Bryce Menzies Shows San Francisco Giants' Tim Linecum The Ropes of Off-Road Racing

We've had a long off season to say the least.  I'm ready to get back behind the wheel and go racing.
We've had a long off season to say the least. I'm ready to get back behind the wheel and go racing.
It's not often professional athletes get to share their sport with a superstar from another sport. So when Red Bull approached 2011 TORC Pro 2WD champion Bryce Menzies about sharing his trophy truck with fellow Red Bull athlete and two-time National League Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum, Menzies jumped at the opportunity.

The two got together at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Arizona, while Lincecum and the San Francisco Giants were in nearby Scottsdale for spring training, and Menzies took "The Freak" for a ride around the ultra-fast track before handing the controls over to Lincecum for a few laps.

"Red Bull approached us with the idea at the beginning of the year," Menzies said. "Our team thought it would be an amazing opportunity to reach others who might not know much about off-road racing and also give Tim an opportunity he might never get again."
Charlotte was pretty good to us last year, between the crazy racing and the ecstatic fans, we can't wait to kick the season off there.
Charlotte was pretty good to us last year, between the crazy racing and the ecstatic fans, we can't wait to kick the season off there.


A video of the event, produced by Red Bull, has made its round on the Internet, and Menzies was right when he said Lincecum was a fast learner. The World Series champion jumped right in and appears fearless behind the wheel. "Tim was an easy going guy," Menzies added. "When he got behind the wheel, it all came pretty naturally to him. Red Bull thinks of some fun things to do with their athletes and this worked out really well for the team and me."

Menzies and his team are on their way to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the season opening rounds of the 2012 TORC season, where Menzies Motorsports will attempt to improve on an incredible 2011 season which saw Menzies himself capture a championship and also featured a championship performance from Ricky Johnson in Pro 4WD. "We've had a long off season to say the least," Menzies said. "I'm ready to get back behind the wheel and go racing. Charlotte was pretty good to us last year, between the crazy racing and the ecstatic fans, we can't wait to kick the season off there."
Tim was an easy going guy.  When he got behind the wheel, it all came pretty naturally to him.
Tim was an easy going guy. When he got behind the wheel, it all came pretty naturally to him.


The biggest challenge for Menzies and Johnson has to be not letting their 2011 success get in the way of their 2012 goals, and Menzies knows that. "I always set high expectations for myself but by no means am I going into the season thinking I'm better than anyone else just because I have the number one plate on my truck (awarded to the defending series champion). Everyone is going to be trying to take that away from me, so I need to be on my game again this year."

Menzies isn't sure if winning in 2011 puts more pressure on or relieves some of the stress heading into Charlotte. "I haven't figured that one out yet. I guess after we get the first race out of the way, I'll know. I need to see what everyone else is bringing to the table first."

Menzies was quick to thank K&N for their support of his team, stating, "We have been running K&N for over five years now in both our trucks and buggies. Without a doubt, they have helped out team succeed and consistently be on the podium."

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