Torchmate Teammates JT Taylor Wins and Jesse Haines Finishes 5th
RENO, NV SEPTEMBER 13, 2011 JT Taylor, Team Manager for Torchmate Racing, took the win at the Ultra4 Torchmate Stampede in Reno, NV on Saturday September 10th. The 130 mile Northern Nevada race boasted as the hardest Ultra4 race yet by promoter Dave Cole, even tougher than the King of the Hammers, makes the win even stronger. “This is a huge deal for Torchmate and this win is a long time coming for me. We knew we couldn’t let off and had to run a fast and consistent pace because there were 45 quality racers chasing me down… so, this is a big frickin deal,” said JT Taylor at the awards ceremony Saturday night as the crowd of racers cheered.
Qualifying second behind Shannon Campbell, Torchmate Racing JT Taylor felt confident in the car and the starting position to have a good day. “The TTB car performed perfectly and the crew was on the top of their game. We had a plug wire issue on the beginning of lap two so we ran the 17 mile loop and ducked back into the pit,” said JT Taylor. The crew attacked the car led by Crew Chief Jake Povey who found and fixed the problem and they were back out of the pits before the 2nd place car came through on the first lap.
During the second lap, they ended up burning a second plug wire and co-driver Jason Berger pushed JT Taylor to find a happy RPM range where the engine wouldn’t pop. “Instead of attacking the corners and coming off the gas, we floated consistently through the corners and used the amazing Radflo Suspension to our benefit. It turned out to be smoother and faster, plus it being the third time around the course, once in pre-running, we knew the corners better, so it was a lot of fun.”
Jesse Haines, Torchmate Fabricator and driver of the Torchmate #4499 car, finished 5th overall. “We ran a consistent pace with really no issues. We took it more as a trail ride and with only a loose brake fitting and a broken winch rope we did good,” smiled Haines after the 130 mile race. His expertise in rock crawling allowed him the opportunity to take alternate lines to bypass multiple rigs caught in the rock sections aiding in his 10 position gain.
Bill Kunz, Torchmate CNC General Manager was at the race the entire day cheering on the Torchmate team of JT Taylor and Jesse Haines and all of the racers that came from across the country. “Thanks to everybody for coming to Reno, I know how much you go through to get your cars ready and travel across the country, so if you are willing to come to our backyard, the least we can do is be a big part of the race,” said Kunz. Torchmate CNC Cutting Systems is the Title Sponsor of the Ultra4 Stampede, after being a primary sponsor of the “Lucas Oil on the Edge” 2011 Griffin King of the Hammers TV Show and supporting an entire team for the Ultra4 series.
“This win is huge to me. I have never won an Ultra4 race, so it has been a long time coming. Not only personally, but for Torchmate to build this car and to have problems at the last four events to finally prove what this car can do,” smiled JT Taylor. They had no flats on the Goodyear Tires and the car is already being prepped for the Glen Helen Short Course Race in October.
Torchmate JT Taylor and Jesse Haines at 2011 Torchmate Stampede
Link
Photo Credit: Rise Above Photography
Video Gallery:
Torchmate at 2011 King of the Hammers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46LZOXPbXTU
Rusty Bray wins 2011 Rausch Creek Qualifier: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajAvmhOdg74
Torchmate at Pikes Peak You Tube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LJxzAKNAk8
Torchmate Featured at American Rock Sports Challenge: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m58CQrpMtM0
Torchmate Racing Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/TorchmateRacing
Torchmate CNC Cutting Machines can be purchased and more information can be found at www.Torchmate.com.
About Torchmate: Headquartered in Reno, Nev., Torchmate CNC Cutting Systems manufactures custom CNC plasma cutting tables and other automation solutions for manufacturers worldwide. For more than 30 years, Torchmate has provided more options, accessories and innovations than any other CNC cutting table manufacturer in the world. Whether a plasma cutter, router, water jet, engraver, glue gun or any other tool, Torchmate CNC System’s deliver the highest precision and repeatability on the market. For more information, call toll free at (866) 571-1066 or internationally at (775) 673-2200, or visit us on our website, www.torchmate.com.
Sponsors: Torchmate CNC Cutting Systems, BFGoodrich, Goodyear, Radflo Shocks, WARN, Raceline Wheels, Magnaflow Exhaust, Eibach Springs, Pirate4x4.com
About JT Taylor: JT Taylor is the epitome of “been there, done that”. A retired First Sergeant who returned from the Iraq conflict with a Bronze Star, Taylor uses the skills that he honed as a soldier to manage the Torchmate Racing team. His strategic and mechanical capabilities have served him not just with Torchmate racing, but also in previous Crew Chief positions with Speed Technologies, Shannon Campbell and Dirt Sports race teams. He was the Crew Chief for Speed Technologies 2008 Class 1 Baja 1000 win, 2009 Baja 500 Torchmate team, and co-drove and was crew for the 2009 Baja 1000 and 2010 NORRA 1000, and pits for Speed Technologies SuperLite #16 in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series. It would be foolish to think that Taylor is only handy with a wrench though, he is just as comfortable behind the wheel. Taylor consistently held a top ten position in XORRA for five years and is the two year reigning champion of the XORRA Germany Series. He is the Colorado Hill Climb Association Ultra4 Champion and made history as the first Ultra4 competitor to run Pikes Peak, where he won the Exhibition class. Taylor is one of the original thirteen competitors of King of the Hammers who has raced every year, including 2010 with Roger Norman on his team.
Marketing Partners: Torchmate, Tube Shark, Goodyear, Raceline Wheels, CTM Axles, Howe Power Steering, Winchline.com, Shirt Force, Power Tank
About Jesse Haines: Over the past decade Jesse Haines has established himself as one of the top fabricators in the off road industry while simultaneously cementing his legacy as one of the winningest drivers in rockcrawling history. Haines was first introduced to rockcrawling while competing at the legendary Four Wheeler Magazine Top Truck Challenge in 2002 and quickly developed a passion for the sport. Just three short years later, Jesse found himself atop the podium as the WE Rock Unlimited Class National Champion in a vehicle of his own design. To his record, Haines has won an astounding twelve rockcrawling competitions from Pennsylvania to California, a series championship, and had dozens of podium finishes. Between competitions, Haines has also built numerous championship-winning vehicles for both himself and other competitors. Haines has been on the leading edge of the wildly popular Ultra4 Racing explosion with respectable finishes at VORRA desert races, the Ultra 4 Stampede, and the King of the Hammers. Throughout his career Haines has been seen on Trucks TV, Extreme 4x4, Superlift TV, Lucas Oil - On The Edge, MTV's Megadrive, and Modern Marvels.
Marketing Partners: Torchmate, Maxxis, PSC, Superior Axle and Gear, Raceline Wheels, Branik Machine Shop, High Angle Driveline
