LOORRS UTV Champion, SuperLite Challenge Cup WIN, TORC Rookie of The Year
Riverside, CA 12/13/2011 – The 2011 off-road racing season ended in spectacular fashion for the Walker Evans Racing (WER) team. Driver RJ Anderson clinched his very first UTV Unlimited Championship in the final rounds of racing at the Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series (LOORRS) finale in Chandler, AZ at the always fun Firebird International Raceway. It has been a long time coming for RJ and his #637 Walker Evans Racing /South Point Casino Polaris RZR. Having competed in all 3 seasons of LOORRS in a UTV and seeming to always fall just a few points short of winning it all, it was really encouraging to RJ, the Walker Evans Racing team, and all of his sponsors to come out this year and dominate like he did.
“I couldn’t be happier right now. Our team has worked so hard to win this championship for more than a couple of years now, so to finally get it makes all the hard work and challenges we faced really worth it. We had been battling against bigger and faster UTV’s for a couple of seasons so we were really excited when Polaris came to us with this new platform to compete with this season. The Polaris RZR XP900 is the best UTV on the market in stock form, combine that with our Walker Evans Racing team and products and now we have the Championship we have wanted for so long. I give a lot of the credit to Kevin Kroyer. We wouldn’t be where we are if it wasn’t for Kevin Kroyer and his Kroyer Race Engines that he built for our Polaris UTV. He squeezed every bit of power he could out of these engines keeping us in front and ensuring that we always started and finished races. This was our last year racing UTV’s at Lucas Oil so it was important to go out and win the championship, and thats what the team did and because of that I just couldn’t be more pumped than I am right now. I want to also thank each and every member of our team and every sponsor that has helped us along. South Point Casino is a huge part of our program in all classes and their support gets us here every round. Holz Racing Products for building and giving me one of the sweetest handling UTV’s ever built. Goodyear Tires for giving us the grip we need, Mastercraft Safety for keeping me safe especially in my big wreck during the opening rounds of racing at Firebird this season. Of course I need to thank Walker Evans Racing, they along with my Mom and Dad have provided me with this opportunity to go race and do what I love and for that I owe them more than words could ever describe. Muzzys, K&N Filters, Dethrone Racing, Oakley, Utendorfer Design, UTVUnderground.com, Summers Brothers, and of course Polaris Industries, thank you to all of you for all of the parts, support, and encouragement all season long!” – RJ Anderson
The UTV Championship wasn’t all RJ and his team set out to accomplish in these final rounds of racing. Anderson and team was also set to compete in the #37 Walker Evans Racing / Dethrone Racing / So-Cal SuperTrucks Super-Lite and go for the win in the BIG season ending Lucas Oil Challenge Cup race. Not only did RJ put on what would be one of his best driving performances all year, but in the end he would check out from the competition and bring home a massive $10,000 pay day and the title of 2011 Super-Lite Challenge Cup WINNER! The racing all weekend was filled with carnage and mayhem. This race proved to be much of the same with spectacular roll overs, 3 wide corner racing and door to door passing was all part of this amazing Super-Lite race. In the end RJ would pick his way through the pack, take the #1 position and then proceed to separate from the rest of the competition. You could tell from the podium celebration that this win meant a lot to RJ, his team, and of course his fans, which to no ones surprise, has a lot of them now!
“Racing in the Super-Lite series has been one of the coolest things I have ever been able to do. The competition is fierce and the trucks are really close to one another in terms of spec. I feel like I always get to compete against a star from some other world of action sports or racing such as Jason Ellis, Sunny Garcia, or the late Jeff “OX” Kargola which is always fun and brings more exposure and attention to the track. Like UTV’s this was going to be our last year in Super-Lite at Lucas Oil so we wanted to go out in a big way. Due to some mid season mistakes that I take credit for, we weren’t really going to be able to get back in the points although we were still in the top 3. But once that championship race was done on Saturday I was all about winning the Challenge Cup race, bringing home a check, the cup, and going out on top! To set that goal and accomplish it, well, there is a reason I can’t wipe this smile off my face right now! I want to thank as always, Dethrone Racing for coming on board and supporting our program, these guys came in and put there team behind me and its been a blast being a part of Dethrone Racing. I want to also thank everyone at So-Cal SuperTrucks for all of their support as well, they have been here with us in Super Lite all year long and are always showing me and the team a ton of love and support. Of course I have to thank South Point Casino, Utendorfer Design, Mastercraft Safety, Oakley, Goodyear Tires, K&N Filters, UTVUnderground.com, and last but not least Walker Evans Racing! Again, Walker Evans along with my Mom and Dad support me like no other and they are truly the reason I am here racing and able to have so much fun doing what I love to do!” – RJ Anderson
Before racing commenced in Arizona, RJ Anderson headed to Indianapolis, IN where he would attend the TORC Banquet and Awards Ceremony. It was there that RJ would be awarded TORC Rookie Of The Year honors for the 2011 race season. Just more icing on the cake for what has become the most exciting year of racing for the young RJ Anderson. He was only a few points off a championship in the Pro-Lite class at TORC in his rookie season and it was great to see TORC take notice of his performance and reward him for it.
The 2011 race season was the most intense season of racing this young rising star has ever had. RJ went from competing in one class in one series to competing in 3 classes in 2 series. Not to mention a few WORCS series races sprinkled in the middle where he would compete in another of his Walker Evans Racing / Holz Racing Poducts Polaris UTV’s (RJ would capture another win for his record at the final round of WORCS this year). RJ has developed into one of the fastest rising talents in off-road racing and if his driving didn’t prove that then his stats certainly do!
Lucas OIl Off Road Racing Series
Competed in: UTV Unlimited – Super Lite Championship – Pro-Lite
38 – Total Races
26 – Podium Finishes
10 – 1st Place WINS
10 – 2nd Place Finishes
6 – 3rd Place Finishes
UTV Unlimited CHAMPION – Super Lite Challenge Cup WINNER
TORC Off-Road Racing Series
Competed in: Pro-Lite
15 – Total Races
6 – Podium Finishes
3 – 1st Place WINS
2 – 2nd Place Finishes
1 – 3rd Place Finish
TORC Rookie Of The Year Honors – Pro-Lite Championship Runner-Up
Walker Evans Racing wants to congratulate RJ on a spectacular season of racing. We look forward to many more seasons of racing, winning, and championships. Next year RJ will be focused on competing in the Walker Evans Racing Pro-Lite at LOORRS and TORC and will also be competing full time in the WORCS racing series in his Polaris RZR UTV. RJ and the Walker Evans Racing team is currently seeking sponsorships for the 2012 season, if you are interested in being a part of this competitive and championship winning team please contact Brian MacLean of Walker Evans Racing at brian@walkerevansent.com or by phone at 951-784-7223.
#637 Walker Evans Racing Unlimited UTV Sponsors
Walker Evans Racing Wheels & Shocks – South
Point Las Vegas – Polaris Off Road Vehicles – Goodyear – Kroyer – MasterCraft – Holz Racing Products – Dethrone Racing – Oakley – UTVUnderground.com – Utendorfer Design – Muzzy – K&N Filters – Summer Brothers Racing
#37 Walker Evans Racing Super-Lite Sponsors
Walker Evans Racing Wheels & Shocks – South Point Las Vegas – SoCal SuperTrucks – Goodyear – South Point Las Vegas – Dethrone Racing – Oakley – MasterCraft – K&N Filters – Utendorfer Design
#37 Walker Evans Racing Pro Lite Sponsors
Walker Evans Racing Wheels & Shocks – South Point Las Vegas – Polaris Off Road Vehicles – Goodyear – Kroyer – Oakley – EMJ Metal – Gear Works – MasterCraft – Currie Enterprises – FK Bearing – MSD – Miller Welders – K&N Filters – Utendorfer Design
Photos Courtesy of Ryan Torres // www.RyanTorresPhotography.com and Vincent Knakal of // www.MadMedia.com for www.UTVUnderground.com & www.WalkerEvansRacing.com
At Walker Evans Racing our goals is to design and manufacture quality, performance, race-proven products that can used for aftermarket applications. The very same product we produce is the very same product used on numerous race winning vehicles. Based in Riverside, CA Walker Evans Racing has been involved in the off road industry for over 30 years.
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