Off Road

The first several races in the Sportsman and Grassroots classes were very muddy but, with their racing and the track crew’s hard word, the racing surface was in fairly good condition by the time the pro classes hit the track providing some of the most intense racing by the top drivers in the country we have seen this year.

Every lap was close with battles raging at every turn. One mistake would make the difference in a win, gaining or loosing a position, or upside-down. Nobody waited for the competition caution to race hard because valuable points can be earned by leading at the halfway point. The crowd of more than 17,000 witnessed some outstanding and entertaining racing on the 1.5 mile track of Bark River.

“You won’t see better fender-to-fender off-road racing anywhere else in the country,” said Huseman. “It was a lot of fun out there. My Toyota/TRD motor was so strong today! The setup on my Toyo’s was just right-everything was working great and kept us up front all day.”

On Saturday, Steve Barlow and Curt LeDuc started on the pole followed by Scott Douglas and Kyle LeDuc. The Toyota Tundras of Huseman and Greaves were side-by-side on the third row. LeDuc won the hole shot with Rick battling teammate Johnny Greaves and Barlow through the first 2 laps. Greaves and Barlow locked wheels on lap 5 but Johnny was able to win the battle and take the second spot. Huseman also worked his way around Barlow but on lap 5 he got loose and almost spun but was able to quickly get control and held on to the 3rd position.

When the green flag fell after the competition caution, both Huseman and Greaves charged hard to make a run on Kyle but he held his spot and the field began to spread out. It looked like the finishing order would be LeDuc, Greaves, Huseman, but a mechanical problem on the last lap took Greaves out of the race allowing Rick to move in and take the 2nd spot and the valuable points.

“We always want to win and I hate that Johnny had a problem there at the end, but we are glad to get the position and the points,” said Huseman. “It is hard work to get these trucks ready and keep them together for 10 laps. It is a tribute to the quality of products our great sponsors give us and the hard work and dedication of my team to have the truck in top condition.”

Track conditions on Sunday were near perfect and made the racing fierce with a lot of mayhem on the track which left only 5 trucks on the track at the end of the race to take the checkered flag. Barlow and Curt LeDuc started on the pole once again with the Monster Energy/ Traxxas/ Toyota/ Toyo Tire of Huseman starting once again on row 3 beside Saturday’s winner, Kyle LeDuc.

On lap 2, Curt LeDuc got into Barlow and spun out. Scott Douglas plowed into him taking both machines out of the race. By lap 3, Johnny Greaves and Barlow were were battling for the third position but Huseman joined the fight, takes advantage of Greaves and Barlow’s contact, and makes the pass on both drivers to assume the 2nd spot. On lap 4, Traxxas driver, Ken Kincaid, flipped his truck taking him out of the race too. Greaves made several attempts to get around Huseman but was unsuccessful but was able to put two Monster Energy drivers on the podium once again. The race finished with Huseman in the second spot and Greaves in third.

Rick Huseman Racing now prepares for the biggest race of the year at Crandon on Labor Day weekend September 4-6 with the Sunday race being broadcast live on ABC! The race will also feature the famed BorgWarner Shootout race. This is the 40th anniversary of the fabled tack and is shaping up to be a spectacular event with NASCAR driver Robby Gordon scheduled to also race.

*Courtesy of Rick Huseman Racing