Torchmate Racing Brad Lovell Takes Overall Win at BRT Desert Race, Jesse Haines Wins Cal-Neva Extreme and Tyler Thomas and Matt Shrive Compete at 2011 Arctic Man

CC | April 14, 2011

Torchmate Racing had drivers at every aspect of the country last weekend. In Texas, Brad Lovell made history taking the Overall Win at the BRT Blackwelll 250 Desert Race in an Ultra4 car. Rock Crawler Jesse Haines took the Unlimited Class win at the Cal-Neva Extreme event in Reno, NV successfully completing every bonus line. In Alaska, Torchmate Racing Tyler Thomas and Matt Shrive raced in the 2011 Arctic Man where their hopes of leaving with the win got cut short when Shrive crashed at speeds over 50mph on his snowboard.

Brad Lovell: While the Trophy Trucks and Class 1 cars started at the front of the pack, Brad Lovell drew the last starting position of the Ultra 4’s with nothing to lose and a lot of dust to fight. “Our plan was to hold a strong pace and never stop,” commented Brad. “The dust was bad but we stayed patient. The engine went sour right off the start but hung in there.” As the laps ticked away, Lovell climbed to the front of the Ultra 4 class before facing fuel issues. “We had problems in the fuel cell and had to stop for fuel every 20 miles. It kept getting worse and we were barely able to make left turns without starving the engine.” While the pit crew made preparations to fix the problem, the decision was made to take a gamble and keep moving at all costs. The team played their cards right and the truck lost all fuel supply 50-feet after crossing the finish line. While the team did have difficulties in the race, they proved just how competitive an Ultra4 can be in the desert.

Lovell continues, “We kept trading positions with a trophy truck and were the exact same speed for 2 laps. We passed a couple fast cars and must have gotten the others in the pits. I’m proud to show the desert guys what Ultra 4 racers can do.” The victory was the team’s first in nearly a year and gives the #232 AMSOIL Torchmate Ranger wins in rockcrawling, rock racing, hill climbing, and now desert racing.

Jesse Haines: Seven Unlimited Rock Crawl teams showed up to compete at Cal-Neva event where each course has 3 gates and 2 bonus lines. “On Day 1 we were the only team to complete every bonus line from all 4 courses, which helped propel Team Torchmate to a 16 point lead at the end of the day,” said Jesse Haines. Day 2 started off a little more shaky taking a cone and a few extra backs on the first 2 courses, adding points to the lowest score wins. “After the slow start we were able to get back on track and nail the next course and when we began our last course we knew exactly what we needed to do to win. Everything on that course went exactly as planned and we drove through the end gate with a 10 point win!” smiles Haines. Throughout the weekend they were able to complete every bonus line attempted. There were 16 bonuses, but they only attempted 15 in competition. “It was by far the wildest, most difficult bonus line, and I was disappointed we didn’t get to try it. So, in true spirit, after the unlimited class finished, AJ and I attempted that last bonus line,” said Haines. They battled the bonus line for over 20 minutes while fans watched in amazement as they climbed the 50 foot technical climb. “The climb was so difficult that at the awards presentation I told teams that if anyone can make that bonus line during their 10 minutes on course at the next event I will give them $1000. I’m hoping a few sponsors will step up as well making the bounty even larger.”

Tyler Thomas & Matt Shrive: A combination of downhill snowboarding and snowmobiling, Arctic Man is a 5.5 mile race that only takes 4.5 minutes to complete. Matt Shrive, X-Games and World Cup snowboarder, started at the top of the 5,800ft mountain and dropped 1,700ft within two miles into a canyon. When Shrive hit the canyon, Tyler Thomas successfully got the handle to him on his Polaris RUSH 600 and they quickly maintained speed. “It is the most physically demanding thing I have ever done,” said Shrive. “Crossing the rooster tail of the sled was gnarly and getting hit by ice at speed while trying to hang on was a huge challenge.” Their high hopes of leaving with the win and a finish got cut short when Shrive crashed at speeds over 50mph on his snowboard. “I am ok, but it completely knocked the wind out of me,” recalls Shrive. “I was trying to help the snowmobile in the turn and when I crossed the rooster tail I got sucked in and thrown down.” Luckily Thomas looked back and immediately stopped to help get his teammate up in attempt at a finish. The unfortunate turn of events gives the team even more motivation to come back in 2012. Both Thomas and Shrive agree that this competition was among the top level of intensity, and not only physically demanding but mentally as well.

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Torchmate CNC Cutting Machines can be purchased and more information can be found at www.Torchmate.com

About Torchmate : Torchmate CNC Cutting Systems has been bringing affordable CNC plasma cutting tables and other automation solutions to manufacturers worldwide for over 30 years, and have now extended their product line to include a 2×2 table suitable for any fabricators’ garage. Torchmate Racing has supported the offroad racing community through marketing partnerships and putting their key employees behind the wheel of the best equipment. The Torchmate Racing Team is currently involved in racing a Class 6 in the SCORE Baja series and BITD, a Rock Crawler in CalRocs and W.E. Rock, an Ultra4 racer and also support multiple racers in other series including CHCA, TORC, LOORRS and Dirt Track. Please join the thousands that are already part of the Torchmate family. Call toll free today at (866)571-1066 or internationally at (775) 673-2200 and let one of the trained CNC professionals guide you through every step of the CNC cutting process. www.torchmate.com

Sponsors: Torchmate CNC Cutting Systems, BFGoodrich, Goodyear, Radflo Shocks, WARN, Raceline Wheels, Magnaflow Exhaust, Eibach Springs, Pirate4x4.com

About Brad Lovell: Brad Lovell has proven himself as one of the most versatile off-road drivers in North America. In addition to winning championships in rock crawling and rock racing, he has victories in the desert and hill climbs. In seven years, he has amassed 9 championships, and 32 wins. While racing a varied schedule including the Ultra 4 series, Brad focuses on winning in the ultra competitive TORC Pro-Light class. In 2009, he was named the Dirt Sports Magazine Rock Racer of the Year. Racing is a full-time occupation for Brad so when he is not at the track, he is hard at work in the shop or enjoying time with his wife and sons.

Marketing Partners: AMSOIL, BFGoodrich, Torchmate, Spidertrax

About Jesse Haines: Over the past decade Jesse Haines has established himself as one of the top fabricators in the off road industry while simultaneously cementing his legacy as one of the winningest drivers in rockcrawling history. Haines was first introduced to rockcrawling while competing at the legendary Four Wheeler Magazine Top Truck Challenge in 2002 and quickly developed a passion for the sport. Just three short years later, Jesse found himself atop the podium as the WE Rock Unlimited Class National Champion in a vehicle of his own design. To his record, Haines has won an astounding twelve rockcrawling competitions from Pennsylvania to California, a series championship, and had dozens of podium finishes. Between competitions, Haines has also built numerous championship-winning vehicles for both himself and other competitors. Haines has been on the leading edge of the wildly popular Ultra4 Racing explosion with respectable finishes at VORRA desert races, the Ultra 4 Stampede, and the King of the Hammers. Throughout his career Haines has been seen on Trucks TV, Extreme 4×4, Superlift TV, Lucas Oil – On The Edge, MTV’s Megadrive, and Modern Marvels.

Marketing Partners: Torchmate, Maxxis, PSC, Superior Axle and Gear, Raceline Wheels, Branik Machine Shop, High Angle Driveline

About Tyler Thomas: Tyler Thomas was winning snowmobile competitions before he was even old enough to drive. At only 19 years of age, he has already racked up an impressive list of accomplishments that include podium finishes at the 2005 and 2006 Semi-Pro 600cc Hill events at both Mount Shasta Ski Resort and Boreal Ski Resort. His talents have not gone unnoticed by the media either, earning Thomas spots in films including “The Go Big Project” and “Keep Tahoe Real”. 2011 will be a pivotal year for Thomas as he represents Torchmate Racing at the Arctic Man Ski and Sno-Go Classic and attempts to qualify for the Winter X-Games.

Marketing Partners: Torchmate, SoCal Super Trucks. Reno Cycles and Gear, Big Lake Powersports, Walker Evans, Polaris, Novik gloves

About Matt Shrive: Matt Shrive works for Speed Technologies competing in desert racing events such as the Baja 1000 and the Lucas Oil Off-Road Short Course Series. His first Baja 1000 victory came in 2006, where he co- drove for Chuck Sacks in Class 500. That first victory came in Shrive’s very first race in Baja. While he was new to desert racing at the time, Shrive is a seasoned competitor and former US Snowboard Team member. He has competed in the Winter X-Games in Bordercross six times, as well as competing in World Cup and Grand Prix events around the globe. Shrive has been snowboarding for 21 years, and loves it as much now as the day he started.

Marketing Partners: Torchmate, SoCal Super Trucks. Reno Cycles and Gear, Big Lake Powersports, Walker Evans, Polaris, Novik gloves