INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 10, 2011) - With just a few days remaining until the final event of the 2011 Traxxas TORC Series, presented by AMSOIL, second-year off-road racer Andrew Caddell (Traxxas/Mopar/AMSOIL/BFG) carries the Traxxas PRO Light title belt into Texas this weekend - home of the Plano-based Traxxas company - for a big time celebration and some flat out racing at TORC's final competition of the 2011 racing season, Oct. 15-16, at Cycle Ranch MX Park in Floresville.
A relative newcomer to the sport of TORC-style short course off-road racing, Caddell was the runner-up in 2010's Traxxas PRO Light class - finishing off a thrilling season with a much-discussed run in with rival Casey Currie. The end result left Caddell hungry for more and a chance to improve upon his impressive 2010 rookie season stats of three wins, eight podium finishes and seven Traxxas Maxx Lap awards.
We caught up with the Graham, Wash., native as he prepares to make the trek to San Antonio in pursuit of two more wins and Traxxas Maxx Lap awards to put an exclamation point on his dominant 2011 season.
TORC Series: Andrew, congrats on your first-ever Traxxas TORC Series PRO class title. What's the plan for Texas this weekend?
Andrew Caddell: Going into Texas we have no pressure which lets us do whatever we really want to do. I know I want to get a couple more wins before the season is out and I'm sure the whole Jenkins Brothers team does as well so we are going to be pushing hard to get those wins and more Maxx Lap awards for the team and hopefully go out on a high note this year.
TORC Series: Last year the scenario was a bit different heading into the last race, rewind a bit and talk about that last TORC Traxxas PRO Light race, how that was on your mind during the off season and what your goals were heading into the summer of 2011.
Andrew Caddell: The end of last year was a bad deal for me. I felt like I let the championship slip away with being too nice in my first year. Over the winter I had a lot of time to think and I told myself that in 2011 I was going to be more aggressive but also try to not make mistakes. Our goals were simple heading into 2011 and that was win races and the championship. I knew I had the best team behind me now it was just up to me.
TORC Series: Heading into the final round at Texas' Cycle Ranch MX Park, and reflecting upon the TORC 2011 season, what was it that allowed you to carry such a lead into the final round?
Andrew Caddell: Consistency really let us get to where we are. I had ten podiums in a row starting at the 2nd RedBud race. The first couple were to get us back into the championship hunt after my wreck in the first RedBud race. Then everything went my way at Crandon, Bark River and Chicago where my championship rivals all had issues and allowed me to pull away more and more and ultimately wrap up the championship with three races to go.
TORC Series: And statistically speaking you led the Traxxas PRO Light class in every category - four wins, ten podiums and five Traxxas Maxx Lap Awards. Given your rivalry with Casey Currie heading into 2011, did you think you'd have such a dominant year stat-wise?
Andrew Caddell: I knew I had the team and truck to have a great year I just had to put it all together for them and we did everything right for those ten races to be consistent and pull away from the pack. I never dreamed of getting ten podiums in a row in such a tight class but everything fell right for me this year.
TORC Series: From the outside looking in, all signs point to your Saturday night run from last-to-2nd - twice! - at Charlotte being the turning point of your season, highlighted by a roll over, mid race hot pit and a spinout. It seemed at this point you really looked to have the Traxxas PRO Light field covered. Was that Charlotte race as important to you as it seemed from the press box?
Andrew Caddell: I think that Charlotte race kept us in the championship hunt but I knew we had to keep close in the championship there as the next five races were at my two best tracks which is where we were able to stretch the lead out more. But Charlotte 2 was a big race for us because we minimized the damage that could have come out of that race with a flip.
TORC Series: So you get to hop in the truck, mat the accelerator and stand with pretty girls on the podium. Must be nice. How about throwing some props out here to the guys who do all the heavy lifting - getting your Traxxas/Mopar/AMSOIL/BFG truck dialed and ready-to-race at the TORC rounds!
Andrew Caddell: Yeah the whole Jenkins Brothers team is amazing. They give me the equipment to win week in and week out I got the easy part of just going out and driving the truck. Rena my crew chief makes everything easy on me. I never go on the track worried about anything happening to the truck and it makes my job so much easier. All the guys at the shop I know have put time in on the new trucks and this year showed how great of a team we have!
TORC Series: Thanks, Andrew. Best of luck this weekend in Texas.
Andrew Caddell: Thank you. Look forward to seeing everyone out at the TORC finals at Cycle Ranch MX, including everyone from Traxxas HQ!
What: 2011 Traxxas TORC Series finals
Who: The nation's premier off-road drivers, including 2010 PRO champions former AMA Supercross champion Rick "RJ" Johnson along with off-road legends Johnny Greaves, Bryce Menzies, Rob MacCachren & Scott Douglas, along with Texas' Andrew Caddell and Mike & Mark Jenkins
Where: Cycle Ranch MX Park in Floresville, Texas
When: Oct. 15-16
Time: Gates open at 10 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday
Tickets: $25 single day, $40 two day available at www.torcseries.com Also, race fans six years old and younger and 65 and older all get in for no charge. All tickets include a FREE PRO PIT AREA PASS so you can get close to all the drivers for autographs!
Sanctioned by the United States Auto Club (USAC Racing), in conjunction with its corporate sponsors of The Off-Road Championship, more information is available on www.torcseries.com. Television coverage of "The Off-Road Championship" race in Floresville will be shown later this year on Discovery's HD Theatre.
Updates on TORC action are also available on Twitter.com/TORCMedia as well as TORC's official Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/TORCSeries
Andrew Caddell action photo by Mike Roth
About TORC
The Traxxas TORC Series, presented by AMSOIL, is the fastest, most punishing short course racing series on the planet! TORC events are packed with flag-to-flag fender banging as drivers push the limits over whoops and jump-filled natural terrain race tracks. Off-road racing fans come from far and wide to experience the most challenging form of high-octane competition. And once they taste TORC for the first time they're hooked for life!
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