Antigo, WI (June 5, 2022) —The off-season brought some significant changes to Greaves Motorsports with the move to a new UTV brand, Polaris Racing and several others, joining longtime partners: Monster Energy, Toyota, TRD, Vision Wheel, and Maxxis Tire. CJ Greaves is running in both the Pro Turbo SxS UTV Class and Pro Stock UTV as well as defending his Pro4 championship. After months of building, testing, and planning, the Greaves Duo headed to the Antigo Lions Roaring Raceway in Antigo, WI to kick-off the 2022 Championship Off-Road Racing Series season. It took less than a lap for the racers to knock the cobwebs off and get down to business when rounds 1 and 2 got underway.
In a repeat performance of last year’s season opener in Antigo, CJ took his Monster Energy Toyota Maxxis Tire to the top spot in both races for a clean sweep of the Pro4 class. Getting the feel for his new UTV rides, he finished 2nd in both Pro Stock SXS UTV races. His new Polaris RZR dominated the first half of the Pro Turbo SXS until a flat left him with a lot of ground to make up in the 2nd half of the race. He worked his way back up to 5th before the end of the race. Bad luck on the final lap in Sunday’s race as he suffered mechanical issues while running in 3rd.
A flat tire also plagued Johnny Greaves in Saturday’s Pro4 race but he managed a 4th place finish. A lot of early contact on Sunday finally took its toll on Johnny’s number 22 Monster Energy/Toyota that took him off pace in the final laps. He was 1 of only 5 trucks that finished the race.
Pro Stock SXS UTV
Saturday: CJ mounted his new Polaris RZR stock side-by-side UTV understanding there would be a learning curve as he transitioned into the new setup. When the green flag flew unleashing the 20 hungry UTV’s, CJ Greaves went to work. Rolling off from the 3rd row, he quickly moved into the top 3 with Brock Heger taking the lead. With Heger checking out from the field, CJ battled Cenni and Marquardt to eventually take sole possession of 2nd place. Heger went on the take the win followed by CJ Greaves and Jack LeTourneau.
Sunday: The race on Sunday was basically a repeat of Saturday. A couple of crashes brought out the caution flag early but the race settled down until the late laps. The top 4 cars checked out from the rest of the field with Heger once again taking a commanding lead and CJ following in a distant 2nd.
With 2 laps to go, another caution gave CJ the opportunity to make a late race charge. On the restart, CJ stuck the nose of his Polaris inside of Heger’s machine but he was not able to make the pass. CJ stayed close but ended the race in the runner up position on the podium.
Pro Turbo SXS UTV
Saturday: CJ jumped right to the lead and checked out in his first Pro Turbo SXS UTV race. He pulled away to a more than 4 second lead over the 20 car field. Just before the competition caution, he had a flat and had to pull into the hot pits for a tire change during the caution laps. He was able to restart on the lead lap but in the back of the field and a lot of ground to make up.
On the restart, rollovers and spinouts brought out another caution. In spite of the mayhem in front of him, CJ was able to battle back to finish in the top 5.
Sunday: CJ started on row 5 beside Brock Heger for the 2×2 rolling start in Sunday’s Pro Turbo UTV race. CJ fought hard to stay in the top 3 and was battling hard with only 2 laps to go, he suffered a mechanical issue that took him out of the race on the final lap.
Pro 4
Saturday: The Greaves Duo put their Monster Energy/Toyota/Maxxis Tire/Vision Wheel Pro 4×4’s on the grid once again. Johnny with over 100 wins to his credit and CJ back to defend his 2021 championship, showed no signs of letting up and looking like their Pro4 program is as strong as ever.
CJ started on the front row, fellow Monster driver Kyle LeDuc on row 2, and Johnny Greaves’ legendary number 22 on row 3. CJ lead the 9 truck field through lap 1. Andrew Carlson rolled his machine bringing out the caution. Carlson was able to continue in the race.
On the restart, CJ continued to lead and Johnny was making up ground riding in 4th. CJ and LeDuc battled hard up front while maneuvering through the increasingly rough track conditions. Johnny developed a flat and had to have a quick tire change which he accomplished during the competition caution.
After a brief door to door battle with LeDuc, CJ checked out. LeDuc and Henderson got together which toppled LeDuc’s machine on its side. He was able to continue and ended the race in 3rd. CJ cruised on to take his first win of the season. Johnny finished in 4th.
Sunday: CJ Greaves and Kyle LeDuc started on the front row and Johnny row 3. The 3 Monster Energy trucks were up front with Kyle and CJ putting on a show for the capacity crowd at Antigo. The driving was aggressive at first but began to settle down as CJ patiently saved his truck for the 2nd half. Kyle was in the lead but biked his machine allowing CJ to narrow the gap. With Johnny now in 4th, LeDuc had a right rear flat. CJ was way out in front but the competition caution reset the field. LeDuc made the tire change and rejoined the group a lap down. He restarted ahead of CJ with hopes that a caution would put him back on the lead leap. Adrian Cenni had a bad crash which brought out the caution with 3 laps to go in the race. On the restart, Johnny Greaves and Andrew Carlson traded paint. The contact put Johnny off pace for the remainder of the race. This allowed LeDuc to take 2nd but was later docked a position to end in 3rd. CJ completed the weekend sweep with his 2nd win.
Next up for the Greaves Duo and the Championship Off-Road series in the Forest County Potawatomi Brush Run at Crandon International Raceway on June 25-26th.