Offroad
This is How You Race Off-Road Trucks in the Snow
See the best photos and video from Frozen Rush, and find out how Bryce Menzies won it again.
Bryce Menzies, winner of Red Bull Frozen Rush 2016
© Garth Milan/Red Bull Content Pool
Watch highlights from the event in the video player below:
2 min
This is How You Race Off-Road Trucks in the Snow
See highlights from Red Bull Frozen Rush at Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine.
Here’s how things went in the bracket match-ups:
Last Chance Qualifier: CJ Greaves vs. RJ Anderson
Single-elimination rounds leave no room for mistakes, whether they’re mechanical or made by the driver. You have to get out front and go and that’s exactly what CJ Greaves did. This young duo lined up door to door but Greaves jumped right from the start and dominated, knocking Anderson out in the LCQ round.
Johnny Greaves flies over Bryce Menzies
© Brian Nevins/Red Bull Content Pool
Round of 8
Bryce Menzies vs. Johnny Greaves
In short course off-road it’s all about the start. Especially when your truck is throwing thirty-foot roosts. Trailing in second place means that in some parts of the track you are virtually driving blind. Menzies got the jump on Johnny Greaves from the start and drove cleanly to open up a gap that widened when Greaves had a little bit of trouble with the moguls section. Menzies got to the checkered flag first, eliminating multi-time off-road champion Greaves.
Rob MacCachren flies on the Frozen Rush course
© Garth Milan/Red Bull Content Pool
Rob MacCachren vs. Scott Douglas
Rob MacCachren is the epitome of the never-give-up mentality, even though he spends the majority of his racing time out in front. This approach is essential for Frozen Rush, a race where your entire trip to Maine can be ended in four laps. For some, even sooner.
Carl Renezeder in the 2016 Frozen Rush final
© Garth Milan/Red Bull Content Pool
Chad Hord vs. Carl Renezeder
Michigan native Chad Hord is used to the freezing cold weather so Frozen Rush is just another day in paradise to him. Hord blasted off the line against Renezeder and was able to get slightly ahead. Renezeder pushed his truck to the limit — nearly going off the track in the top section — and after four laps was able to get around Hord for the win.
Ricky Johnson and CJ Greaves pinned at Frozen Rush
© Brian Nevins/Red Bull Content Pool
CJ Greaves vs. Ricky Johnson
After a year-long layoff from racing, 2014 Frozen Rush champion Ricky Johnson had many people wondering if he could hang with the new, younger generation of off-road racers. No better way to find out than to line him up against the youngest racer in the field, CJ Greaves. Johnson attacked the course right away, getting ahead from the start. Greaves answered by charging his Toyota deep into every corner, aggressively attacking the snowy course. The duo entered the final turn sliding sideways and crossed the finish line side by side. Johnson had Greaves by a nose, knocking out the young prodigy and showing that his driving skills are still ultra-sharp.
Bryce Menzies at Red Bull Frozen Rush 2016
© Garth Milan/Red Bull Content Pool
Semi-Final
Rob MacCachren vs. Bryce Menzies
It pays to be lucky when you’re facing MacCachren, one of the winningest off-road racers of all time. When Menzies lined up against MacCachren he knew any mistake could cost him the race. After getting off the start quicker MacCachren slightly over-rotated in the top turn and stalled his truck for the second time of the day. Menzies took full advantage and created a comfortable gap, leading all four laps to the checkered flag.
Ricky Johnson leads Carl Renezeder at Frozen Rush
© Brian Nevins/Red Bull Content Pool
Carl Renezeder vs. Ricky Johnson
After defeating CJ Greaves, Johnson went into the next round with the confidence of the champion that he is. Lined up against California native Carl Renezeder, Johnson immediately jumped out into the lead. The duo battled for two laps until Renezeder’s truck stalled heading into the lower gap in the over/under jump, momentarily catching fire. He was unable to continue due to a blown engine. Johnson cruised across the finish line, setting up a final-round rematch against Menzies.
Rob MacCachren gives the Frozen Rush fans a show
© Brian Nevins/Red Bull Content Pool
Trophy Round
Rob MacCachren vs. Carl Renezeder
By default, Rob MacCachren was handed the final spot on the podium as a result of Renezeder’s DNF. MacCachren took home third place for the second consecutive year.
Bryce Menzies and Ricky Johnson, Frozen Rush 2016
© Garth Milan/Red Bull Content Pool
Final Round
Bryce Menzies vs. Ricky Johnson
When the only two drivers who have won Frozen Rush lined up for the final round, there was no doubt that it was going to be an exciting race. Menzies and Johnson are friends and former teammates, but on the track they might as well not even know each other.
I knew if I didn’t bring my “A” game Ricky was going to beat me.
Menzies wasn’t willing to give up an inch as he took command from the start. Johnson answered by attacking the top turn, then the mogul section to the jump, flying his truck off-camber and nearly sideways. Menzies drove fast and smooth, seeming to not pay any attention to Johnson’s wild driving. RJ put it on two wheels while jumping off the downhill jump but somehow managed to gather it up and regain control of the truck. After six intense laps Menzies blasted through the final corner and across the finish line first, making him the back-to-back Red Bull Frozen Rush Champion!
“That was insane!” Menzies exclaimed after the race. “I was trying to drive conservative and smooth, but I knew if I didn’t bring my “A” game Ricky was going to beat me. This was a great way to start our season — with a huge win!”
Bryce Menzies salutes the 2016 Frozen Rush crowd
© Garth Milan/Red Bull Content Pool
Red Bull Frozen Rush 2016 podium
© Brian Nevins/Red Bull Content Pool
Bryce Menzies celebrates his 2016 Frozen Rush win
© Garth Milan/Red Bull Content Pool
Check out all the photo and video coverage from the event on the official Red Bull Frozen Rush page. Congrats go out to Menzies, Johnson and MacCachren for repeating their podium line-up from 2015, and cheers to all the drivers for putting on an amazing show on the slopes of Sunday River Ski Resort.
See the full Red Bull Signature Series broadcast of Frozen Rush on NBC on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 1:30 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. PT.