The 2023 PRO Spec Champion Chad Rayford achieved success through hard work, an unwavering desire, and a never-give-up attitude. The Wausau, Wisconsin native made his childhood dream a reality when he completed an incredible season, becoming an Off-Road Champion.
During the twelve rounds of the 2023 AMSOIL Champ Off-Road PRO Spec Championship, Chad Rayford, driving the #29 Kenda Tire CR29 Motorsports Chevy, secured a spot on the podium nine times, which included six victories and the most points scored by any driver in any of the Champ Off-Road classes, making him the most successful driver of the season. He also won a World Championship ring during the Crandon Labor Day weekend.
The road to a Short-Course Championship began at a very young age for Chad Rayford. It all started when his family visited Crandon to watch his uncle compete in the Good Old Boys race. Very quickly, the trip to Crandon became an annual event. Soon, he became a big fan of Hall of Famers Jack Flannery, Walker Evans, and Scott Taylor.
When Rayford was a teenager, he approached Zilisch Brothers Racing, a local team, and offered to help around the shop. They agreed, and soon after that, his passion for the sport led him to discover the fabrication world. Thanks to his hard work and dedication, Rayford quickly became part of the team, gaining valuable experience that would serve him well in the future.
When money started coming in from full-time employment, snowmobile racing fit Rayford’s budget. A new sled was purchased from the uncle’s dealership, and he began competing in the Snocross series. Success came to self-funded racer and soon became a Pro Factory supported rider, accumulating over 100 wins and eleven championships.
Looking to gain off-road experience, a switch to ATV motocross proved to be the winning formula, resulting in two more championships. At this point, the Vandenhuvel family welcomed Rayford to their shop, Flying Dutchman Off-Road. Soon, Chad was building buggies and trucks with Dan, Dan Jr., and Mike. After working as a crew member for Chris Brandt Racing, an opportunity arose to purchase a PRO Light truck. With Brandt’s encouragement and support, Rayford purchased a truck and swiftly prepared it for his debut in PRO Light racing. In his first race of 2009, Chad Rayford finished a very respectable fifth place. That’s all Chad needed to go “all in” to pursue his childhood dream.
The years that followed saw a lack of funds that prevented CR29 Motorsports from running competitively for an entire season. “For a few years, we were competitive to a point; the funded teams had multiple engines while we would run a motor all year. Ultimately, it was a tough go. When Kenda Tire came on board, it was a big help, and our program benefited from it,” noted Chad Rayford.
Fast forward to 2022. Champ Off-Road created a new midsize PRO truck class. The PRO Spec class was based on the PRO Light class but with a spec engine and transmission. This not only brought all the trucks to a level playing field but it kept racing costs much lower when compared to the other PRO truck classes.
It took Chad a year to modify his truck to meet the new PRO Spec requirements. By May 2023, CR29 Motorsports was testing for the upcoming season. As mentioned earlier, the season was an unqualified success for Rayford and his CR29 Motorsports crew.
Looking back at his career, there have been many people who have helped Chad along the way. The Vandenhuvel family and Kenda Tire’s Mike Higgs are at the top of the list. “The Vandenhuvels are family to me. I’ve learned a ton from them; I have a space to work on the truck at their shop, and they are always there at the track,“ noted Rayford. “Kenda Tire with Mike Higgs has supported my program for nine years. It’s more than just putting great tires on my race truck. It’s a relationship that has grown beyond the track. I have worked special events, including the Kenda Tire Dealer Boot Camps and industry-related trade shows. Even though it’s been a long road to the championship, I’ve been very fortunate. So many have helped. Most of my friends are part of the off-road community, and many have helped me out, whether at the track or in the shop. Now, my younger brothers are racing at the Sportsman Buggy level and are having success. It’s pretty cool to go from watching through a fence at Crandon as a kid to becoming a Crandon World Champion and a PRO Spec Champion.”
The Chad Rayford story will continue as the championship-winning truck is for sale as a move to the PRO-2 ranks is in the works. A new PRO-2 will be built from the Flying Dutchman Off-Road shop as Chad builds additional relationships to create a top-performing team.
