August 9-11, 2024 (Bark River, MI)–As the season winds down, a lot was on the line as the Greaves Duo headed to the big track at Bark River International Raceway.
Johnny Greaves said about the track, “It is a fun track to race fast but also technical.”
The make-or-break weekend could swing the points battle in all three classes for CJ Greaves. A makeup race was held on Friday for the round 5 rainout in Crandon. The pit was a busy place for the popular Greaves team with 4-vehicles running in 9 races. CJ snuck out of Bark River holding the points lead in all three classes he runs. Johnny edged back into the 3rd place spot in Pro-4.
Pro Stock SXS
Friday: The races on Friday were a makeup for the rainout in round at Crandon. CJ Greaves continues to be the dominate force in Pro Stock Side-by-Side. He was the top qualifier but road around between 6th and 4th in the first half of the race, preparing for the second half of the race.
On the restart following the competition caution, he quickly went on the attack. He went around Kernz in turn one and set his sights on the front runners, Bootle and Truett. The top two were battling and went side-by-side in the turn which swept them wide and CJ was able to take advantage and ducked inside of the two, taking over first place. From there, he checked out. Leading all the way to the checkered flag to claim his 5th win in a row.
Saturday: The faithful Bark River fans came out on the cool windy day Saturday watch off-road racing at its best. CJ qualified first in his Monster Energy Polaris RZR. He made it through turn one third from the front with Bootle tried to make a pass on him. He made contact with CJ’s right rear tire. The tire eventually went flat and CJ pulled into the hot pits for a quick tire change. The crew was able to get him back on the track on the lead lap just as the competition caution flag flew. CJ hustled his car around the track to join the field before the restart.
When racing resumed, CJ began to pick off one car after another. With one minute to go, he had made his way up to 6th. One of the front runners spun out which moved CJ up one more spot. On the final lap, he was able to pass Kosmecki to claim 4th place but ran out of time to hit the last podium spot.
Sunday: CJ rolled off from the front row for Sunday’s Pro Stock SXS race with 12 cars making the start. CJ went straight to the lead when the green flag flew. Letourneau and Owen Van Eperen were fighting hard for the 2nd place spot. While he battled, CJ pulled away to a good lead which he held to the mid point of the race.
He led the field to the green flag and checked out. He led wire-to-wire to take his 6th race out of the last 7 races. He also stretched his lead to 38 points.
Pro SXS
Friday: The makeup SXS race on Friday kicked off a full weekend of racing at the Bark River track in the upper peninsula of Michigan. The 4-wheel drive side-by-sides rolled down the hill to turn one holeshot with CJ taking the 3rd with Owen and Bootle in front. The top 3 checked out from the field ahead of the competition caution.
On the restart, Andrew Carlson passed CJ but would eventually pull off the track with mechanical issues. CJ grabbed 2nd from Owen VanEperen. At this point, Jeb Bootle had a huge lead. He took the win and CJ came in 2nd. The finish handed the points lead over to CJ.
Saturday: CJ was looking to add a few more points to his lead in the standings in Saturday’s Pro SXS racing action. He rolled off from the 3rd row but quickly landed in the top 5 after Chaney biked his machine while in the lead. Baker and Carlson were battling hard up front with CJ in 4th. The top 4 pulled away from the rest of the field as they reached the halfway point of the race.
CJ made a smooth pass on Bootle in cemetery turn and went after Carlson to continue his move to the front. He made the pass as the exited the flyaway. Unfortunately, with less than 2 minutes to go in the race, something broke on CJ’s frontend that sent him off track and into the K-rail. With 2 laps to go, Carlson also had mechanical problems that took him out of the race, preserving CJ’s points lead.
Sunday: Hoping to rebound from Saturday’s problems, the team had CJ’s Monster Energy Polaris raring to go on Sunday. Carlson beat CJ to turn one to ride around in 3rd before the competition caution.
On the restart, CJ made the move to take 2nd from Carlson. Bootle had a substantial lead but CJ was content to hold that position for a while. With less than a minute to go, Carlson experienced more mechanical problems which expanded CJ’s points lead. He finished the race in 2nd and completed the weekend’s racing with a 25 point lead in the standings heading into the final round of racing.
Pro-4
Friday: The Greaves Duo had some tough going in Dirt City and were ready to take on the “fun, fast, and technical” 1.5 mile Bark River track. CJ started on the front row and Johnny on row 2. Jimmy Henderson took the early lead with CJ, Cenni, Carlson, and Johnny G in tow. The first half of the race was fairly tame with Johnny moving up one spot into 4th before the competition caution. He grabbed another position as Cenni had to pull into the pit for a tire change.
As the powerful Pro-4’s screamed through cemetery turn, CJ was setting up to make his move for the lead. He surged ahead in the gravel pit turn. After a few skirmishes, Greaves Monster Energy /Toyo Tire /Vision Wheel /Toyota began to stretch his lead and took the win. Johnny also landed on the podium in 3rd.
Saturday: With a nice points lead, CJ went into the Saturday race in protection mode. He started deep in the field on row 3 and Johnny on row 4. They both settled-in at the back of the field early in the race. Cole Mamer hit a rut and rolled over landing on his roof, bringing out a full course caution. This served as the competition caution.
On the restart, CJ began his move to the front. Baker’s machine broke leaving CJ and Carlson battling for 2nd behind Jimmy Henderson. Adrian Cenni crashed and rolled over the K-rail. It brought out a local caution that slowed the top trucks. CJ got a great run up Taco Bell hill and nearly passed Carlson in the air with a 200 foot jump off the flyaway. He eventually made the pass in GoPro corner to take possession of 2nd place. By then, Henderson had a comfortable lead. CJ finished 2nd and Johnny finished 4th, just off the podium.
Sunday: Every truck entered turn one at the same time in Sunday’s final race. Carlson and Cenni got together and Jimmy Henderson took the lead followed by CJ and Johnny Greaves. Trucks began to drop out as the laps wound down to the competition caution.
In the second half of the race, CJ and Johnny stayed with Henderson but were not going to do anything to jeopardize the points they were gaining. With only 4 trucks still on the track at the end of the race, Henderson took the win with CJ in 2nd followed by Johnny Greaves in 3rd.
Next race: Round 13, Polaris World Championship Races, and Crandon Cup Race August 30-31, 2024 at Crandon International Raceway in Wisconsin.