Press Release | June 7, 2019
AZOP Racers Take Over Prescott Valley for Massive Memorial Day Weekend Grand Prix
Biggest race of the year brings nearly 400 off-road vehicles to the center of Prescott Valley
This is a race report provided by AZOP/ Story and Photos by Miller Truby
Off-road racing, like most forms of motorsport, is intended to be a spectacle, with talented drivers coaxing incredible machines through often unthinkable terrain; on paper, it should be just as much fun for those watching as it is for those competing. Unfortunately, the nature of these contests means that most off-road races are seen in tiny glimpses from spectator areas near the pits, or wherever the racecourse comes in close contact with public roads. With tracks that are often massive and remote, the bulk of most off-road racing action takes place outside the view of everyone except the racers themselves, the support crews, and a few lucky media members. But not so with round five of AZOP’s Rowley White RV Series in Prescott Valley on the long Memorial Day weekend!
With a race course built each year from scratch in an empty field in the center of town, the event, which was presented this year by Summit Jeep and Dragonfire Racing, provided excellent viewing opportunities for anyone and everyone. Mere steps from commercial shopping districts and city buildings and bounded by major roads and intersections, the action drew in both avid fans of the sport as well as curious onlookers. As has been the case for the last several years, the race promoters worked with the town of Prescott to advertise the event and sought out a long list of sponsors who provided cash payouts for more than half of the race classes, which in turn drew a huge turnout of competitors.
The 3-mile course put together in the week prior to the race by AZOP took advantage of the flat terrain by providing a variety of different corner shapes and styles punctuated by different sized tabletops, kickers, and an endurocross-style tire-jump section. The layout was simple enough that the novice classes could negotiate it safely, but provided ample opportunities for the pro and expert classes to get creative in how they approached the different sections. As a result, the racing was competitive and close all weekend, with very few blowout wins.
Saturday Motorcycle Race Results
Pro: 1. Conner Maxwell (022) 2. Miguel Cordovez (909) 3. Destry Abbott (066) Open A: 1. James Flynn (024) 2. Brian Perry (386) 3. Austin Alexander (95) Open B: 1. Dustin Queen (974) 2. Brandon Ybarra Hacker (313) 3. Nick Reynolds (158) Open C: 1. Kip Weglin (037) 2. Alejandro Cortez Jr. (372) 3. Tristen Bell (49) 125-250cc A: 1. Drake Hacker (214) 2. Tim Dana (104) 125-250cc B: 1. Kevin Fincher (032) 2. Kaden Bedlion (429) 3. Thomas Maynard (999) 125-250cc C: 1. Cole Haley (42) 2. Anthony Luna (700) 3. Zane Simmons (058) Vet 30+ A: 1. Dayton Raper (19) 2. Duane Hewitt (041) 3. Kyle Pethers (320) Vet 30+ B: 1. Darren Ben (732) Vet 30+ C: 1. Jaise Koester (006) 2. Tim Finnegan (434) Senior 40+ A: 1. Jay Jewell (77) Senior 40+ B: 1. Jeremiah Schnurpel (43) 2. Andrew Smallhouse (254) 3. Damian Lys (157) Senior 40+ C: 1. Dallas Brown (144) 2. Lewis Stephan (930) 3. Juan Rivas (5) Master 50+ A: 1. Gary Peterson (59) Master 50+ B: 1. Rich Schauwecker (002) 2. Richard Heyer (311) 3. Mark Williams (365) Super Senior 60+: 1. Curt Jensen (112) 2. Richard Green (75) PeeWee 50cc 4-6 Years: 1. Brayden Almendarez (187) 2. Hayden Griffith (723) 3. Jayce Tracy (301) PeeWee 50cc 7-8 Years: 1. Kaycee Curley (238) 2. Ryder Yates (153) 3. Kash Schmidt (898) Mini 65cc A: 1. Marley Kuhn (21) Mini 65cc B: 1. Landan Prentice (036) 2. Tristin Andrade (2) 3. Edwardo Panic (13) PeeWee 65cc C: 1. Tiernan Finnegan (910) 2. Bryton Burke (003) 3. Aayden Tracy (308) Mini 80-150cc A: 1. Cody Reyes (138) 2. Keegan Hardy (381) 3. Brett West (532) Mini 80-150cc B: 1. Jacob Jewell (78) 2. Danny Baca (48) 3. Kaden Greenfield (260) Mini 80-150cc C: 1. Colson Skersick (413) 2. Clayton Hixon (130) 3. Demarco Dugi (362) Women’s C: 1. Kiersten Canales (602) 2. Sonya Seale (008) 3. Caidyn Breaux (330) Vintage: 1. Mike Blume (667) 2. Louis Phay (055) 3. Raymond Konkel (020) Pull-Start Pit Bikes: 1. Jason Williams (45) 2. Nick Scara (2) 3. Jonathan Bennett (55) 50cc Pit Bikes: 1. Jesse Ruiz (8) 2. Wyatt Moore (154) 65-110cc Pit Bikes: 1. Clay Peterson (1111) 2. Casey Johnson (420) 3. Drew Shultz (11) 50-110cc Quad Pit Bike: 1. Brandon Ybarra (313).
Sunday Motorcycle Race Results
Pro: 1. Miguel Cordovez (909) 2. Mitch Anderson (018) 3. Cody Miller (987) Open A: 1. James Flynn (024) 2. Brian Perry (386) 3. Mark Gent (717) Open B: 1. Robert Glines (056) 2. Jay Kessner (052) 3. Dustin Queen (974) Open C: 1. Alejandro Cortez Jr. (372) 2. Jake Moffat (343) 3. Damian Otero (009) 125-250cc A: 1. Drake Hacker (214) 2. Tim Dana (104) 3. Austin Bott (113) 125-250cc B: 1. Kaden Bedlion (429) 2. Thomas Maynard (999) 3. Colton Edwards (29) 125-250cc C: 1. Logan Downland (017) 2. Joe Miller (053) 3. Anthony Luna (700) Vet 30+ A: 1. Dayton Raper (19) 2. Jon Froust (553) 3. Michael Whiteley (754) Vet 30+ B: 1. Jordan Luke (72) Vet 30+ C: 1. Raymond Collins (9409) 2. Justin Downing (064) 3. Robert Melton (348) Senior 40+ A: 1. Jay Jewell (77) Senior 40+ B: 1. Andrew Smallhouse (254) 2. Cory Bott (613) Senior 40+ C: 1. Lewis Stephan (930) 2. Gary Mortimer (120) 3. Robert Scott (044) Master 50+ A: 1. Gary Peterson (59) Master 50+ B: 1. Rich Schauwecker (002) 2. Richard Heyer (311) PeeWee 50cc 4-6 Years: 1. Brayden Almendarez (187) 2. Hayden Griffith (723) 3. Jayce Tracy (301) PeeWee 50cc 7-8 Years: 1. Ryder Yates (153) 2. Jeffery Rogers (7269) 3. Tanner Cabral (070) Mini 65cc A: 1. Marley Kuhn (21) Mini 65cc B: 1. Tristin Andrade (2) 2. Edwardo Panuco (13) 3. Owen Wesley (928) PeeWee 65cc C: 1. Aayden Tracy (308) 2. Tiernan Finnegan (910) 3. Luke Johnson (80) Mini 80-150cc A: 1. Cody Reyes (138) 2. Keegan Hardy (381) 3. Brett West (532) Mini 80-150cc B: 1. Chase Boyd (4) 2. Jacob Jewell (78) 3. Kaden Greenfield (260) Mini 80-150cc C: 1. Clayton Hixon (130) 2. Colson Skersick (413) 3. Jason Trubey (66) Women’s C: 1. Sonya Seale (008) 2. Ellie Koester (93) 3. Grace Vinagro (191) Vintage: 1. Mike Blume (667) 2. Larry Selby (057) 3. Gary Elsner (054).
As always AZOP would like to thank all of the sponsors, staff, volunteers, racers, and spectators for making this another successful and fun weekend of racing. For full race results, videos, and photos or to find out about upcoming events go to www.azopracing.com.