By Mike Henle
PRIMM, Nev. – California charger Dan Myers wrapped up the overall and Class 1 victories in the annual King Shocks Battle at Primm Feb. 10-12 as SNORE launched its 48th season here in near-perfect conditions.
For Myers, the event was a huge success. The fixed operations director for Toyota of Escondido in Southern California decided at the last minute to compete in event.
“This is my third SNORE race,” said the 38-year-old Myers. “I had no problems whatsoever. The car ran beautifully. I think that I will run the rest of SNORE’s races for the season. We’re building a spec Trophy Truck and I should be racing at the Baja 500 and Baja 1000 along with the Mint 400.”
Myers praised SNORE’s event adding that the Battle at Primm produced excellent wheel-to-wheel racing.
“I think this was one of the most professional races that I have raced,” he said. “I really like what SNORE has been doing, so I decided at the last minute to run the Primm race.”
Off-roading is a natural especially considering Myers’ affiliation with the Toyota dealership that is owned by his father.
“Right now, I’m running with TE Motorsports and the performance shop is part of the dealership,” he said. “When they wanted to open that, I decided that I wanted to run it.”
Considering the multitude of other off-road events both before and after the Battle at Primm, a starting field of 181 entries was considered a giant victory in itself.
Excellent track conditions were the result of SNORE vice president CJ Hutchins and his crew that watered the track methodically throughout the weekend.
Long-time SNORE official and racer Bill Shapley said it best when he said “The conditions were bitchin and in fact, they were the best I have ever seen for a race here.”
Things went so well for Shapley that he won the Limited Sportsman Division over Bree Cloud, Lani Austin, Kenny Freeman and Paul Flores.
“We didn’t have any mud or dust at all,” added Shapley. This was the most fun I have had in a long time.”
Indeed, the move to Primm for the 2004 Battle at Primm has proven to be a huge success after an event at another location was discontinued several years ago.
“No doubt that we found a home in Primm,” said SNORE President John Pellissier. “Everyone loves coming here. The accommodations are second-to-none and so are the amenities for pre-race and post-race festivities.
Myers scored a resounding victory over Cody Robinson in a division that also included a top five of Pat Dean, Blake Wilkey and Emil Downey.
In what had to be a perfect off-road racing scenario, a pair of champions – Curt Geer and Michael Ward – had an old-fashioned shoot out in the Class 1-2 1600 category that saw Geer capture the class by less than two minutes.
Other class winners included Justin Davis, 10; Chad Cummings, 12; Corey Howell, Unlimited Truck; Vincent Munoz, 1450 Pro; Justin Smith, 5 Unlimited; Ruben Garcia, 5-1600; Richard Cretsinger, Heavy Metal; Matthew Bailey, Stock Full; Rene Carmenty, VORE; Rex Verley, 7; Maggie Dague, 3000; Tyler Peterson, 9; Michael Brenner, Stock Bug; Andrei Isaac, SxS Pro Limited; Vincent Munoz, 1450 Sportsman; Kameron Wells, 2000; Jeff Pendygraft, Unlimited Sportsman.
Representing JBS Motorsports in Las Vegas, Smith shared his racing duties Saturday with Sam Richard, who was leading until transmission issues slowed her.
“I’m studying to be a physical therapist,” Richard said. “I grew up around off-road racing and ran with Bree Cloud, and that’s how the sport go into my blood. Then, I met Bean Smith and the rest is history.”
SNORE resumes the 2017 Patrick’s Signs/McKenzie’s Championship Series with the always-popular Motion Tire 300 at picturesque Ridgecrest, Calif.
Other races include the Caliente 250 June 9-10; the KC HiLites Midnight Special Aug. 4-6 in Jean, the PCI Radios SNORE 250 Oct. 7-8 and the McKenzie’s Rage at the River in Laughlin Dec. 8-10.
Further information can be found by visiting www.snoreracing.net.