Off Road

May 20, 2006 - Chula Vista, California - Round One.

BAD NEWS - GREAT NEWS!

Bad news we did not finish due to a mechanical problem - Great news Johnny G ran off and hid out front for the 1st nine laps of the 06 season. Johnny started the pro 4 class just the way he wanted with a great start. He passed a hard charging Herbst in the second turn and proceeded to check out of the field. By the 9th lap Johnny was in a familiar spot with a 7 truck lead on Carl Renezenner going into the mandatory caution laps.

So much for prosperity -- going into the 1st caution lap, smoke started bellowing from behind the truck and Johnny wisely pulled off the track at turn three. Later it was discovered that a line had blown, causing the engine to overheat. "Up to that point the new TRD engine was really pulling great," explained a disappointed Greaves. "We made some changes for the faster Chula Vista track conditions and I was really pleased with the way the Tundra was running. About the same time I let off the gas for the mandatory caution flag I felt the power drop and new I had a problem." Greaves continued.

Even though the team was disappointed with the end result, it was obvious to everyone in Chula Vista that Johnny G was picking-up where he left off in his record-breaking 2005 season by thoroughly dominating the first 9 laps prior to the mechanical problem.

After the race Johnny was out signing autographs with his winning smile as if nothing bad had just happened. "Believe it or not" Johnny said with a grin. "I am really pleased with the way my Forest County Potawatomi team is looking going in to the season. Other than a little "hick-up" - I know I have the pieces in place for another great season".

May 21, 2006 - Chula Vista, California - Round Two

GREAT PERFORMANCE - MORE BAD LUCK

Sunday started off with high hopes and a new engine that tested great in practice. The TRD Toyota Motorsports Team worked super hard to get a great running engine back in place for Sunday's round two.

Due to Saturday's mechanical failure resulting in a 12th place finish, Johnny had to start on the back row for the race. Believe it or not, by the end of the first lap The Forest County Potawatomi Tundra was in the lead and pull away from the field for the second day in a row! The crowd was spellbound as Johnny opened up a tremendous lead through 11 laps after starting in the back of the back.

Just when everyone thought Johnny had the race in the bag, the announcer excited the crowd by announcing that "Greaves has a flat tire!" Sure enough, Johnny had hit a piece of debris laying on the track and had a flat tire going into the caution laps. As the crowd pondered whether he would pit and change the tire during the caution laps, Johnny left no doubt as he roared into action as soon as the green flag dropped, taking a commanding lead once again with 5 laps remaining.

Bad luck returned once again on the 13th lap as the tire came apart and Johnny had to slow down to avoid a black flag. The fastest truck in the race once again had to accept defeat at the hands of a mechanical incident and limped in to finish 8th.

Chula Vista may not have yielded a win for the Forest County Potawatomi Toyota Pro 4 team, but it sure sent a message to the CORR racing world - "Johnny Greaves was the fastest guy there" and 2006 could very well be a repeat banner year for Johnny G Racing and all his sponsors.

Story courtesy of Johnny Greaves Racing