Westhoff Motorsports Tackles the MORE Rumble at Ridgecrest

September 19, 2006 - Knowing that the Westhoff Motorsports newly built 1-2/1600 racecar would not be fully tested and ready to compete in this race, Joey Westhoff teamed with Desertbull Racing this past weekend at the MORE Rumble at Ridgecrest race held in the high deserts of Southern California.

With a fierce desire to be back behind the wheel, Joey Westhoff took off the starting line and put on a show for all the race fans. With points leader Ken Tolbert only 30 seconds ahead, Joey charged hard catching him within the first mile. From then on the plan was to take it easy and make it through the first lap. Unfortunately the clutch started slipping and everyone knew they would have to try to make it to the pits. Joey brought the car to the Main Pit explaining the problem to the anxious crew members, "We lost the imput seal in the tranny again, fill it with oil and we'll try to make another lap."

Joey charged hard through the carnage on the course, the attrition rate out there was high and the team still had a chance to go home with a podium finish. At the end of the second lap #552 once again pulled into the pits, the clutch needed to be changed. After running through the pits, the only clutch the crew could pull together was stock. It would have to do if they were going to at least try and finish the race.

With 4 laps to go Joey took off into the desert once again, hoping that this clutch would go another 80 miles. Unfortunately the clutch only made it 18 more miles, and the #552 had to call it quits. Joey limped the car to Pit B where the crew was waiting and made it back to the Main Pit.

Joey sat under the car for 30 minutes trying to somehow think of a way to get the car across the finish line until they realized an even bigger problem. The torsion housing had cracked all the way around, there was no way the car was going anywhere until the 2006 SCORE Tecate Baja 1000.

Westhoff Motorsports will team with Desertbull racing to take on the famed SCORE Baja 1000, which will stretch along the entire Baja Peninsula from Ensenada to La Paz. Joey is set to drive at least 1/3 of the race in the #552. Westhoff Motorsports will then rush home from La Paz for the debut of their 1-2/1600 racecar the following weekend at the MORE Holiday 200 in Barstow, California.

Stay tuned for updates and progress of Westhoff Motorsports new 1-2/1600 racecar and their continued race efforts in the Off Road Motorsports Industry.

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