After a season full of intense driving, narrow finishes, and close calls, the Traxxas TORC Series concluded it’s 2009 Championship chase at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway this past weekend.
The Pro 2WD championship chase was by far the closest, making every turn of every lap increasingly important. Many racetracks have their own devils, and LVMS is no different. It can be said that this track is by far the dustiest short course track there is, with the entire course covered in silt like dirt, the dust becomes instant and lingers.
Coming into Friday’s race, Todd LeDuc was sitting third in the points standings, only nine points behind first place’s Rob MacCachren, and four points behind second place’s Ricky Johnson.
When the green flag dropped, the 15 truck field starting in two by two order were no more. Seven Pro 2WD trucks attempted to make the first turn at the same time, with LeDuc coming out in the fifth position. For five laps LeDuc held of Johnson as he worked to pass Jeremy McGrath, until LeDuc could hold on no longer. It was apparent to the fans and every one watching that something was wrong with LeDuc or his truck, as he continued to slow down and get passed on the track. With the intense dust and mud saturating the air, extra tear off are must. Unfortunately for Todd, on the second lap of the race, he mistakenly tore off all of his visor’s tear-offs, instead of just one, as he was battling McGrath. If there was any race to need tear-offs, this was it.
Todd LeDuc was no longer battling the field, but was now fighting for vision as his visor would not wipe clean, and was caked with six inches of mud. The visor was too heavy to stay up, so Todd held it up with one hand and steered with the other, all the while getting mud flung into his exposed eyes. ” It was painfully blinding as I tried to hold my positions, but I literally could not see a thing. I will have mud in my eyes for days” said Todd LeDuc”
By now LeDuc had fallen into a heartbreaking 14 place, and his championship hopes were diminishing. The dust conditions were so horrible and unsafe that TORC officials mandated a caution lap during the race to let dust settle. LeDuc took the opportunity to pull into the hot pits and put on a pair of goggles his team had ready for him, complete with tear-offs. With only three laps left in the race, it was a sprint to the finish for LeDuc. Coming from back of the field Todd LeDuc passed 10 trucks in just three laps. When the checkered flag flew, the #3 Rockstar / Makita truck captured an uplifting fourth place finish.
Saturday night marked the last Pro-2 race of the 2009 TORC Season, and for LeDuc it was a good start as he escaped turn one in third place behind Ricky Johnson and Bryce Menzies. On the third lap LeDuc lost his groove, and drove a bad line resulting in Scott Taylor and Rob MacCachren passing him. LeDuc passed Taylor back before the caution lap, placing him in fourth. LeDuc pushed hard on the restart and took the second place spot behind Johnson. Five laps before the finish, LeDuc over rotated in turn three, where MacCachren took the pass. With four laps to go Leduc raced to pass Dan Vanden Heuval who was in third. In his quest to pass Vanden Hueval, LeDuc clocked the overall fastest lap of the race, but it was not enough. At the checkered flag it was a fourth place finish for Todd LeDuc, and the Oakley Bomb Award.
Although Ricky Johnson won on Saturday night, it was Rob MacCachren that took home the 2009 Traxxas TORC Series Pro 2WD Championship. Todd LeDuc finished third in the points standings and will return again in 2010 for another shot at the championship.
Coverage of the mud flying and dust hazing action can be seen Sunday, November 8th on ABC. Check your local listings!
TORC Awards Banquet
Todd & Kyle Leduc and Jeremy McGrath
Top 3 winners in the Traxxas Radio Controlled Championship