Sticker Dude Motorsports BorgWarner Off-Road World Championship
Race Report
Lake Zurich, IL (September 5, 2007) – Sticker Dude Motorsports
came to Crandon International Raceway looking to build on the
team’s strong performances from Bark River. The BorgWarner
Off-Road World Championship is the most important stop on WSORR
Tour 2007. Typically everything is bigger Labor Day weekend. The
competition is bigger, the purses are bigger, and the spectator
turnout is huge. In fact, this year, an estimated 80,000
spectators came through the gates for the three day event.
 Due
to the importance of the annual Labor Day weekend event, Sticker
Dude Motorsports brings a huge support group to assist with not
only the performance of the three race vehicles, but to assist
with the marketing and promotion of the team’s sponsors. Several
2008 Toyota Tundra trucks were on display, as well as, products
from Hankook Tires, Invisible Glass, American Racing, Gatorade,
AMSOIL, and Racing Optics.
The team introduced, Teija, the Sticker Dude “Umbrella Girl.”
Throughout the weekend, Teija spent time posing for photos and
signing autographs as she donned the latest apparel from the
team sponsor.
Representatives from Toyota, Hankook Tire, Quartermaster, and
Phil’s Inc. were also in the Sticker Dude pit area to help the
team and answer any questions the thousands of WSORR fans may
have had.
“Decision at Sundown”
On Friday night, the inaugural “Decision at Sundown” Pro-Light
Challenge Race was run. The high stakes race saw the best
PRO-Light racers from around the country battle it out in a nine
lap shootout. Sticker Dude Motorsports had Steven Federico with
his #24 Invisible Glass Sticker Dude Designs P.F. Changs Hankook
Tires Toyota Tacoma and Lee O’Donnell with his #23 Invisible
Glass Sticker Dude Designs P.F. Changs Hankook Tires Nissan
Frontier looking to take home the big trophy and paycheck.
The start of the race saw five trucks, roll and pile into each
other, as the field came through Potowatomi Turn One.
Immediately the race was red flagged, ensuring the safety of the
drivers. The restart of the race saw Steven and Lee running
toward the front of the pack, when Steven lost his brakes. On
lap two, Federico pulled into the pits and called it a night
keeping in mind the importance of the weekend’s points races.
Meanwhile, Lee has his #23 Nissan Frontier battling for a spot
on the podium. Much of the race, Lee was running in the third
spot. With two laps to go, #63 Kandel spins Lee, back in the
Gravel Pit, allowing two competitors to get by. At the finish in
was 1st- Kincaid, 2nd-LeDuc, 3rd-Hintz, 4th –Kandel, and 5th-Lee
O’Donnell.
-
-
Afterwards the two PRO-Light drivers commented:
Steven Federico – “I came through Turn One back in the
pack, but cleanly. I just was getting ready to work by a
couple of trucks when the brake pedal went to the floor.
With two Championship points races yet to be run, I pulled
off. The points races are more important in the scheme of
things.”
Lee O’Donnell – “I thought I had a podium finish tonight.
The last half of the race my power steering started to give
me a slight problem. It wasn’t enough to affect the run we
were having. Then Kandel spun me right around. Two guys went
by. That was it. I’m disappointed with the outcome, because
we got knocked back couple of spots thanks to someone
getting overaggressive. The crew will replace the steering
box and we should be good to go for Saturday.”
Luke Zoetmulder – #942 Super Buggy
Saturday – Round 9
The start saw Luke with his #942 Sticker Dude Designs Invisible
Glass P.F.Changs Hankook Tires Toyota-powered Super Buggy grab
the holeshot on the other sixteen competitors, heading into Turn
One. As Luke entered the Gravel Pit, Hawley and Biesek made
contact with the #942 Super Buggy allowing the entire field to
go by. Quickly Luke regrouped, and within two laps, had battled
back to seventh place.
While Luke was moving up in the standings, his engine began to
overheat. On lap four the engine shutdown hopefully preventing
any terminal damage.Officially, Luke finished in fifteenth
position.
Overnight, Jason and Luke went through the Probst-designed Super
Buggy and traced the cooling fan problem to a bad ground wire.
The team still found good compression in the FAT performance
powerplant, and then fixed the wiring that caused the cooling
problem.
Sunday – Round 10
The nine lap event saw a confident Luke Zoetmulder work his way
from the back of the pack all the way up the sixth place when
the checkered flag fell. This was one of Luke’s strongest
performances of the year.
-
“Saturday’s overheating was a fluke thing,” commented Luke
Zoetmulder. “When the fans were working, it was too late.
Halfway through the run, I just shut it down. Jason checked
the compression and it was still good. We prepped the buggy
for today and were confident we were going to have a good
run. Today came out of the hole with a three car lead into
Turn One, then spun out because I was concerned for the
other drivers safety. I was drifting quickly towards the
outside and thought I might cause a serious wreck, so
instead I took myself out to avoid carnage. Had Charlie, my
spotter, been able to see my lead into Turn One and that I
had a three car lead, he would have told me to stay in it.
Safety is #1 in my book. Again, due to the incredible power
of the FAT Performance Toyota motor and the traction of my
Hankook Dynapro MT’s, I was able to work my way from
seventeenth to sixth. Although, it was disappointing in the
beginning, it was a satisfying finish. To fight for position
with Aaron Hawley, a past class champion,and then pass him
on the last lap, made my weekend. Aaron told me a many times
I wouldn't beat him for a few years! It's a great feeling to
pull that off. I worked my tail off for 3 laps to pass him!”
Currently Luke Zoetmulder is in eleventh place in the 2007 WSORR
Super Buggy Championship standings, only nineteen points behind
fifth place.
Steven Federico - #24 PRO-Light
Saturday – Round 10
Steven came out of Turn One, midpack, when he got spun just
before the Barn Jump. This put the Wilmette, Illinois native,
last as the field went down the backstretch. Methodically,
Steven went to work on the competition and when the checkered
flag fell, the #24 Toyota Tacoma was in fourth place.
At the end of Round 10, the engine in the Toyota Tacoma didn’t
sound quite right. So as A.J. and Chris were going through the
usual Saturday night prep work, team decided to switch to the
backup engine.
Sunday – Round 11
The #24 Invisible Glass Toyota came through the first turn in
sixth place. By lap 4, Steven made the move in third place. The
finish saw Steven standing on the podium in third place.
-
“Both days my spotter, Steve Krieman kept me calm and to
take it one at time,” stated Steven Federico. “The Hankook
Tires performed incredible, once again, and the Fox Shoxs
really had our Toyota Tacoma handling everything the track
threw at us. Hopefully we can gain a few points on the
competition at Wheatland and end up in the Top 3 for the
Championship.”
-
Currently Steven Federico is fourth in the 2007 WSORR
PRO-Light Championship standings, only three points behind
third place.
Lee O’Donnell - #23 PRO-Light
Saturday – Round 10
From the green flag, Lee quickly moved towards the lead pack.
Halfway through the first lap, the #23 Invisible Glass Sticker
Dude Designs P.F. Changs Hankook Tire Nissan Frontier was
moved into fourth place. Then on lap two, Lee ran over a
broken fender support as he headed for the Gravel Pit. The
steel bar punctured the tire and the aluminum wheel, sending
the Nissan into the pits for a tire change. Once back out on
the track, Lee was one lap down from the leaders. At the
finish, the #23 was scored in ninth place.
Overnight, Jon and Lee, checked the truck over for any
additional damage, but everything was good to go.
Sunday – Round 11
The landrush start had the #23 Nissan Frontier stuck in the
back of the pack coming out of Turn One. Just like his
teammate, Lee cleanly worked his way through the field and
finished in sixth place with the checkered flag fell
-
“The truck ran flawlessly all weekend,” commented Lee
O’Donnell. “I just had this dark cloud hanging over me this
weekend. Once again, Case Gunderson at Race Fab, does a
great job prepping the truck between race weekends. All I
have to do is get in and drive. I really believe the Hankook
Tires give all three of us an advantage, when especially
when we need to go off our line to make a pass.”
Currently Lee O’Donnell is ninth, in the 2007 WSORR PRO-Light
Championship standings, only ten points behind seventh place.
-
Final Race of the World Series of Off-Road Racing Tour 2007
September 22-23
NISSAN "Showdown in the Show-Me State"
Lucas Oil Speedway - Wheatland, Missouri
-
-
Epilogue
“Lastly, I would like to thank the entire crew in the Sticker
Dude pits for all their hard work this past weekend,”
commented Luke Zoetmulder. ”Championship weekend is long to
begin with, but to add in the Shootout race on Friday night,
it makes for a lot of work. Jason and Jason, my crew guys,
worked hard all weekend. Jon did a great job getting Lee ready
for Saturday. AJ, Chris, Charlie, and Jake put in some extra
hours to get Steve out on Sunday morning. Great job guys!!!!
Thanks to the representatives from Toyota, Hankook Tire,
Quartermaster, and Vehicle Dynamix who were on hand to help
with the team and answer any questions from the fans as they
stopped by as well. I can’t forget all our family and friends
that came out as well.”
 -
For more information about Sticker Dude Motorsports and its
supporters visit:
Invisible Glass – www.invisibleglass.com
Hankook Tire - www.hankooktireusa.com
Team Sticker Dude Racing – www.stickerduderacing.com
PF Chang's – www.pfchangs.com
Toyota – www.toyota.com
United Trailers – www.united-trailers.com
TRD – www.trdusa.com
Vehicle Dynamix- www.vehicledynamix.com
American Racing – www.americanracing.com
Nielsen Enterprises – www.nielsens.com
Polaris – www.polaris.com
Autometer – www.autometer.com
F.A.S.T. – www.fasthelmets.com
Sponsorhouse – www.sponsorhouse.com
Kicker Audio – www.kickeraudio.com
Phil’s Inc. – www.philsinc.com
Mechanix Wear – www.mechanixwear.com
Racing Optics – www.racingoptics.com
Gatorade – www.gatorade.com
Chase Cam - www.chasecam.com
-Mike Reusche, marketing -
mike@mt-graphics.com |
|
-
Steven Federico
-
PRO-Light #24
-
Luke Zoetmulder
-
Super Buggy #942
-
Lee O'Donnell
-
PRO-Light #23
-
-
|
