Crandon, WI-June 20-21–The much anticipated return. of CJ Greaves took place this past weekend at the FCP Brush Run Races at Crandon International Raceway in Crandon, Wisconsin. There was a shakeup in the schedule putting the Pro-4’s on track on Saturday morning. Several downpours left the track muddy and unpredictable. However, the legendary Crandon track crews worked their magic and gave all the races decent track conditions.
Pro-4
Saturday: CJ was the top qualifier and Johnny started 3rd in the 7 truck field. The racing was fierce from the get-go following the landrush start with plenty of contact to go around. CJ shredded a tire on the first lap and went straight to the hot pit for a tire change. The crew made quick work with a new Toyo tire and got him back on track on the lead lap. Meanwhile Johnny was battling hard from the 3rd spot. Micky Thomas was in the lead followed by Henderson in 2nd. At the competition caution, CJ caught up with the field. Just before the competition caution, Thomas experienced mechanical problems and stopped short of the start/finish line and could not continue. This moved Jimmy Henderson into the lead and Johnny Greaves into 2nd. CJ would restart from the rear of the pack. He began to move up positions as attrition continued to narrow the field. Adrian Cenni had a right front flat. CJ passed Maymer and the Duo was stacked up 2nd and 3rd until Henderson shredded his left rear tire. The Duo made quick work of him putting Johnny in the lead with CJ in tow. The father/son duo were left to duke it out. The family quarl ended up with CJ ducking inside of the elder Greaves making light contact and Johnny ended up with a flat. CJ took the lead and his first win of the season. Johnny rounded out the podium with a 3rd place finish.
Saturday Evening: The rain delay pushed the Pro-4 races to a late start at 8:30 PM. CJ won the drag race to FCP Turn One with Johnny not far behind in 3rd. Johnny and Henderson mixed it up early, trading licks and going side-by-side. Johnny prevailed while CJ checked out. Henderson was able to eventually pass Johnny. Meanwhile, Micky Thomas was gaining ground on CJ leading up to the competition caution. After the restart, CJ Thomas and Henderson went 3-wide at the start/finish line. Thomas and Henderson passed CJ but he was able to battle back to 2nd in Calamity Corner to take the checkered flag.
Pro Stock SXS
Saturday morning: Racing resumed after a weather delay but the track still had some standing water on it. The Pro Spec and Buggy races helped push the mud down. CJ’s Monster Energy Polaris RZR was 2nd on the line for the landrush start. CJ emerged from the turn one holeshot in 8th after lap 1. Someone got into him but CJ saved it and made it up to 6th before the competition caution at the halfway point. With less than 2 minutes remaining he was unable to improve and in fact lost one spot to finish 7th.
Sunday: CJ was on the pole for the 15 car Stock SXS race on Sunday, but David Gay took the holeshot and the early lead. A brief rain shower made the early race conditions a little treacherous. CJ was in 4th and showing patience as the track got better. The top 4 pulled away from the rest of the field to end the first half of the race. On the restart CJ went to work on Kirchmeier and Gay. Bootle had his Polaris RZR in the lead as he took the checkered flag. CJ had to settle for a hard fought 4th place finish.
Pro SXS
Saturday: CJ lined up number 2 in the 18 car field of side-by-sides. He didn’t get the holeshot but muscled his way into 3rd in Calamity Corner with Wolff in the lead followed by Bootle. He went to work on Bootle, passing him with a slide job and headed for Wolff. The top 2 pulled away from the rest of the field at the mid-race caution.
On the restart, CJ made a great inside move on Wolff in the Argon Turn to take the lead on the final lap. CJ went on to take his first SXS win of the season. Thanks to Robert Loire for filling in for CJ and keeping him in the points race. CJ was able to move up a spot in the standings to 3rd place.
Sunday: With a lot of water still on the track, lap one was marred with mayhem all over the track. CJ was also caught up in the mayhem when another car knocked him into the k-rail at the tight start/finish line turn, landing him on his side in the middle of the track. He was then struck by Collin Truett ending his race.
FCP Community Cup Race
The always exciting Forest County Potawatomi Community Cup Race which is Pro-2 vs Pro-4. The Pro-2’s got a 35 second head start on the Pro-4’s. Ricky “G” got the holeshot and the lead early in the Pro-2’s. CJ was out front of the Pro-4’s. Johnny got a flat early and exited the race. CJ was on rails and caught the tail end of the Pro-2’s by lap 8 of the 10 lap race. With only a couple laps remaining, CJ spun out and hit the k-rail in Calamity Corner that took him out of the race that was looking like an easy win for him. There was only 1 Pro-4 left on the track at the end fo the race.