Kent Brascho accomplished a number of firsts over the weekend in Wisconsin.The Pell City native and professional off-road racer won his first major victory Sunday, powering to an impressive 10-lap victory in the 15th annual Forest County Potawatomi Chairman’s Cup race at Crandon International Off-Road Raceway in Crandon, Wisc. on Sunday.
Brascho’s PRO 4x4 Lucas Oil Goodyear Chevrolet Silverado used all its 800 HP and full-time 4-wheel drive on a wet and sloppy 1.5-mile Crandon track surface to win the $20,000, along with the coveted Chairman’s Cup and other prizes.
In doing so, Brascho, became the first off-road racer from the South to win the Cup.
“I’m very proud of my team and very happy for our sponsors Lucas Oil Products and Goodyear tires for getting me to Crandon’s Victory Circle,” he said. “I am also proud to be bringing the Cup to ‘Sweet Home Alabama.’ I know everyone at Lucas Oil as well as Goodyear are elated about the win.”
The FCP Chairman’s Cup race, a big money off-road showdown between high performance 4x4 and 2-wheel drive race pickups, is the longest running race of its type in the nation. This past weekend’s version was the first ever on a rain-soaked track that made traction and driving conditions hazardous for the field of 15 trucks.
Brascho, however, put in a workman-like performance picking off competitors one by one and turning in lap after lap time that was a model of consistency.
“I never let up, even when I took the lead,” said Brascho, who forged to the front mid-race. “You can’t back off when you have other big name racers like Johnny Greaves, Jerry Daugherty, Scott Taylor, Dan Vanden Heuvel and the Jenkins brothers (Mike and Mark) stalking you.
“Our team doesn’t have the funding of some of my other competitors, but we were the best on Sunday and we hope to capitalize on this success the balance of the Lucas Oil World Series of Off-Road Racing season.”
Brascho said that the hard rain turned Crandon’s legendary high speed racing surface into a very challenging, slippery and slick track.
“I ran out of visor tear-offs halfway through the race,” he said. “For five laps I kept going up and over the General Tire Grabber Jump and just steering with my knees and wiping away the heavy mud from my face and helmet.”
Presenting Brascho with the Chairman’s Cup and prize money in Victory Circle was Phil Shopodock, chairman, Forest County Potawatomi Community, and Cliff Flannery, president, Crandon International Off-Road Raceway.
Brascho also received a $1,200 Miller Electric Welder and a $500 Traxxas® radio controlled off-road race truck – the Official Radio Controlled Cars of the World Series of Off-Road Racing (WSORR).
More information is available at wsorr.com and crandonoffroad.com.
