Press Release | November 3, 2019
Desert Racers Fight Through Dust, Rocks, and Cactus in AZOP Vulture Mine Off-Road Challenge
This is a race report provided by AZOP/ Story and Photos by Miller Truby…
With autumn shortening the days and lowering the temperatures in Arizona, AZOP brought racers back to beautiful Wickenburg for the second Vulture Mine hare scramble of the season on October 19-20, 2019.
Ever a competitor favorite, the 10th round of the 2019 Rowley White RV Series—presented by RideNow Powersports and SinFab Industries—promised a long, brutal desert loop more akin to Baja than to the short-course GP races that make up much of the AZOP season. And with the area around Wickenburg having been pounded by Arizona’s summer monsoon rains this year, the course was even more technical and nasty than it had been for the initial event of 2019 in January.
The full course loop totaled about 34 miles (trucks, buggies, and UTV’s ran a slightly shortened 29-mile lap) and was run in the opposite direction that racers were used to from previous events. The track offered the expected mix of fast, whooped-out sand, rocky climbs and descents, dry washes, and cactus-lined trails. And, of course, the slow-settling dust was an omnipresent hindrance; even in the slow sections.
With only one more points-paying event (two for the Trucks and Buggies) left in the season after this race, the class-leading competitors showed up all business looking to solidify their leads, or perhaps make a run at a vulnerable leader. While several of the classes are already decided, many others will be up for grabs right up until the final race of the season.
In the Vet 30+ B class, Darren Ben (732) holds a 31-point lead over Jacob Letner (83) with up to 60 points available in the final race of the season. Likewise, Tate Van Voorst (415 ) will go into the final weekend of the year holding a 39-point lead over Jarren Atwater (317) with up to 60 points available. And while Jake Moffat (343) has secured the Open C championship with a 67-point buffer, only 8 points separate Jacob Robinson (403) in second place and Lewis Wright (814) in third. The Pro Quad class is surprisingly undecided with only 35 points separating Koby Dodson (32) from second place Erin Simmons (1). Neither rider participated in the last several events so the final race of the season could become a showdown to determine who goes home with the year-end hardware.
AZOP next heads to Shorty’s Sports Park in Blythe, CA for the non-points-paying Shorty’s Slammer GP and Motocross race. The weekend will include a long-format team race, night racing for the UTV’s, and much more. Registration is open now!
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, visit www.azopracing.com.