Primm, NV (November 4, 2007) - If you missed the race but got there for the presentation ceremony in victory lane, you would have thought you were at a Vegas prize-fight and the judges had just announced the wrong guy the winner as the crowd stood on its feet and screamed. That's because Johnny Greaves battled back from last place to first, for the second time in the race, and over came a horrific crash into the fencing only to be deliberately hit hard by Renezeder on the last lap to loose the win. As Renezeder stood on his truck and waved the checkered flag to the crowd in celebration, the majority of the fans were on their feet screaming John-ny, John-ny! As the trophy was awarded, the winner was greeted to a very loud chorus of boos as the large crowd recognized the unsportsmanlike manner in which he gained the win. The 2nd annual Jason Baldwin Cup race in Primm, Nevada, will go down as the most exciting, most unusual, and most controversial race of the Pro-4 season.
The 16-lap race started with 14 Pro-2's lined up 3 wide and the Pro-4's staggered behind. Greaves was on the first row of the Pro-4's as the green flag flew. The Toyotas of Greaves and Huesman went on the attack early, but the race was stopped after three laps while more water was applied to the track. On the restart, Greaves put the TRD backed Monster Energy Potawatomi unit in attack mode and moved past all but 4 of the Pro-2's. By the 6th lap, it looked like the BFG shod Greaves was going to get an easy win, but he spun-out in the big sweeper turn and had to go to the back of the pack. Greaves immediately launched a comeback in his typical fashion when he collided with Tim Herbst truck while flying down the grandstand straight-away, sending him into the protective fencing and ripping it down. Miraculously, Greaves' Toyota was unhurt and he continued on - but at the very back of the pack once again with about 6 laps to go. The race was then stopped for over 30 minutes while CORR crews repaired the fencing in front of the grandstands.
When the race resumed, no one gave Greaves much of a chance - as usual - Johnny Greaves had no plans to quit. He charged hard and worked his way into the top three with Ricky Johnson and Carl Renezeder and only 3 laps to go. The crowd was absolutely amazed as it appeared Greaves was going to win the race after all he had been through in one race. Like the professional he is, Greaves passed up numerous opportunities to make full contact passes on his fellow competitors. Johnson spun out and the race was on between Johnny and Carl. Greaves caught Carl with two laps left and waited until he could make the pass clean. On the last lap Greaves made no contact as he went sailing past Carl in turn 2. In the next turn Renezeder came in hot and made hard contact with Greaves pushing him out wide causing Greaves to spin out from the impact. Johnny goes on to finish second as the crowd booed Carl.
As the winner and the third place truck pulled their trucks on to center stage of victory lane, a dejected Greaves held up short - parking his truck 30 yards off to the side of the celebration. As Greaves sat in his car, he was greeted with fans screaming his name "John-ny, John-ny!" NBC Cameras immediately came running to Greaves.
"What the heck just happened?" asked Greaves as he was exiting his Monster Energy Potawatomi Toyota in disbelief. "He hit me pretty hard, it's a tough way to lose, but it looks like the fans understand what just happened. I tried to run a clean race today and had a few shots I could have taken to pass Carl - but I don't like to win that way," Greaves continued as the crowd shouted his name. NBC's Kelly Stafast asked Greaves for a comment from the infield and Greaves excited the crowd by telling her, "screw the sixty-six thousand - I’m here for my fans!" It was obvious to all that Johnny "stole the show."
"My Monster Energy Potawatomi Toyota really held together today for an amazing comeback – I just wish I could have brought home the prize to finish it off," said Greaves.
