2015 RCV Badlands Highlight Video – Ultra4 Racing

June 27th, 2015 ATTICA, IN:  More than 40 ULTRA4 drivers braved the rain and mud to take part in the 4th annual RCV ULTRA4s at Badlands race. Despite a week of intense rain and flood warnings, drivers awoke to sunny skies Saturday morning. Thousands of spectators took advantage of the weather and came out to watch a day filled with off road competitions throughout the park.

Qualifying for the 4400s started early on Saturday. Derek West was the last driver to qualify and beat Macy Higgins time by more than 6 seconds, earning him both the pole position in the main race as well as the Billet Rifle Hot Shot Award.  West’s domination started early and continued throughout the day.

Drivers started the main event one every 10 seconds, and had 2.5 hours to race the 4.5 mile track as many laps as possible. The Badlands course is unique in several ways: There is a man-made arena with rock obstacles and jumps, sandy go-fast sections, tight-tree lined single track and a rock quarry that puts the most skilled rock crawler to the test. While the sun and wind did their part to significantly dry out the track from the day before there were still plenty of mud puddles which just added to the challenge of the rock sections.

West started on the pole and never looked back. He held the fastest lap times even when mixing it up with lap traffic. By the end of the race, West would finish one lap ahead of Texas driver Doug Jackson and two laps ahead of South Carolina’s Chris May.  Both Jackson and May earning their first ULTRA4 podiums in Indiana.  In addition to the 4400s, the 4500s raced the identical track starting behind the ULTRA4s. In the 4500 class, 451 driver James Cantrell took first place, continuing his podium streak on the East Coast. 4573 Rob Matzell took 2nd place and 4555 Stephen Caproni took 3rd.  In the UTV race sponsored by Badlands with a $1000 purse, six UTV drivers punished their vehicles for 45 minutes, with newcomer Brian Strane taking 1st followed by Zach Szymick and Paul Nagele.

With West’s win in Badlands he now has a substantial lead in the Nitto National Series points.  Going into Saturday’s race West was 3rd in the points behind Levi Shirley in first and Wayland Campbell in 2nd. Shirley was unable to attend Saturday’s race as he was invited to take part in Europe’s GoodWood Festival, representing ULTRA4 Racing for the first time at the event. Wayland Campbell competed in the Badland’s and borrowed sister Bailey Campbell’s straight axle car for the event. Unfortunately, Campbell suffered major mechanical failures early in the race. The Nitto National Championship is comprised of 5 races, those races include: KOH Week Race, 3 best regional series races, and the Nitto Tire National Championship race.  While West currently holds a considerable lead, with 4 regional races left in the series there is still plenty of time for other drivers to play catch up.

The next race in the ULTRA4 Nitto National Championship will be this weekend with the 4 Wheel Parts Glen Helen Grand Prix July 10th and 11th. The next 4WD Hardware East Coast regional race is the Sturgis Off Road Blowout in Sturgis, KY July 31st and August 1st. For more information on ULTRA4 Racing please visit www.ultra4racing.com