Chasing the MORE ORAF 500 Off Road Race - Web Exclusive

The travel time to our next photo op was nice & quick. We were able to arrive at the contact point right before Letner hit a rough straight away wide open. The wind picked up clearing the thick dust trail as 2nd & 3rd place crested a far corner. The section was down hill and choppy through the sand. The cars had to maneuver through a small twist, holes, big rocks and several small dunes. Every Car flew through it all without lifting. Straight up and flat out each driver was pushing to make up time.

It was about 5:40, the leaders were well into their 5th lap and we were making out way back to the Main Pit area. The plan was to catch the GHA Car during the last scheduled pit stop at the start of the 7th lap. I knew we could not make it to main before Alex came through on the 6th lap so we had time to kill. Race mile 4 was there nearest area of the marked course and we ended up finding a decent spot. But when the cars came through for the 6th time the surrounding area filled up with dust and silt. Choking and exhausted we cut out to take a break at the GHA Racing Trailer.

The sun had set and the pits were alive with action. Each team was lost in their own race effort. Generators were blaring, impact guns firing away, welders humming all while a steady flow of race cars notched away their last laps. Attrition had taken its toll and thinned the field. As the race ended our long day in the dirt was coming to an end.

1 - Car 1596 Alex Gonzales
2 - Car 151 Rock Brabec
3 - Car 1546 Steve Raskett
4 - Car 132 Jennifer Clemison
5 - Car 188 Guy Petersen
6 - Car 25 Joe Willardsen
7 - Car 107 Barry Karakas
8 - Car 85 John Vaughan
9 - Car 76 Jason Ruane
10 - Car 133 Danny Wingerning