“I really can’t tell you how pleased we are to have Jeremy come on board with Stronghold Motorsports, said managing partner Scott Bailey. “His addition to our team brings not only the prestige of his name and an incomparable racing record on two wheels, but the kind of driving talent behind the wheel that’s going to put us in contention for the win every time the green flag drops."
McGrath is not only a 7 time Super X Champion but the all time leading winner with 72 main event wins. His “flair in the air” when he was racing was considered the public’s first look at what has gone on to be called “freestyle” or “X”-style riding.
Two weeks ago McGrath was paid one of the highest honors in Motorsport: induction into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. McGrath was part of an all-star group of inductees which included motoring greats Joie Chitwood, Alan Kulwiki, Rich Vogler, Jerry Titus, and Dale Armstrong. Veteran announcer Ken Squire was also honored for his lifelong work behind the microphone. McGrath thus joined a legendary list of two-wheel racing champions which includes Jeff Ward, Bob Hannah, Jay Springsteen, Roger DeCoster, Kenny Roberts, Eddie Lawson and Gary Nixon.
“The fact that Stronghold Motorsports is based in southern California, so near my home, makes this opportunity even more appealing to me,” said Jeremy McGrath. “They have all the components that can add up to a winning season: technical expertise, great backing from solid sponsors, and an attitude that makes winning part of the plan every time they go on the track. I’m as enthusiastic about this team effort as I ever have been about any that I’ve been a part of. This is family and top-notch professionalism all in one great package.”
The Stronghold Motorsports Team is a new entity with deep roots in racing. Only around since 2008, founder and team manager Scott Bailey’s passion for the sport was kindled in the 70’s and 80’s as a young boy watching Walker Evans attacking “Thompson’s Ridge” up through the ice plant along the Riverside Raceway esses. “He'd hit it with his Class 8 truck and seemed to fly over the rough, reverse slope, just hanging in the air over the race course. I knew right them that I wanted to do that, to race off road. I give credit to friends Troy Herbst, Mike Grabowski and Roy Dehban for opening many doors for us. Without their help we would not have had this opportunity.
McGrath will drive the team’s Chevrolet Pro 4 Truck at the upcoming LOORRS dual event at Speedworld Motorsports Park in Surprise, Arizona (September 25-26) and then will switch over to a new Pro 2 machine for the final four races in Las Vegas and at Firebird Raceway in Phoenix. “Those last two stops will be to shake our new Pro 2 Truck down and get it (and Jeremy) ready for a serious run at the Championship next year,” said Bailey.
“We love the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, the racing, the camaraderie, the recognition, and the wonderful fans who come out in the thousands to watch in person as well as the millions who see us on Speed and CBS. Working with the Lucas Oil people has been a great experience too, we’d use their products in our race vehicles even if they weren't the series sponsors,” Bailey concluded. “2010 was our ‘coming out’ year and, so far we’ve done pretty good, there’s still six races to go … and I wish the first one was tomorrow!”
The Stronghold team has already had quite an impact on the series, “We really are trying to be realistic with our first full year in the LOORRS Series, this is a highly professional group of mechanics, drivers, and support personnel that we’ve assembled. We work well together,” Bailey remarked. “We all really like and support each other right down the line. Our sponsors have seen that and I think that they like what they see.”
The full Stronghold Motorsports team for 2011 will consist of Bailey, his partner (and wife) Beverly Bailey, partner/driver Chuck Gossage, McGrath, and team drivers Rob Naughton, Marty Hart, Chuck Cheek and Brandon Bailey. They’ve had a very good “learning year” in 2010 and all expect a winning one in 2011.
“We’re excited with the prospect of Jeremy being a full-time competitor in our new off road short course series,” said Lucas Oil’s Executive VP Bob Patison. “He’s a great champion, a real favorite of the kind of family fans that we draw to our events, and he still wants very much to win races. You can’t ask for much better than that!”
You may find more info at Stronghold Motorsports
