Team JB Off-Road Racing/Can-Am pilot Kyle Chaney won the
2013 UTV Rally Raid Northern Series opening event in Oliver Springs, TN,
earning the first official victory in organized competition with the new Can-Am
Maverick 1000R X rs side-by-side vehicle. Chaney pulled a commanding lead over
the field of more than 30 entries to win not only the series' premier unlimited
C class, but also the overall event victory at the four-hour day/night race
held at Windrock Park.
"We're thrilled to have Kyle Chaney race the Can-Am Maverick
1000R side-by-side vehicle to victory in the growing UTV Rally Raid series,"
said Can-Am race manager Jimmie O'Dell. "He definitely showcased the
capabilities of the essentially stock Maverick 1000R X rs in the Tennessee mountains during
this rugged four-hour event. Despite drastically changing weather and track
conditions throughout the grueling endurance race, Chaney used the abilities of
the Can-Am Maverick to his advantage and distanced himself from the rest of the
pack at the UTV Rally Raid Northern Series opener. This was a very big victory
for Kyle, the Can-Am Maverick and BRP and we will build upon this success as
the season progresses."
Thirty-three side-by-side vehicles started the four-hour
endurance event just before sunset on an already wet eight-mile course.
However, a few hours into the race, as darkness fell upon the surrounding
mountains, temperatures dropped, snow fell and standing water turned to ice.
Chaney, who started from the fourth row, took full advantage of the Maverick
1000R X rs vehicle's performance and handling to work his way through the pack
of side-by-sides ahead of him to take over the Class C (unlimited) lead. He
then took the overall race lead near the latter portion of the event and
eventually won by more than six minutes, completing 15 laps on the course. It
was the first competitive victory for Chaney and the 101-hp 2013 Can-Am
Maverick 1000R X rs.
"The new Can-Am Maverick performed extremely well for
me the entire four hours of the race," said Chaney. "The handling is incredible.
Despite the mud and snow, the Maverick worked really great in all the changing
conditions that the course could throw at it."
The UTV Rally Raid event and series served as a perfect tuneup
for Chaney and the Maverick 1000R as they prepare for the 2013 Grand National
Cross Country series. Chaney and the Maverick will make their GNCC series debut
March 16 in
Washington, GA.
Four other Can-Am side-by-side vehicles also competed in Tennessee. White Racing
put its Can-Am Commander on the podium in the Class B ranks, finishing third,
and took 12th overall.
The UTV Rally Raid is a four-hour endurance racing series
for side-by-side vehicles promoted by Georgia-based Quantum Racing Inc. The
series is comprised of two regional (North and South) 10-race schedules that
run from February through December at Windrock
Park in Tennessee
and Alabama's Stony Lonesome
OHV Park.
Visit www.utvrallyraid.com for more information.
