Off-Road Desert Racing's Stronghold Motorsports Moves Buggy to 1/1500 Class
- 11 Mar 2014
As the 2014 season neared, team Stronghold Motorsports was excited. Yes, they were eager to get back out there and embark upon the action packed sport of desert racing. But anticipation was a little more intense this season, as they were starting the year with a new car and were on the verge of competing in a new class. Last season, they competed in the 7200 class but this season they would be driving against those in the 1/1500.
The change of classes obviously lent to a few uncertainties. While racing in the 7200 class they grew accustomed to limitations in track width, wheel base and engine requirements, and no limitations come with the 1/1500. When asked what they would miss most about the previous class, one of the drivers answered, "It's a dream to run in an unlimited class. We are buggy dorks, so we'll not miss much of anything. We're anticipating stiff competition. After countless hours of hard work, testing and stringent preparation, the Stronghold crew headed to Parker, Arizona, where they would compete in the much anticipated first race of the season, the "Best in the desert Parker 425." The race would consist of three loop laps. Although the team always has aspirations of a victory, they were prepared to digest whatever came their way during this particular event, and rightfully so. They were acutely aware that new cars and new classes lent to somewhat of a learning curve, regardless of how many hours were spent in preparation. In fact, one would suspect that these circumstances lent to the mindset where finishing the race took priority over where they placed upon crossing the finish line. Going into the race, the plan was simple. Brandon Bailey; his father, Scott and veteran driver, Larry Job would share the driving responsibilities. The team ended the time trials 20th overall and sixth in their class. With the first segment of the competition behind them, they were satisfied with their performance.
As one would suspect, there were a few hitches here and there during the 425 mile race. In fact, the torque converter overheated during the second lap, and remained hot throughout the remainder of the race. And a broken throttle spring reared its ugly head during the event as well. Like their fellow competitors, the Stronghold Motorsports drivers were also plagued with extremely dusty conditions. In spite of a few obstacles here and there, team Stronghold was pleased with the outcome of the race. From the time the waving of the green signified the first race of the 2014 season underway, they fought tooth and nail until the checkered flag deemed the race over. And when the dust had settled, Stronghold racing had finished 16th overall and second in class. When asked if the team was satisfied with the outcome, Scott Bailey said, "This was the first race in the new car, so we are happy. With some testing and fine tuning it will be even better. With the car being so new, we wanted to come out and finish the race," he continued. "To end up second was a great way to start out in a new class." With the season ahead of them, Stronghold Motorsports is eagerly awaiting more battles in the weeks to come. When asked how important of a role each member of the team plays, Bailey said, "We do this as a team. I know there's some other good teams out there, but I have the best." The Stronghold crew is also aware of the importance of keeping their rig in optimal running condition. "Maintenance is the key," ensured the driver. We need to be able to finish races. We pride ourselves on preparation before the races, so we can be successful. That in mind, Stronghold Motorsports depends upon K&N products for their filtering needs, and have been using the products for five years. "Nobody's better," ensured Bailey in reference to K&N products' performance. We put a lot of stress on our cars and we know K&N filters helps us be successful, not only in the desert, but on short course also." With the 2014 season finally underway, the team at Stronghold Motorsports is an advocate of the mindset, "finish races, have fun and the results will come." When asked what fans can expect this season, Bailey concluded, "Showing up prepared to win and having fun." |
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