No fog this morning - it is supposed to be sunny and 87 today. We have the same course as yesterday so we should have more fast and smooth racing. PERFECT! Racing is to begin at 9:30.
10:01 Kim Sears caught a banner in our first race and will take a time penalty, her competitor Travis Watford had a clean run.
Next up was Derek West and Levi Shirley. Derek's run was a 1:44, that will be tough to beat! Levi lost his rear drive on the L2 hill climb and was unable to finish.
Joel Withers and Will Carter were side by side the whole race, they both did a great job on their runs.
Shawn Fisher and Buddy Daugherty were next. Shawn had a few back ups but still logged a decent run. Buddy looked great and is well on his way to another top 6 finish.
Brandon Haynes and Adam Carter are running now. They both had solid runs - Adam ran a 1:48, Brandon had a 2:01. Nice!
10:04 We announced all day yesterday that Drew Goldie was running, however it is actually Travis Wilson running Drew's car this weekend. This is Travis's first weekend ever racing. He just finished a solo run and is running clean again today.
10:27 Jared Smith and Ken Blume just ran. Ken ran a real clean race but Jared lost a lower front control arm and then of course busted the drive shaft. There is a big delay now but only because the XRRA officials are working hard to remove Jared's car without destroying it. XRRA is a class act!
Rosco Reitdorf and and John Markovich both just finished smooth runs, Jason Ailif ran solo but appears to have some major front end breakage. The drivers tire is about to fall off and they are hooking up the Skid Steer to get it off the course.
Stan Haynes and Dave Smith just finished up - both had solid runs.
10:56 Danny Rohrer and Tim Cantrell are running. They both had good runs - Tim looked like he was driving a little more conservative during this heat.
11:00 Brian Shirley and Dan McDonald are out now. Brian is ON IT! He's caught some air and is power sliding through the corners. Brian matched Derek's best time of 1:44. Dan was running strong but tipped it while entering the fast portion of the corse. He is back on all four wheels and drove off the track.
Round Two has begun so Kim Sears and Travis Watford are on the track. They are side by side after lap one. Good runs for both.
11:05 Here comes Derek West and Levi Shirley. Derek caught some air on the tabletop and Levi is running fast - he may have made up some time after his disappointing first heat.
11:10 Joel Withers and Will Carter are on it! Joel's rig shut down on him after doing a wheel stand climbing the L2 rock hill and it just shut down again. Looks like he will not cross the finish line. No troubles at all for Will, he had a nice 1:54 run.
11:11 Joel got the rig running and is trying hard to finish before he maxes out on time (max time today is 4min).
11:15 Buddy Daugherty and Shawn Fisher are both looking strong after the first lap. Shawn had a tough night of wrenching to get his rig ready today. Shawn caught some air on the table top and both Shawn and Buddy had clean runs.
11:19 Brandon Haynes and Adam Carter are taking their turns now. Brandon may have some minor mechanical issues but is still making tracks. Adam crosses the finish line sideways with a 1:51. Brandon had a clean run but will need to make up some time on the next run. However, he's a Branik boy so I think he can make it happen!
11:22 Travis Wilson is out again and was looking great but rolled it on the second lap. He was unable to recover and needed extra manpower to get upright.
11:30 Jared Smith and Ken Blume just finished up, Ken had a fast 1:57, Jared logged a decent run but may still have some mechanical issues from his earlier break.
11:34 Rosco Rietdorf and John Markovich are running hard side by side. Rosco ripped a wheelie climbing the L2 rock hill, they are both on it hard through the fast section. John clipped a banner on a nasty downhill decent and ended up wiith a flat front tire. Rosco aired it out on the table top and finished with a sweet run.
11:37 Looks like Jason won't be back for this run. That means Stan Haynes and Dave Smith are battling now. Stan's wife is standing right next to the track cheering him on big time. Nice close racing in that heat.
11:42 Danny Rohrer and Tim Cantrell are out. Tim was ripping it but just coasted to a stop. He is struggling to get under way again. Danny is running clean and fast - nice run for Danny. Tim's rig just won't cooperate and it looks like he will get the max 4min time.
11:49 Creighton is here with the Maxxis trailer - there has been a lot of repair work going on over there all weekend. Travis Wilson and Jason Ailif have their rigs torn apart over there now.
11:57 Hey Nate, it's Lance checking in from San Diego! The Sunday page has been created!
12:29 Kim Sears and Travis Watford just finished up, they both ran very well. Must have been the jams - Kim requested "Rocky Top" for her racing music.
12:31 Derek West and Levi laid down a 1:50, Levi posted a very respectable run too.
"Pepper" is our announcer this weekend, he has done an EXCELLENT job! We've had a great sound man/ DJ too.
Shawn Fisher and Buddy Daugherty are racing now. Buddy was hammering down while climbing the Lane 2 rock hill and lost his rear drive. Shawn was looking fast but clipped the 2min penalty cone and both drivers will finish with a max 4min time.
12:49 Nice run by Brandon Haynes and Adam Carter! Brandon looked fast with a 2:00 but Adam posted a 1:49.
12:51 Travis Wilson is out on the track in Drew Goldies rig. He looks smoother every run - great job by Travis.
12:55 Jared Smith and Ken Blume are racing hard as Quiet Riot blasts on the PA. BANG YOUR HEAD! Jared unfortunately clipped the 2 min penalty cone. No errors from pro Ken Blume though.
12:59 Rosco Rietdorf and John Markovich are at it now. Either Johns throttle is stuck wide open or he is determined to make or break on this run. Looks like he will make it as he crosses the finish line on two wheels at speed with a 1:45. Rosco had a less dramatic but very good run.
1:03 Our announcer Pepper has named Stan Branik "Old Man Stan" and appears to enjoy pointing out that Stan is 56 years old. Age didn't slow him down at all on this run though. Nice run for Stan. His competitor Dave Smith had a few issues but still crossed the line with plenty of time to spare.
1:07 Danny Rohrer and Tim Cantrell are out on the track, Tim is pushing hard trying to make up time. Danny is having a great day, the WOMBAT looked fast and smooth on that run.
Brian Shirley is holding NOTHING back today! He is blasting around the course, lots of full throttle power slides and air under the tires. He finishes fast again with a 1:45 - that may put Brian in the lead. Dan McDonald had a decent run as well.
1:12 A very disappointed Buddy Daugherty just told me that he lost a rear driveshaft and a ring gear so he is out.
1:14 Kim Sears and Travis Watford both just finished good runs.
1:18 Derek West and Levi Shirley are up. Derek, Brian Shirley and Adam Carter are very close today. Smooth runs for Derek and Levi. Derek had a 1:44.
1:23 Will Carter and Joel Withers just finished up good runs. Will looked very fast and without the 4min penalty he would be it great shape today.
1:25 Shawn Fisher is running solo and will post another great run. He is driving smooth today.
1:28 Adam Carter and Brandon Haynes are up. Brandon is thrashing his rig through the rock sections. Adam had a1:48, Brandon posted a 2:00.
1:34 Travis Wilson just finished another consistent run.
1:36 Jared Smith is out, they were unable to get it repaired for this heat. Ken Blume just climbed a tree while running solo and is on his lid. Looks like he will get the max time, 4min. Doesn't appear to be any urgency over there so I will assume that Ken is okay.
1:44 Rosco Rietdorf finishes his Round 4 run with another solid time - that should put him close to the top 6. John Markovich flipped it near the end of his second lap and will take a 4min time.
1:46 Jason Ailif is done for the day, he broke a ball joint earlier and bent his axle housing.
Stan Haynes and Dave Smith are waiting for the flag to drop. Stan is on it and had a slick first lap, he finishes the day with four great runs. Dave just crossed the line and had a good run also.
2:02 Tm Cantrell and Danny Rohrer are on the course. Danny is pushing his rig HARD, if the WOMBAT holds together he will have a nice run. Danny caught a tree and clipped a banner, that will probably take him out of the top six. Tim Cantrell had no issues at all and finished well.
2:06 Brian Shirley and Dan McDonald are up. If Brian can pull off another good run he will certainly be in the Final Shootout. He did it! Another fast run for Brian. Dan had one back up but still logged a solid run. Times coming up ASAP.
WHAT A DAY FOR BRANIK RACING! ALL THREE RIGS ARE IN THE FINALS!
2:28 Father and Son Stan Haynes and Brandon Haynes are racing hard! Doesn't look like Stan is cutting his son any slack. Brandon crosses the line first but they were super close! Stan ended up with a flat front left.
2:31 Rosco Rietdorf and Adam Carter are battling now. Adam finishes with a smokin fast run, Rosco finishes with an excellent error free run too.
ADAM HAD A 1:38, ROSCO HAD A 1:59. FAAAAST!
2:34 Brian Shirley and Derek West are blasting around the course right now. Killer racing, these guys are literally side by side! Derek has a flat front that forced him to back up. Brian had a flawless run. Awesome action today!
2:38 The Final Shootout is gonna be SOOO CLOSE. Derek West blasted up the hill to the Maxxis trailer looking for help with a tire change. The second his car stopped Levi Shirley had a floor jack under Derek's rig and was assisting with the tire change. That says a lot because Levi's dad Brian Shirley is a top competitor against Derek in the Shootout.
2:44 Stan and Brandon just finished another race. They were super close again. Brandon caught BIG air on the tabletop.
2:46 Adam Carter and Rosco Rietdorf are racing hard. Adam is the only competitor running the BFG Brawler Project tires. Adam is getting it! Rosco had to back up to stay out of the banners but still had a sweet run.
2:51 Brian just finished a super fast first lap, Derek West got into trouble again and was forced to back up. Brian finished FAST and treated us to a celebratory high speed doughnut at the finish line. DAMN, THAT WAS SOME AMAZING RACING. CONGRATS TO THE COMPETITORS!
2:53 The UNOFFICIAL rumor is that Brian Shirley has won by .12 seconds!
3:36 Thanks to the XRRA team, XRRA sponsors and especially all of he drivers and their teams for an outstanding day of racing. You have all outdone yourselves today!
First time racer Travis Wilson just won the Rancho Alter Ego award!
That's about it for today's Pirate 4x4 XRRA coverage. Thanks to my brother Michael Scott (battlebuddy618) for stepping up and taking some pics and my good friend Mike Braddock (mikeb273) for helping me keep up with the action.