The TORC Series returned to Perris Auto Speedway this past weekend for the second time this past weekend for the second time this season. Similarly to the previous race, temperatures reached above 100 degrees, but that didn’t slow down any of the racing action as the pros competed Friday and Saturday nights under the lights.
Todd LeDuc came into Perris second in the Pro 2WD points standings after a victorious weekend in Crandon, WI. Being second in points also means that Todd started Friday’s race in Perris on the third row, as the top six drivers in points are inverted for the two by two start.
Friday’s night action began with Todd starting in the fifth position, making Scott Taylor his first pass of the night on lap 3 of the 20 lap race. As leader Jeremy McGrath held off Ricky Johnson and Rob MacCachren, early in the race, Todd battled with Dan Vanden Heuvel to reach the front. After jumping table tops neck and neck with Dan, Todd finally on lap 14 passed Dan Vanden Heuval and charged after Jeremy McGrath, who had dropped to third. Todd was on the heels on Jeremy as the checked flag was waved, with Todd LeDuc finishing in the fourth place position. Rob MacCachren won the race with Ricky Johnson in second, and Jeremy McGrath in third.
With each race growing closer to the close of the TORC Series season, points standings and the championship are starting to weigh heavy on the racer’s minds. The pressure of the points could easily be seen on Saturday night’s Pro 2WD race as many of the drivers altered their driving styles, with varied results.
With Todd’s fourth place finish on Friday, he moved to third in the points, enabling him to start Saturday’s race on the second row. Once again Jeremy McGrath took the hole shot at the start of Round 14, but quickly found himself falling to the fifth position by the third lap with Todd LeDuc passing him for the fourth place spot. At the competition yellow Todd once again had to fend off a defensively driving Jeremy McGrath, who swapped positions with Todd a couple times before Todd quickly pulled away. Todd LeDuc said before the race, “I am going to have to be more aggressive and more demanding of my truck than ever before in order stay in this points chase”.
It seemed the pressure was getting to Ricky Johnson as Rob MacCachren passed him for the second place position on lap 11, and Todd LeDuc passing him on lap 12 for the third place spot. However, Ricky Johnson was not about to be passed up so easily. A battle ensued between Todd and Ricky for the remaining laps as Todd pushed his #3 Rockstar truck to the limits wheeling over the rhythm section to maintain optimum speed and the position.
The Saturday night crowd cheered wildly as the checkered flag was thrown with Rob MacCachren taking the win for the second time of the weekend, Dan Vanden Heuval placing second, and Todd LeDuc capturing the third place position.
The points standing are closer than ever with only nine points separating the top three drivers. Rob MacCachren has moved to first, with Ricky Johnson in second, and Todd LeDuc in third. The final two rounds of the TORC Series will take place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, October 23 and 24 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Intense racing action is guaranteed as these drivers will be bringing their best game to win the 2009 Traxxas TORC Series Championship.
