Crandon, WI – The worlds of snowboarding and off-road truck racing collided recently at Wisconsin’s Crandon International Speedway when U.S. Snowboarding team member Nick Baumgartner, of Iron River, Mich., locked down a 1st place finish in his second-ever Traxxas TORC Series race.

The hard-charging Baumgartner – a 2010 USA Olympic Team member and 2011 ESPN Winter X Games gold medalist in boardercross – entered a U.S. Snowboarding-emblazoned truck in the TORC Series’ Sportsman Stock Truck class. Strong-arming the wheel, Baumgartner pulled the high speed holeshot in the “Land Rush” multi-truck MX-style start and towed the rest of the field to the finish.

“I can’t begin to explain how excellent this feels. I’m so pumped right now,” Baumgartner said from atop the TORC Series podium to the 12,000 fans in attendance. “That start was insane and the speeds were a lot higher than I expected. My crew did a great job preparing my truck and I absolutely had a blast out there. Can’t wait for the next race in Bark River.”

With the win at Crandon, coupled with his 3rd place finish at RedBud MX, Baumgartner took over first place in the TORC Series’ Stock Truck class. The pro snowboarder caught up with the TORC team to describe his race:

TORC: Nick, right out of the gate here … talk about your first time racing trucks on the Traxxas TORC Series a few weeks back at RedBud MX. Seemed like you had quite a good time out there.

Baumgartner: I can’t begin to explain how rad that was. Such a rush. I’d only even been in an off-road race truck a couple times before, practice at Crandon and at Baker Built Motorsports in Shannon, Ill. So the TORC race at RedBud was just a flat out incredible experience … one that I’ll never forget.

TORC: And to win here this past weekend at Crandon … that had to be incredible.

Baumgartner: I knew we had a fast truck. So if I wasn’t able to push it and do well, we’d know it was my fault – and not the truck’s. But yeah, winning at Crandon is a memorable one. Ranks right up there with making the Olympic team and winning at X Games.

TORC: Growing up in Michigan’s U.P. – you lived in an area that’s pretty much the Wild West in terms of motorsports. Anything goes up in the “Yoop,” from dirt bikes to snowmobiles and such. Did you race any motocross/snocross before you got so heavily involved in competition snowboard racing?

Baumgartner: My parents figured me and my brothers had more gut than brains, so we weren’t allowed to have anything with motors. Probably a good thing now looking back on it! (laughter)

TORC: So how did you get involved with off-road racing and the Traxxas TORC Series?

Baumgartner: It’s been a tradition for me and my son, Landon, to go over and watch the Father’s Day races at Crandon. And given my competitive spirit I was always jealous of those guys out on the track. I’d done a few local demolition derbies, but always had it in the back of my head that it’d be better to race than destroy. So a buddy of mine, Chris Bowser, started racing (TORC) and let me act as his radio guy. That got me a little closer to the driver’s seat – which was all it took.

TORC: So that truck you ran at RedBud and Crandon was actually Bowser’s championship truck from the 2010 Traxxas TORC Series Stock Truck class?

Baumgartner: Yep. After Bowser won his championship last year in this truck I knew I needed to buy the fastest truck if I wanted to see if racing was going to be my gig. I figured if I had the fastest truck it can only be me – and not the truck – that is slow!

TORC: We noticed you’re doing a bit of the work yourself on the truck. All self-taught and stuff? Note: In true “U.P. fashion,” Baumgartner and his team used plastic snow sleds as creepers on the muddy RedBud ground to slide under the truck to wrench.

Baumgartner: In all honesty I have very limited mechanical background. Keep in mind any prep work I did in the past was for demolition derby. So can I smash a windshield out with a hammer? You bet! But when it comes to suspension setup and engine mapping I leave that up to my mechanics Tony (Cristan) and Jake (Mayer). I’m pumped to learn, though, and the three of us – with the help from some friends and fellow racers – will get it figured out here.

TORC: Given the crash/bang world of professional boardercross racing, will it be nice to bang guys having doors, bumpers and a roll cage?

Baumgartner: Yeah, I do like having the ability to bang and bump with the comfort of a full roll cage, seeing as how in snowboarding I only have a Bern helmet and McDavid HexPads to keep me safe.

TORC: So understanding that this was only your second off-road truck race, do you have an idea for what’s going to carry over from your boardercross racing to TORC racing? (ex., line selection, setting up guys for passes, etc.)

Baumgartner: I think all same line choices and course reading ability that I’ve acquired over my snowboard racing career will give me a way to better jump start those other guys who just start racing off-road without a similar background. And the truck’s horsepower will provide me with the opportunity to make up for mistakes where, in snowboarding, I’d be S.O.L.

TORC: So where do you figure you’re gonna take this new off-road truck racing career?

Baumgartner: My plan is to get good enough at it in order to work my way up to a TORC PRO Light class ride. Punch the clock, put in the hard work and things will work out in the end!

TORC: Dude, being from the Yoop, Crandon and Bark River are right in your backyard. Did you grow up hitting those races? What’s your best memories?

Baumgartner: I never really thought much about it until I started taking my son to the races. But once I got there I was instantly hooked and will forever be a fan of these drivers and all the work the promoters put into the events to put on a great show for the fans!

TORC: Right on, Nick. Well put. Any parting words?

Baumgartner: The TORC Series is new to me and my crew chief and cousin, Tony Cristan. The experience Jake Mayer brings to the table sets us up perfectly for a fast run the rest of the summer. Hope to see a bunch of U.S. Snowboarding members and fans at the races here soon!

The next TORC event for Nick Baumgartner is at Bark River Raceway, Aug. 13-14.