MUSTANG, NV (Aug. 26): The Lucas Oil Off Road Series visited Wild West Motorsports Park this weekend for two days of fast, wild racing. Each day was a separate event in the series so Saturday was Round 9.
One driver missing was Rob MacCachren as a family emergency had him turn around and rush back home.
The rule allows a substitute driver to race in the place of one facing the emergency. It can be used once in a season and the points earned by the substitute go to the regular driver.
In Pro 4 Bradley Morsey was the substitute while in Pro 2 the honor went to Carl Renezeder.
(Reporter’s note; I may have Morsey’s name misspelled as I only heard in mentioned on the P.A. system. If so then I apologize to him for the error.)
Saving the best for last the Pro 2 class ended the day as it’s the fastest class.
R.J. Anderson gets some air on his way to winning the Pro 2 main event at Wild West Motorsports Park.
After the race winner R.J. Anderson, who set the fastest lap said, “My guys gave me a fast truck from the time we got here. We’ve had some just bad luck lately, had some really good runs these last few rounds, just little things that bit and hopefully we can give you guys a better show tomorrow.”
Then he thanked his crew as well as sponsors. Polaris, Rock Star Energy, Safe Craft and others for their support.
When the green waved on the eight car field everyone took off then things slowed as Bradley Morris had his truck lose power on the second turn.
Once racing resumed Anderson took off with Brian Deegan close behind. Behind them Jeremy McGrath and Jerett Brooks were disputing third place.
Late in the race McGrath got the run he needed and took over third. Later he commented that following Brooks he was almost out of tear offs.
Up front the race was Anderson’s as he crossed the finish first followed by Deegan.
The next fastest class is Pro 4 and nine trucks took the checkered flag to start their 16-lap main Kyle LeDuc was on point with Doug Mittag and Carl Renezeder in third.
Four laps into the contest there was a caution when Greg Adler fell out. On the green LeDuc took off but was under pressure from LeDuc as they battled side-by-side.
For the entire race the top three were close with Renezeder waiting for his chance. Finally, late in the race he took over second and the chase was on.
In the final laps Renezeder got into the lead and won the race. LeDuc followed in second with Mittag ending up third.
Late in the Pro 4 main Carl Renezeder (left) makes the winning pass when he flew past Kyle Leduc.
This is Renezeder’s final season racing so his third win theis season put him second behind points leader Leduc.
At the podium celebration he said, “That’s probably my favorite race in a very long time that I can remember. The funnest part was to be behind these two guys (LeDuc and Mittag.) cause I was watching Kyle do his thing and watching Doug trying to answer it.”
Next fastest are the Pro Lites, a class that features younger drivers coming out of other classes including Mod Karts. On Saturday 13 of them took the green flag as they charged down the front straight.
On point was Mickey Thomas followed by Jerett Brooks and Brock Heger. Then things slowed for a caution that send Hallie Deegan to the hot pits after contact with another racer.
Right after racing resumed Heger took over second dropping Brooks to third ahead of Brandon Arthur.
Two more cautions slowed the pace but every time the green waved Thomas took off but at the end Brock Heger took over the lead and won the race followed by Brooks, who set the fastest lap, and Thomas.
On the podium Heger said, “Anytime I start sixth I knew it was going to be a long race, I knew I had to beat Jerett as the points are super close so I ended getting him and Mickey.”
Then he thanked his family, the JM2 crew, ICON, Maxxis Tires, Ultra Wheels, Blue Media as well as the fans for being there.
After the race two drivers was disqualified. One was Hallie Deegan as her pit crew left something off her truck when they repaired it.
Thomas was also disqualified so that moved Brandon Arthur to third place in the official standings.
When the seven Pro Buggies were sent off in their main Trevor Briska led the charge up the hill toward the Ski Jump as Turn 1 is called. By the second lap Darren Hardesty was on point followed by Sterling Cling and Bud Ward.
Two quick cautions before the half way point in the 14-lap race slowed things but up front Hardesty and Cling were having a private battle so see which one would be the leader.
With less than a handful of laps remaining Cling took over the lead and stormed off to claim the victory. Hardesty ended up second ahead of Ellott Watson and Bud Ward.
After the race Cling said, “It’s been a tough battle to get up here (Top spot on the podium.) I’ve been racing these guys all year. I finally got up here, been running second and third for too long. I was right there on Hardesty and running out of tear offs so had one left. Got to thank Cory Kruseman, had 300 laps in a sprint car this week so I knew when door was open had to put a slide job on him and have to thank Hardesty for racing me clean.”
Then he gave special thanks to his father for all the help he gives Cling. He included sponsors Kyle Cling Fabrication, Kevin Green, FOX Shocks, Goodrich Tires, Alumni Craft, 51 Media and Southwest Water and Leisure.
Before the opening ceremonies two classes run their mains and one of them is a new addition this year.
The Mod Karts are the starting classes where youngsters earn their racing spurs before moving up into the four major classes. Most of the drivers at Wild West Motorsports Park this weekend were teenagers and their races can be wild affairs.
This class has a big field and runs on a tight course using the infield as well as the front straight. Three different hairpin turns in the course means its an action packed race.
When the green waved on the 10-lap main 14 drivers tore down the front straight and into a high speed left hand turn at the bottom of the hill. Up front was Ricky Gutierrez with Cole Keatts right behind him and they both had the pack not far off their rear bumpers.
Soon Keatts was dropping back as Brody Eggleston took over second with Trey D. Gibbs in third.
One quick caution then a restart was called back due to bumping in the pack. On the second try Gutierrez took off again with Eggleston right behind him.
Behind them Keatts, who had fallen back moved into fourth. Back in the pack were was a bunch of three-wide and close racing going on.
In the end Gutierrez won followed by Eggleston and Gibbs.
On the podium Gutierrez, after scoring his second career win, said, “It was an awesome start, leading, then into the mandatory caution then started it, Brody came inside of me, knew I had some work to do. I knew I had to be on my game with Brody right behind, happy I could pull off a win.”
Then he thanked his family and his crew for their support as well as sponsors Full Tilt Karts for their motor, ITV Tires, Mod Kids USA, DTW and others.
New this year is the Pro 1000 UTV class, the fastest growing division in off road racing. These off the shelf racers are pretty much stock although there are some safety things that must be added as well as a different shock package.
Still it’s probably the most cost effective way to get into off road racing. And it had the biggest field of the weekend, 19 UTV were on the line for Saturday’s main.
On the green Paul O’Brien was on point but soon there was a caution when one driver wound upside down in Turn 2. Once the safety crew rolled the UTV back on its wheels the field got ready for a restart.
On the green O’Brien took off followed by Ray Bulloch. Soon rock Heger was disputing second place and within a few laps took over the lead.
While Heger was on point O’Brien and Bulloch began a long duel for second, which actually slowed them down just a bit. This allowed Heger to pull away for an unchallenged victory followed by O’Brien and Bullock finishing a close second and third.
REPORTER’S NOTE: There is a photo gallery after the results. Sunday’s report will be posted by late Tuesday.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
- If one wants to see more of this series both MAVTV and CBS Sports air the races on a delayed basis. If one wants to watch the events live or access them when desired well there is an Internet channel that does just this.
For live or delayed access one can subscribe to www.lucasoilracing.tv. The steaming service will have all the Lucas Oil events so the variety is huge.
- This reporter is on Teresa’s Garage Radio show on Tuesday around 2:15 p.m. A great show for all those mechanically inclined and, if you’re in the Reno area listen to it on 1180 AM KCKQ or stream the show live at, www.amm.streamon.fm.
Teresa’s Garage Poster.
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RESULTS:
Lucas Oil Off Road Series – Round 9
Wild West Motorsports Park – Aug. 26
Mod Karts:
+ Main (10-Laps) 1. Ricky Gutierrez, 2. Brody Eggleston, 3. Trey D. Gibbs, 4. Cole Keatts, 5. Chris Nunes, 6. Mia Chapman, 7. Koen Crawford, 8. Connor Barry, 9. Mason Prater, 10. Caden Fluegge, 11. Luke Knupp, 12. Brook Jensen, 13. Chance Haugen, 14. Trey Eggleston.
Pro UTV:
+ Main (10-Laps): 1. Brock Heger, 2. Paul O’Brien, 3. Ray Bullock, 4. Jason Weller, 5. Dustin Nelson, 6. Mickey Thomas, 7. Nathan Barry, 8. George Hammel, 9. Justin Peck, 10. Austin Welland, 11. Brandon Arthur, 12. Jason Merrell, 13. Trevor Leighton, 14. Travis Rasmussen, 15. Klpp Mickels, 16. Josh Bergman, 17. Tommy Scranton, 18. Ronnie Anderson, 19. Keith Brooks.
Pro 4:
+ Main (16-Laps): 1. Carl Renezeder, 2. Kyle LeDuc, 3. Doug Mittag, 4. Doug Fortin, 5. R.J. Anderson, 6.Adrian Cenni, 7. Rob MacCachren*, 8. Eric Barron, 9. Greg Adler.
Pro Lite:
+ Main (14-Laps): 1. Brock Heger, 2. Jerett Brooks, 3. Brandon Arthur, 4. Ray Griffith, 5. Justin Peck, 6. Keaton Swane, 7. Cole Mamer, 8. Christopher Polvoorde, 9. Ryan Beat, 10. Rannie Anderson, 11. Sarah Burgees.
DQ: Mickey Thomas, Hallie Deegan.
Pro Buggy:
+ Main (14-Laps): 1. Sterling Cling, 2. Darren Hardesty, 3. Ellott Watson, 4. Bud Ward, 5. Matthew Brister, 6. Brady Whitlock, 7. Trevor Briiska.
Pro 2:
+ Main (16-Laps): 1. R.J. Anderson, 2. Brian Deegan, 3. Jeremy McGrath, 4. Jerett Brooks, 5. Rodrigo Ampudia, 6. Rob MacCachren*, 7. Adam Daffner, 8. Bradley Morris.
* -Substitute driver due to family emergency but MacCachren gets the points.
PHOTO GALLERY:
