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RJ Anderson Dominates In Baja

Captures First Ever Pro-2 Win & Takes Pro-Lite Points Lead Over

Ensenada, Baja California Mexico – For the first time in Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS) history, the league headed south of the border to Ensenada, Baja California Mexico for Rounds 11 & 12 of the 2015 race season. After months of planning by LOORRS officials and the Papas & Beer Racing Team (led by family patriarch Rodrigo Ampudia, Sr.), the dream of taking Lucas Oil Short Course Racing to Baja became a reality.

The newly designed Baja International Short Course track, which sits adjacent to the popular Estero Beach Resort, hosted the series biggest names and drew thousands of enthusiastic fans from all over Mexico and the US. Local officials, the Ampudia Family, and Lucas Oil worked tirelessly to develop a facility designed to host races for years to come. It has been over a decade since short course style racing has been hosted in Estero Beach…Lucas Oil brought it back in a big way!

RJ Anderson and the RJ37 team began their pilgrimage to Baja on Wednesday to load-in and prepare for the weekends battle. Anderson came into Round 11 sitting a respectable 6th in points in the Pro-2 class. Even though RJ has run up front for much of the year, the season has been filled with highs & lows for the RJ37 team. While RJ has returned to his winning ways in Pro-Lite, Pro-2 has been a struggle, having only reached the podium once so far this season. Despite only one podium appearance, Anderson has led multiple races and has showed tremendous speed, consistently qualifying in the top 5 in the #37 Polaris RZR Pro-2. Coming into the weekend – the team hoped for a little bit of luck to help RJ capture his first win of his career in the sports premier class.

While Anderson had been struggling to find his groove in Pro-2, he demonstrated once again why he is a champion in the Pro-Lite division. RJ entered the weekend sitting 2nd in points after hoisting four, 1st place trophies (the most in Pro-Lite this season) and making 7 podium appearances through 9 rounds of racing. A poor showing in round three had been his only roadblock to an all out points lead.

Track conditions were anything but ideal at Estero Beach Baja International Race Track. The sand filled dirt of Estero Beach presented a challenge for track officials to keep prepped between races. Practice and qualifying in the Pro-Lite class proved the course and its rhythm section to be anything but rhythmetic, as multiple trucks crashed and smashed their way through the heats, testing everyone’s ability to adapt. RJ qualified second fastest on Saturday, laying down his quickest time in only the second lap of qualifying, slowing as the track deteriorated almost instantly.

RJ Anderson and top qualifier Sheldon Creed lined up in the second row after the inversion draw, right behind hard chargers Brandon Arthur and young gun Brock Heger who sat on the pole. The green flag dropped and it wouldn’t take long before the rhythm section claimed its first victim. By the end of the race a quarter of the field were out. Two trucks were completely totalled and many more sustained mechanical and physical injuries. RJ maintained his position and finished 3rd in class, giving him his 8th podium this season and nudging him ever so slightly into the points lead just ahead of Jarrett Brooks.

The courses rhythm section proved to be less of a concern for the larger suspensions of the Pro-2 class, however the deterioration of the track was much greater. The RJ37 team struggled to find the “hot setup” for Estero Beach and after qualifying ninth in Pro-2, the team went to work on gearing and suspension prior to the afternoons race. When the race started – RJ took his time and fought his way through the rough course and ferocious field of the sports best off-road racers. He finished the race in 5th place and headed into Sunday’s round 12 confident his team had found the setup needed to compete for a win.

Qualifying in Pro-2 went much better on Sunday for RJ. He laid down the fifth fastest time on track and drew a #6 inversion – which put him on the front row next to racing legend Rob MacCachren. This was exactly the type of lucky break the team had hoped for. As the green flag waived RJ rocketed off the start and pulled ahead of MacCachren in turn two.

RJ and Rob battled furiously back and forth for several laps, but eventually RJ pulled away and never looked back. At one point RJ gapped the field by over 8 truck lengths. After a late race yellow flag restart – he fought off Pro-2 Champion Bryce Menzies and soared to his first Pro-2 victory to the cheers of thousands in attendance.

Lucas Oil graciously gave RJ his moment in the spotlight and allowed him time to appear on the podium before jumping into the #37 Pro-Lite. “A lot of hard work and dedication has gone into achieving my first Pro-2 win. I’ll hang onto this memory for the rest of my life. I am really stoked I got to share the victory with with my family, friends, sponsors and team. Without them none of this would be possible,” said Anderson.

RJ qualified second and the inversion kept him on the front row, lined up next to season points rival Jarrett Brooks.With a now “trimmed down” rhythm section, the Pro-Lite’s ran a much quicker and more confident pace. Anderson & Brooks battled hard through the first few laps, and at one point Brooks “doored” RJ to let him know he wasn’t going to give an inch. RJ took and maintained the lead for ten laps, and earned the RJ37 team their second victory of the day, further extending his Pro-Lite points lead.

After an evening of celebration, RJ Anderson & the RJ37 race team headed home with two 1st place and one 3rd place trophies, AND the Pro-Lite points lead. More than just a successful weekend of racing – the memory of Anderson’s first Pro-2 win is now etched in motorsports history. It was a weekend of firsts for RJ Anderson & Lucas Oil, it was also a weekend of fun for fans, teams, sponsors and racers.

RJ Anderson would like to thank LOORRS, the Ampudia family as well as the local Ensenada officials and the fans for making this weekend of racing so special. RJ would also like to extend a special thank you to the Menzies Motorsports team for their hospitality and accommodations as well as the entire RJ37 race team, family & friends for their continued hard work, effort and support. Lastly, he thanks all of the sponsors and team partners for their tireless support of the RJ37 program. “Without you, none of this would be possible!” – RJ.

See RJ compete next in Sparks, NV for Rounds 13-14 at Wild West Motorsports Park on August 22 & 23, 2015.

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About Mad Media
Mad Media (www.madmedia.com) is a San Diego based marketing and creative agency, with in-house film and television production. We craft authentic, culturally engaging brand messages, and deliver them across print, web, photography, and film platforms. Mad Media has been leading the online content revolution since 1995 producing major commercial, television, online content and viral film projects such as The Gymkhana Series and XP1K Serie

August 6, 2015
GEARWRENCH EXPANDS ITS POPULAR 120XP™ RATCHETING WRENCH LINE TO INCLUDE FOUR NEW SETS
Sets Offer Popular Selections of Latest Ratcheting Wrenches

SPARKS, MD (August 5, 2015) – GearWrench®, a premier hand tool brand from Apex Tool Group, known for tools that deliver speed, strength, and access, today announced the addition of four new sets to its highly regarded 120XP Universal Spline XL Ratcheting Wrench line.

GearWrench 120XP Universal Spline XL Ratcheting Wrenches feature numerous advantages, including:

Superior Access

120XP Universal Spline XL Ratcheting Wrenches have double-stacked pawls that deliver 120 positions and a three-degree swing arc. They also have a narrow ratchet-end width and thickness, allowing technicians to reach fasteners in tight clearance situations.

Greater Reach

120XP Universal Spline XL Ratcheting Wrenches feature a beam design that’s longer for greater reach in confined areas. The open end is narrower and both ends have reduced outside dimensions, making this tool a must-have for working on fasteners in cramped locations.

Flexibility and Versatility

The Universal Spline drive design means technicians need only one tool to work on several different style fasteners, including: spline, 12-point, 6-point, e-torx, square and rounded 6-point. Dual Direction Surface Drive® on the open end provides better grip and reduces fastener rounding.

Speed

Both sides of each wrench have highly visible, recessed color size markings to help technicians easily identify the correct wrench to get jobs done quickly.

Strength

All 120XP Universal Spline XL Ratcheting Wrenches exceed ASME performance requirements.

End users can now purchase the following new 120XP™Universal Spline XL sets:
- SKU 86427: 16 piece Metric Set 8mm – 24mm
- SKU 86428: 4 piece Metric Set 20, 21, 22, 24mm
- SKU 86451: 16 piece SAE Set 7/32” – 1”
- SKU 86452: 7 piece SAE Set 13/16” – 1-1/4”
“Our 120XP Universal Spline XL Ratcheting Wrench line is rapidly becoming one our best-selling products,” said Jim Stewart, product manager for GearWrench. “These new sets offer technicians excellent selections of the sizes they use most often.”

For organized storage, the new 120XP Ratcheting Wrench sets come with an easy-grab V-rack. Resistant to gas and solvents, the rack’s compact design takes up less space in a drawer or box. Wrenches sit in angled tray slots, providing a neat fit in a 2-inch drawer.

120XP Universal Spline XL Ratcheting Wrenches and sets are available for purchase now. For more information visit www.gearwrench.com.

About GearWrench:
GearWrench is a premier hand tool brand from Apex Tool Group, one of the largest hand tool manufacturers in the world. Since the launch of the original patented five-degree ratcheting wrench, the GearWrench brand has continuously led the industry with breakthroughs in pass-thru ratchets, sockets, screw/nut drivers, pliers and specialty tools. Millions of GearWrench products have been “Professionally Tested” throughout the world.

About Apex Tool Group:

Apex Tool Group, LLC, based in Sparks, MD, is one of the largest worldwide producers of hand and power tools, tool storage, drill chucks, chain, and electronic soldering products. Directly and through its subsidiaries, Apex serves a multitude of global markets, including automotive, aerospace, electronics, energy, hardware, industrial, and consumer retail. Apex markets its portfolio of diverse products under its own brand names in addition to being the principal manufacturer for several key private label products for certain retailers for many years.
August 6, 2015
Yokohama Tire Corporation Kicks Off Its ‘Summer Joyride 2’ Promotion

SANTA ANA, CA. – (Aug. 3, 2015) – Yokohama Tire Corporation (YTC) keeps the summer fun rolling by giving consumers great deals with “Summer Joyride 2.” The promotion, which runs until August 31, offers customers a $60 Visa^® prepaid card after purchasing a set of four select Yokohama tires.

Consumers can also donate part or all of their rebate to YTC’s charity partner KaBOOM!, when registering for the rebate online. KaBOOM! is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring children get the balanced and active play they need.

Eligible Yokohama treads featured in the Summer Joyride 2 promotion include:

— GEOLANDAR H/T G056^™

— GEOLANDAR A/T-S^®

— GEOLANDAR G055^™

“Summer’s still on, so there’s time to hit the road with new tires and get $60 back,” said Alan Holtschneider, YTC director of marketing. “The Summer Joyride 2 promotion is a great opportunity for customers to save money, while ensuring their vehicles are road trip-ready.”

The rebate is available at participating Yokohama dealers nationwide, as well as select online retailers. Details of the promotion can be found at http://www.yokohamatire.com/summerjoyride.

Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global manufacturing and sales company of premium tires since 1917. Servicing an extensive sales network throughout the U.S., Yokohama Tire Corporation is a leader in technology and innovation. The company’s complete product line includes tires for high-performance, light truck, passenger car, commercial truck and bus, and off-the-road mining and construction applications. For more information on Yokohama’s broad product line, visit www.yokohamatire.com.

Connect with Yokohama Tire Corporation:

www.facebook.com/yokohamatirecorp

www.twitter.com/yokohamatc

www.youtube.com/user/yokohamamotorsports

www.instagram.com/yokohamatire

Yokohama is a strong supporter of the tire care and safety guidelines established by the Rubber Manufacturers Association and the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration. Details can be found at the “Tire Care & Safety” section atwww.yokohamatire.com.

August 3, 2015
North East Big Block Modifieds to air on MAVTV

Thursday, August 6, 11:00pm-1:00am ET

(re-air – August 13, 11:00pm-1:00am ET)

Corona, CA (August 3, 2015) – On Thursday night, 11:00pm ET, August 6, 2015, MAVTV will air the stars and cars of the Northeast Big Block Modifieds competing in the ‘Ashley Lynn Wineries Opening Night at the Wheels’ from Rolling Wheels Raceway Park in Elbridge, NY.

The two-hour ‘Rush Hour On Dirt’ broadcast will feature top Modified racing stars from across the North East including #4 Tim McCreadie, the son of the legendary Modified driver Barefoot Bob McCreadie. Tim has driven anything from the NASCAR Xfinity Series to Big Block Modifieds and his first ever Big Block modified win came at Rolling Wheels Raceway. #49 Billy Dunn is a full-time competitor on the Super DIRTcar Series for Big Block Modifieds. He was the 2013 winner of the Syracuse 200 at the Syracuse Fairground Mile – the richest Dirt Modified Race. #19F-Tim Fuller already has eight career victories at Rolling Wheels Raceway. All three are from Watertown, NY, but the big outside competition is expected to come from Sheffield, MA’ s, #34 Andy Bachetti – a hot shoe multi-time time track champion at nearby Lebanon Valley Speedway who is looking for his first victory at Rolling Hills Raceway.

The Northeast Modifieds are 800 horsepower V8 Big Block engine race cars. They are the premier Dirt Track racing car in the Northeast often reaching speeds in excess of 125 mph on the 5/8^th Rolling Hills Raceway Park clay oval.

MAVTV Program Director, Jason Patison said, “Modified racing has a huge following on MAVTV and this is an opportunity for us to reach the hard core modified fans in the north eastern United States.”

Owned and operated by Lucas Oil Products, MAVTV offers an unparalleled line-up of exclusive motorsports, that includes prestigious events such as the Chili Bowl, The AMA Pro Motocross series, the Lucas Oil Challenge Cup and NHRA Drag Racing. But MAVTV goes far beyond the national mainstream events and also covers multitudes of grassroots series’ from across the globe: Drag boats, sprint boats, drag racing, pro pulling, rally racing, drifting, dirt racing, ice racingand everything in between.

August 3, 2015
Longfield™ FJ80 Gun Drilled 30-Spline Super Set

The Longfield™ FJ80 Gun Drilled 30-Spline Birfields are made out of 100% chromoly and are precision polished to remove any imperfections that may cause stress risers. The internals of the birfield are also made from 4340 chromoly and are dual heat treated for superior strength. The birfield has a M8 grease zerk at the end of the stub shaft and is gun drilled through the center of the birfield to allow for grease to pass through the zerk fitting and into the internals. This will save you precious time by eliminating the need to disassemble your axle just to service your birfields. (more…)

July 31, 2015
Lucas Oil Invades Ensenada

We’ve reached many pivotal turning points for our culture. However, many go unnoticed and uncelebrated. As the first Lucas Oil Short Course event comes to Estero Beach, in Ensenada this weekend, we are at one of those moments. Off-road racing as we know and celebrate it today would not be here without Mexico. In 1962 when Dave Ekins and Billy Robertson Jr. completed the first peninsula run from Tijuana to La Paz, they birthed an idea that later spawned a culture. What led to everything we have today could not have happened in any place other than Baja California, Mexico.

In 1970 in the northern woods of Wisconsin, a bunch of racers got together and created the first ever “Brush Run” that eventually led to the establishment of the infamous Crandon International Raceway. Although the first vehicles were crude “run what you brung” type vehicles, it didn’t take long for midwest races to adapt the vehicle design and technology that was being used out West to develop a whole new form of short course racing. The “Brush Run” eventually led to the SODA series which included Crandon, Bark River, Lake Geneva Raceway, Red Bud MX Track and many more. The SODA series was televised on ESPN during the 80’s and 90’s.

Then, in 1979 Mickey Thompson decided to bring desert racing to the masses rather than “being seen by nothing but cactus and jackrabbits” and formed the Mickey Thompson Series starting with the Los Angeles Coliseum. Under Mickey Thompson’s leadership, off-road had its “Golden Years” with tons of spectators and unparalleled television coverage on ESPN, TNT and CBS.

In 1998, CORR evolved out of the SODA series and brought outdoor short course racing to the West coast reining for nearly ten years with tracks in Primm, NV, Glen Helen, CA, Chula Vista, CA, and more. CORR was also able to get mainstream coverage of short course off-road racing to millions of fans on TV via their coverage on SPEED and game changing epic live coverage on NBC.

In 2009 Lucas Oil picked up the pieces and built a solid short course off-road racing league, the Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series (LOORRS). Now we are in the enviable position of having six consecutive successful years of short course, with LOORRS growing every year. Lucas has had consistent TV coverage on NBC, CBS and MAV TV, reaching millions of new fans. The challenge now is not stability, rather expansion.

Targeting the fastest growing segment of the population of America (Hispanics) via racing in the third largest city in Baja is an obvious next move. Not to mention the fact that 30 million people a year pass through Baja via Tijuana, the busiest land border crossing in the world. So, if we can convert a small percentage of those people to off-road racing enthusiasts, we have a game changer.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE ON RACE-DEZERT.COM

Gates open to the public at 8:00am Saturday August 1st and Sunday August 2nd.

Click here for the full schedule of events.

Click here for ticket information .

About Race-Dezert.com
Race-Dezert.com was created by off-road enthusiasts, giving off-roaders a place online to share information about the sport and culture of off-road racing. Based in Southern California, Race-Dezert.com highlights the off-road disciplines of desert racing, short course off-road, stadium truck racing, rally raid, rally racing and rock crawling.Our goal is to connect the world of off-road racing globally, bringing people together through the common denominator of off-road culture. Whether you are a racer, a promoter, a chase team member, a casual fan, or just interested in learning about off-road, Race-Dezert.com is a place where you can learn about the sport and culture of off-road racing.

July 29, 2015