualified on the pole and drew a zero on
the invert to start first. He held the lead for
most of the race, but a cautious pace in the Joker
Lane handed Greaves the lead on the final lap.
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Ken Masch
held the Pro Stock lead for the majority
of the race before dropping to 2nd place
in the final laps
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“The track was a sloppy mess at the start and
I played it a little too cautious,” said Masch.
“Coming into the Joker Lane, I took it a little
too easy. It was unknown territory for me, and
CJ, he never lets off. I’m a little disappointed,
because I know what we’re capable of.”
Martin made the trip from Georgia to make his
third TORC start here. After a slow start, he
used the Joker Lane to his advantage to gain three
spots and finish third.
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Zach Martin
rounded out the TORC Pro Stock UTV Top
Three
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“I made an error at the start and came out fifth,”
explained Martin. “We battled it out with the
top five cars. We transferred a few spots here
and there and the Joker lap worked out in our
favor this time. It’s a use-or-lose thing. You
get to take a hot lap around the oval. There is
some strategy and also some luck in it, but it
worked out well for us.”
Luburgh had a tough start, but utilized the Joker
Lane early to move through the field. Though he
finished fifth, he knows his Bikeman team is up
to the challenge this year. Luburgh is competing
in both Pro Stock and Pro Modified this year after
finishing second last year in the Pro Stock championship.
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Bikeman Performance's
Jason Luburgh rounded out the top five
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“It was a rough start and it was hard to see
early,” said Luburgh. “The Joker lap helped me
a lot. I worked my way up to fifth. There is a
lot of talent this year and both classes are a
lot tougher. They separated the classes this year
so I thought it would be cool to run both. We
just have to be extra prepared.”
The event was part of a doubleheader weekend
with round two scheduled for Sunday at Route 66.
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