Author: Cody Quattlebaum #33
Battle in Bluegrass with Ultra 4 was a success for our team and we had a lot of fun. All of the prep paid off, resulting in our first finish of the year and making our first race with Ultra 4 a huge step in the right direction for the team.
I left for Rush, Kentucky at 5am Thursday morning, I wanted to arrive early and get some final prep completed on my 2019 Polaris Rzr XPT. I arrived to the park and it was packed with hardly room to drive down the road. The team did a great job getting us through checkout and roping off an area for the racers to set up camp in. I quickly found a spot and got to work getting the final touches on the machine so I could go for a prerun lap. I got the number plates installed, applied my #33 decals all over the machine, and rewound my winch line with the help of my neighbors, team Proving Grounds Racing.
After the work was done and I was unloaded, I grabbed my racing gear and headed to tech and registration. I had not done an Ultra 4 event before so I had to get my tech and registration complete prior to hitting the course. I met up with JT for the tech and registration where I got some insight to the course and what to expect. I also met Mile “the man on the mic”, had a good conversation and made sure he could pronounce my name. I passed tech, with a few minor things to fix once I got home, and left for the prerun course. Driving through the main gate was surreal and got my adrenaline pumping. The course started off with some good hill climbs and quickly got into the woods and down a rocky creek bed. I could tell early that there would be some attrition and it would be a wet course. My 1st prerun lap took me 1.5hrs as I found my bearings, felt the machine out (a lot of new parts) and figured out which “this or that” sections I would take. I would call this ~25% race pace.
After my first prerun lap I went back to camp and looked over the machine to make sure everything was still tight and right. I checked bolt marks, belt and cleaned clutches. The next morning I took off for prerun lap #2. The 2nd prerun lap was much smoother since I had an idea of what to expect and what routes to take. The course seemed a little more wet, from the mist/dew the night before. The machine felt very good and I ran the lap in ~4mins this time, which was ~50% race pace. That afternoon I went to the drivers meeting and got ready for the qualifying course. The qualifier was the 1st mile of the course so I had already seen it 2x. I looked the machine over again, since I preran early that morning. Time came for the qualifier so I lined up with close to 36 other machines. My adrenaline was pumping and I was nervous all the way to the start line. Once JT waved me on I hit the pedal and cleared my mind. This was my first qualifier with Ultra 4 and my first time experiencing what I would call “Race Clarity”. I was focused on the machine and what was ahead of me. The machine did great and I qualified 24th out of 36 machines. The experience was unreal and I could not wait for the race to start at this point. I got back to camp and looked over the machine again, checking the bolts, belt, and cleaning my clutches. I bunked with Chris Holland of Hunkerdown racing, we got to bed at a reasonable hour, the race would start at 7am and I needed to be ready and lined up by 6:30am.
My alarm went off the morning of the race and I was ready to go, excited for my Ultra 4 debut. I got dressed in what seemed like record time and lined up at the course. The Ultra 4 crew did a good job getting us lined up in order and keeping the line organized. Every 20secs I was inching closer to the start/finish line as each racer ahead of me took off the line. It finally got to me and my heart was pumping. It was hard to concentrate, JT started counting down from 5 and the flag dropped. It is hard to explain what happened next but I was in the zone. “Race Clarity” had focused me on the goal of the day, finish the race. As soon as I got up the initial hill climbs I nearly rolled in a rutted corner but saved it and continued on. The Rzr felt great and the Trinity Racing exhaust and tune made me feel like I was driving a rocket. Once I got into the creek bed the attrition had already begun and I had to be rerouted which stuck my into some downed logs in the mud hole at the creek exit. I got around the logs and headed up the big muddy climb and back into the woods. The machine felt great and the BFGoodrich KM3 tires were keeping traction in the mud and helped my push harder. I was already passing other racers that broke down on course, waving each one as I passed to signal they were ok. My confidence was growing as I got relaxed in my PRP seat and harness that I knew would keep me safe in the event of a wreck. I got through the first lap and hit the pits where the Team Indiana crew was helping us out. I pulled in the pit and asked them to do a quick bolt check, I had bounced a few trees and didn’t want to break anything on my 2nd lap.
The crew gave me the thumbs up and I was off on my second lap. It was going smoothly, I got to take the entire creek bed down this lap and was picking up speed. I got to about race mile 4 and started going into limp mode. My heart sunk immediately as I wasn’t sure what was going on. I looked down at my Dynojet Power Vision 3 tuner from Trinity Racing and immediately saw what it was, I had overheated and was above 230F on the coolant temperature. I pulled to the side and let the Rzr cool down for ~5 minutes, which got me to 205F. I was thankful for my Xprite chase light bar which was making sure everyone could see me through the dense woods and not run into me as I was cooling the machine. Once cool, I hit the gas and was off again being sure to take it easy but it wasn’t enough. I got to a clearing and had to let the machine cool again, this time I climbed out and made sure I had coolant and looked for the issue. I immediately knew the problem was the radiator being packed with mud and I radioed to the pit crew to let them know I would need the radiator cleaned and that I would be limping to the pit. I got across the line and entered the pit where the Team Indiana crew was ready with bottled water and compressed fluid. They removed the hood and got to cleaning the radiator. Now I was off to lap #3, my final lap.
As I exited the pits I was leaving a white smoke trail from the extinguisher they used to blow my radiator out. Engine temperature was down and I was having a blast, knowing this was the last 8.7 miles before I officially finished my 1st Ultra 4 race. Everything was tight and I was pushing hard with a lot of confidence. My mind was clear and I was ecstatic, hitting the same lines I had hit the previous 2 laps, knowing what was coming up and had not traffic in sight, ahead or behind me. I got to the final drop, in the mud slide and accelerated through the start/finish line just behind Chris and Josh in the Hunkerdown KRX. I pulled up to the pits with a huge smile on my face, proud of the accomplishment. We started 24th and finished 22nd after it was all said and done. Chris and I went back to camp and had a post race beverage.
I went back to the pits to help out with the other classes as the day progressed. The Team Indiana crew is absolutely amazing and they did some quick work during the 4400 race when a team mate blew a brake line early on. After all of the racing we did a huge wing fry as we watched the Pro UTV racers hit the hill climbs, which is absolutely insane and fun.
I have to thank all of the great people that helped make this dream and reality for me. My wife Lindsey couldn’t make the race but helped me every step of the way, being very supportive and understanding of my new addiction. My friends Oscar, Chris, and the Rzr boys from the home town that helped me get the Rzr prepped and ready to go. Not to mention all of the support from friends and family along the way. The Bandit Offroad crew has been amazing and I am proud to be apart of the team, they have helped me every step of the way. The Ultra 4 team put on a great event and answered all my questions as I was figuring out the event.
I also want to thank all of my sponsors that make this possible. Bandit Offroad who put the team together and help make this dream a reality. Trinity Racing which gives me the power to get ahead of the pack and sound good while doing it. PRP seats which keep me safe so I can make it back to my wife in the same condition as I left. Rough Country led pods and MLC which helped me control my electronics and light my path. Xprite chase light which make sure the racers see me through the dust and trees. OGIO travel bag that holds all my clothes for these race weekends. Savage UTV first aid and belt cases that keep me prepared no matter what happens. KWT filters which keeps my engine breathing right. BFGoodrich KM3 tires that keep traction through the race, and no flats. Factor 55 recovery equipment, making sure I am prepared if necessary. VP racing fuels. Krawl offroad for their support. Xtreme Rzr Performance springs that kept me planted and smooth.
Our next race will be the Ultra 4 East Coast race #2 at Adventure Offroad Park in Tennessee. Be sure to follow along on our site and social medias, there will be a watch party for the live stream. Thank you for taking the time to read the race report.
I want to give a sincere thank you to everyone that helped me complete my first Ultra 4 race.
- My wife Lindsey Quattlebaum for all of her support
- Bandit Offroad and Powersports for everything they do for me, making this possible
- Proving Grounds Racing for there help this season, becoming good friends
- Team Indiana for all of there help, pitting 2 races for me this year and treating me like family
- My family and friends, whom there are too many to mention. The ones that answered questions, bought swag to support the team, spectated at races and online, and cheered me on as I chase my dreams.
- Offmap Racing and Hunkerdown Racing for inviting me to Hammers a few years ago and getting me addicted to this sport.
We would like to thank all of our sponsors in 2021 Ultra 4 Racing Series
All Things UTV: Helping me get parts all season
Factor 55: For great recovery gear that I luckily did not have to use
KWT Filters: For keeping my engine clean and healthy
Ogio: for their high quality suit case that helped me travel to the races
PRP Seats: for their equipment keeping me safe all year, even as I rolled over.
Savage UTV: For high quality, dust tight cases for my belt, tools, and first aid equipment
Trinity Racing: For excellent belts, exhaust, and tuner that made me fast and sound good while doing it.
Big Hammer Fabrication: For a great grill that helped me meet the U4 requirements
Krawl Offroad: For their support
BFGoodrich Tires: For tires that kept me going all season, even in the harshest terrain.
-Cody Quattlebaum Bandit Offroad Racing #33
banditoffroadracing.com 