SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP SURPRISES

Championship Off-Road holds final race of the season and crowns champions.

The inaugural season of the Championship Off Road Series is in the books. The season proved to be successful, even with a few minor rescheduling issues amid the chaos of this year’s COVID pandemic. Championship Off Road was able to get all of their rounds of racing in. The points battle was tight in almost all of the classes. The final two rounds of racing were held at Crandon, just a few weeks after the annual Labor Day event. The series threw in a twist. Night racing. Neither Championship Off Road or Crandon had ever hosted a night race. Rain made for some slick conditions and challenges for racers. Kyle Leduc has held the top spot on the podium at all but three rounds. CJ Greaves was the only Pro-4 driver to replace Leduc. Despite CJ’s efforts, Leduc earned 223 total points earning

Story by: Shaun Ochsner

Photos by: Amanda Fonferek

him the season championship. Leduc made the decision earlier this year to run the full Championship Off Road season after Lucas Oil dropped the Pro-4 class from its schedule.

The Pro-2 points battle was tight. Keegan Kincaid and Kyle Kleiman went into the final weekend at Crandon with just 7 points separating each other. Kleiman battled for the lead during the Saturday night event with Mickey Thomas. The slick rainy conditions made it tough for Kleiman who also made contact with Ryan Beat during the race, doing everything he could to get up front. Kleiman took second keeping rival Keegan Kincaid behind him. The next day Kleiman was victorious, winning the race. Kincaid ended up in third. Kleiman had earned enough points to secure the championship.

RIGHT: Kyle Kleiman celebrates a hard-fought season championship in the Pro-2 class.

There was also a tight point battle in Pro-Light. Kyle Greaves started out the season, sweeping the first two weekends. Carson Parrish broke Greaves winning streak at the second ERX event in mid-August. Greaves rallied back to his usual spot on the podium just a day later. West coast racer Cole Mamer came out with a big win at Crandon, Labor Day weekend.

Greaves had to settle for 11th after colliding with other trucks on the track. At the final Crandon weekend, Greaves championship hopes slipped away after breaking a tie rod during Saturday night’s race. Sunday Greaves again did not make the podium. For rookie John Holtger, staying focused and consistent was the key. Holtger spent several rounds in either 2nd or 3rd on the podium. His luck turned around at the final event with a big win. That win earned Holtger just enough points to pass Greaves for the championship. A very nice surprise to end the season!

Rookie John Holtger’s first career ProLight Crandon win earned him enough points to win the season championship.

Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Arizona Triple-Header story and photos: Shaun ochsner

The Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series hosted their second triple-header of the season in Chandler, Arizona. The event was held at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. Daytime temperatures in Arizona at this time of the year still reach into the 100’s. Since there were no spectators allowed at the event, Lucas Oil opted to run races in the cooler morning hours.

Parts of the track were redesigned early in the year with the help of Pro-4 racer Kyle Leduc. Unfortunately for Leduc, the series would drop the Pro-4 class and Leduc would not get the opportunity to race at Wild Horse Pass. The track was run in reverse, a first for the venue. It took some getting used to by the racers to figure out the jumps and table tops. Some paid the price of the steep learning curve in practice with a few spectacular crashes.

Some crews worked throughout the night for the Round 6 early start. With no spectators, the races on the schedule started earlier than posted. The first Pro race

of the day was Pro-Lite. Christopher Polvoorde started out front but would cause a caution early in the race with a broken throttle cable. The victory went to Brock Heger. In Round 7, Heger was back out front with Cole Mamer in 2nd. Heger led the race wire-to-wire. Mamer finally got his victory in Round 8. Heger had to settle for ninth.

ABOVE: Brock Heger took wins in both Round 6 and Round 7. BELOW: Cole Mamer broke Heger’s winning streak in Round 8.

In Round 6 of Pro-Buggy, Matt Brister was out front. Elliot Watson was right behind putting huge pressure on the leader. Brister ended up getting a right rear flat allowing Watson to snag the lead and the victory. In Round 7, Brister was back out front. Watson made an early move for the lead. Brister attempted to regain the lead but was not successful. With 3 laps to go, Brister had another tire go down. Watson also took the victory in Round 8 giving him six consecutive wins and a second weekend sweep.

ABOVE: Matt Brister and Elliot Watson battle hard for the lead in Pro Buggy.

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The Round 6 Pro-2 race saw Jerett Brooks lead wire to wire and take a victory. In Round 7, Ryan Beat was out front. Doug Mittag put a huge amount of pressure on Beat, almost stealing the lead. Beat held Mittag off for a major win in the class. In Round 8, Brooks was back in the top spot on the podium. Myles Cheek had a weekend sweep in Production UTV. Cheek has been on the podium at every single round and leads the points standings over Brock Heger.

Ryan Beat celebrates a hard earned victory.

Jerett Brooks won Rounds 6 & 8

Myles Cheek has consistently been on the podium at every round.

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BAJA 500 BIG WIN

South of the Border for

Dan McMillin Story: Shaun Ochsner Photos: Daniel Curiel

Travel restrictions and the COVID-19 SCORE International finally made the decision Pandemic caused the 2020 SCORE to host the Baja 500 in San Felipe along the International series to come to a grinding sea of Cortez. The dates were finally approved halt. SCORE had been set host four events by the local government and the race was on. all along the Baja Peninsula this year. The A 493-mile course was laid out, starting in San first event to be held in San Felipe had to Felipe, going north towards Mexicali before be postponed a week into the pandemic as turning back south. Many teams were still on countries and economies shut down. Dates for the fence about traveling and racing south of the San Felipe 250 were moved and eventually the border. BF Goodrich pulled their normal canceled. Dates for the Baja 500 traditionally held in Ensenada also had to be moved several times as travel restrictions were continuously extended.

pit support operations banning its employees from going into Mexico at the risk of contracting COVID-19. The teams that did race, saw big dividends.

SCORE held its usual qualifying session for Class 1, Trophy Truck and Trophy Truck Spec. Top qualifying honors went to fan favorite, Robby Gordon. Gordon’s “Unicorn” Trophy Truck would be first off the line on race-day. The Baja 500 had a different look and feel this year. Because of COVID restrictions, contact with the Baja population was limited. Registration, tech and contingency were held in a secure location at the El Dorado ranch. Typically, contingency activities are much like a Mexican fiesta with vendors, race teams all partying down the Malecon. Access was extremely limited and masks along with social distancing were required elements.

ABOVE: Robby Gordon was the top qualifier. He started out front in clean air leading the race for several hours.

On race-day, Robby Gordon shot out into the desert and held the lead for the first couple of hours of the race. Tim Herbst was hot on Gordon’s tail just seconds behind in the #19 Trophy Truck. Gordon would eventually lose some time, changing a tire. Herbst took the lead. Gordon got back on the gas, passing Tim Herbst. Mr. Herbst wasn’t having any of it and made another pass for the lead bringing the truck to San Felipe first over the finish line. The drama wasn’t over there as officials still needed to review tracking data.

ABOVE: Dan McMillin finishes physically in second. He wouldn’t learn of his Baja 500 until the next morning after tracking data was reviewed

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Once the dust settled, Herbst would receive unspecified penalties. The overall win was awarded to 32-year old Dan McMillin. McMillin, driving a 4-wheel drive Mason Motorsports built Trophy Truck finally got a win. McMillin spent months racing against his younger brother Luke who took stateside wins. McMillin shared driving duties with Justin “Bean” Smith. “We tried to go fast when we could go fast and just save the truck when we had to do it. Our goal here was to get a good spot for the SCORE Baja 1000 and it looks like we’re there. We played it smart and hopefully we start the SCORE Baja 1000, the granddaddy of them all, on a good spot,”

ABOVE: Santiago Creel, 34, from Mexico City took a victory in the Trophy Truck Spec Class.

said Smith at the finish line. The win puts the McMillin trophy truck first off the line for the Baja 1000 in November.

Cody and Brian Parkhouse grabbed a Class 1 victory at the Baja 500. Kristen Matlock won in the Pro UTV class and Santiago Creel from Mexico City took the win in the Trophy Truck Spec Class. With the upcoming Baja 500 in November, racing is back– South of the Border.

ABOVE: Kristen Matlock on her way to a ProUTV win in her Polaris RZR XP Pro

MADIX BAILEY

PRO-LITE PRODIGY

At just 16 years old, Madix Bailey has some big shoes to fill. Both his dad and grandfather are off-road racers. Brandon Bailey raced the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series in the Superlite class. Both Brandon and Scott Bailey still race today, together in the desert.

STORY: SHAUN OCHSNER PHOTOS: SHAUN , OCHSNER & ERIC MINKS Madix Bailey started racing in the Junior 1 Trophy Kart class at 5 years old in the Lucas Oil Regional Series. Madix moved up to the Junior 2 class and finally the competitive Modified Kart class. Madix struggled in the class trying to make the elusive podium and even more elusive season championship. It was enough for him to stop racing and take some time off.

When racing is in your blood, it’s impossible not to get behind the wheel. Today, Madix is

in his rookie season of ProLite. A little older, a little smarter, he has quickly become one to watch this season. Madix has been out front leading the field at a couple races and found himself on the podium at every round. All of that consistency has put Madix second in the championship points standings at the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series. He sits nine points behind leader Brock Heger. Madix says he is still chasing his first win in the Pro-Lite class. The name on the door of his Pro-Lite says it all: “Madman”

To familiarize himself with the truck, Madix did some testing in the off-season and ran a couple of regional events. Madix says racing with the fastest drivers can be nerve-racking but says drivers like Brock Heger and Cole Mamer drive a clean race and he has fun battling with them on the track.

Racing for Madix doesn’t stop at short-course. He can also be found in the desert in a class 10 buggy. Madix is learning the ropes of the desert program. It’s completely different for him. If there is a problem, it’s just Madix and a co-driver. There are no hot pits to

drive into and fix a flat tire. The nearest mechanical support may be miles away, so Madix and co-driver need to be on their game to fix the problem in the middle of nowhere. He says he also needs to learn to pace himself.

Madix looks forward to the future. He is in contention for rookie of the year in Pro-Lite. Madix has his sights set on a championship in the class next year. One day he hopes to move into the Pro-2 class. Madix inspiration comes from legends such as Carl Renezeder and Rob “Fig” Naughton. Madix wants to race at Crandon next year. He jokes about his RC car World Championship. Madix wants to win a Pro-Lite race at the legendary race track. He also has his sights set on a Baja 1000 win. There are plans to share driving duties next year with his dad and grandfather. Three generations of Baileys all working towards a Baja win.

“I am so stoked we are doing this well.”