March 09, 2010 – The stage was set this weekend for Ricky James to make his off-season claims a reality by piloting his SoCal SuperTrucks SuperLite towards a winning sweep, but that was not to be at Rounds 1 and 2 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Race Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Despite obstacles that would have most teams throwing in the towel for the weekend, Ricky and the SoCal SuperTrucks race crew stayed true to their motto of “Perseverance” and made a bold statement at the end of a long and dramatic race weekend.
Ricky was paralyzed from the chest down in a motocross racing accident in March of 2005. SoCal SuperTrucks outfitted the Super Lite race truck with hand controls that allow him to control the throttle, brake, clutch and shifting with his left hand while leaving his right hand free to steer. In 2009, Ricky made his rookie and race debut in the SoCal SuperTrucks SuperLite, capturing 5 out of 6 wins.
Friday’s qualifying started off a bit rocky as the vehicle experienced some technical issues, forcing the team back to the pits to evaluate the problem. The SoCal SuperTrucks crew worked frantically into the evening and finally diagnosed the problem before Saturday mornings practice.
Saturday morning kicked off a weekend that would test the heart, soul and dedication of the entire team. During the 3-lap practice before race-time, James took a nasty flip through a rhythm section of the course on the start of his second lap. The crew rushed back to the pits, awaiting Ricky and the vehicle to arrive so they could determine the severity of the situation. The truck sustained severe damage but, more importantly, Ricky suffered a concussion which later saw him taken to the hospital for further evaluation.
The positive side came when the team learned that Ricky posted the fastest lap time during his one lap run throughout practice and the previous days qualifying. Despite a 99% chance of the race weekend being over for the team, the crew (with the help of Speed Technologies) went to work to piece the mangled truck back together.
As Sunday came, the truck was ready but the team was still unsure on the status of James. After speaking with doctors and race officials in length, Ricky was cleared to race. The decision was met with some resistance, but James was insistent on racing.
Ricky James and the SoCal SuperTrucks SuperLite started at the back of the pack but aggressively made it up to 2nd position before the halfway mark…quickly closing in on Brian Deegan who was leading the race. The race officials felt Ricky’s driving was too aggressive and black flagged him to the back of the pack. James made another charge up to 3rd position, quickly closing the gap again on Deegan and 2nd place positioned Chad George, but time ran out leaving Ricky with a 3rd place finish.
As the dust settled, the team was informed that Ricky had posted the fastest lap time of the weekend, making a strong statement before next month’s first “points-awarded race” in Surprise, AZ on April 17-18.
“Obviously, this weekend didn’t play out the way we had hoped”, said Ricky James. “Despite everything that transpired, I believe we still proved we are the team to beat by posting the fastest lap time of the weekend and working as a team to overcome some pretty crazy obstacles.”
SoCal SuperTrucks co-owner, Casey Coughlin, added “This weekend definitely tested the team on numerous levels. I’m really proud at how hard the crew worked to get the truck back into shape and I feel we could have pulled out a win if not for that black flag. We were a bit skeptical on allowing Ricky to race Sunday, but doctors assured us he was good and the decision was made mid-morning Sunday to proceed.”
The team would like to thank current 2010 team sponsors, which include Bully Dog Technologies, BFGoodrich, Speed Designs, Walker Evans, Rockwell Time, K&N Filters, Alpinestars and AOKNick.org. The team would also like to extend a special thanks to Dean Kuhn, Tom Morris and Speed Technologies for their assistance and expertise this weekend.
About SoCal SuperTrucks
Located in the heart of Southern California, SoCal SuperTrucks has positioned itself as one of the premier automotive and UTV aftermarket retail/ fabrication shops in the Country. With a deep heritage in the world of Off-Road Racing, Action Sports and Motocross, SoCal SuperTrucks has worked with some of the sport’s biggest entities.
SoCal SuperTrucks carries the finest, race-proven products for your vehicle, including such premier brands as Bully Dog Performance Parts, BFGoodrich All Terrain/ Mud Terrain Tires, Walker Evans Wheels and Fox Racing Shox. Other brands carried include CST Performance Suspension, Total Chaos, Icon Vehicle Dynamics, Toyo, K&N and KMC Wheels. Whether it’s a complete suspension build up for your pre-runner truck, modifications to your UTV, wheels & tires for your ride, or merely advice on what tire might work best for your driving style, the team at SoCal SuperTrucks has the knowledge and expertise to satisfy all your custom truck, UTV and auto needs.
