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By: Robert Janis
Polaris, Walker Evans
Racing Show Success in M4SX/Dirt Alliance Series
Those of us who are interested in powersports
probably concentrate on the ATVs that race in
the desert or in the well-known series like the
GNCC. Many may not be aware that there are
smaller racing series that involve UTV racing.
Polaris Industries, maker of the Ranger RZR,
understands these races and along with such
racing teams as Walker Evans Racing, who have
been sponsored by Polaris and is racing the RZR
Side-by-Side, they have found a great deal of
success.
Witness the M4SXDirt Alliance Series. The series
is a group of stadium-style racing events that
are held at the Perris Auto Speedway in Perris,
California. The site includes a half-mile clay
oval and hosts all types of racing including the
M4SX Series.
The series includes a number of categories:
Stadium Kart Jr. Stock
Stadium Kart Jr. 1
Stadium Kart Jr. 2
Stadium Kart Mod
SXS (Side-by-Side) Amateur
SXS (Side-by-Side) Pro
Stadium Single
Stadium Pro
Stadium Trucks
Prerunners
M4SX events schedule is:
March 14, 2009
April 11, 2009
May 9, 2009
June 20, 2009
July 18, 2009
August 22, 2009
September 12, 2009
RJ Anderson, a member of the Walker Evans Race
Team and driver of a Polaris Ranger RZR, won
Round One of the M4SX/Dirt Alliance Series in
the Side-by-Side category.
Anderson is 16 years-old and a resident of
Riverside, California. His first UTV race was in
Pomona, California in the CORR in April, 2008.
He has raced Short Courses, Stadium, and GP.
He first got involved with the M4SX when he
raced trophy carts. “We liked the series so when
we made the transition to UTVs we stayed with
them,” he said. He finds the series to be “fun.”
“It’s not a lot of pressure, and it’s only a
one=day event,” he said. “It’s also a much
smaller track than others I have raced, and that
makes it more about the driver and less about
the car.” He has won four races using a UTV.
This is the first year Anderson is racing the
RZR. And he is quite happy with it. “The RZR is
a great machine,” he said. “It is well balanced,
light and nimble, and corners extremely well.”
Of course, since the machine is being raced, it
went through some modifications. “It would be
easier to list what isn’t done to it,” joked
Anderson. “We started with a stock Polaris RZR
and Extreme Machine and Fab. We built a roll
cage and a Plus 8 long travel kit. We then put
on some Walker Evans shocks and safety equipment
from Mastercraft. To finish it off, we bolted in
a Kroyer Racing engine and put on Goodyear MTR
tires. Now it is one serious machine.”
His First Round victory proved to be an exciting
one. “It was great to come out and win the first
race of the year,” he said. “I had a great
battle going on all night with Robert Vanbeekam.
We battled bumper-to-bumper, back-and-forth
until the mandatory caution halfway through the
race. He started behind me at the re-start and
broke an axle going into turn one causing his
wheel to fall off, and that ended his night.
From there on I kept calm the rest of the race
and brought home the win.”
A stadium race is somewhat different than other
events. The Friday before the race there is an
optional practice. The next day, Saturday, is
race day. According to Anderson, there are eight
different race classes. They run a
practice/qualifier, a heat race, and the main
event. Anderson said that the biggest thing in
preparing for a stadium event is to make sure
that the car is prepped and ready to go before
the race, especially since it is a one-day
event.
His sponsors include Walker Evans Racing Shocks
and Wheels, Goodyear, Kroyer Racing Engines,
Polaris, South Point Hotel and Casino and Team
Industries.
Anderson’s future plans are to finish the M4SX
Series this year.
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