UTVRR – Southern Series Round 6 Race Report

Round 6 of UTVRR’s Southern Series kicked off promptly at 6:00pm on Saturday July, 20th, 2013. With storms all week, Stony Lonesome had hoped for a few showers just before the race. That said, the weather was hot but generally overcast for most the day. Some small pop-up storms were all over the region but none ever materialized in Cullman. The facilities crew at Stony Lonesome did a great job watering the track heavily. Their work effort started 24 hours before the race and continued all the way up until the race start. While certain areas of the track showed signs of dust, the majority of the course was in great shape; no incidents or retirements were associated to the few dusty areas. Great work Stony Lonesome!

Round 6 of the Southern Series saw the largest race attendance of any round to date in 2013. With 44 drivers, the pit lane was bustling and the grid was packed.

Once again the lineup was very diverse with Polaris RZRs, several Can-Am Mavericks, an increased Arctic CatWildcat presence and a Yamaha Rhino. UTVRR’s race class structure affords all brands to race competitively on a consistent and even playing field.

In addition to the 4hr Endurance race, the 2hr Sportsman Class race was open for business this weekend too.

Once again several new teams attended this weekend race. New teams came from Texas, West Virginia, Florida with a few new local teams making their debut too. In addition the new teams, several veteran teams came out of retirement for Round 6.

In total 5 new teams raced in Stony this past weekend.

Announced this week, Arctic Cat has partnered with Quantum Racing and Outdoor Products to support the Arctic Cat racing community and award contingency prizes to anyone racing (and placing) in a Wildcat.

Thank you Arctic Cat for your support of UTVRR and your Arctic Cat customers!

Round 6 – The faces of Pit Lane

Above: Team #274, 3G Motorsports with his Pit Crew!

Above: Team #13, Pearson Racing with a final test fit of his helmet before suiting up for the race.

Above: Team #433, Thompson Racing enjoying the days great atmosphere.

Above: Team #113, Roberts Racing 10 mins before the start.

Above: Team #820, Extreme Fabrication’s navigator in no mood to play as he discusses strategy with the driver.

Above: Team #316, CS Racing with an air of confidence on Pole Position.

Above: Team #05, Outlaw Motorsports first through the gate in his Can-AmMaverick. He led Team #316 , CS Racing through the initial few turns. Both teams compete in class QR1 and started the race as a gridded pair.

Right from the start Stony Lonesome provides a 1/4 mile straight followed by a fast right hander. This section turns into a short course style track with several tight turns and jumps and is approximately 1.5 miles. Short course style racing affords the spectators an opportunity to cheer on their driver.

In addition to spectator benefits, the short course section of Stony Lonesome was created to provide a change of pace for the drivers before heading into the forest section.

In addition, the wide track allows drivers to pass their peers in a safe and controlled manner without impact to a team’s overall race time.

Above: Team #615, JC Motorsports in his Arctic Cat Wildcat taking the charge to Team #312, Basch Brothers Powersports in their RZR XP 900. Both teams compete in class QR1 and started the race as a gridded pair.

Above: Team #00, Barnett Racing getting the jump on Team #820, Extreme Fabrication, both racing in RZR XP 900s. Coming into Round 6, Extreme Fabrication led Barnett Racing in the Championship points table by a mere 6 points (39 to 33 respectively).

Extreme Fabrication and Barnett racing swapped places the entire race, neither about to give up their lead easily though. At the end of the race, Extreme Fabrication finished 6th, with Barnett in 8th.

Above: Team #48, S3 Racing full on from the drop of the flag. This was S3 Racing’s very first UTVRR event. With their very first lap time of 16m 11s these guys were right on pace with the rest of the field.

S3 Racing had to retire on their 2nd lap due to brake failure. We have no doubt, Team #48 will be right at home in the UTVRR format.

They compete in class QR1 in a RZR XP 900

Above: Team #433, Team Thompson in their new Arctic Cat Wildcat. This was team Thompson’s first UTVRR and makes up a two car paddock with Team #993 Outdoor Products.

Even though this was Team Thompson’s first UVTRR they managed to complete 13 laps in 3h 49m 56s, for 17th overall and 15th in their class.

In the 4hr Endurance race format, all the Arctic CatWildcat entries race in class QR1. The 2hr Sportsman class race is an open class race format for 2013.

Above: Team #123, Vulcan Racing working hard all day long. For Round 6, Vulcan Racing consisted of a two (2) UTV team, both vehicles are Polaris RZR XP 900s. Team # 123 competes in class QR1 in RZR XP 900.

With consistent results in most every round, Vulcan Racing was holding 5th place in the QR1 Championship going into Round 6.

Vulcan Racing recorded their first win in 2013 at Round 6 completing 16 laps in 3h 58m 25s.

Round 6 Action Shots

Above: Team #517, LCB in her very first UTVRR Sportsman Class race. This young lady performed excellently in her first race to complete 7 laps in 2h 09m 14s and take the 1st place medal.

Above: Team #58, Erickson, another new team to UTVRR getting to grips with the UTVRR format. This RZRs was piloted by our 2nd young female racer of the day. Due to a small electrical problem, they only completed 1 lap.

Above: Team #131, Tennessee in the much anticipated “Bad Kitty”Wildcat. Team #131’s UTV is truly a custom built race machine with a 180HP Z-1 Turbo Snowmobile engine, a full Chromoly frame, control arms and other parts built by NASCAR racer Greg Biffle and the team at Pace Off-road.

Round 6 was the Bad Kitty’s first outing and more of a Research and Development test event. Overall the BK performed well with a couple of small enhancements required before the next race.

Great work Team # 131!

Above: Team #461, Keyscrete piloted by Kappy for Round 6, hard on the gas as he makes his way through the first section. Team #461 competes in class QR1 in a Polaris RZR XP 900.

Heading into Round 6, Keyscrete were sitting 3rd place in the Southern Series Championship table with 95 points, only 2 points out of 2nd place.

Team #461 would finish the day in 5th place overall, 5th in their class with 15 laps in 3h 52m 41s.

Above: Team #07, Truett Insulation making their Southern Series debut in the Sportsman Class Race.

Truett Insulation have been racing in the Northern Series through 2013 and decided to make the trip down to AL and check out the Stony Lonesome track.

Solid lap time afforded Team #07 2nd place in the Sportsman race with 7 laps in 2h 11m 45s

Above: Team #113, Roberts Racing drifting perfectly through the fast flowing section 5. Sections of Stony Lonesome are very wide, flat and smooth which allows the drivers to really have some fun.

Roberts Racing competes in class QR1 in a Polaris RZR XP 900.

They would finish the day a very respectable 15th overall, 13th in their class with 14 laps in 3h 59m 15s.

Only 9 minutes separated places 9th through 15th.

Above: Team #612, Double E Racing hard on the tail of Team #433 Thompson Racing through section 5. Shortly after this picture, Team #433 opened the inner line and allowed Team #612 to pass.

Both teams compete in class QR1.

Team #612 finished the event in 3rd place overall, 3rd in his class with 15 laps in 3h 49m 10s

Coming into Round 6, Team #612 is 4th in the Southern Series Championship table with 85 points.

Above: Team #123, Vulcan Racing’s second vehicle piloted by Kent Upton on a flier of a lap.

Vulcan Racing were able to post very consistent lap times to be one of only two teams to complete 16 laps.

Interesting to note that both teams on 16 laps were dual vehicle teams. UTVRR rules mandate the drivers stop, swap transponder and start from a designated place by race control. Truly a great effort.

Above: Team #120, Ford Racing, working hard to keep in touch with 1st place.

This Round saw another teamed approach for Team #120. They combined with Northern Series racers Bellevue Racing to form a two vehicle team.

While the vehicle colors are unfamiliar to team #120, both drivers were inspired and finished 2nd overall, 2nd in their class with 16 laps in 3h 59m 39s, only 74 seconds out of 1st place!

Above: Another display of fast, controlled driving by a young driver.

Team #33, Maverick Racing pushing hard at full speed through a fast right hander in section 5.

Maverick Racing was one of three (3) Can-Am Mavericks racing in Round 6. This young team is beginning to dial in the mighty Maverick posting consistent lap times and completing the race round after round.

They finished 14th overall and 12th in their class completing 14 laps in 3h 56m 53s.

Above: Team #30, 3 Bambinos regaining momentum after a small “off” earlier in the event.

Team #30 typically races the Northern Series where he currently holds 5th place in the QR2 Championship table.

Round 6 was 3 Bambinos’s 3rd Southern Series race in 2013. Coming into this race they held 10th place in the QR2 Championship table.

They race in a Polaris RZRs

After another small accident they would finish the day 29th overall, 5th in their class with 6 laps in 1h 50m 05s

Above: Team #333, Donovan Builders leading over Team #53, TTC Racing in the early going.

This was both teams first UTVRR event, although Team #333 was racing in class QR2 in the 4hr race and Team #53 raced the 2hr Sportsman Class event.

Above: Team #213, Basch Bros Powersports pushing through the very technical section 10. This team dominates their QR2 class with consistent laps and very few mistakes.

Team #213 leads the current Southern Series Championship table in QR2. They would finish the day winning again and setting QR2 fastest lap with 13m 59.195s

Above: Team #137, TeamMean Green having a blast racing in the 2hr Sportsman Class event.

Normally a 4hr racer, Team Mean Green decided to try the 2hr race in their Arctic Cat Wildcat. Throughout the race they would change places with Team #517. After a small mechanical failure they would finish the day taking the 3rd place medal completing 6 laps in 1h 41m 24s.

Additionally, they set the fastest lap with a 15m 56.730s on their last lap.

Above: Team #316, CS Racing fighting adversity with a flat left front tire.

This driver managed to ease his UTV round an entire lap and back to his pit before making the tire change.

Heading into Round 6, CS Racing is in 2nd place in the Southern Series QR1 Championship table, only 2 points behind Team #312. Finishing the race was critical for CS Racing; keeping the pressure on Team #312 for the QR1 Championship.

Amazingly, Team #316 would finish 9th overall, 8th in their class with 14 laps in 3h 49m 28s

2HR SPORTSMAN CLASS

Round 6 of UTVRR’s Southern Series hosted the second test race of the 2hr SPORTSMAN class. This class is designed for racers that would prefer to not race a full 4hrs or for new racers that would like the opportunity to experience UTVRR at a reduced cost. Quantum Racing will continue to present the test phase of this new and exciting series at the Northern Series Round 7 event on September 7th as well as the subsequent Round 7 of the Southern Series on September 21st.

The overall race format will be consistent with the 4hr Endurance series, with the duration limited to 7 laps (typically completed in 2hrs). The Sportsman class racers will take the same grid format but will start the race after classes QR1, QR2 and QR3. The timing system and overall points format will not change. Any points awarded to racers in the Sportsman class series will not be combined with points in the 4hr Endurance QR1, QR2 or QR3 series.

Above: Team #517, LCB taking the 1st place medal in the 2hr event with 7 laps in 2h 09m 13s.

Above: Team #07, Truett Insulation taking the 2nd place medal in the 2hr event with 7 laps in 2hr 11m 45s

The Round 6 Race Results for each class are as follows:

OverallWinner of Round 6:
#123 Vulcan Racing – Polaris RZR XP 900 – 16 Laps – 3h 58m 25s

Class QR1:
1st – #123 Vulcan Racing – Polaris RZR XP 900 – 16 Laps – 3h 58m 25s
2nd – #120 Team Ford – Polaris RZR XP 900 – 16 Laps – 3h 59m 39s
3rd – #612 Double E Racing – Polaris RZR XP 900 – 15 Laps – 3h 49m 10s

Class QR2:
1st – #213 Basch Bros Powersports – Polaris RZR S – 15 Laps – 3h 57m 04s
2nd – #88 Tough Stuff Motorsports – Polaris RZR S – 14 Laps – 3h 54m 01s
3rd – #34 TSR Racing – Polaris RZR S – 13 Laps – 3h 54m 40s

Class QR3:
1st – #274 3G Motorsports – Polaris RZR 570 – 9 Laps – 3h 41m 16s
2nd – #222 H.O.R.S Racing – Yamaha Rhino – 1 Lap – 18m 56s

Sportsman Class:
1st – #517 LCB – Polaris RZR XP 900 – 7 Laps – 2h 09m 13s
2nd – #07 Truett Insulation – Polaris RZR – 7 Laps – 2h 11m 45s
3rd – #137 Team Mean Green – Arctic CatWildcat – 6 Laps – 1h 41m 24s

Overall Fastest Lap of Round 6:
#120 Team Ford – Polaris RZR XP 900 – 13m 46.090 seconds