Johnny Greaves Sweeps Traxxas TORC Series

Jul 19, 2009

Bark River, MI (July 13, 2009)-Johnny Greaves, the 6-time off road racing champion, was all smiles Sunday afternoon as he completed a weekend sweep of the 2009 TRAXXAS TORC Series Rounds 7 and 8. Dominating performances this weekend add important series points in his quest to reign as the TORC series champion.

The #22 Monster Energy/Toyota/Potawatomi Pro 4X4 was the class of the field on both race days. On Saturday’s Round 7 race, Greaves started in the second row and after just three laps behind the pole sitter, the Wisconsin native jetted to the front of the pack and never looked back. When the yellow midway caution lap came out, the field of Pro 4X4’s closed the gap on the Monster Energy off road racing superstar. However, as the field returned to green flag racing, the #22 charged out to a comfortable lead. Thousands of fans cheered as Johnny carved his line from the soft Michigan dirt enroute to yet another remarkable victory.

As he climbed from his Mastercraft race seat, the smiling Greaves said, "It's great to be back in the winner's circle! We've struggled a bit during the first half of the season, but the dedication from my Monster Energy/ Toyota/ Potawatomi team, along with our racing partners, have allowed us to get back into our winning forum. We had a testing session ten days ago and that help put us back on track. The season's only halfway over and we've got the crosshairs dialed in on the championship. It's a long way, but the #22 Monster Energy Pro 4 is charging hard."

Johnny Greaves set the fastest practice time around the 1.5 mile race course in Saturday's early morning practice and captured his first of two Oakley Bomb Awards that he earned in rounds 7 and 8.

Sunday's Round 8 race action saw the #22 Pro 4WD begin his charge for victory from the second row side-by-side with the Amsoil #7 truck. As the green flag dropped, the Wisconsin native wicked up the pace early and by the second lap, he had weaved through the field of Pro4X4's to take the lead.

Greaves pushed his #22 Monster Energy/Toyota/Potawatomi truck just to the edge as he opened up a two second lead on the 2nd place truck. Johnny's dazzling driving performance was exactly what the thousands of excited fans had come to the Bark River Raceway for. At the mandatory midway yellow caution flag, the chasing field of race trucks all bunched up behind the wicked fast Toyota-powered machine. The green flag dropped and Greaves railed around the 180-degree turn, holding off all racers and immediately jumping out to the front of the field. After one lap, Greaves had already established a one second lead, while running away from the field enroute to a dominating victory at Bark River Raceway.

On the podium, the smiling winner held up an ice cold can of Monster Energy Drink high into the sky celebrating a weekend sweep.

As Greaves signed hundreds of autographs in the Monster Energy/ Toyota/ Potawatomi Pit Zone, he commented, "Our team has really worked hard to get back into the winner's circle and the hard work has certainly paid off. We worked closely with our team engineers in getting this #22 Pro 4 back on track and winning certainly demonstrates the capabilities of the truck and our team. Bark River Raceway has always been a track that I enjoy racing at and I'm glad we could have our best performance of the season so far at Bark River."

Greaves winning ways has catapulted him into the second position in the race for the season championship. This past weekend of racing marks the halfway point of the season and with eight races to go the twenty points that separate the point's leader and Johnny Greaves is well within reach.

Monster Energy/Toyota/Potawatomi sponsored Johnny Greaves Motorsports returns to racing action in the 2009 TRAXXAS TORC Series on August 8-9 for Rounds 9 & 10 in Bark River, Michigan.