Scherer is the owner of "Tiny," a Nelson & Nelson built moon buggy that revulotionized the professional motor sport of rock crawling throughout the 2003 season. In 2003, Jon Bundrant and Larry "King Full Pull" McRae dominated the Super Modified Class driving "Tiny" and winning like no other team ever has in the history of professional rock crawling.

Scherer told ORC staffers, "Since the purchase of "Tiny" we have practiced every single opportunity that we have had. Our team is located in Northern California and the closest place to practice is at Cougar Buttes or The Hammers. And that's a pretty decent drive for us, but we are committed to producing results this season."

The weather created a nasty atmosphere for the first face off of the year between rock crawling's best teams. Mother Nature dished out rain, wind and cold temperatures throughout the weekend turning the man-made course to a mud pit.

Held at Rocky Mountain Raceway in Salt Lake City, Utah and the same location where Supercrawl III extravaganza went off at last fall, the conditions were worse this time around. Teams said throughout the weeks leading up to the event that they were excited for the first competition of the year, but no one expected the weather to play this much havoc on the event.

Many have asked if UROC built a new course of if it was the same obstacles as in 2004. The answer was simple as competitors attempted to conquer the same obstacles that displaced them at Supercrawl III.

Rock Runner Racing Motorsports Brian Errea - driver and Joachim Schweisow - spotter, captured the first victory of the UROC Pro-National Season vying against strong competition in the Modified Stock class. Errea put the Twisted Customs rock rig in winning position as he approached each obstacle with a clear strategic method. Schweisow commented, "Brian and I have really been working hard together during the off-season and the first few non-UROC events of this year and we are ready for the UROC series. We both really have a clear understanding of what it takes to win both inside the truck and outside the truck, which we believe only strengthens our efforts towards winning. To come to the first UROC event of the year and walk away with a huge victory is awesome. Thanks to all our sponsors, friends and families that make it possible for us to be here!"

Skyjacker sponsored Matt and Garrett Sisson were steady throughout the event as they positioned themselves for a run at a podium finish. The Sissons battled head-to-head with the Lovell brothers for second position ultimately taking third in a class of world champion rock crawlers.

However, as in any professional motor sport, it wasn't without controversy. In one of the final runs of the event, eventual winner Shannon Campbell aired up one of his BFGoodrich Krawler KX tires as he competed live in the obstacle with an air hose supplied by BFGoodrich's tractor-trailer support truck...Some say it was outside tool assistance and others claimed he was out-of-bounds, but the only voice that counted was that of UROC Officials claiming Campbell was not in violation of the rules. Later it was rumored that he in fact was penalized 10 points and then it was reported even later that the 10 point penalty was reversed.

Nonetheless, Shannon Campbell captured his first victory of the UROC Pro-National Series season that puts him in the cat bird seat as the series heads possibly to Phoenix, Arizona for the next event only weeks away.

But the question after the event was all about where is the next event? Can you say more controversy? UROC Officials announced at the driver's meeting that the deal had yet to be inked in stone for the location for the next competition slated on the UROC Pro-National schedule to be held in Phoenix, Arizona. So as of this moment, teams, spectators, sponsors and die-hard fans aren't sure where to make hotel reservations for the May 12, 2005 UROC Pro-National Series event.

In what could be deemed as a galant effort, Nick Socha and Peter Mazzoni went all out this weekend here in Salt Lake City, Utah. As so many fans know, Nick Socha was nearly killed in a freak accident at Supercrawl III, the last event of the 2004 season. Socha was transported to the hospital via life flight helicopter. However, this week Nick Socha and his driver, Peter Mazzoni, came back to Rocky Mountain Raceway to conquer the rocks that nearly took Socha life last fall.

Extreme emotions settled onto the shoulders of the young competitors as they returned to the location of the accident, but in true professional form, the dynamic duo from Northern California finished just out of the top ten in 12th position scoring +118 points. They were in the hunt for the win all weekend long battling against not only the best rock crawlers in the world, but against the emotions that scar deep in the hearts of everyone in the motor sport.

Socha has yet to fully recover from the accident and once he's 110% you can be sure they'll be yet another top young gun team that will be knocking on the door of big winning efforts. Defending UROC Pro-National Champion - Tracy Jordan may be still adjusting to his new single seat Campbell Ent. moon buggy after a disappointing fifth place finish rounded out the weekend. Jordan, left the ever so successful Rock Runner Racing Motorsports team late last year after accepting an offer from Bruce Zeller to drive Zeller's new Campbell Ent. moon buggy.

This after Jordan spanked all the moon buggies throughout the 2004 season in an aging Twisted Customs rock rig that had two full seasons of competition bruises on it. Jordan hasn't appeared to feel totally comfortable in the moon buggy yet this season. So, will it be a new Twisted Customs rig for Jordan?

What's in the works? Or will he stay in Zeller's Campbell Ent. moon buggy or will Zeller jump into the Campbell Ent. built moon buggy and put Jordan in the seat of the Nelson&Nelson built "Scrapper?" Only two people know for sure. Heather, his fiance and the Steel Horse Cowboy himself!

Imagine that ride home from Salt Lake City, Utah to Phoenix, Arizona and what's going on with Tracy Jordan Motorsports right now. And Jordan is an aspiring off-road desert racer. At the 2004 Baja 1000, Jordan and Jason Paule drove a Baja Challenge buggy, sponsored by BFGoodrich Tires, to an incredible finish after overcoming some tough challenges in the 20-hour race.

So will he take to the desert and challenge the upcoming Baja 500 with Pro Rock Champion - Mitch Guthrie? Guthrie, after being crowned champion in PRO Rock and finishing in the top three at Supercrawl walked away from professional rock crawling at the end of 2004 selling his rock rig and spare parts in one fell swoop! Guthrie has been hanging out with SCORE Pro Truck Team of Mike Voyles and rumor has it Voyles has a Pro Truck for sale.

Hmmmm, could we see a team of Jordan and Guthrie in a Pro Truck at the Baja 500 on June 4, 2005 in Ensenada, Baja California? Only time will tell. Bruce Zeller continues to rage in professional rock crawling as he pushed the Nelson&Nelson built moon buggy, "Scrapper" to full tilt in search of his first UROC Pro-National win.

Zeller is a veteran rock crawler and he's won at other series, but he's yet to capture the elusive first UROC Pro-National win. Look for him to be in the hunt for the Pro-National Championship at the end of this young season. Zeller finished in 6th place scoring +93 points, one behind defending UROC Pro-National Champion, Tracy Jordan. The first event of the season is concluded and the drama of the event will pitch towards the next event on May 12-14, 2005.

Stay tuned here at Off-Road.com as we bring you a full team profile on Young Gun - Jason Scherer and Skyjacker's Sisson Brothers in the next few days. Visit the UROC Pro-National Series SLC event photo gallery here!

Young Gun - Jason Scherer drove his Beard Seat sponsored single seat moon buggy towards a big win at the UROC Pro-National Series event in Salt Lake City, Utah. However, in the end he was beat out by only 8 points by Top Gun - Shannon Campbell, a wiley veteran with loads of experience in the rocks of America.

Scherer is here for the long term as he has been on the rocks with his new to him, Nelson&Nelson built moon buggy. Scherer sports lucky number #13 at the UROC Pro-Nationals!