Pomona, CA (June 11, 2008)—
Johnny Greaves drove his two Monster Energy Potawatomi Toyotas with great passion and valor this Sunday tuning in an impressive performance in the Pro-2 class and leading the Pro-4 class for 10 laps until his front end failed. The fans at Pomona greeted Greaves in the pits after each race with the enthusiasm as if he had won, reminding everyone that the Monster Energy Potawatomi Toyota star is still recognized for his hard driving performances even when he don’t win the race.
"The fans here have just been awesome all weekend and I thought I was sitting great in the race to bring one home for the team," stated Greaves after the Pro-4 race on Sunday. "It just wasn't in the cards, I guess. But we know we can win and I can't wait for the rest of the season to unfold."
In the Pro-2 race, Greaves started near the back in the 13 position. He battled hard throughout the race and managed to get to about 8th by the caution. After the green flag flew following the mandatory competition caution, Greaves went to work and started picking off positions like Greaves fans have come to expect from this multi-class champion. By the checkered flag lap, Greaves had the BF Goodrich shod Tundra sitting in 5th position. While Johnny would have loved to be on the podium, it was a great comeback to get into the top 5.
In the Pro-4 class, Johnny G started on the third row but wasted little time moving the big Tundra into the lead by the second lap! Rick Huesman trailed in second and the Toyota show was on with Greaves and Huesman pulling a huge gap on the rest of the field. This lasted until the mandatory caution came out on lap 10 and Greaves sadly pulled to the side and let Huesman by. Greaves’ front end had been damaged and he could not continue the race.
"I knew on lap 10 that I had an issue with the truck because I was hearing some bad noises," stated a disappointed Greaves. "We told Huesman on the radio not to get too close since we were about to break and we did not want it to cause a big pile-up for the field. My Tundra ran absolutely great today and the boys at Fox Shox did a great job getting my BFG's to really stay hooked up," Greaves continued. "I just can't say enough about the Toyota guys too, since both my trucks ran so good this weekend. I just wish we could have kept it out front once we got there. We have a good second half of the season ahead of us - I can feel it."
CORR Pro-4 Rounds 5 | Pomona, CA
Team Monster Energy Potowatomi Toyota Steals Show Saturday at the LA Fairplex in Wild Ride for Johnny Greaves
Pomona, CA (June 7,2008) - The racing in Round five of the CORR series was wild and crazy in every class Saturday with the Monster Energy Potawatomi Toyota team of Johnny Greaves in the middle of all the action. Greaves put on a "classic Johnny Greaves race" that had the crown on its feet the entire race. Johnny came from the very last starting position all the way to the front to lead on the last lap until a front axle failure in the last turn, giving him 4th overall in the Pro-4 class. Greaves traded lots of paint in the Pro-2 class before limping across the line, wounded for an 11th place finish.
"Overall, it was a fun day out there," said Greaves. "The Pro-4 race was my kind of race and it was great to come all the way from the back again. My BFGoodrich, KMC tires and wheels were hooking up and I just went to work. There were a lot of my great sponsors here and I really wanted to show them what we could do. I just wish my front end could have made one more turn at the checkered." Greaves continued, "I had this one but with all that banging with the gang - anything could have broken - I just wish it would have waited another turn."
The Pro-4 race started with Greaves in last position due to a qualifying spin-out on a wet track earlier Saturday morning. Greaves wasted no time making his move on the field and by the caution lap he had put the Tundra in 4th place behind Douglas, LeDuc and Renezeder. Johnny made his move on the second lap after the caution and things got rough as he passed both Douglas and Leduc amid lots of banging and grinding, sending the fans over the top. Finally, with about three laps left Greaves started setting up Renezeder for the pass on the lead and did so with two laps left. Carl made a rough pass back on Greaves and going into the last lap Renezeder had the lead. Greaves made his best move of the race in turn three and passed Renezeder for the apparent winning position. Leading going in to the last turn and the race in hand, something in the front end gave way and sent the Tundra spinning out in the last turn. He was able to limp across for 4th.
In the Pro-2 class Greaves started on the 5th row and was making a charge on the leaders, making a battle for 4th before the caution. Greaves spun out in the last turn before the caution putting him in 6th at the break. After the caution, things got wild for the veteran Greaves when he tangled with several trucks in the pit and damaging the Toyota Pro-2. That point Greaves had to limp in for 11th and get the boys working on the Toyota for Sunday's race.
"WOW!" stated a proud Gary Reed of Toyota. "That was the Johnny Greaves I know out there today. I knew when we made it to the top 5 by the caution lap that Johnny was going to make a run for it and he did not disappoint the crowd today."
Greaves will go at it again on Sunday in Pomona. Look for an intense Johnny Greaves as the season settles in and he really focuses on his charge for the title. "We are still tweaking on the Pro-2 and my Pro-4 is working well so I am ready to do what we do – win," says Greaves while signing autographs from the pits.