CJ Greaves Strikes Gold at The Big House; Collects 3 Championships: Pro Stock SXS, Pro SXS, and Pro-4
August 31-Sept 1, 2024 (Crandon, WI)--The Greaves Duo headed to the fabled Crandon International Raceway for the Polaris World Championship Races on Labor Day weekend. The pivotal final rounds and World Championships would require smart and strategic racing if CJ would claim championships in 3-classes. Crandon always has massive crowds of faithful fans who enjoy the best short-course off-road racing in the world. CJ and his Hall of Fame dad, Johnny Greaves, not only bring a high level of excitement to the sport, but also are known to offer help and advice to other drivers.
To lock up the championships, CJ had to finish 15th or better in his Polaris RZR Pro Stock SXS. In Pro SXS all wheel drive, he had to finish 9th or better. He entered the weekend with a 25 point lead over Jeb Bootle but Jeb was the top qualifier which gave CJ a close 20 point lead. In Pro-4, he had to finish 9th or better. With only 11 trucks on the line, he basically had to take the green flag to seal the deal. When the dust settled, he claimed the championships in all three classes!
Pro Stock SXS
Saturday: CJ Greaves gave up his front row spot and moved his Monster Energy Polaris to the back row in order to stay out of any potential problems in turn one. He only had to finish 15th or better to nail down his 5th Pro Stock championship. He safely made it through Forest County Potawatomi Turn One and smartly road around in the first half of the race to seal his championship.
In the 2nd half of the race, he began to move towards the front. With less than 2 minutes remaining, he had made his way to 4th place. CJ and Jeb Bootle went side-by-side in the Argon Corner and made a little contact. CJ decided to back off and not jeopardize the championship. He drifted back to 10th where he finished.
Sunday: With the championship in hand, CJ was ready to concentrate on Sunday’s Polaris World Championship Races. He wrapped a bow on his season by winning his 9th race of the year.
Pro Turbo SXS
Saturday: 26 cars were on the grid for the Pro SXS class season finale in Crandon. CJ Greaves entered the race with a 25 point lead over Jeb Bootle. Bootle narrowed that gap by collecting 5 points for being the top qualifier. CJ started in the 1st position on the front row. Leaving nothing to chance, when the green flag flew, CJ got a huge jump, smoothly taking the holeshot and the lead. He stretched his lead that he carried all the way to the mandatory caution. He reclaimed some points and led the field to start the 2nd half of the race. Greaves proceeded to put distance between him and the rest of the field. By the final lap, he had his Monster Energy, Toyo Tire, Polaris RZR to a more than 4-second lead at the checkered flag.
Pro-4
Saturday: CJ Greaves went into the season finally with a nice lead in the standings making it difficult for his next contender, Jimmy Henderson, to steal the championship. Henderson would have to not only win the race, but would also need bonus points and CJ to finish lower than 10th. CJ played it safe as the 11 truck field screamed towards the FCP turn one. Johnny Greaves however was not holding back and powered through the turn with all four Toyo tires grabbing the Crandon dirt with everything the Toyota could muster. Johnny and RJ Anderson were side-by-side and the two made contact in the middle of turn one. Another truck also got into Johnny which caused even more contact resulting in Anderson spinning out.
Johnny emerged from the turn one mayhem with a little less fiberglass and the lead. CJ avoided the turn one issues. Cole Mamer was in 2nd as trucks began to drop out one by one. Three trucks made contact with each other and parked in the middle of the Gravel Pit Turn. Meanwhile, officials issued a black flag to Johnny for the contact in turn one. When he went to the pits to serve his penalty, Mamer took the lead. With everything going on, CJ found himself in 3rd. Also, Henderson had mechanical issues and pulled out of the race, securing the Championship for CJ.
CJ continued to move to the front and passed Andrew Carlson to take 2nd. Carlson also experienced problems and pulled out of the race at the halfway point of the race. With only 4 trucks remaining on the track, CJ began to pressure Mamer for the lead. Johnny was now in 3rd. With about 36 seconds remaining before the white flag, Mamer stalled his vehicle in the middle of Cowboy Corner, collecting CJ in the process. Mamer continued, but CJ had to refire his Toyota. Johnny passed the younger Greaves into 2nd. Mamer went on to take the win and the Greaves Duo finished 2nd and 3rd. CJ clinched his 9th Pro-4 Championship. Johnny overcame the penalty to finish 2nd in the race and 3rd in the points standings.
