Renezeder Redeems Tough Weekend with a Runner-Up Finish

One week ago today, Carl Renezeder and crew got set up at Glen Helen Raceway, full of optimism that the tough season they’ve had so far would finally turn around. The weekend hosted rounds nine and ten of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, and even with some positive highlights, the team loaded up in the very early hours of Monday morning with the burden of several disappointing results on their minds. All three days – practice and qualifying on Friday and racing on Saturday and Sunday – had their stellar moments.  Of the five times the Pro-2 took to the track, Renezeder was quick time in four sessions, including Friday’s qualifying and Saturday’s race. He finished second in Sunday’s race after an eighth place start and posted the second quickest time of the race while working through traffic.  He was also second quick in his Pro-4 in all three sessions on Friday, and quick time of Sunday’s race, while working on the lead.  He ultimately made the pass for the lead on lap 19 but never made it back to the start/finish line.  That’s where the string of positives ends.

The Pro-4 seemed to take the brunt of the bad luck throughout the weekend.  Renezeder hooked the cushion in turn three during practice on Friday and ended up on the roof.  In Saturday’s race, he was t-boned in the air and rolled through the rhythm section.  Then, coming through the final turn in Sunday’s race while leading on his way to take the white flag, he hooked the outside cushion again and finished the day on the roof.

Renezeder had his share of bad moments in the Pro-2 as well.  Most were minor, but the worst was his eighth-place finish on Saturday due to a black flag on lap eight of 20 when contact with Greg Adler at the end of the “doubles” rhythm section resulted in Adler rolling in turn three.

“I felt really bad that he ended up with a wrecked truck,” explained a remorseful Renezeder.  “I had already committed to doubling out of the rhythm section when he checked up for the last jump to take the inside line.  I had nowhere to go.  I was on the brakes when I landed, but it was too late.  I told my spotter right away to tell his spotter I was sorry, but that obviously doesn’t fix his truck.” It was a tough track to tame, and several drivers found themselves upside-down.  Some wrecks were worse than others, and everyone in the short-course community has been relieved to hear that Robbie Pierce will make a full recovery after his huge wreck on Sunday night.  Sometimes it’s the body that gets bruised pretty badly, but more often than not it’s the ego and confidence that take the biggest hits.  If only they made, stitches, salves, pain relievers and bandages for those…

(Attached photos courtesy of Jeff Nemecek)