Chamberland/Childress Outlast Competition to Take Win at BITD BlueWater GP

 

Heber, California (May 21, 2008) — In what proved to be scorcher both temperature and competition wise, Louis Chamberland and Mikey Childress prevailed to win Round 2 of the 2008 KMC Wheels TROPHYLITE Series Presented by KC HiLiTES at the BlueWater Gran Prix in Parker, Arizona. In a race that saw the lead change hands numerous times, Chamberland and Childress in TROPHYLITE #6061 ran a solid and consistent pace as those ahead of them fell by the wayside.

 

A brief three lap morning practice race that allowed TROPHYLITE competitors to view the 11 mile course as well as make any needed final adjustments to deal with the highly technical course that contained everything from 150 foot drop offs to man-made water crossings. In the afternoon, all 11 TROPHYLITE vehicles lined up for the land rush start as temperatures exceeded 100 degrees.

As the green flag fell, former supercross racer Matt Armstrong in TROPHYLITE #6065 put his experience to good use and grabbed the holeshot only to slip wide in the next corner and have Randy Blacker in TROPHYLITE #6069 and guest driver Cameron Steele in TROPHYLITE #6027 slip by. As the pack concluded the first lap, Blacker held a sizeable lead until pushing too hard in a corner and rolling several times. Blacker would eventually salvage fourth place for the day. A unique feature of the race required TROPHYLITE teams to dump ten gallons of gas as well as change a tire during the race. Beginning on lap 2, teams began to put their pit strategies into play.

As the race continued, buggy racing veteran Gary Messer in TROPHYLITE #6017 grabbed a sizeable lead after opting for a conservative start. Messer would continue to lead until mechanical problems sidelined him. From there Mike Jenkins in TROPHYLITE #6099 inherited the lead only to be passed by a charging Childress trying to make up time after a flat.

After seven treacherous laps Chamberland and Childress took first place honors, followed by Glen Rolfe in TROPHYLITE #6060 who took delivery of his TROPHYLITE less than 24 hours prior competing in his first ever desert race. Rounding out the podium was Vance Smith in TROPHYLITE #6011. Coming from a road racing background, this was Smith’s first ever desert racing event.

Louis Chamberland commented “You can’t ask for much more than this, first race and first win in TROPHYLITE.” Co-driver Mikey Childress added “Louis did an awesome job and when he handed the truck off to me, I just tried to keep it together.” In a race that provided plenty of surprises, steadiness and consistency prevailed over outright speed.

TROPHYLITE would like to announce a change in the 2008 KMC Wheels TROPHYLITE Series Presented by KC HiLiTES race schedule.  Round 3 CODE Jacume Gran Prix August 1-2, 2008 will be changed to the SNORE Midnight Special August 9-11, 2008.

TROPHYLITE is an affordable spec racing concept focused on providing the average off-road enthusiast the chance to step from the sidelines into the driver’s seat of state of the art purpose built off-road race trucks. TROPHYLITE offers not only a very affordable high performance spec race truck, but also the chance to compete in the 2008 KMC Wheels TROPHYLITE Championship Series where TROPHYLITE drivers will be able to race against other TROPHYLITE drivers for prize money and points towards a year end championship. Through TROPHYLITE and its generous supporters, there is no question that the next big thing in off-road has arrived. Get off the sidelines and turn your dreams into dust!

TROPHYLITE supporters include: KMC Wheels, KC HiLiTES, General Tire, Currie Enterprises, Bully Dog Technologies, Fox Racing Shox, Mastercraft Seats, Turn Key Engine Supply, and Shell