Tooele, UT: Alumi Craft Race Cars has helped launch two new Pro Buggy drivers into the winners club at rounds 7 and 8 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series in Tooele, Utah. In round 7, Alumi Craft racer Darren Hardesty Jr. took his first win in the professional ranks of the Pro Buggy class. Fellow Alumi Craft racer Mike Valentine finished third. In round 8 it was Valentine’s turn to take his first pro win with Hardesty finishing right behind him in second. Both drivers have had impressive results racing in the Lucas Oil Regional series. They have already reached the podium in the Pro series this season; now they are winners.
The recipe for success in racing is no secret. It takes talent, hard work and great equipment. When you are putting a team together and learning new set-ups, you need a solid base that you can count on; you need a great car. That’s why Mike Valentine chose Alumi Craft when he began racing in the Pro Buggy class. “The reason we went with Alumi Craft is they are fast cars right out of the box,” says Valentine, “We don’t really mess with our set-up too much; just a few tweaks here and there; it works well everywhere we go.”
For Darren Hardesty Jr. the choice to go with Alumi Craft was easy. His Father, Darren Sr. has won the Baja 500, Baja 1000 and a SCORE series, class 10 championship behind the wheel of an Alumi Craft desert car. When Darren Jr. stepped up into the Pro Buggy class from a Modified Kart, he wanted his son to be competitive but also be safe. The well thought out design and excellent craftsmanship built into every Alumi Craft chassis also makes car set-up predictable and gives a racer confidence when driving on the edge.
“It was a big win for us,” said Hardesty Jr., “I think my Grandpa was the most excited out of everyone. (Darren is a third generation driver. His Grandfather Earl has many prestigious race wins and championships of his own). I have the most amazing team behind me. Our team is quality, not quantity. We also had Matt Majors from Alumi Craft helping us. They are always at the track to support us.”
“Our race on Saturday was eventful,” said Mike Valentine with a laugh, “We passed a couple cars but then got tangled up and fell back to 9th. I put my head down and battled back up to 3rd. On Sunday, we were on the front row after the inversion. We had a brake issue in qualifying so I was nervous heading into the first turn. The brakes were fine and I got out front. Second place stuck his nose in a couple times but I held him off. When he got a flat I checked out; winning by 8 seconds on the rest of the field. Alumi Craft has always been there for me. I’m stoked to be putting them on the top of the podium! ”
Racers prove the Alumi Craft advantage every weekend. The superior performance provided by their meticulously crafted cars gets results. Whether you are racing in the desert, prerunning, or competing on the track, Alumi Craft is committed to providing you with a competitive, safe and reliable vehicle that exceeds your expectations. If you demand the best, give Alumi Craft a call at 619-596-9841 or go to: http://alumicraft.info/ to find out more about our race products and services.
Photography By: Bink Designs