Bittersweet End To 2012 Short Course Season For Rob MacCachren

Rob MacCachren came into the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS) season finale with his back against the wall.  Third in points coming into the last race of the season after a disappointing weekend of racing in his hometown of Las Vegas, MacCachren was looking for every point possible.  He qualified first at Firebird International Raceway on Friday, putting him back on the third row for Saturday’s race after a three row inversion but gained valuable points in the process.

 
From the drop of the green flag in Phoenix it was clear that the Pro2 Unlimited finale was going to be a battle, with carnage resulting in cautions on the first two laps.  The No. 21 ROCKSTAR Energy Drink / Makita Power Tools / BFGoodrich Tires / TRAXXAS truck was not spared from the melee, but despite heavy contact Rob could not be deterred.    By the third lap MacCachren only had Marty Hart and Brian Deegan ahead of him; the same two competitors he was trying to beat for the season championship.  By Lap 13 Rob had the lead and held it for the remainder of the race, but even after capturing his fourth victory of the season it was not enough to secure the season title, as Hart finished the race in second and Deegan in third.  “It is always tough not to be in control of your own destiny,” MacCachren reflected aft er the race.  “Deegan and Marty are great drivers.   We did all we could and let the chips fall where they may.”

 
After all the mayhem Rob Mac was fortunate to have his truck in one piece coming into the Lucas Oil Challenge Cup, which puts the Pro2 Unlimited and Pro4 Unlimited trucks on the track at the same time in an all-out battle for $35,000.  MacCachren is famous for his performances in cup races, with three Governor’s Cups, three Borg-Warner Cups to his credit and a victory at the TORC Chairman’s Cup earlier this season.  With the season over and nothing for competitors to lose, the Challenge Cup race is notorious for carnage and lived up to its reputation again this year.  The No. 21 ROCKSTAR Energy Drink / Makita Power Tools / BFGoodrich Tires / TRAXXAS truck started on the sixth row, in a sandwich with fellow Pro2 drivers in front and hungry Pro4 trucks breathing down Rob’s neck.
 
MacCachren quickly moved up to third place and stayed there as the course was under caution for several laps with drama unfolding at every turn.  He was able to keep his nose clean and by the 11th lap Rob was leading the race, but the slick track conditions made it difficult to hold off the Pro4 trucks in the corners in the second half of the race.  Few racers have as much seat time as Rob Mac though, and his patience paid off as the aggressive Pro4 trucks quickly destroyed each other.  When the dust settled, MacCachren had finished in second overall and the first Pro2 Unlimited truck to take home a $16,000 paycheck.  “Next season I’ll have a Pro4 of my own out there…” MacCachren was overheard saying after the race.

Another win in the books for Rob Mac

 

While the short course season is over, the biggest race of the year still awaits Rob MacCachren.  On November 15th the ROCKSTAR Energy Drink / MasterCraft Safety Trophy Truck will start third off the line in Ensenada for the 45th annual Baja 1000.  MacCachren has already won the SCORE International Laughlin Desert Challenge and the MasterCraft Safety Tecate San Felipe 250 this year, positioning him first in points in the premier Trophy Truck class.  Last season MacCachren came in second in season points, and the only place to go is up.  Should Rob win the Trophy Truck championship this season, it will be his sixth SCORE season championship.  MacCachren will be teaming with MasterCraft Safety CEO Robbie Pierce in the No. 20 Jimco Trophy Truck for the 1121 mile run non-stop from Ensenada down the punishing Baja peninsula to La Paz.  For the latest up-to-date race information and the inside scoop, follow Rob MacCachren on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/21RobMac.