SODA (series)

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for other uses of the word "soda", see soda or SODA

SODA (Short-course Off-road Drivers Association) was an off-road racing sanctioning body in the United States.

Contents 1 Demise 2 History 3 Video game 4 Classes 5 Tracks that held races 6 Drivers 7 External link

[edit] Demise

Most drivers from SODA moved to CORR (Championship Off-Road Racing) after the 1997 season, which basically ended SODA's existence. A greatly diminished series continued on for at least a few years afterwards.

[edit] History

The series was most popular in the 1980s and 1990s. Series races appeared tape delayed on ESPN/ESPN2 (often during in the winter months). The races were usually held in Wisconsin or in a neighboring state. Beginning in 1970 the crown jewel of the series was the off-road championship event held at the Crandon International Off-Road Raceway - the "home of the world championship off-road race".

The vehicles used were primarily off-road trucks, buggies (which were based on the original Volkswagen Beetle), and a few stock cars. All vehicles had heavily modified suspension.

[edit] Video game

In 1997, Sierra Entertainment relased a SODA-themed racing game.

[edit] Classes

• Class 2-1600, 1600cc engine buggies with driver plus co-pilot
• Class 4, 4 wheel-drive full size trucks
• Class 5-1600, buggies with driver only
• Class 7s, 2 wheel-drive four cylinder trucks
• Class 8, 2 wheel-drive full size trucks
• Class 13, 2 wheel-drive full sized trucks with more restrictions than Class 8

• Heavy Metal, combined race with Class 4 and Class 8 trucks

[edit] Tracks that held races

Many tracks held races:

• Bark River Off-road Raceway, Bark River, Michigan
• Crandon International Off-Road Raceway, Crandon, Wisconsin
• Glen Helen Raceway, Glen Helen, California
• Ionia Fairgrounds Speedway, Ionia, Michigan
• I-96 Speedway, Lake Odessa, Michigan
• Langlade County Speedway, Antigo, Wisconsin
• Lake Geneva Raceway, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
• Luxemburg Speedway, Luxemburg, Wisconsin
• Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin held a single event inside the paved road course
• Sunnyview Expo, Oshkosh, Wisconsin

[edit] Drivers

• The most famous off-road driver was 7-time series champion Jack Flannery. His championships were occasionally compared to those of Dale Earnhardt.

• Brendan Gaughan - NASCAR driver (1995 Class 13 champion, 1996 Class 8 champion)

• "the Legend" Walker Evans - 1994 and 1995 Class 4 (2WD) Series champion

• Johnny Greaves

• Jimmie Johnson

• Art Schmidt

• Jeff Kincaid

• Scott Douglas

• Curt LeDuc

[edit] External link

• 1997 Crandon Spring results