LUCAS OIL SEASON OPENER

Season Opener Lucas Oil Hosts story and photos: Shaun ochsner

After months of cancellations, rescheduled events, venue changes and postponements, the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series held its season opener at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, California– with no fans in attendance. The series had strict social distancing guidelines and required racers to wear masks during podium interviews.

Social distancing was not present on the track. Protected by the cages of their race vehicles, there was no shortage of the usual door-to-door action the short course series is known for. Racers were eager to get back on the track and behind the wheel their machines. Most have sat idle for months, prepped and ready for racing. A lucky few were able to get some testing time in during the lockdown.

In the Pro Buggy class, Cameron Steele was back on the track. It has been a few years since Steele has been behind the wheel of a buggy. Up front, Matt Brister was busy grabbing his first win in the national series during Saturday afternoon’s Round 1 race. Trey Gibbs won Sunday’s Round 2 event.

Cole Mamer made it back to the west coast to take the top qualifying spot in ProLite. Christopher Polovoorde ended up first on the podium in Round 1. Mamer wasn’t finished. After a wild race, Mamer won Round 2 with Brock Heger and Maddix Bailey taking the other podium spots. Christopher Polovoorde wasn’t so lucky as his race ended with a broken drive shaft on the first lap.

Above: Matt Brister secured his first national series win in the Pro-Buggy class.

Top Right: Trey Gibbs and Darren “Hot Sauce” Hardesty battle for the lead.

Right: The king of the buggy dorks, Cameron Steele was back behind the wheel at Glen Helen.

Above: Christopher Polovoorde took the top Pro Lite spot on the podium in Round 1.

Left: Cole Mamer was back for the Pro Lite win in Round 2.

There were eleven Pro Lite trucks entered in the Glen Helen opening rounds.

Pro-2 is always the most exciting class in the series. It has no shortage of drivers who will claw their way through the stacked field for a win. Veteran Brian Deegan was back behind the wheel. Deegan who normally spends his weekends traversing the country, chasing his kids through their racing ventures, took time out of his busy schedule to revisit his old office. Through every turn on the last lap, Deegan was on the heels of Ricky Gutierrez. Jerett Brooks made moves to pass both racers. Gutierrez held on for the ride securing second. Deegan settled for third. Jerett Brooks took the win in Round 1. Things got very interesting in Round 2. While Ryan Beat continued to struggle with mechanical issues, he was ready for the race. Beat lead several laps before a right rear flat tire would force him into the hot pits. Fortunately, a caution would save his day. Beat was able to stay on the lead lap. He wasn’t the only one with tire issues. Deegan

also came in with a flat. Deegan wasn’t so lucky and upon his exit from the hot pits, was scored a lap down. Jerett Brooks moved to the front of the pack finishing with a weekend sweep. Doug Mittag took second and Beat finally made it to the podium in third.

The next scheduled event for the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series is a triple header Wheatland, Missouri at Lucas Oil Speedway August 21st-23rd. The series is doing all they can to make up for cancelled rounds during the start of the pandemic.

Above: It was a weekend sweep for Jerett Brooks in the Pro-2 class.