Ruppel Uses Red Bud as a Learning Experience – Sixth in Round Two.
 
Chetek, WI (June 2, 2011) - The weekend finally arrived; it was time for Eric Ruppel to debut his new Ford V-8 powered TORC PRO-Light. After a handful of years competing in the Sportsman Super Stock class, Ruppel took the big step into the PRO ranks. The team knew it would be more important to use the early portion of the race schedule to learn about the truck as well as getting Ruppel comfortable behind the wheel of the Jenkins Brothers Racing built hot rod. Finishing on the podium would be a team goal for later in the year.
 
The one mile long track at historic Red Bud MX was quite different than the layouts Midwest short-course racers are accustomed to racing on. The Red Bud layout ran on and round the motocross track incorporating some of its elements as well as adding a faster portion that included a rather nasty whoop section. All in all this would really test the drivers as well as the chassis setup on every team.
 
One other element that tested the drivers was the weather. Somehow between all the rain, TORC track workers kept reworking the track enabling the PRO-Light division to get both of their rounds of racing completed on both days before the next storm would cross the area. In fact the rest of the PRO and Sportsman racers were only able to get one round of racing in during the entire weekend because of the weather.
 
The wet weather cancelled any hope of practice or qualifying before Saturday’s Round One action. The seventeen drivers in PRO-Light drew out of a hat to determine the starting grid. Eric Ruppel and his #73 Phil’s Inc. McGunegill Engine Performance A & J Landscaping Thompson-Nelson Insurance BFGoodrich Ford Ranger were starting fifteenth. The starting position wasn’t as important as making laps. Getting Ruppel and his team to learn more about the brand new race truck during race conditions was their first priority.
 
The first couple of laps saw Ruppel just learning how to drive his new Ford Ranger.  By lap three the #73 Ford Ranger had worked its way to eight place. Then before he could get settled in, crew chief Kent Kramer knew something wasn’t right. By the fourth lap, the power steering was gone, making it impossible to get through the very technical Red Bud track. The day ended for the Chetek, Wisconsin native in fifteenth place.
 
Once the truck made it back to the hauler, the team easily found the problem, the hydraulic steering lines had broken loose. The only solution was to wait for the local parts store to open early Sunday morning to have new hydraulic lines fabricated. So by 10o’clock the next morning the crew had new lines for the power steering and the truck was race ready well before the 2pm start time.
 
Sunday’s Round Two lineup had Ruppel starting at the back of the starting grid. After the first pace lap, the teams realized the track was really getting chewed up. The majority of the mud of off the track, but now the sand and gravel was exposed. The PRO-2 and PRO-4 trucks that ran before the Lights had really made the track quite rough.
 
The start saw Ruppel take his time making a few clean passes moving up to the eleventh spot. Then the water temperature gauge showed high water temperatures. Quickly the Phil’s Ford pulled in for Kramer to check out the problem.  As soon as the water temps rose, they quickly went back to normal.  This happen a few more times as Ruppel would make a quick stop only to be waved back on to the track.
 
While this was going on, the course was really getting rough. The top three trucks were really having an epic battle while the rest of the field seemed to be battling the track as much as their fellow competitor. Suspension setup and tire combinations were very important to getting around the natural terrain course. Somehow through all the carnage and Ruppel was able keep a solid run going and taking sixth place when the checkered flag was waved.
 
“When we get this truck all setup, this Ford Ranger will be a blast to drive,” remarked Eric Ruppel. “Yesterday we had one of these new truck bugs bite us. Today it was a total team effort. Getting the hoses made this morning, and then during the race JJ was fast in the pits, and Kramer was on the radio keeping me in the game. The track was brutal today, but our BFGoodrich Tires and King Shocks really came through.  WE have a cooling issue to work on, but that will be fixed before Crandon. I know I’m gonna be sore for a few days after this one.”
 
After a fifteenth and sixth place finish, Eric Ruppel is currently in eleventh place after two rounds of racing. The next stop on the 2011 Traxxas TORC Series presented by AMSOIL is June 18-19 in Crandon, Wisconsin.
 
Eric Ruppel and his team would like to thank all its sponsors including
McGunegill Engine Performance
BFGoodrich Tires
AMSOIL
King Shocks
Trailready
Phil’s Inc.
A & J Landscaping
Thompson-Nelson Insurance
J & H Transmission
 
Eric Ruppel has marketing opportunities for the remainder of the 2011 TORC Series. Interested parties can contact Eric – ericr@frontieragturf.com
2011 TORC Rounds 1-2
Red Bud  MX - Buchanan, MI

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