It was an unseasonably warm fall weekend when the folks from Lucas Oil brought their exciting 2009 racing series back to Speedworld Off Road Park in Surprise, Arizona. This was the fifth of six race weekends (Rounds 9 and 10) so the championship battles were drawing near the end. The Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS) is wrapping up its inaugural year and the response to the series has been encouraging. Classes include karts for the kids, UTVs, buggies, and four classes of trucks from the light-weight Superlite trucks to the ground pounding unlimited 4WDs. We had the chance to see the action both weekend days and it proved to be fast paced and exciting. Qualifying laps had been run on Friday and practice times were set each morning. When the green flag dropped, racers tackled a diverse track that included some tight turns, jumps, long straights and a couple of broad high-speed turns. With all the classes, there were a good number of races each day and the track crew kept the action moving along. The 2010 season has already been planned out and looks to be even bigger and better as the events have gained in popularity. The schedule holds fifteen championship rounds of racing that will be held over eight weekends in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. The races start in March and run through December. You can get all the details at: lucasoiloffroadracing.com The first classes for the day were Modified Kart, Junior 2 Kart, and Junior 1 Kart for the kids 8 to 15 years of age. These mini racers use single-cylinder engines on a chassis of maximum 120 inches length. The Juniors can reach speeds of 40 mph and the modifieds may reach 70 mph.The first classes for the day were Modified Kart, Junior 2 Kart, and Junior 1 Kart for the The Limited Buggy class fielded a large number of entries on both days so it made for exciting racing with some impressive track congestion. The single-seaters use a 1600cc Volkswagen engine to build a relatively light weight racer.The Limited Buggy class fielded a large number of entries on both days so it made for exci In a packed field of Limited buggies, Tim Pangborn in the #332 buggy had a bout with physics on a lap exiting Turn #1. He did a clean barrel roll onto his lid when the left front tire caught the dirt and launched the race car into the air. Luckily, he dropped back down on all four tires when it was over.In a packed field of Limited buggies, Tim Pangborn in the #332 buggy had a bout with physi Chuck Cheek had a great start in the Saturday Unlimited Buggy class race and took the win after making fast laps. On Sunday, a flat front tire on the last lap would steal some of Cheek's thunder, but he still managed a respectable third place for the day.Chuck Cheek had a great start in the Saturday Unlimited Buggy class race and took the win Bobby Pecoy was running on Sunday with a comfortable lead in the Unlimited Buggy class when he got a little too aggressive on a tight turn on the next to last lap. The buggy lofted to the high side but Pecoy backed off the throttle for a second and dropped the driver side tires back to dirt, and sped on to take the class win.Bobby Pecoy was running on Sunday with a comfortable lead in the Unlimited Buggy class whe Under the Goodyear tent, a couple of the crew members were busy shredding rubber from new tires and grooving the tread to optimize traction for the track conditions of the day.Under the Goodyear tent, a couple of the crew members were busy shredding rubber from new We spotted this custom three-seat racer out in the pit area. The occupants seemed thoroughly unconcerned with dad handling the driving chores from the back.We spotted this custom three-seat racer out in the pit area. The occupants seemed thorough In the Superlite Class, Ricky James #24 was running strong and feeling confident on Sunday after winning his last three races, but Chad Leising #17 was intent on getting past James. Here in Turn #2, James holds the lead, but Leising's persistence would mean a first place win at the checkered flag, leaving James to settle for second place this time.In the Superlite Class, Ricky James #24 was running strong and feeling confident on Sunday The trucks always start off with fresh body panels, and clean paint and sponsor decals. But a few laps into the race and the panels start getting shredded as contact is made on the track. We wondered how well John Harrah could see forward as portions of his hood kept flapping up over the chassis of his Superlite truck.The trucks always start off with fresh body panels, and clean paint and sponsor decals. Bu After a so-so race on Saturday, Chris Brandt made up for it in the Sunday race. He pushed his Unlimited Lite truck to get it out front and running fast. His efforts paid off and he captured his first LOORRS win in the class.After a so-so race on Saturday, Chris Brandt made up for it in the Sunday race. He pushed This gives you a driver perspective of what you might see coming up behind the pack in a busy turn with four trucks ahead. You're rubbing and bumping, and each truck slides and roosts its way around the banked curve, then throttles hard towards the next straight piece of track.This gives you a driver perspective of what you might see coming up behind the pack in a b The Unlimited 2 trucks were ferociously fast. Coming out of Turn #1, Jerry Whelchel #2 was pushing hard behind Greg Adler when Whelchel's truck ended up driving up the side of Adler's truck....The Unlimited 2 trucks were ferociously fast. Coming out of Turn #1, Jerry Whelchel #2 was ...Adler's truck rolled and the officials flagged the entire course yellow until the track could be cleared....Adler's truck rolled and the officials flagged the entire course yellow until the track Bryce Menzies took the top spot in Unlimited 2 class on both days. He was dogged by Carl Renezeder on Saturday but held him off to take the win. And then Sunday Menzies worked hard to push his way to the front and win again in the final race of the day.Bryce Menzies took the top spot in Unlimited 2 class on both days. He was dogged by Carl R Sundays Unlimited 4 race was non-stop action with Adrian Cenni #11 leading the race. Carl Renezeder #1 was aggressively trying to beat out Cenni for the last couple of laps. Cenni refused to slip up and let Renezeder by, and won the race with his opponent on his tail.Sundays Unlimited 4 race was non-stop action with Adrian Cenni #11 leading the race. Carl By Jay Kopycinski Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
