Australia's Dave Camp launching on obstacle B3 ::: Photo Cedit: On The Marq
The Pro Modified class has a list of great teams that could take top honors at any moment. Two Time World Champion Dean Bulloch and Karl Mumford, Grand Nationals Champion Brian Errea and Joachim Schwiesow, Australia Champions Dave Camp and Chris, along with 2005 Australian Champion Tony Robinson, and 2005 W.E.ROCK International Champion Becca and Dustin Webster... just to name a few. These teams are tough to beat on their bad days, but "Western US Nationals Rookie of the Year" Brian Ellinger and Dave Cole did just that by sliding quitely past all the top names and into first place just before "The Shootout". Course Designer Lil' Rich just happened to have 30 points of bonuses on "The Shooutout" course when Ellinger and Cole would only have a 28 point lead.

Australia's Sam Overton navigating through a course on his way to third place ::: Photo Cedit: Kimber w/ Pirate4x4.com
In the Unlimited class the battle for first was close until the infamous B3 course which was only topped by three teams, (one Australian Pro Mod Tony Robinson, one Mexican Unlimited Marcelino Gomo, and one US Unlimited Jason Paulie). Top honors going into B3 were between Jesse Haines and Brian Howard (who obtained the lead all the way upto B3), Jason Paulie and Nate Olyer (who grabbed the lead from Haines and Howard), Sam Overton and Tracy Jordan (Australian Team), Bruce Zeller and George Poston, and Marty Hart and Jeff Jones. Once B3 hit hard sending all teams back to the drawing board except those who completed it, it was Jason Paulie and Nate Olyer who would find themsevles with a 28 point lead moving into "The Shooutout".

Spotter Shon Wilson and Driver Buzzy Bronsema celebrating their victory ::: Photo Cedit: On The Marq
The Modified Stock "Shootout" was only for the top 3 in the world, qualifying for this last chance to win was Dan Patterson and Bob Roggy, David Egger, and Buzzy Bronsema and Shon Wilson. Patterson and Roggy started off in third place and would keep their spot due to an attempt at a 20 point bonus line that literally stopped them dead in their tracks. While David Egger would finish his course but not score well enough to top Bronsema and Wilson. This would place Bronsema and Wilson in first place after a flawless run right to the podium. After winning the Western US Nationals, the Grand Nationals, and the World Championships; it would be a stellar year with a great finish for the duo.

Ellinger and Cole after "The Shootout" conducting interviews ::: Photo Cedit: Kimber w/ Pirate4x4.com
For the Pro Modifieds, position change was the phrase of the hour. With the availability of two bonuses, one ten pointer and on twenty pointer, teams would have one last chance to strive for greatness. Australia's Tony Robinson was first and had a near perfect run until he shot the 20 point bonus line for an all or nothing attack on first place. The bonus put him on his side and he wasn't able to recover, keeping him and spotter Frank Johnson in a solid 6th place. Next was Brian Errea who would hit two cones and try for the 20 point bonus to catch some ground, but unfortunately couldn't get lined up and would keep him and spotter Joachim Schwiesow in fifth only four points back from fourth. Next was Eastern US Nationals Champions Danny Rorher and Chad Rolfert who would play the smart game and run the regular course perfect and finishing with a -3. This would put the pressure on the other teams as Becca and Dustin Webster would run the regular course and nail two backups creating a final score of -1 keeping them in a solid third or better. Next was 2 time World Champion Dean Bulloch and Karl Mumford who would have a chance for gold with all the bonuses (-30), but would hit 2 cones and score ten backups to give a 30 total, placing them all the way down to 4th and moving Rorher and Rolfert up to third and the wife/husband team of Webster to second place. At this point, Ellinger and Cole would have to just finish the course to bring home the World Championship. The rookies would not only finish the course, but grab a perfect score of -3, placing them for top honors.

Jason Paulie and Nate Olyer during their acceptance speech ::: Photo Cedit: On The Marq
The Unlimiteds would run into "The Shoutout" with a tie for second place between Australian Champion Sam Overton and Tracy Jordan against 2005 National Champion Jesse Haines and Brian Howard. And only a few points seperating first from the rest of the top 6. First up was Ken Blume and Ryan Leifert who would score a 10 on the course after completing the 10 point bonus and hitting two cones placing the duo in a solid 6th. Marty Hart and Jeff Jones would line up next and swipe a cone but complete a bonus for a score of 0, only a few points back from fourth place Zeller and Poston. Zeller and Poston would take the course with a little pressure, but still obtain a score of -4 allowing for a small lead from fifth place Hart and Jones. With a tie for second place, down under competitor Sam Overton would lose the tie breaker (The score of A1), and have to run in front of Haines and Howard. Overton and Jordan would score a -4 and put the pressure on Haines and Howard. Haines and Howard would then pull of an amazing run of -9 to outlast the aussie posse and place a considerable amount of pressure on 2006 National Champions Jason Paulie and new spotter Nate Olyer. With a small lead Paulie and Olyer would score a -8 and take home the World Championship and tacking up another win for his chassis (which has obtained more wins in the history of rock crawling than any other chassis).

W. E. Rock World Finals 2006