2017
TORC Series
Round #7
Bark River Throw Down
Bark River, Michigan
July 15, 2017 |
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Bark River Throw Down TORC
Pro UTV Race Report
Rodney VanEperen &
CJ Greaves Take Wins at Bark River
Bark River, MI (7/15/2017) - For
the sixth time this season Greaves Motorsports teammates
Rodney VanEperen and CJ Greaves won their respective
UTV races, this time during the TORC Off Road Championship
presented by AMSOIL events at Bark River International
Raceway. For Greaves, it continued his perfect streak
in Pro Stock as he won his sixth consecutive race.
For VanEperen, it was his fifth victory in six races.
Both were driving Yamahas.
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The biggest
crowd of the season showed up to the Bark
River TORC race on Saturday with the hillside
and stands packed with spectators for
Round 7 of the U.P. of Michigan Throw
Down
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The course was the longest yet on the TORC calendar
at 1.5 miles. Wet conditions leading into the
weekend followed by sun and warm temperatures
resulted in a dry and dusty racing surface during
the eight-lap races. The track quickly got into
blue groove in both races making for exciting
and fast racing.
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TORC Pro
Mod SxS / UTV Podium (left to right)
Kyle Chaney (2nd), Rodney VanEperen (1st),
Zac Zakowski (3rd)
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In Pro Modified, Jason Luburgh set the fastest
time in qualifying in his Polaris and took the
holeshot. VanEperen was quick into the second
corner and took the lead. From there, he began
checking out, but he soon had company. Kyle Chaney,
in a Can-Am, took second from Luburgh on the lap-five
restart.
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Bikeman Performance's
Jason Luburgh was the fastest qualifier
on Saturday, so he started up front along
side of Rodney VanEperen
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On the final lap, Chaney tried everything to
pass VanEperen, but finished second for the sixth
consecutive time and held the points lead. Zac
Zakowski charged from 10th to finish third, his
best effort this season, driving a Yamaha. Tim
Farr, in a Can-Am, and Luburgh completed the top
five.
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Yamaha's
Rodney VanEperen held the lead for most
of the race, but he was challenged by
both Jason Luburgh & Kyle Chaney
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“We keep eeking them out here, but these guys
are keeping us honest,” said VanEperen. “We have
to go back and do our homework to get a little
more out of this thing to see what we can do.
It’s fun racing and that’s what the fans and the
manufacturers want to see.”
VanEperen worked hard on the final two laps to
hold off Chaney. Chaney tried several lines in
last three corners and crossed the line nearly
side by side with VanEperen.
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Yamaha's
Rodney VanEperen secured his 5th Win of
the season, but he is currently 2nd place
in points behind Can-Am's Kyle Chaney
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“Man I didn’t realize it was that close at the
end, but we’ll take them any way we can get them,”
said VanEperen. “This is a driver’s track here.
To win you have to make less mistakes and that’s
what you want to see.”
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