TORC: Eric Ruppel Bark River summary

Ruppel Bounces Back in Round 6 @ Bark River

Chetek, WI (July 13, 2010) - Eric Ruppel has been one of the most consistent drivers in the entire Traxxas TORC Series presented by AMSOIL Sportsman series. In the first six rounds of racing the veteran Super Stock Truck competitor has completed every lap and finished on the podium four times, including once this past weekend in Bark River, Michigan.

The #837 Phil's Inc. Art Carr Transmission Halama Synthetics BFGoodrich Tires Ford F-150 was looking to extend his streak of podium finishes at one of the fastest yet technical short course tracks in North America, the Bark River International Off-Road Raceway. The always confident, yet cool under pressure driver from Northwest Wisconsin understands the importance of finishing every race when seeking a year long championship.

In Round 5 while running in the third position, a late race miscue almost ended his chance for a second championship. While applying pressure on Scott Beauchamp, Rupe came through the short but challenging rhythm section with a little too much speed. The truck nosed in hard, damaging the front suspension. Fortunately the truck was able to continue on to the checkered flag, finishing in sixth place.

Once the truck got back to the hauler, Kramer, Scott, Conrad, and Rupe went to work placing an I-beam and several other suspension parts in the left front section of the truck. Somehow the team didn't bring their spare I-beam; fortunately fellow Super Stock competitor Mitch Dorr lent the team their spare beam. Once again the camaraderie of the TORC Sportsman competitors keeps everyone racing.

Sunday's Round 6 action saw Eric take a better approach to the rhythm section and a more aggressive approach to other sections of the 1.5 mile track. In the end it paid off, as the #837 Ford F-150 finished in second place.

After six rounds of racing, Ruppel Motorsports is just one point behind the point's championship leader.

"I had brain fade for one brief second on Saturday and it bit me," noted Eric Ruppel. "Special thanks goes out to Mitch Dorr for lending us his spare I-Beam, and of course to my crew. We all worked hard getting this truck ready for Sunday and it paid off. A win would have really made the weekend, but we will take a second place any day especially after all the work after Saturday's race."

Next Race: July 23-24 at the Oshkosh Speedzone in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

You can watch all the TORC racing action on the internet, live or at a later time, @ www.usacracing.com/usac_live/usac_live_main

-source: Ruppel Motorsports