Event Preview: Off-Road Rumble In The U.P. In Bark River, MI
Event Preview: Off-Road Rumble In The U.P. In Bark River, MI
The best off-road racers in the world square off at one of the sport's crown jewel tracks. Join us this weekend in Bark River, MI. Live on FloRacing.
About the event and Bark River International Raceway:
Stop number six on the 2024 AMSOIL Championship Off-Road tour brings us North to Bark River, Michigan. This will be Champ Off-Road’s fourth race at this historic venue. This time, for a three-day off-road extravaganza. The best off-road racers in the world compete at one of the sport's crown jewel tracks.
One of the most historic tracks in off-road history, Bark River held its inaugural race in 1976, called the "U.P. Off Road 100." It was a 100-mile race through the woods, similar to Crandon’s original "Brush Run 101."
A unique track that could almost be described as a Crandon/ERX hybrid, Bark River’s combination of high speeds, elevation changes, technical sections, big air, and natural terrain makes for great racing in every class on the schedule.
The Island Resort & Casino Off-Road Rumble in the U.P. is an event that fans and racers alike always have circled on their calendars. The track is one where veterans of the sport tend to shine; but fast, young guns have flashed their muscle there in recent years as well.
TRUCK STORYLINES
PRO4 Points Top-5:
- 1st: CJ Greaves #33 (440 points)
- 2nd: Jimmy Henderson #44 (406 points)
- 3rd: Adrian Cenni #11 (401 points)
- 4th: Johnny Greaves #22 (390 points)
- 5th: Andrew Carlson #15 (373 points)
Cenni a Three-Time Winner in 2024
Adrian Cenni has won not one, but two PRO4 races this season. With an all-new truck for 2024, the Wildman has reestablished himself as a regular podium contender and race winner. This year, he has two wins Dirt City and another at ERX. Champ Off-Road now returns to the place where he won one year ago and ended a years-long winless spell.
Henderson Back on Top
For what felt like a long time coming for many, Jimmy Henderson at the #44 had shown clear indicators all season that he and his all-new truck this season have what it takes to earn P1. In just 9 rounds, Henderson became the 4th PRO4 winner this season.
| Round | Track | Winner | Fast Qualifier |
| 1 | Dirt City | Adrian Cenni | Jimmy Henderson |
| 2 | Dirt City | Johnny Greaves | - |
| 3 | Antigo | CJ Greaves | Jimmy Henderson |
| 4 | Antigo | CJ Greaves | - |
| 5 | Crandon | CJ Greaves | [cancelled due to rain] |
| 6 | ERX | Adrian Cenni | CJ Greaves |
| 7 | ERX | CJ Greaves | - |
| 8 | Dirt City | Jimmy Henderson | CJ Greaves |
| 9 | Dirt City | Adrian Cenni | - |
Whose in for Bark River? In addition to the full-timers, you can expect to see Cole Mamer and Robert Stout rejoin the field. Check out the full preliminary entry list here.
PRO2 Points Top-5:
- 1st: Ryan Beat #51 (435 points)
- 2nd: Mickey Thomas #44 (434 points)
- 3rd: Kyle Greaves #34 (414 points)
- 4th: Zac Zakowski #90 (367 points)
- 5th: Ricky Gutierrez #78 (351 points)
After what had been a season plagued with adversity for the #78, Ricky Gutierrez put all of the pieces together for a statement win in Round 8.
Just one point separates points leader Ryan Beat from Mickey Thomas in 2nd. With just three rounds remaining, there little room for error from either driver. Both seek a first career PRO2 title.
Back in action this weekend are Kyle Cooper, Keegan Kincaid, Cory Winner, Brody Eggleston and others. Expect to see a stout field of 17 PRO2 trucks. You can check out the full preliminary entry list here.
Pro Lite Points Top-5:
- 1st: Trey Gibbs #5 (491 points)
- 2nd: Johnny Holtger (406 points)
- 3rd: Carson Parrish #8 (391 points)
- 4th: Carson Brown #28 (373 points)
- 5th: Antonio Inglese #9 (345 points)
What's left to say about Trey Gibbs that hasn't already been said? With 7 wins out of 9 races in 2024, he has been performing at the top of his short course game. He boasts the most commanding points lead among the pro truck divisions.
Pro Spec Points Top-5:
- 1st: Nick Visser #80 (447 points)
- 2nd: Dylan Parsons #99 (437 points)
- 3rd: Chris Van Den Elzen #66 (410 points)
- 4th: Ronald Kosciesza #77 (368 points)
- 5th: Christopher Parrish #83(275 points)
The Parity Party
Pro Spec has been one of THE classes to watch this season. In rounds, we've witnessed four different winners:
- Christopher Parrish: 3 wins
- Nick Visser: 3 wins
- Dylan Parsons: 2 wins
- Chris Van Den Elzen: 1 win
When "The Thriller" Wyatt Miller lined up for his off-road debut at Dirt City Motorplex two weeks ago, there is no stat in the book that could have predicted that he would score a pair of runner-up finishes. Miller is a Winged/Non-Wing Micro Racer and a 2024 Tulsa Shootout Restricted Micro Champion. In case you didn't know, Wyatt is the grandson of the late Dale Earnhardt Sr., the nephew of Dale Earnhardt Jr., and the sister of Karsyn Ellddge. We know he has talent and that his future is bright. With his newly-proven talent in off-road racing, we sure hope to see more of him in the future. Watch for him this weekend in Bark River.
SxS Storylines
AMSOIL Pro SxS Points Top-5:
- 1st: Andrew Carlson #15 (412 points)
- 2nd: CJ Greaves #33 (407 points)
- 3rd: Owen VanEperen #5 (356 points)
- 4th: Jeb Bootle #41 (349 points)
- 5th: Rodney VanEperen #45 (344 points)
On the move continues to be CJ Greaves who jumped up to 3rd in recent weeks. He now sits just 5 points behind Andrew Carlson. Greaves currently has the forward momentum. If Carlson is to secure the AMSOIL Pro SxS title over the next three rounds, this is starting to look like a must-win situation. At the very least, he will need to break Greaves's momentum. Greaves is coming off of a perfect weekend in Dirt City, winning 4 of the 4 SxS (Pro SxS and Pro Stock SxS) races he lined up for.
Pro Stock SxS Points Top-5:
- 1st: CJ Greaves #33 (448 points)
- 2nd: Owen VanEperen #5 (434 points)
- 3rd: Jeb Bootle #41 (314 points)
- 4th: Colin Kernz #10 (371 points)
- 5th: Jake Kosmecki #94 (354 points)
Pro Buggy Storylines
Pro Buggy Points Top-5:
- 1st: Jordan Bernloehr #27 (432 points)
- 2nd: Billy Buth #51 (404 points)
- 3rd: Lorenzo Bonacci #33 (396 points)
- 4th: Cole Bernloehr #34 (357 points)
- 5th: Dave Mason Jr #65 (353 points)
All eyes were on a first-time AMSOIL Champ Off-Road winner and three-time Pro Buggy Champion, Zachary Drapkin a few weeks prior in Lena, WI. He not only collected his first win with the premier series, but simultaneously earned his first-every Champ Off-Road podium.
You can tune in all season long on FloRacing. New and exciting for AMSOIL Championship Off-Road in 2024 is it's TV partnership with FS2. For live stream information and broadcast air dates, check out this week's watch guide.