DirtSportsWorld Magazine July 2020 Issue 6 Vol 1

LUKE MCMILLIN AWARDED WIN AT SILVER STATE 300

ISSUE 6 VOL 1

The Voice Of Off-Road Motorsports

JULY 2020

SILVER STATE SHOWDOWN INSIDE THIS ISSUE: YOUNG GUNS: MASTERPIECE OF METAL 15-YEAR OLD DESERT RACING BRUCE FRALEY’S WINNING SENSATION JAX REDLINE BUGGY BUILD

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ELI TOMAC WINS THE 2020 SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 12

REGULAR DIRT>

18

4

WORD

5

NEWS FROM AROUND THE DIRT

8

DIRTWORLD

10

NEW PRODUCT

34

CHAPPY’S PIT STOP

35

CALENDAR

FEATURES>

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12 SILVER STATE SHOWDOWN 18 ELI TOMAC WINS SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

27

22 MASTERPIECE OF METAL: BRUCE FRALEY’S WINNING BUGGY 27 YOUNG GUNS: JAX REDLINE

TECH>

30

30 MID-SIZE PICK UP TRUCK BENCH RACING

Publisher DirtSports Inc. Editor-In-Chief Shaun Ochsner Sales and Management Dave Arnold Contributing Editors Jake Headlee Steve Hanson FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA DIRTSPORTSWORLD

Contributing Photography Shaun Ochsner Feld Entertainment CBR Jake Headlee Polaris Brian Errea Ford/Chevrolet/Toyota/Jeep Email: dirtsports@dirtsportsworld.com Website: www.dirtsportsworld.com DIRTSPORTSWORLD

DIRTSPORTSWORLD

DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 3

WORD

WILL THE SHOW GO ON? Races are being cancelled and rescheduled at rapid rates. By now, if you have one of those big wall calendars, there are red markings all over it where events were rescheduled or crossed off as cancelled.

But what about the trade-shows? The Fall show season is just two months away and fast approaching. Commitments, contracts and budgets have all usually been signed off by now. The Sand Sports Show typically happens at the Orange County Fairgrounds in midSeptember. With COVID-19 cases spiking and California going back into lockdown mode, this show has a possibility of not happening.

Then there is Off-Road Expo held at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds. The Los Angeles County Fair itself has already been cancelled. The fairgrounds have been ground zero for regular COVID-19 testing. The connected Sheraton hotel is closed and currently housing COVID positive patients that otherwise cannot isolate from family members at a hefty cost to the county of Los Angeles.

Then there is the show of shows. SEMA. An industry International Show in Las Vegas that attracts thousands from all over the world. Anyone who is been to SEMA knows it is impossible to do any social distancing measures.

So far not one of the organizations has come forward with a future plan for hosting their trade-shows. Get out the red pen. There may be more cancellations on that calendar.

Shaun Ochsner Editor-In-Chief Dirt Sports World 4 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM

NEWS Chip Ganassi Racing Signs Sara Price for Extreme-E Racing Chip Ganassi racing has signed Sara Price to drive their Extreme-E vehicles. Extreme-E is a radical new competition that will race in damaged climates around the world using technology. The race is expected to be televised by using drones and onboard cameras. The purpose of the series is to bring attention to climate change.

The vehicles are 550-HP Oddessy electric SUV’s.

Drivers navigate a course on some of the toughest terrain on the planet via a virtual heads-up display inside the vehicle. Teams will be comprised of both a male and female co-driver. Each will complete a lap behind the wheel during the race.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for me and something I’ve been working my whole career for,” said Sara Price. “When you think of the name Chip Ganassi, you immediately think about winning. It’s a team I’ve long admired whether it be in INDYCAR, NASCAR, sports cars or rallycross. Chip’s teams define winning. As a racer, that’s the type of owner you want to race for. He’s a former driver and I’m honored to represent the team while also becoming the first female driver for CGR and Extreme E. The 2021 season seems far away but there is much to be done to get ready in a new form of racing and for the challenges the series presents. It’s a very exciting time not only for myself, but for this championship and the climate and

environmental issues it intends to bring attention to.”

Price will be the team’s first female driver in its 30-year history. Price has made a career for herself, starting on motorcycles at the age of 8. She quickly moved up the ranks, winning a medal in the X-Games. She made the switch to UTV’s, racing in dozens of different series. Most recently she drove a Trophy Truck Spec in the Baja 1000.

Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series Drops Pro-4 The Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series is dropping the Pro-4 class from its national races. The series says dropping the class was an extremely difficult decision. The class was dropped due to lower than expected entry numbers.

Pro-4 is the only the “4x4” class in the series. Kyle Leduc, who has won multiple championships in the class made a recent announcement via social media stating he would be running his 2020 race season in the Midwest with Championship Off-Road. At the end of last year’s Lucas season, there were only 5 Pro-4’s registered to race at the Wild Horse Pass event.

DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 5

NEWS FROM AROUND THE DIRT

MX Sports Pro Racing Postpones Start of 2020 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship MX Sports Pro Racing is postponing the start of the 2020 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Season. The series announced in June that racing would start in mid-July in Indiana with fans able to attend. A spike in COVID-19 cases is sidelining that effort and causing the season to be postponed.

“From the moment we were forced to delay the original start of the 2020 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship in May, we have diligently worked towards developing as complete a championship-caliber calendar as possible for both our athletes and our fans,” said Carrie Russell, CEO

of MX Sports Pro Racing. “In tandem with our event organizers, we have been in constant communication with local officials from the government, health department, and department of public safety for each respective venue to ensure every National is operated in accordance with social distancing measures established by each county and the CDC. The series has not yet announced a future start date. Tickets purchased for the original events will be refunded.

SCORE Changes Date and Venue for Baja 500 SCORE International is moving the Baja 500 to September, just weeks after announcing an August date. The race will be held in San Felipe instead of Ensenada. On-going COVID-19 restrictions and closures have forced SCORE to reschedule the Baja 500 dates several times.

“SCORE International will apply official Health Protocols for race logistics and will work in coordination for the application of official Health Protocols by Hotels, Restaurants and other service providers,” said Jose A. Grijalva, SCORE President/ Race Director.

The Baja 500 will be held September 22nd27th in place of the San Felipe 250 which now has been taken off the 2020 schedule.

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DIRT WORLD

S R A T S ALL

time test t s a f the tha o get metimes o t s i o g o lifyin sition. S e a little t a u q o p of yb oint rting t” ma The p best sta ending i e “s for th means ns mea ! much

IT D N SE

ALEX WACKER

TRAVIS WILLIAMS

Rough landing

The “launch pad”

KYLE CRAFT

LADD GILBERT

Cleared for take-off

The “Wheelie”

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THE WORLD IS A DIRTY PLACE

KYLE JERGENSEN

DUSTIN GRABOWSKI

Dirt skimmer

Tuck and roll.

DANIEL WERLE

Ground Kisser

SU B YO MI T PH UR OT O

SEND US YOUR CRAZY PHOTO OUT IN THE DIRT AND WE MAY FEATURE IT HERE IN AN UPCOMING ISSUE. Email to: Dirtsports@dirtsportsworld.com DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 9

NEW PRODUCT

Polaris Launches Limited Edition Orange Madness Pro-XP Polaris is adding a limited-edition Orange Madness XP LE and XP-4 LE to the 2020 RZR lineup. The Orange Madness RZR is equipped with a special orange and yellow paint scheme customers have been asking for.

Additionally, all the features found on the Pro XP lineup are on the Orange Madness limited-edition. Polaris includes its exclusive Ride Command technology on a 7-inch display with built in GPS navigation. You can scroll through the features on the touch screen without taking your gloves off. There are pre-downloaded maps that can be used offline to navigate trail systems.

Connect your phone via Bluetooth to the system and play music on the Rockford Fosgate audio system.

The performance features also remain the same. Both models feature 181 horsepower with Walker Evans 2.5 Needle Shocks along with true on demand 2wd and 4wd.

You can adjust the telescoping steering wheel to your comfort level. Pricing for the Pro XP Orange Madness two-seater will set you back at $26,699 MSRP and the four-seater model checks in at $30,599. Both models are available for orders at dealers now.

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NEW PRODUCT

CBR Releases Upgraded Turbo Intercooler

CBR Performance has a new upgraded 1000 Turbo intercooler. The unit has a 55-milimeter extruded tube and low fin height. CBR has been manufacturing performance products for the racing industry for years.

On UTV’s, the intercooler improves turbocharged internal combustion engines by increasing air charge density through isochoric cooling.

CBR’s new 1000 Turbo intercooler is made from quality aluminum and 100% tig welded. The unit is then polished to a near chrome shine and then quality checked before it is delivered. The concept of the new intercooler is to provide more durability over the stock unit. Stock units can crack under extreme use. Intercooler failures can lead to costly repairs and damage to your UTV as well as cause performance issues.

The CBR intercooler is now approved for use at Best in The Desert races. These races are typically held in extremely rough terrain and in extreme heat. Many of the top racers in the series are running this new upgraded turbo intercooler on their UTV’s.

The 1000 Turbo intercooler will fit any 2016-2019 Turbo 1000. The intercooler can be purchased through CBR Performance or K&T Performance.

DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 11

SILVER STATE

Words and Photos: Shaun Ochsner

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SHOWDOWN

COVER STORY

T

he Best in The Desert Silver State 300 started off as a 300-mile point-to-point desert race in Nevada. A wildfire in the mountains near Alamo would force race officials to make quick modifications. The start line was moved, and mileage was shortened Saturday morning. Just an hour before the unlimited trucks started the race, the wildfire grew bigger, forcing officials to end the race at Pit 7. Motorcycles were already out on the course nearing their finishing times. Major adjustments in timing had to be made. Hours into the race, the wildfire continued to grow, and officials would announce an end to the race at Pit 6 at mile 220. The fire was also moving towards Highway 93, threatening to shut it down.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it challenging for officials to host a racing event.

Social distancing procedures were in place at contingency, masks were recommended, and many vehicles were driven through tech and

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contingency on trailers. Registration was held by class, requiring drivers to appear at specific times to sign waivers and receive wristbands.

The drivers meeting was posted as an online video.

In the unlimited class, Jason Voss was the top qualifier at time trials. Blasting first off the line, Voss had a good lead before a few mechanical issues would slow him down.

Harley Letner came in 21 seconds ahead of

SILVER STATE SHOWDOWN

Luke McMillin. Officials held the results for three days, so they could review tracking data. When the dust settled, Luke McMillin was awarded the win and Letner along with driver of record Kevin Thompson received a 30-minute time penalty for a course deviation.

The McMillin family is synonymous with desert racing. Wins date back to the eighties when grandfather Corky was winning desert races all over. Now in his 20’s, Luke McMillin has stepped up to the plate in the unlimited truck class winning races and competing against his brother Dan in his own truck.

Jake Johnson took home a victory in the 1500 class, finishing the race in just under 4 hours. The class 1000 race was tightest of them all. Connor McMullen grabbed another win beating Bret Jeffers by just 16 seconds.

McMullen won the Silver State 300 in 2019.

Kyle Jergensen pulled off an impressive first place finish in the 6100 class. Jergensen and his co-driver rolled their new Brenthel built spec truck during qualifying. The team scrambled to make repairs and were forced to start at the back of the pack.

DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 15

COVER STORY

Courtesy of Polaris

A total of 289 race teams competed in the Silver State 300. 93 of those were UTV teams. The UTV classes have proven to be the fastest growing classes desert races. Phil Blurton won the UTV Turbo class. The Can-Am driver is a former Best in The Desert season champion and is no stranger to winning races in the Nevada desert. He has several wins on resume in the past few years. The Silver State 300 win was extra special for Blurton as it happened on the weekend of 10-year wedding anniversary. Polaris also won big with their factory drivers. Seth Quintero was atop the podium in the UTV Pro Class. Polaris had a total of 52 factory drivers registered at the Silver State 300. Full results can be found at www.bitd.com

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Performance Products

PERFORMANCE IS OUR MIDDLE NAME! CBR Performance Products Inc has a number of years of hands on experience from Motocross Racing, UTV Racing, Road Racing and Off-Road Racing.

Many Teams and/or individuals who use CBR products are winning championships and seeing podium finishes. www.cbr-performance.com

ELI TOMAC WINS THE 2020 SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP 18| DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM

STORY: Shaun Ochsner Photos: Courtesy of Feld Entertainment

SUPERCROSS

E

li Tomac has earned his first 450 career Supercross Championship. Before the COVID-19 pandemic sidelined all of the riders, Tomac was locked in a tight points battle with Ken Roczen. Three points separated the two riders. A decision was made by Feld Entertainment to finish out the remaining seven races at Rice-Eccles stadium in Utah. Races were held Wednesdays and Sundays to get all of the rounds completed in less than a month. No fans would be allowed to attend, instead only able to watch their

20| DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM

favorite riders compete via a live television broadcast or internet simulcast.

28-year old Tomac increased his points lead at every round with either a win or podium finish. Defending champion Cooper Webb couldn’t make up his points deficit despite a couple of wins. Ken Roczen struggled even more, only getting a win in Round 15. Roczen battled a shingles virus that caused him great pain on the track. Still, the Honda rider continued to ride every round.

“Just unbelievable circumstances. I just always think back to the whole of this lifetime worth of riding, and just going through everything. The failures with the team, coming here, with the whole COVID going on right now. So pretty unbelievable. There was a time we didn’t even know if we were even going to ride or not between Daytona and this swing of the series. And it’s finally here and, unbelievable!” -Eli Tomac

2020 CHAMPIONSHIP

In the Eastern Regional Lites Class, Chase Sexton earned the 2020 title with a ninepoint margin over rival Shane McElrath.

Sexton started off the season with a solid second place finish at Tampa in February.

He then followed up with a couple of wins at Arlington and Atlanta. Sexton was back on the podium in second place before the series was sidelined. Sexton then gained three more wins at Utah putting him in contention for the championship.

All he needed to do was finish in front of McElrath.

The final 250 East/West Showdown saw a red flag early in the race after Austin Forkner went down on the track sustaining an injury. That opened the door for Dylan Ferrandis to grab a win in the 250 Western Regional Series.

DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 21

MASTERPIECE OF METAL

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FRALEY’S WINNING BUGGY BUILD

MASTERPIECE OF METAL

B

uggy racers have affectionately been called “buggy dorks” by a few in the off-road racing community.

Some still race buggies and others in the “inner circle” have moved on to more plush, unlimited horsepower rides. Buggy dorks- love them or hate them, they are here to stay, and in most cases, have honed their skills on some of the most challenging short-course tracks. One of those such racers is John Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald has been in a limited buggy longer than we can remember. Some series have called them single buggies. The vehicle is a simple build. A single seat buggy-type chassis with a long front wheel-base and a rear motor. Getting the chassis geometry correct on the vehicle is challenge.

There are a dozen ways to build out this vehicle.

Something builder Bruce Fraley knows firsthand. He has raced his buggy builds on the track. He knows what works and what doesn’t work. When you ask him, what stand out on the vehicle, he tells you it’s fast! So, what makes it so fast other than the driver behind the wheel?

Bruce Fraley has raced the same vehicles he builds for others, so he knows a thing or two about building a racecar.

The chassis is 100% chromoly tigwelded by Bruce Fraley himself.

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FRALEY’S WINNING BUGGY BUILD

The single buggy is powered by a Compettive Edge Industries Volkwagen engine, mated to a Dave Folts Transmission.

The buggy features Foddrill arms, along with Kartek hubs. The Fox Factory Racing Shox allows a soft landing when flying over short-course jumps.

DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM |25

MASTERPIECE OF METAL

There is just enough room for the driver to access controls in this single-seat masterpiece. The dash is very simple. A red light warns of oil-pressure.

There is a toggle switch for fuel, air pumper into the helmet and a protected ignition switch.

BUILD SHEET Vehicle: 2020 Fraley Performance Single Buggy Builder: Bruce Fraley Power Train: Competitve Edge Industries VW Drive Train: Dave Folts Transmissions Suspension: Fox Shocks Steering: Howe Performance Steering Exterior: Fiberglass/Aluminum Body Panels

One of the most important features a buggy can have is a turning brake.

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Interior: ATM Dash, MPI Steering Wheel, Wilwood Turning brake, Cobra Seat, Simpson Belts and Window Nets

YOUNG GUNS

15-Year Old Desert Racing Sensation and Photos: Jax Redline’s Rise to Fame Words Shaun Ochsner

H

e is only 15. He barely has a learner’s permit to drive a car on the roadway, yet Jax Redline is behind the wheel of one of fastest unlimited trucks in the desert. This adrenaline-fueled teen is racing against some of the biggest names in desert motorsports and loving every second of it. Watching him drive, you would think he has been out there for years. Jax Redline has only been behind the wheel of the most powerful race truck class for under a year. He counts seven races behind the wheel in the unlimited truck class.

Jax Redline races a 900-horsepower trophy-truck or trick truck depending on the series. The Redlines have two Brenthel built Trophy-Trucks, but most recently we found Jax behind the wheel of Rally, a Geiser-build originally campaigned by RPM racing’s Apadaly Lopez. The bright yellow livery read “Student Driver,” appropriately named for the young

desert racing sensation at the Best in The Desert Silver State 300. Jax got his start in desert racing with UTV’s, quickly moving up to the spec truck class. He has already raced three DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 27

JAX REDLINE

Baja 500’s and two Baja 1000’s. To find out where he learned and honed his skills, you have to dig deeper. At 2 ½ years old Jax was on a dirt bike with training wheels and a rope attached to the back. The rope was so his dad could keep control of Jax, because he was just too fast. At 4 years old, Jax was racing dirt bikes in every local series. As his dirt bike career evolved, it was time to take in account the injury rate. Go Karts, with cages to protect Jax were next on the list. Then came the Sprint Cars. Jax is not one to enjoy going in circles. He needed more. It wouldn’t be long before he got into UTV’s which then led to the faster Spec and Unlimited Trucks.

Jax soon found himself behind the wheel of a turbo UTV in Baja. This would be his first time in Mexico. “It was completely different, it was an awesome experience, we loved it, we loved the people,” he says. Jax felt like he was Superstar.

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Every off-road racer’s dream is to have a Baja 1000 win on their resume and Jax is no exception. All of the homework he puts in at the other desert races sets him up for success.

Every day he works to get on the level of the top guys in the unlimited truck class. Make

YOUNG GUNS

no mistake, Jax can hang with those guys running in the top five at most desert races.

For Jax, stepping up to 900-horsepower truck from a Spec truck is major difference. Talking to him, it’s obvious he loves the adrenaline rush.

He knows how to make the bigger truck slide through the corners. This teen is all gas pedal.

Jax spends time studying big time racers like BJ Baldwin. Baldwin has built a career racing the fastest trucks as well as major social media following. Jax aspires to be on that level. Bryce Menzies is also another driver Jax sets his sights on. Menzies is no doubt fast and can win races on any given day. He has the right equipment setting him up for success, and that’s what Jax wants. The drive and passion of this teen in the sport is no doubt going to propel him to the top of the game and we will see big wins from Jax Redline sooner rather than later.

DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 29

TECH

Mid-Size Pick-up Bench Racing

T

here was a time that there were just as many mid-size or compact pick-ups on the market as there were full-size in the United States. When they slowly all tapered off and all but died out, manufacturers and analysts told us the sales of these trucks all shifted to the bigger trucks. Buyers would spend the same or just a little more money and get the larger truck. We are no longer in that time.

Mid-size pickups have come back with a vengeance and the buyers are pleased. Not only did the segment come back to life, it came back with innovative and exciting

Jeep Gladiator Mojave The Jeep Gladiator recently turned the entire mid-size truck market on its head. With genetics deeply tied to the newest Wrangler, the Gladiator didn’t pull any punches. The Mojave version cranked up the dial.

Designed specifically for rugged desert terrain, the Mojave has a wider track and sits a little higher than its Rubicon little brother, which is already taller and wider than the base model. The truck features FOX 2.5-inch internal bypass shocks with remote reservoirs and industry exclusive FOX hydraulic bump stops to the reinforced frame.

Additional skid plates were added along with beefier third-generation Dana 44 front and rear axles with a 4.10:1 axle ratio and standard electronic-locking rear differential.

Under the hood is 3.6L V6 producing 285 285 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft of torque.

The engine is backed by an 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmission and the driver has the option to use Off-Road Plus terrain control for extra tuned performance 30 | DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM

Words: Jake Headlee Photos: Courtesy Manufacturers

packages that seriously step up their offroad performance.

Here at Dirt Sports World, we decided it was time to bench race these trucks. We’ll be digging into the specs and perks of the 2020 4-door models of the Jeep Gladiator Mojave, Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison, Ford Ranger Lariat FX4 and Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro. With the exception of the Nissan Frontier, these are the mid-size truck platforms available on the market today. We elected to leave the Frontier out of this because the 2020 model is its final year and not much has changed on the truck for quite some time.

and grip.

The Gladiator comes in as the second longest wheelbase truck on our list at 137.3-inches and the track width is right in the middle of the pack at 64.4-inches. The Mojave takes the top ranks with a minimum ground clearance of 11.6-inches and front approach angle of 44.7 degrees. Though, it got the lowest marks for the breakover angle at 20.9-degrees.

The truck comes standard with 33-inch tires, steel bumpers and rock rails, skid plates and a 5-foot bed.

MID-SIZE PICK-UP BENCH RACING

Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison The Chevy Colorado ZR2 was already a well stacked truck that has held a grip on the segment for a while. With the help of American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), a new beast was created. AEV has a long history of making performance off-road minded kits and packages for vehicles and the ZR2 got the full treatment.

“From our very first meeting, Chevrolet and AEV agreed on a common goal: To build a truck capable of extreme off-road use and backed by a limited factory warranty,” said Darren Bohne, Chevrolet Colorado chief engineer. The Bison is loaded with steel front and rear bumpers, quarter panel protection, skid plates and rock rails. It is also the only truck in our roundup that features electronic locking differentials both front and rear.

Bison models stand 2-inches taller and 3.5-inches wider than its brethren and

both the independent front suspension and leaf sprung rear suspension benefit from Chevrolet’s Multimatic DSSV shocks. For 2020 models, the Colorado is the only mid-size truck available in the USA to offer a diesel engine option beyond its standard V6. The inline 4 cylinder diesel power plant produces 186 horsepower and a class leading 369 lb.-ft of torque.

Ford Ranger Lariat FX4 The previous Ford Ranger had stayed largely untouched for many years. When the truck came back to North America, it had been completely rejuvenated. With the lingering rumors and whispers of a Ranger Raptor on the horizon, the FX4 doesn’t seem like it will be able to contend with the bigshots in the marketplace. When you really dig into the specs though, it is certainly no slouch.

Powering the Ranger is a 2.3L Ecoboost inline 4 cylinder engine, the smallest of the pack when it comes to cubic inches but extremely close to the others with 270 horsepower. The torque stacks at the top of the gasoline powered engines at 310 lb.ft and gives the truck a whopping 7,500lb max tow capacity and 1,560-lb payload. The 10-speed automatic transmission helps to keep the engine in the right power band no matter the circumstances.

FX4 models benefit from a rear locking differential with 3.73:1 ratio gears. Ford’s Terrain Management System and Trail Control system give the rig some serious benefits in all types of terrains and obstacles.

The front independent suspension and rear

leaf spring suspensions are controlled by specifically tuned off-road monotube shocks.

Approach, departure and breakover angles are all close to the competition.

In the third quarter of 2020, Ford is releasing upgrade packages through Ford Performance. The Level 1 Package, available in August, gives the FX4 unique FOX “Tuned

by Ford Performance” Off-Road Suspension Leveling Kit. The Level 2 package that will be available later in the year will include the Level 1 upgrade and add Ranger Performance Calibration, heavy duty tow hooks, Rigid Industries Off-Road Fog Lights and larger BFGoodrich All Terrain tires.

DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 31

TECH

Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro The Tacoma is the one vehicle on this list that has been on the road for years and never took a break. Toyota Racing Development (TRD) has been upgrading the base Tacoma for years and the Pro models go above and beyond.

The classic Toyota 3.5L V6 has been a strong mill for years and is backed by a 6-speed ECT-I automatic or a 6-speed manual transmission. The Tacoma is the only truck that offers two bed lengths for the 4-door models, a 60.5-inch and a 73.7-inch version. The long bed option gives the truck the longest wheelbase of our pack at 140.6-inches.

TRD Pros have the second highest ground clearance of 9.4-inches and have extremely respectable approach, departure and breakover angles. Its IFS front suspension has years of performance experience and is upgraded with 2.5-inch FOX internal bypass coilovers and the rear progressive leaf spring rear suspension is bolstered with 2.5-inch remote reservoir FOX shocks.

Other special features included with the TRD Pro are skid plates, LED Headlamps and Rigid Industries fog lights, and Toyota’s Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select systems. The Tacoma has a strong presence in the aftermarket and is a proven platform for all types of off-roading.

So, who wins?

You tell us. There are so many factors that go into answering who wins the bench race.

Each of the trucks have their own unique benefits, all compared respectably in basic stats and have close base prices. With the exception of the straight axle versus IFS debate and brand loyalty, someone can get behind the wheel of any of these trucks and have amazing adventures.

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CHAPPY’S PIT STOP

WALK IN A NEGATIVE WORLD

Words: Steve Hanson Photo: Brian Errea

2CORINTHIANS 3:17NIV And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

The past couple Pit Stops talked about our worship and how to reflect Christ’s glory and be transformed into his likeness. Using the truth of God’s Word to affect our thoughts, our feelings and our actions and transform your worship, walk & witness. This Pit Stop focuses on transforming our Walk. To have a transformation in our walk, we must understand what we let influence our mind is what influences our actions. God seeks to renew our hearts by transforming our worship and renewing our minds reflected in a transformation of our walk. A renewed mind will be reflected by a Revolution in our walk.

For example, Paul’s walk was transformed and revolutionized when Jesus blinded him to get him to “see.” Similarly, Peter’s walk was restored when Jesus forgave him after his denials the night before the crucifixion.

While these men had physical encounters with Jesus, it was their faith in Him that revolutionized their walk and eventually paved the way for them to be leaders of the early church.

In addition, they did not let their dire circumstances influence their mind. Instead, they chose to be guided and influenced by their faith in Jesus.

When we have a Revolution in our worship, the enemy has his sights on our walk as well.

Whether you are a brand-new believer or a veteran in the faith, we have signed onto a championship team so the enemy is now gunning for us.

1PETER 5:8NIV Be self-controlled and alert.

Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

JOHN 10:10NIV The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Just like David walked into the Elah Valley to face down Goliath. There are days we are walking into a battlefield; the skirmishes we face are merely the symptoms that a larger war is taking place. Just turn on the news, any channel, and we are presented with negativity. So how do we respond to it? We respond in faith! Paul wrote a simple analogy of going to battle.

EPHESIANS 6:10-13NIV Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of the evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, stand!

Paul is telling us exactly what we have signed up for. There is a battle going on. What team are you on? Being on this team is a call to bravery, a call of action, to have grit and stand in the gap to win a spiritual battle.

It’s a daily battle none of us can escape; we are engaged in a conflict not against flesh and blood but against Satan and “the rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

“We are all fighters, fighting for something.”

--- UFC Light Heavy-Weight John Jones Follow @rfc_dirtsportministry

DIRTSPORTSWORLD.COM | 33

CALENDAR

UPCOMING 2020 EVENTS JULY Championship Off-Road- ERX Motorpark- Elk River, Minnesota July 10th-11th M.O.R.E. Freedom Cup- Glen Helen Raceway- San Bernardino, CA July 17th-18th Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series- Glen Helen Raceway- San Bernardino, CA July 24th-27th SNORE KC HiLites Midnight Special- Jean, NV July 24th-25th Championship Off-Road- Dirt City MotorplexLena, Wisconsin July 25th-26th

AUGUST Best In The Desert Vegas to RenoAugust 12th-15th Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series- Lucas Oil Speedway, Wheatland, Missouri August 21st-22nd

Have an event for our Calendar?

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