We’ve wiped the mud out of our eyes and home from an awesome week in Moab, Utah with ultra4 USA. Mud in Utah?! Yes you heard that right. Let us tell you about one of the wildest ultra4 races ever.
Starting the weekend/ week off the team got to experience the beauty of Moab with some trail riding. We tackled the infamous Hells revenge, devils hot tubs, hells gate, and cliffhanger trails in the trusty square body Chevy on 40” nitto tires wrapped around our raceline wheels. Moving into race week. We ran a different schedule then normal. Racing on Tuesday and Wednesday instead of Friday Saturday.
Ultra4 USA gathered the largest car counts of a regional race in a while with over 100 registered racers. It was going to be a very competitive race from all stand points.
Come qualifying time Paul had a string of bad luck in the Canam UTV. Rolling over during his open class run and experiencing mechanical issues from the rollover during his pro modified run. Left him at the back of the pack for race day.
After swapping a transmission at the race track in the 4400 truck Paul went out and set the 4th fastest qualifying time in class. With only 1 second separating the top 5 drivers.
Onto the races. Starting with the UTV open class Paul would start in 3rd from last position and by the end of the 1st lap would have the lead on adjusted time. On lap 3 a mechanical failure would end his day when the steering rack was sheared off of the mounts and broke away from the car. The next day Paul would start dead last in the UTV pro modified class and would have the physical lead by the start of lap 3. Passing everyone on a very tight and technical course while also battling rain and setting the fastest lap doing so. Ultimately earning him the WIN!
That same afternoon Paul left the line in the 4400 unlimited class in 4th position and by the end of lap 1 had the physical race lead. What started as a bright and sunny race. Turned into a downpour of rain, followed by hail, and then followed by even more rain. Making this technical and challenging course even that much more demanding of the drivers and their vehicles. Paul ended up having to change one flat on course himself after trying to make a risky pass. But would retake the lead not half a lap later, after giving up a few positions. Managing to lead the remaining 6 laps of the race without any further issues. Paul would earn the WIN in what was arguably the hardest ultra4 regional race to date. Not only earning the win but also the fastest lap of the race by over a minute. Finishing the race over 12 minutes ahead of 2nd place and physically lapping every other car in the field aside from the 2nd place finisher.
