The Lovell Racing Team showed up in Hannibal, Missouri ready to do battle at the 2008 WE-Rock Finals in the rain, mud, and rock of Hannibal Rocks Off-Road Park. Unable to make the trip was the teams guiding light – spotter Roger Lovell. For the first time ever, Brad would be competing solely under the guidance of longtime rockcrawler Sean Lazzelle. “Our team is about family and Roger needed to be there for his,” said Brad, “We have always competed together and while I think there will be some wrinkles to work out, I have a lot of confidence in Sean.”
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hat confidence was immediately put to the test as Sean had to guide the vehicle across one of the most treacherous courses ever created. Brad was forced to pilot the #232 Fabtech Ranger over a rock spine with a 12’ cliff on one side and 30’ cliff on the other. The spine was narrow enough the tires had to completely hang off of either side. If everything was navigated correctly, the inevitable crash off the rock could be saved with some throttle action. With great confidence the pair took to the course and flawlessly traversed the dangers. “It was a stressful test and proof that I made the right choice for a replacement spotter. We were able to work very well as a team on this course.”
Any racing team needs patience, teamwork, the right vehicle, and a little luck. You control as many of these factors as you can and just hope for the rest to come together. Hoping for luck does not always cut it and luck decided to leave the team after their initial success. On course A2, and with the finish gates in sight, the Ford powered Fabtech Crawler did a very innocent thing. It stalled. Not catastrophic in its own right, but it occurred just as the truck slid off a sizeable drop and precisely when Brad needed some horsepower. The result was an end over end roll leaving the Ranger helplessly turtled and unable to finish. Only able to register scores on 3 of 4 courses, Lovell Racing was tied for 7th Place at the end of day #1.
Rain, mud, and fog welcomed competitors on the second day so Brad and Sean concentrated on surviving the courses and taking cones when necessary. Brad launched the truck up the first rock stepped slope and found just enough traction to break the rear gearset and once again, not finish. “I was getting a bit disheartened but we never give up. Natalie got all the parts ready back at the pit and the BFGoodrich Tires crew jumped in and helped us out. We were so fast repairing the truck that we did not even have to go on breakdown time,” Brad recalls, “I can say without a doubt that we do so well because of the support in situations like this.”
#232 roared back to life on course A1 as Brad became the first and only driver to complete the course. The extremely long run required technical boulder crawling in mud, a huge climb, and a long race across the entire event site to the finish line. “I think most people out there would agree that we have the best climbing vehicle. The engineers at Fabtech have built us the best suspension out there and if you can keep the BFG’s on the rocks, they will keep you moving forward. While others found defeat in the mud, Team Lovell was patient and stuck to their plan. Their performance was good enough to gain five places in three courses and put them in 2nd Place with only the final round to go.
“Derek West had an unreachable lead so we really needed to concentrate on fending off the lower guys. We could have dropped to 5th place if we rolled or broke. The finals are the time to attack the guy in front of you or use your lead to ensure you keep your current position.” Brad and Sean gracefully launched up the bonus climb and made fast work of the remaining gates to handily finish the competition in 2nd Place. “This event was brutal on the truck and it seemed like every quirk we have been dealing with this season showed up at the same time. Our team, our family, our sponsors, even competing teams helped us out a ton. With two wins, a season championship, and three 2nd’s we are proud of our 2008 rockcrawling season.”
T
hat confidence was immediately put to the test as Sean had to guide the vehicle across one of the most treacherous courses ever created. Brad was forced to pilot the #232 Fabtech Ranger over a rock spine with a 12’ cliff on one side and 30’ cliff on the other. The spine was narrow enough the tires had to completely hang off of either side. If everything was navigated correctly, the inevitable crash off the rock could be saved with some throttle action. With great confidence the pair took to the course and flawlessly traversed the dangers. “It was a stressful test and proof that I made the right choice for a replacement spotter. We were able to work very well as a team on this course.”
Any racing team needs patience, teamwork, the right vehicle, and a little luck. You control as many of these factors as you can and just hope for the rest to come together. Hoping for luck does not always cut it and luck decided to leave the team after their initial success. On course A2, and with the finish gates in sight, the Ford powered Fabtech Crawler did a very innocent thing. It stalled. Not catastrophic in its own right, but it occurred just as the truck slid off a sizeable drop and precisely when Brad needed some horsepower. The result was an end over end roll leaving the Ranger helplessly turtled and unable to finish. Only able to register scores on 3 of 4 courses, Lovell Racing was tied for 7th Place at the end of day #1.Rain, mud, and fog welcomed competitors on the second day so Brad and Sean concentrated on surviving the courses and taking cones when necessary. Brad launched the truck up the first rock stepped slope and found just enough traction to break the rear gearset and once again, not finish. “I was getting a bit disheartened but we never give up. Natalie got all the parts ready back at the pit and the BFGoodrich Tires crew jumped in and helped us out. We were so fast repairing the truck that we did not even have to go on breakdown time,” Brad recalls, “I can say without a doubt that we do so well because of the support in situations like this.”
#232 roared back to life on course A1 as Brad became the first and only driver to complete the course. The extremely long run required technical boulder crawling in mud, a huge climb, and a long race across the entire event site to the finish line. “I think most people out there would agree that we have the best climbing vehicle. The engineers at Fabtech have built us the best suspension out there and if you can keep the BFG’s on the rocks, they will keep you moving forward. While others found defeat in the mud, Team Lovell was patient and stuck to their plan. Their performance was good enough to gain five places in three courses and put them in 2nd Place with only the final round to go.“Derek West had an unreachable lead so we really needed to concentrate on fending off the lower guys. We could have dropped to 5th place if we rolled or broke. The finals are the time to attack the guy in front of you or use your lead to ensure you keep your current position.” Brad and Sean gracefully launched up the bonus climb and made fast work of the remaining gates to handily finish the competition in 2nd Place. “This event was brutal on the truck and it seemed like every quirk we have been dealing with this season showed up at the same time. Our team, our family, our sponsors, even competing teams helped us out a ton. With two wins, a season championship, and three 2nd’s we are proud of our 2008 rockcrawling season.”
Lovell Rock Racing will compete in their last 2008 event on September 20th as XRRA holds their US Finals in Jellico, TN. Roger Lovell will defend his 2007 US Championship in the #32 Dirt Logic Ranger and Brad will hunt for the top spot in #232 after finishing the 2008 XRRA season in 3rd Place.
Until then, we'll see you at the races.
