Arizona Rock Crawlers Ready for Goodyear New Mexico Event

    LAS CRUCES, N.M., April 20 /PRNewswire Interactive News Release/ -- In a
dramatic turn of events, an Arizona off-roader has landed with Goodyear
Wrangler tires under his vehicle, while another Arizonan is set to roll to
another victory.
    Both drivers have beaten the odds to climb atop the Goodyear/Skyjacker
Extreme Rock Crawling Nationals.  They're also eyeing this Rio Grande city
with glee, since Las Cruces rock is similar to their native Arizona stone.
    Shannon Campbell, of Gilbert, and Tracy Jordan, of Avondale, are tied for
first after the first event in 2001.  Campbell won last year's first rock-
crawling session as well, so he's accustomed to success on the rocks.
    Jordan, meanwhile, rolled his 1971 Land Cruiser five times last season.
    Campbell, Jordan and another 68 off-roaders will convene here May 4 and 5
for the second leg of the championship series.
    On the rocks, the Arizona men are known for their extreme driving.  "They
take it to the edge -- and sometimes beyond," according to Kevin Mahl, product
manager for Goodyear light-truck tires.  "They're definitely crowd pleasers
with their antics behind the wheel."
    Mahl said he supplied Jordan with a set of Wrangler MT/R off-road tires
last year, since his Land Cruiser spent so much time with its tires up.  "We
couldn't pass up that much visibility," Mahl said, joking.
    Jordan, also joking, said, "Rollovers give the crowd a show.  I just
wanted to be the star."
    Campbell, 31, and Jordan, 24, are taking different routes now.  Campbell
said he's relying on better equipment; Jordan is finding practice makes
perfect.
    "Instead of putting any money into our Land Cruiser, we put in a lot of
practice -- homegrown practice," Jordan said.  He also gained a new spotter,
Jerry Watson, to guide him over the rocks.
    Campbell put his money where his mouth is.  He brought a new vehicle to
the first event this year and is building a new rock crawler for Las Cruces.
The mechanic said he wants to put vehicle breakdowns in the past.
    Campbell blamed equipment failures for keeping him out of the top five
last year.
    After Las Cruces, the national series travels to Cedar City, Utah.  The
four-event championship is sanctioned by the American Rock Crawlers
Association.  For more information, refer to http://www.rockcrawler.org .

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