The Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS), the nation’s fastest growing short course off road racing series, made its 2013 Southern California premier at the Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park in Lake Elsinore, California over the weekend.
The weekend’s big news was that both the Pro 2 and Pro Lite division would be absent of current points leader, Brian Deegan. Deegan, who was in Europe to participate in X Games Barcelona, took advantage of a substitute driver rule allowing a replacement to race and retain any points earned. Driving his Pro 2 truck was Rockstar teammate, Todd LeDuc, and filling in for the Pro Lite division was Andrew Caddell.
Round 5 Race Recap – Saturday, May 18:
Pro 4 – At the drop of the green flag the #32 Mickey Thompson/Toyota of Eric Barron lead the field into turn one followed by the LeDuc brothers, Kyle LeDuc in 2nd place driving the #99 Monster Energy/Toyo Tires truck and Todd LeDuc in 3rd place driving the #7 Rockstar Energy/Maxxis truck.
Kyle Leduc pressured Barron for the lead until a flat tire slowed his efforts causing him to pull off the track. Todd LeDuc was next in line to pursue Barron until he suffered a mechanical malfunction forcing him to retire from the race.
Carl Renezeder, now in 2nd place, closed the gap on Barron and made a pass for the lead late in the final laps and winning the Pro4 division.
Carl Renezeder’s win in Round 5 marks his seventh win in a row with rounds one through five of the 2013 season and the final two rounds of 2012. Rounding out the podium was early leader Barron in 2nd and Brandon Bailey who drove the #77 Stronghold Motorsports truck to a career best 3rd place position.
Pro Lite – With a staggering lineup of 27 competitors, the Pro Lite division for Round 5 was the largest field of the day. A zero position inversion after qualifying meant top qualifiers, #74 AM Ortega’s Sheldon Creed and #51 Lunar Pages/Rockstar Energy’s Ryan Beat, would be on the front row with Creed sitting on pole.
Early race contender Bradley Morris was forced to retire due to a mechanical malfunction and current points leader Casey Currie found himself mid pack after being pushed off track on lap one. Defending Pro Lite Champion RJ Anderson ran 2nd in the early stages of the race until a suspension failure brought out the yellow flag.
On the restart, Creed inched away from Andrew Caddell, filling in for Brian Deegan who was being chased by the #51 Lunar Pages/Rockstar Energy of Ryan Beat. Following Beat was first time Pro Lite racer Jimmy Fishback making his LOORRS Pro Lite debut.
At the checkered flag it was Creed who took the win followed by replacement driver Caddell with a 2nd place finish. Rounding out the podium was Jimmy Fishback taking 3rd place in his Pro Lite debut.
Pro 2 – As racers lined up, it was Deegan’s #38 replacement, Todd LeDuc, sitting on pole. Leduc took command early in the race as veteran racers Carl Renezeder and Rob MacCachren battled nearly 10 laps wheel to wheel for 2nd place. MacCachren driving the Rockstar Energy/Makita Power Tools #21 eventually made the pass on Renezeder and moved into 2nd place behind LeDuc. MacCachren made several attempts to pass LeDuc and came into the last corner of the final lap neck and neck, but LeDuc carried his momentum on the outside and took the win.
The win would mark LeDuc’s first Pro 2 victory in several years and give valuable points to Deegan. MacCachren came in 2nd place and Renezeder took the final podium position in 3rd place for the Pro 2 division.
Race Recap – Sunday, May 19:
Pro 4 – Starting on row 1 was #17 Lucas Oil/General Tire sponsored racer Carl Renezeder and the #21 Rockstar Energy/Makita Power Tools backed racer Rob MacCachren. At the drop of the green flag Renezeder lead the charge into turn one followed by Kyle LeDuc, who made a quick pass on MacCachren, closely followed by brother Todd LeDuc.
Saturday’s runner up, Eric Barron, was forced to withdraw from the race on lap 2 after encountering motor problems.
On the re-start the driver order was Carl Renezeder, Kyle LeDuc, and Rob MacCachren followed by Todd LeDuc. Almost in unison, the LeDuc brothers suffered mechanical problems leading to Todd LeDuc’s withdrawal from the race and the slowing of Kyle LeDuc.
The caution flag came out again on lap 5 as the #22 Lunar Pages/Rockstar Energy of Ryan Beat stalled on the racetrack.
On the second restart, Renezeder lead, followed by MacCachren and Adler.
The remaining 10 laps were all green flag racing and spectators were treated to a great race between MacCachren and Renezeder. Never getting more than a few feet from each other the two racers battled to the checkers with Renezeder taking the win, followed closely by MacCachren in 2nd place.
Pro 2 – Pro 2 racers took to the track for the final race of the weekend at Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park.
Holding down the #1 spot on the grid was #17 Lucas Oil/General Tire backed driver Carl Renezeder who shared the front row with Rob MacCachren in his #21 Rockstar Energy/Makita Power Tools truck. Behind the two veteran racers on row two was the #15 Ready Lift backed Marty Hart and Todd LeDuc driving the #38 Rockstar Energy/Metal Mulisha for Brian Deegan.
MacCachren quickly took the lead over both Carl Renezeder and Kyle LeDuc. With 10 laps to go the yellow flag flew as the #9 Truck of Mike Porter caught fire on the race track. When racing resumed MacCachren once again led the way over Renezeder, Kyle LeDuc and Todd LeDuc.
Two laps later Todd LeDuc experienced a mechanical issue that slowed him and allowed the #99 Lucas Oil Slick Mist of Robby Woods to move into the #4 position.
With 2 laps to go the yellow flag came out again setting up a green, white and checkered flag race to the finish. Kyle LeDuc was bumped from 3rd to 9th place which allowed Woods to move up into the 3rd place position.
At the checkered flag it was MacCachren in 1st place, Renezeder in 2nd place and Woods in 3rd place.
Rounds 7 and 8 of the series will take place June 21-23 at the Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah.