CJ Starts Season with Win, Johnny & CJ Survive Pro-4 Madness in TORC ’15 Season Opener

texas-4
CJ Greaves wins Pro-2 in Texas

Ft. Worth, TX (April 27, 2015) – The Monster Energy/Toyota/Maxxis Tire team of Johnny and CJ Greaves made their way to TORC – The Off-Road Championship for what turned out to be a Texas one night stand. Rain pounded the deep South washing away any chance for racing on Friday night. Clear skies returned on Saturday leaving the storms to take place on the track for Round 2. The team fielded 3 trucks once again, this time CJ defending his 2014 championship in the Monster Energy Pro-2 and also joining his dad in the Pro-4, with an all new, orange and black Maxxis sponsored truck. CJ took his first win of the season in Pro-2, leading from lap 1 to the end. He made a great showing in Pro-4 too but a flat tire took him out of contention. Johnny, also the returning champ, pulled his trademark come from behind trick twice in the Pro-4 race and put his number 22 Monster Energy/Maxxis Tire Toyota on the podium in second place.

Saturday’s racing was wild and crazy. The track was dry but the rich Texas soil presented a challenge to the drivers as deep ruts formed early and worsened as the races progressed. That, along with a couple of really tight infield, hairpin turns, created a lot of opportunities for fireworks as the racers were constantly trying to run over each other in the turns.

Pro2

Saturday: CJ was up first in his number 33 Monster Energy / Maxxis Tire / Toyota and wasted no time proving his 2014 championship was no fluke. He lined up on row 2 and took the lead after just two turns on lap one. He dominated the rest of the race and held his lead through a second half challenge by Keegan Kincaid. CJ took the win followed by Kincaid in second and Marty Hart in third. Marty is racing on Chad Hord’s team this year.

Pro4

The Pro-4 race was loaded with fender banging and mayhem. CJ lined up on the front row while Johnny started from the very back row for the 2-by-2 rolling start. The first half of the race was fairly tame with Johnny and CJ running 1 and 2 much of the time. The chaos started after the competition caution.

Scott Douglas jumped the green flag and ducked underneath CJ, taking second and immediately on Johnny’s bumper. Mike Jenkins got into CJ sending him off the track momentarily and shuffling him back a spot. On the next lap, Johnny spun-out at the entrance to the infield hairpin turns which sent him the rear of the pack. Scott Douglas took the lead. Later, Johnny and CJ battled for 3rd, even making contact at one point.

Johnny and CJ battle for position in Texas
Johnny and CJ battle for position in Texas

On lap 15, CJ made the pass on Jenkins, but as the 3 were nose-to-tail in the infield section, Johnny made an inside move to pass both Jenkins and CJ. On the last turn however, Johnny got a little out of shape and had to check up. As CJ waited for the elder Greaves to gather it up, Jenkins was able to go around the two Greaves and back into second and leaving Johnny to battle back from the back once again. Chad Hord was able to take advantage of the collision to move into third.

CJ’s right rear tire began to go flat from the earlier contact with Jenkins so he wisely backed off and salvaged valuable points. Johnny was able to battle back and take second on the white flag lap which is where he finished.

Johnny celebrates his 2nd place finish in Texas
Johnny celebrates his 2nd place finish in Texas

“I knew the war starts after the yellow [competition caution],” said Greaves in his post-race interview. “We salvaged what could have been a disaster this weekend with all the rain and hopefully we put on a show.”

Next on the schedule is the “Rumble on the River” at Gateway Motorsports Park in St. Louis, MO, on May 16-17.

2015 TORC Series

Round# DateTrack / Location
1Apr 24Texas Motor Speedway (Dallas, TX)
2Apr 25Texas Motor Speedway (Dallas, TX)
3May 16Gateway Motorsports Park (St Louis, MO)
4May 17Gateway Motorsports Park (St Louis, MO)
5June 18Chicagoland Speedway (Chicago, IL)
6June 19Chicagoland Speedway (Chicago, IL)
5June 27Crandon Intl Off Road Raceway (Crandon, WI)
6June 28Crandon Intl Off Road Raceway (Crandon, WI)
7July 10Charlotte Motor Speedway (Charlotte, NC)
8July 11Charlotte Motor Speedway (Charlotte, NC)
5Aug 4Buffalo Chip PowerSports Complex (Sturgis, SD)
6Aug 5Buffalo Chip PowerSports Complex (Sturgis, SD)
9Aug 15Bark River Intl Raceway (Bark River, MI)
10Aug 16Bark River Intl Raceway (Bark River, MI)
13Sept 5Crandon Intl Off Road Raceway (Crandon, WI)
14Sept 6Crandon Intl Off Road Raceway (Crandon, WI)