After a disappointing result at the opening weekend of the Traxxas TORC series, Andrew Caddell and his Jenkins Brothers Racing team redoubled their already strong efforts and worked nonstop including 2 long, hard days of testing at the Crandon, WI facility to make the Traxxas Mopar Ram PRO Light truck ready for race wins and the all-important 2011 TORC PRO Light championship.
“The team made a bunch of changes and got the truck handling much better in between rounds 2 and 3” said Caddell. “We were close at Red Bud but just a little off where we wanted to be, combine that with the rollover in round 2 and we knew we had dug ourselves into a deep hole but this team stuck together and just went to work and I am so proud of them!”
After the rough opening weekend, Caddell was looking forward to getting back on the top of his game at a track that he had won in 2010 and had 3 Traxxas Maxx lap awards (races fastest lap) in 4 races.
The Crandon race weekend opened with a Friday practice that showed all the teams hard work was worth the effort as Andrew was fastest by over a half a second. Then later that day qualifying proved to be a little more difficult with some muddy conditions that saw the #43 PRO Light finish that session in 3rd position. “That is a disappointment to be sure” said Caddell. “But the conditions caught me off a little but starting 3rd here is not too bad with the land rush start so I think we are still in a good position for the race.”
After a discussion following qualifying and some concerns from Caddell regarding a feeling that the truck was laboring and just felt a little slow to him in certain areas of the track during qualifying, the team decided to replace the transmission and torque converter. “During our test here last week, we had a rock put a hole into the transmission oil cooler and we ran it a little low on fluid” remarked Caddell. “So after talking about it with the crew we decided to replace them.”
“We will not accept anything but 100% preparation for any of our trucks” commented JBR Team Manager, Ken Kincaid. “When Andrew commented on the odd feel of the truck, the crew worked until nearly midnight on Friday night after most teams had left the track to make sure we were ready for the race on Saturday and the crews hard work paid off.”
Andrew gridded in the 3rd position for famed land rush start and when the green flag fell, he jumped out to a good start but fell back going into turn one when a fellow competitor lost control in the freshly watered track and spun right in front of a full field of screaming PRO Light race trucks!
One truck hit him first and then even though Andrew did everything he could to miss him, he also got a small piece of the following truck. “I thought for just a second that I might make it through without damage but there were trucks everywhere!” said Caddell. “I barely clipped polesitter and fellow Traxxas driver CJ Greaves in his left rear as he hit somebody else.”
One driver did flip and end up stuck on the retaining wall/fence so the TORC officials had to red flag the race and a complete re-start was ordered as per the rule book.
Andrew’s truck however did sustain some damage in the contact and the rules state that nothing mechanical can be worked on buy the crew during the red flag. The JBR crew was able to see that a valve on the right front shock absorber reservoir was broken and would need to be replaced before the truck could be raced again. When the officials gave the OK and the red flag was replaced by a yellow flag, the crew went to work and got the truck repaired just in time for Caddell to join the field in his original starting spot for the second attempt at a start.
With the green flag, Caddell again got a great start and this time held it all the way into and through the high speed turn 1 with teammate Samuel Hübinette following close in second. Caddell quickly began building a lead that got wider with Hübinette starting to struggle with brake issues early in the event. Caddell kept driving as hard as possible and that built him a large lead by the TORC competition caution. Caddell got a great restart and had a 2 truck length lead by the first turn, quickly getting the truck up to full speed to pull away for his first win and second podium in a row.
"What a great day," exclaimed Caddell. "I knew we had a great truck, the BF Goodrich tires were perfect for the changing conditions today and even with the crash damage and fast repair on the King Racing Shocks, they still worked great and we still had a truck that out handled all the rest and it is fantastic to get our first win in the fight against childhood cancer with St. Jude Hospital’s Hospital, visit www.traxxas-stjudes.com to help in our race to win the race against cancer.
“The team made a bunch of changes before the race even with the truck already being fast, that's what is so good about this team is we don't settle” continued Caddell “we are always looking to get more out of the truck. I really can't wait to get to Charlotte and go for more wins!"
Crandon’s Round 4 on Sunday was cancelled due to torrential rain that saw the front straight flooded with no way to prepare it so even the hardy off road racers could race! In fact the only vehicles spotted on the track Sunday were Traxxas remote controlled boats running up the front straight!
Next up for Andrew Caddell, Jenkins Brothers Racing, and the rest of the TORC racers is July 22-23 in Charlotte, North Carolina, the heart of NASCAR country.
Andrew Caddell thanks all of his 2011 supporters including:
Traxxas - BFGoodrich Tires - AMSOIL - King Racing Shocks - Simpson - SafeRacer - Aimsports
Please support them!
To contact/follow Andrew Caddell:
- Website: http://www.andrewcaddell.com/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Andrew-Caddell/141189415939687
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/AndrewCaddell
About Traxxas
Traxxas, The Fastest Name In Radio Control®, is based in Plano, Texas. Traxxas is the leader in hobby-class, radio controlled models, and has been building the world's fastest Ready-To-Race® R/C vehicles for over 24 years. Traxxas models are sold exclusively in Hobby Stores, 4-Wheel Parts, and Pep Boys, or buy online at BuyTraxxas.com
About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Since the hospital was founded in 1962 by Danny Thomas, St. Jude's has made amazing advances in the treatment of pediatric diseases. In 1962, the survival rate for childhood leukemia was less than 5%; today, advances made by St. Jude Children's Hospital have ensured a survival rate of 94%. Other strides include Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (7% survival in 1962; 85% today) and brain tumors (10% in 1962; 85% today). At St. Jude's, no child is turned because of a family's inability to pay, so the support that comes from donations is essential.
To pledge your donation and help Andrew support this great cause,
please visit: https://www.traxxas-stjudes.com/ and pledge a one-time donation or pledge an amount based on Andrew's TORC series accomplishments!
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