RockCrawler.com

Category: Lucas Oil Off Road Series (LOORS)

  • PATRICK CLARK proceeds to land on another podium!

    PATRICK CLARK proceeds to land on another podium!

    PATRICK CLARK gets comfortable on the podium and takes a bow for the fans all in one weekend of racing.

    It has been a rough year for Patrick Clark to say the least. The season didn’t start out as most plan. But that is racing and you continue to show up to that start line and run your race hoping you can be faster than the guy next to you and make no mistakes. That’s exactly what Clark did this year and it has turned out in his benefit.

    Coming off his high from getting on the podium two times in Crandon, Clark was bound and determined to keep the streak alive as he went into rounds 13 & 14 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series. This time they would be racing under the lights of the Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park. This course is mostly known for its massive jump called “The Matterhorn” where trucks launch over 100′ off the jump. Fans turn out in the masses and it is always entertaining for both fans and drivers.

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  • Racing the Night Away in Lake Elsinore, as Season Titles are on the Line

    Racing the Night Away in Lake Elsinore, as Season Titles are on the Line

    The Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series is nearing the finish line for 2016 as Rounds 13 & 14 returns to Lake Elsinore for night racing on September 23rd and 24th. Featuring races on Friday and Saturday nights, LOORS brings its pulse pounding action to the Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park. Make sure you catch the 850-plus horsepower, fire breathing, Pro4s and Pro2s as they light up Lake Elsinore night.

    As the 2016 comes to a close with only three races left to determine championships, here’s how the various classes are looking:

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    Pro4
    It’s really coming down to the wire for the Pro4 championship! After a rough start to the season, Kyle Leduc has finished on the podium the last seven races, putting him only six points behind Carl Renezeder with three races to go. The championship is up for grabs as Rob Mac and Doug Fortin are both within striking distance and all have a chance at the overall championship. The margin for error is microscopic and the pressure is mounting as it’s do-or-die from here on out in the hunt for the Pro4 championship.

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    Pro2
    The Pro2 class has been dominated by Rob MacCachren, having won the last four rounds, he stands firmly in first place with a 77 point lead over second place, RJ Anderson. Rob Mac really only needs to show up to the start line at the next few races to have the Pro2 championship sewn up. Meanwhile the race for second and third place is heating up as only one point separates RJ Anderson and Jeremy McGrath. It’ll be interesting to see their strategies going into the last few races of the year.

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    Pro Lite
    Jerett Brooks has pulled ahead in the Pro Lite championship points hunt after at strong showing up in Reno. Winning five races this year, he’s now 27 points ahead of Brandon Arthur, who’s had some rough luck the last couple of races. Rounding out the field, Brock Heger and Ryan Beat are deadlocked in third place.

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    Pro Buggy
    The most exciting championship hunt is in the Pro Buggy class, with four drivers only separated by 19 points from first to fourth; Garrett George, Mike Valentine, Darren Hardesty, and Kevin McCullough are all tightly bunched and jockeying for the championship. Just a little consistency from any of the drivers and they have a chance of walking away with the 2016 series title.

    Catch all of the action starting at 7PM on Friday September 23rd and Saturday the 24th. Get tickets in advance HERE.

    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.

  • PATRICK CLARK battles Baja in LOORRS rounds 7&8

    PATRICK CLARK battles Baja in LOORRS rounds 7&8

    Baja shows to be brutal for PATRICK CLARK RACING.

    For the second year now the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series has taken Short Course racing south of the boarder. It was so well received the inaugural year that there was no question that they would be returning back again for 2016 and ready to give the die hard fans some action worth talking about.

    This past weekend teams made their way across the Mexican boarder and set up their pits just an hour away at Estero Beach, just outside of Ensenada. The course lays just right on the edge of the ocean where the breeze, views and racing make for standing room only conditions.

    The fans of Baja love their off-road racing and now they can get closer than ever to the drivers and their teams. They flooded the pits in anticipation to get selfies and autographs of their favorite racer then made their way to the stands to catch the start of the weekends races.

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    The Pro2 race is always held last for each round since it provides some of the best door-to-door all out racing. Round 7 would present itself with the opportunity for Clark to start on the pole after a 6 truck inversion. This would give Clark the prime chance to run a clean and fast race in his #25 Budweiser/BFGoodrich Pro2. He would have this seasons top points fighters right on his rear bumper.

    At the drop of the green flag, Clark laid down the hammer and immediately started to pull away from the rest of the field. The next truck back would be Mittag who for the time would hold off the roaring trucks from catching Clark, until he would lose a while in the whoop section the entire field would now be back in the hunt for Clark. McGrath and MacCachren made up time quickly and on lap 3 a parts failure would plague Clarks truck and he would pull of course and not be able to complete round 7.

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    Working hard, the team didn’t hesitate with getting Clark back out for Round 8 on Sunday. They triple checked the previously failed part and sent Clark out for the 12 lap all out final battle of the weekend. Clark would be holding up the back of the class and his tactic would be to let the middle half make mistakes and advance.

    It seemed like a stretch but immediately the trucks pilled up in turn one and Clark made his way around unscathed and now chasing the front of the pack. Running in 6th place there was still an opportunity to gain on 5th until a full course caution took over. On the restart he was catching some heavy roost off of the rear tires of MacCachren who pulled away and Clark was left trying to hold his position against Anderson.

    Clark stayed in 7th place for a majority of the race but as the laps wound down he gained another position as Renezeder pulled off course moving Clark into 6th. His plan was working as trucks were not able to last and mistakes were made. Another position was in Clarks sight as McGrath goes looses slight control and goes off course and Clark passed him, now in 5th. Right ahead was Anderson and MacCachren pushing the limits fighting for 3rd. Clark would try to pounce on the action but quickly realized it wouldn’t be beneficial.

    On the last lap Clark tried to hold his ground but in the chaos of everyone just trying to make it to the checkered flag, Clark was caught in the mess of it and lost his gained positions, finishing out round 8 in 7th place.

    Clark and team will go back to the shop and reprep the #25 Budweiser/BFGoodrich Pro2 as they head into the last half of the season. Round 9&10 will go down at the one and only Glen Helen Raceway.

  • Ampudia excited about Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series return to Baja California

    Ampudia excited about Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series return to Baja California

    CORONA, California (June 14, 2016) – Sunday is Father’s Day and Rodrigo Ampudia knows what he would like to give his dad for a present.

    A win or even a place on the podium in the, Pro 2 portion of the Rockstar Energy Battle South of the Border presented by Lucas Oil “would be great,” he said. “We’ve definitely been trying to get on (the top step of) that podium for a while and we’ve been close a couple of times. It would be fantastic to do it this weekend.” (more…)

  • LOORRS Heads to Utah for Rounds 5 & 6

    LOORRS Heads to Utah for Rounds 5 & 6

     

    Lucas Oil Off Road Racing leaves California and heads to Utah Motorsports Campus, formerly knows as Miller Motorsports Park, in Tooele, Utah on May 21 and 22, 2016. This is the seventh visit to the Utah track and it’s taking place a month earlier than in year’s past. This means it will be about 10 degrees cooler; perfect spectating weather to watch 900+ hp trucks battle door-to-door off jumps and big sweeping turns. This is the only time they come to Utah this season so there’s no excuse to miss out.

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    Rounds 5 and 6 are shaping up to be a must attend event. Highlights include a great track, three different grandstands to catch all of the action and open pits where you can get up close to all of the drivers for pictures and autographs. Recently added, the Young Dubliners will perform Saturday night after the racing action.

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    It is still early in the season so Utah could produce new contenders for the championship run. We might also see new drivers who moved up classes who are hungry for a win this year leave it all on the track. In short course racing, nothing is guaranteed. A dominant driver one year could struggle the next as evidenced by Kyle Leduc’s performance. Being early in the season still, he has plenty of time to turn that around in Utah.

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    PRO 4
    Former champion Carl Renezeder has found his mojo again and placed himself on the top step of the podium in Round 4 and Bryce Menzies took the honor the round before. There are several other drivers who have been struggling but could win on any given weekend.

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    PRO 2
    Bryce Menzies was stripped of his round three win after a DQ for contact after the checkered flag but came back in Round 4 to let everyone know he is not going away quietly. MacCachren, who took the Round 3 win, had problems in Round 4. RJ Anderson, a new driver to Pro 2, was battling to the end, finishing on the podium on Saturday and just missing out on Sunday. Anderson and MacCachren look to play spoilers for a Menzies Pro 2 championship.

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    PRO LITE
    General Tire driver Jerett Brooks let the rest of the drivers in Pro Lite know that he is a serious contender for the championship in Lake Elsinore sweeping both rounds. Ryan Beat was banging on the door but could not get by Brooks and finished in the second spot both days. Brandon Arthur is another who won’t go out without a fight. He just missed the podium both days.

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    PRO BUGGY
    Taylor Atchison is leading the points after four rounds but there are several racers like Garret George and Mike Valentine who are starting to show some consistency and could be taking over the points lead after Utah. Darren Hardesty will look to ruin the other’s chance at success as he gets his car figured out.

    See the action live! Click here for ticket info!

    Watch the Live Stream at Lucas Oil Racing TV

  • PATRICK CLARK RACING Continues to set a great pace for the 2016 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series

    PATRICK CLARK RACING Continues to set a great pace for the 2016 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series

    The season is quickly heating up for all competitors in the 2016 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series. Patrick Clark  started out with a rough opening round and was looking to push back this past weekend at Rounds 3&4 that took place at the Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park.

    The stacked Pro2 class is the most anticipated race of each race weekend and with full stands from excited fans, they were all on the edge of their seats as the Pro2 class roared around the course preparing to take the green flag. (more…)