Team ICON takes home THREE 2nd place finishes and FOUR Fast Lap awards in Sparks, NV!
August 13th-14th, 2016
ICON Vehicle Dynamics and Team ICON athletes had a wild weekend of action packed racing in Sparks, NV for Round 11 and Round 12 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series. Team ICON racers walked away with three 2nd place finishes and four Fast Lap awards after some intense battles on the racetrack. Jeremy McGrath, Brock Heger, and Eric Barron all managed to overcome adversity throughout the weekend to provide some very solid results.
The JM2 crew proved to have the spirit and “never give up” attitude all weekend long. The team had to change Jeremy McGrath’s Pro 2 motor on Friday, and then rebuild the entire front right side of the #2 after a massive qualifying crash on Saturday morning. Luckily Jeremy was unharmed and the JM2 crew (with some help from Team ICON Ultra4 racer Tom Wayes) was able to get the Maxxis, ICON Vehicle Dynamics, ICON Alloys Pro 2 ready for the race with only minutes to spare. Jeremy had this to say, “I was really surprised to even make the feature event today after that crash. I lost steering and jumped right over the K-rail rolling the truck on its side. The truck was struggling with a few issues in the race, but overall I’m happy with a 5th place finish today. I have got to give it up for my crew and the ICON Vehicle Dynamics guys, they worked really hard and were very efficient to get me back on the track today.” On Sunday, Jeremy drove the #2 truck hard to take home a 2nd place finish along with the Fast Lap award.
ICON Vehicle Dynamics Pro Lite driver Brock Heger drove amazing over the course of the weekend! Brock drove his blue #12 truck to the front of the class Saturday only to suffer a front left flat tire while making a pass for the lead. Brock managed to stay on the lead lap after changing the tire under a caution, however he was in 16th position with three laps to go. Brock surprised everyone by passing 15 of those trucks and taking home a 2nd place trophy and the Fast Lap award! On the podium Brock was asked how he pulled off the impossible to get past all of those trucks? Brock answered, “That was so much fun! I was laughing and smiling all the way around the track. I was really comfortable in my truck and Jeremy was on the radio giving me great advice where to go. There is no better feeling then passing the competition, I can’t wait for tomorrow!”
On Sunday, Brock started the Pro Lite race in the pole position and quickly pulled away from the competition, it was easy to see that he had the fastest truck on the track. Brock looked very comfortable starting and leading the field even with several red flags, cautions, and restarts. After one of the restarts Brock made a slight mistake, clipping the inside K-rail in turn 2 which caused a front flat tire. The Hot Pit crew was on it once again and got the #12 back on the track on the lead lap with only two laps left. Brock drove the wheels off the truck to work his way towards the front of the pack, but hooked a rut in turn one on the final lap which sent him for a two-wheeled ride spanning at least 40 feet before touching back down. Luckily Brock managed to save the truck, but ended up losing several positions and crossed the line for a hard fought 7th place finish and another Fast Lap award.
Team ICON’s Eric Barron put on a very solid performance throughout the weekend in his Toyota, ICON Vehicle Dynamics backed Pro 4. Eric started the weekend by laying down a 1st place qualifying run on Saturday morning which would put him in a great position for the main event. Eric was throwing down some fast laps and battling at the front of the pack until a flat tire forced him to pull into the Hot Pit. His crew quickly changed the tire which allowed the #32 truck to stay on the lead lap and gave him the chance to work his way back towards the front of the pack again. Unfortunately more tire issues plagued his #32 Pro 4 but he was still able to salvage a 5th place finish. On Sunday, Eric started the race in 6th position but fought his way up to 2nd behind the #17 of Carl Renezeder. As Eric was trailing behind the #17, Carl had a massive roll which sent him flying into the final turn causing a several lap full-course caution. After the track was clear and the green flag flew Eric got into a top three battle with only a few laps left in the race, after nearly driving the wheels off of his #32 Pro 4 he took home a 2nd place finish and the Fast Lap award.
After Rounds 11 and 12 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, both Team ICON/JM2 drivers Jeremy McGrath and Brock Heger are ranked in 3rd in the Pro 2 and Pro Lite classes. Be sure to look for Team ICON at the next LOORRS event September 23rd-24th in Lake Elsinore, CA!