Championship Battles Reach Critical Mass as Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Storms Into SoCal for Glen Helen Doubleheader
Rockstar Energy Golden State Off Road Nationals
Host Penultimate Rounds of 2019 Season
CORONA, Calif. (September 23, 2019) – After a break in action to close out the summer, the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, presented by GEICO, is ready to hit the homestretch of the season with its second visit to the off-road epicenter of Southern California. Just two weekends and four rounds of racing remain in 2019, with back-to-back doubleheaders on deck for the penultimate stop of the journey to crown a champion across all nine vehicle classes. The return to San Bernardino’s legendary Glen Helen Raceway for the Rockstar Energy Golden State Off Road Nationals, presented by General Tire, is destined to feature some of the most competitive racing of the season on Saturday, October 5, and Sunday, October 6, with a two-day showcase of the world’s premier short-course off-road championship.
Courtesy Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series
Glen Helen Raceway sits nestled at the base of the passage that bisects the San Gabriel Mountains and San Bernardino Mountains. Its mountainside setting has made Glen Helen a pristine location for off-road motorsports excitement of all varieties, thanks to its rough terrain and natural elevation changes, which has thrilled racing fans throughout Southern California for more than three decades. With this legacy, it’s fitting that Glen Helen serves as the proverbial home race for the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, which is headquartered a mere 30 miles away. The track layout at Glen Helen features all the hallmarks of a world class short-course venue, highlighted by its sweeping first turn, a tricky roller section, and a massive table-top jump, all of which connect via tight, technical 180-degree turns. The competition here is always tight, and when you consider what’s still on the line for the drivers contending for a title, it provides a tense atmosphere that will only serve to benefit the thousands of fans that will fill the grandstands.
Courtesy Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series
After a welcomed summer break, the world’s best short-course drivers come into Glen Helen feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. The grueling season has seen virtually every top contender endure through some sort of adversity, but the time away from the track has helped everyone move on from the past and set their sights on the four most critical afternoons of racing on the entire calendar.
A wild two nights of action at the previous round of the season in July saw a shakeup across all three truck divisions. In Pro 2, an exceptionally consistent weekend from Rodrigo Ampudia, which was highlighted by his first win since 2010 and the inaugural win for the Pro2M engine, saw the veteran driver close to within two points of leader Jerett Brooks, who emerged with his class-leading third win. This duo carries the momentum into Glen Helen, where Brooks kicked off the 2019 season with a big win at the opening round.
In Pro 4, Kyle LeDuc’s dominant season continued with a weekend sweep in which his back-to-back victories, combined with a DNF from reigning champion RJ Anderson, helped the second-generation driver open up an 18-point lead in the standings. While both Anderson and Doug Mittag have been a thorn in LeDuc’s side all season, with each claiming a win apiece, the exceptional consistency from LeDuc, anchored by four wins in six rounds, has been the difference maker heading into Glen Helen, where LeDuc won to open the season in March.
In Pro Lite, defending champion Ryan Beat has managed to withstand the slew of challenges that have been thrown at him throughout his title defense. Both Mickey Thomas and Brock Heger have enjoyed brilliant outings, which has forced Beat to step up his efforts in order to minimize the damage. Through it all, Beat has failed to miss the podium just once, and has collected a pair of victories to open up a six-point lead over Thomas. Beat was dominant at the Glen Helen opener in March, which bodes well for his hopes of adding to that point lead.
Courtesy Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series
With its distinction at the second-to-last event on the calendar, the Golden State Off Road Nationals provide an opportune time for challengers to make inroads on the advantages held by each class’ point leader, and grab some crucial momentum heading into the finale at the end of October. Glen Helen boasts a storied history of hosting some of off-road’s greatest moments over the past 30 years, and this season’s second visit to Southern California’s most beloved off-road venue is sure to add to it over the course of these two days under the San Bernardino sun.
In addition to the edge-of-your-seat excitement on the track, the Golden State Off Road Nationals will be complemented by live, local entertainment for all fans in attendance, both at the Fan Zone and during opening ceremonies. On Saturday, October 5, the Fan Zone’s Midway Main Stage will feature a performance by the 80-member On Pointe Dance Studio (12:15 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.), the 20-plus-member CAT Dance Group (1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.), and classic rock band Elite (5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.). On Sunday, October 6, the 50-plus members of the Cajon High School Marching Band will perform the national anthem at 2:00 p.m.