JERETT BROOKS CROWNED 2019 CRANDON PRO 2 WORLD CHAMPION

Crandon, WI

The 50th Anniversary celebration of short course World Championship Racing at Crandon International Raceway has gone down in the history books as one of the biggest and most iconic ever. A huge sellout crowd made its way out to “The Big House” for a Labor Day weekend-long event featuring three days of off-road racing culminating with the World Championship Races on Sunday. Jerett Brooks, driver of the #77 Rigid Industries / Bilstein / General Tire / KMC Wheels Pro 2, defeated the talent and defied the odds to be crowned the 2019 Crandon Pro 2 World Champion.

What was once a humble back-road dairy farm, now attracts huge crowds of thousands to participate in a rich tradition that can be called the Woodstock of off-road racing. Crandon, for many, is the mecca of short course racing. Even before headliner Kid Rock throwing a Friday night kickoff concert, Crandon had sold out months in advance and eventually saw attendance number peeking 75,000 people. The track, the super fans, the venue, the summertime fair type atmosphere just cannot be replicated.

“It is just totally inspiring to be here, and to be racing brings it to a whole new level,” Jerett commented. “Being the 50th, we had to put Crandon on our schedule, and I am glad we did. I have not been out here in 4 years and never raced the Pro 2 at Crandon, so I thought we were going to struggle. My guys nailed the setup on the Rigid Industries #77, and we have a super-fast truck. I was 2nd quickest in practice and qualified P1 for Saturday. It feels great to be back!”

Crandon always brings out the big dogs, and the 50th attracted one of the most talented competitor grids in some time. Saturday’s Pro 2 event saw 24 trucks with 22 making a start. Kincaid, Hord, McGrath, MacCachran, and Deegan were some of the known heavy hitters. The field we’re divided into two groups with the Midwest 410 powered trucks given a timed starting gap over the traditional high horsepower trucks. Brooks was in the second group and got a great start coming out of the land rush, through turn 1. Jerett was leading his group and focused on hunting down the 410 trucks. Lap by lap, Brooks moved through the field. On Lap 3, the Rigid Industries Truck passed five competitors and had broken into the front group to target the race leaders. The caution flag came out and slowed things down a bit, and Jerett was only able to challenge for a podium position on the last lap, securing a 3rd place finish.

Brooks described his frustration, “They give a big gap to the 410 trucks, which is a bummer. We have to try to catch these guys with their 35-second head start. We’re racing against sixteen 410 trucks and have to battle through all the trucks in my field as well. At least we made it on the podium.”

Jerett continued, “We caught Andrew Carlson on the last lap right here by the barn and did a pretty slick slide job to make the pass. It is loose out there and so hard to find the traction once the track goes dry. You have to be on your game and push on the cushion to keep up your momentum coming out of the turns. I did that, and it felt terrific in the truck today.”

Brook’s third-place podium finish established his starting gate pick for Sunday’s World Championship race. But in actuality was still on the second row, starting back in 10th place. The 410 trucks, again, would start out front with a lead gap from the rest of the field. The #77 Rigid Industries Pro 2 pulled away from the group and caught several Midwest 410 Trucks on Lap 2. On Lap 4, Jerett made the pass on Jeremy McGrath for the lead.

With Brooks, commanding the field, speeding around Crandon’s wide-open track at over 100 Miles Per Hour, the caution flag came out on Lap 5 for a rollover by the #23 truck. The caution would count as the competition caution, and officials determined the race would conclude with a “Green / White / Checker” finish. No threat to Jerett’s lead could be challenged, and Brooks raced to a Crandon Pro 2 World Championship victory!

Brooks commented during his post-race interview, “For sure. The track dried out horrible yesterday and we could not catch them. The track hooked up today, and my truck was fast. On the first start, we passed everybody. It went to a full re-start, and I am like all right. I got to try to do this again. I almost did do it again. We got up to 4th on the re-start, and I caught McGrath. He was fast in the 410 truck with the smaller motor package, and it was just hard to pass him.”

“I am so pumped!” Jerett continued. “I have never won here. It has always been my dream to race in Pro 2 at Crandon. To win in Pro 2 is just a dream come true. I am so pumped to be here and win. I have to thank my family and crew. Super props to my team; Jon Hoffman, Nick Tennboun, and Luis Dominguez for giving me a perfect truck all the fans that came out and my partners, Rigid Industries, Bilstein, General Tire, KMC Wheels, FK Rod Ends, Black Rhino Performance, FiberwerX, Optima Batteries, Kroyer Racing Engines, CBR Performance, Fortin Racing, Caspers Concrete, Howe Performance, Oakley, Maxima Racing Oils & Synergy Electric.

New and old traditions are deeply cherished. When you can experience them, in a special place, with friends and family, it makes it that much better. Crandon has become near and dear to so many where lasting memories are made. Brooks will not soon forget the 50th and being crowned Crandon’s 2019 Pro 2 World Champion will forever be marked down in the history books. You can bet Jerett will return to make the annual pilgrimage for years to come.

Next, Jerett Brooks will return to the west coast for Rounds 7 & 8 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series and the Golden State Off Road Nationals Presented by General Tire on October 5th & 6th at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, California to protect his points standings lead.

Photography By: Bink Designs