2015 MetalCloak Stampede Highlights – ULTRA4 Racing

A record breaking 115 drivers took part in the 2015 MetalCloak Stampede held at the Prairie City SVRA park outside of Sacramento.  With thousands of fans present for a full day of racing, the event was the largest to date for ULTRA4 Racing at the park in both car count and spectator turnout. The 2014 Nitto Tire National Champion, Loren Healy wasted no time in establishing dominance in the 4400 class and maintained his lead throughout the weekend.

Friday afternoon saw the first prelim races of the weekend for the unlimited class. Healy was the fastest qualifier in the fastest heat which put him in pole position for Saturday’s morning heats. Last year’s Stampede winner, Tom Wayes lead his heat, along with Shannon Campbell and Andrew McLaughlin winning their respective heats. On Saturday morning, Healy once again dominated his heat putting him on the pole in the main event. In the main it was both two-time King of The Hammers winners, Healy and Campbell neck and neck for the first half of the race. Eventually, Healy established a lead while passing lap traffic in the rocks and never looked back.  Shannon Campbell maintained a comfortable 2^nd place throughout the remainder of the race, and Wayland Campbell in the last seconds of the final lap edged out fellow Nitto driver, Derek West for a 3^rd place finish.

For the first time in ULTRA4 history, the limited and UTV classes outnumbered the unlimited 4400 class at the MetalCloak Stampede. The largest limited classes were the 4500 modified class and the 4800 legends class. The 4500s and the 4600 stock class raced together as did the 4700 spec cars and the 4800 legends cars and the UTV Sportsman and Pros also raced together throughout Saturday’s prelims and main events.

One of the most exciting races of the weekend was in the 4700 spec class as the “Beast from the East” Damon Bradshaw took on Ricky Johnson and his son Luke Johnson in identical spec cars.  Both Johnsons are committed to race the entire Trail-Gear ULTRA4 West Coast Series. In the 4700 main race, 18 year old Bailey Cole lead Ricky Johnson for several laps as the two battled it out side by side, with the elder Johnson eventually gaining the advantage over Cole. Ultimately, Ricky Johnson took first, Bailey Cole 2^nd, Luke Johnson 3^rd. In the 4800 legends class which raced alongside the spec cars, Mike Amaral took the checkered flag winning his first ULTRA4 race followed by Ernie Hardaway and newcomer James Hubbard.
In the 4500 modified class, Shawn Rants took the checkered followed by Justin Hall in 2^nd and Cody McBride in 3^rd. In the 4600 Stock Class, Matthew Peterson took 1^st followed by Ben Varozza in 2^ndand Sean McNamara in 3^rd. In the UTV Pro Class, John Duckworth took first followed by Buzz Bronsema and Luke Horschel. In the UTV Sportsman class, Phil Cagliero took first followed by Nathan Unruh and Mel Wade IV.

The next race in the ULTRA4 Nitto National Championship will be the ULTRA4 Race at Badlands Off Road Park in Attica, IN on June 26^th and 27^th. The next Trail-Gear West Coast regional race is the 4 Wheel Parts Glen Helen Grand Prix which will be held July 10^th and 11^th at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, CA. The first ULTRA4 Europe race of the season is the King of Italy which will be held in Parma Italy between June 18^th and 21^st. For more information on ULTRA4 Racing please visit www.ultra4racing.com