7/20/2017
RacinBoys
Off Road 101: What to know as Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series visits Wheatland
By Lyndal Scranton (Wheatland, MO) -- A new form of racing roars into south-central Missouri this weekend when the Lucas Oil Speedway Off Road track opens for the Inaugural GEICO Off Road Shootout Presented by General Tire.
What exactly is Off Road Racing and what can fans seeing it for the first time expect? With the help of Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Director Ritchie Lewis, we attempt to answer some basics to enhance the viewing experience.
Lewis described Off Road racing as "like Super Cross on steroids." For instance, the four-wheel drive trucks (Pro 4s) weigh 4,000 pounds and are capable of going more than 100 miles-per-hour. They'll body slam into each other at times - or soar as high as four stories into the air.
What kinds of vehicles will be racing? At Lucas Oil Speedway, with the new 1.3-mile track, there will be six divisions:
Pro 4 - The big, bad trucks are four-wheel drive, full-sized vehicles with between 700 and 900 horsepower and a wheelbase between 113 and 122 inches. Minimum weight of 4,000 pounds, including driver, makes this a beast of a battering ram.
Pro 2 - This is a two-wheel drive, full-sized truck built on a standardized chassis. Like the Pro 4, it has horsepower of more than 700 and a wheelbase of between 113 and 122 inches. Weight is a minimum of 3,750 pounds.
Pro Lite - These also are two-wheel drive trucks, but in the mid-sized class on a standardized chassis. Horsepower is 300 and maximum wheelbase is 122 inches with, driver included, a 2,800-pound minimum weight.
Pro Buggy - Like its name suggests, these are buggy-type vehicles with 1,650-1,835 cc motors capable of about 210 horsepower. Minimum weight is 1,800 pounds and maximum width if 93 inches.
Mod Kart - For drivers ages 10-15, this is an advanced kart class using 250-450 cc motorcycle engines capable of about 48 horsepower. Including driver, minimum weight is 815 pounds. They'll race in a shortened course this weekend.
Production 1000 UTV - Utility Task Vehicles (UTVs) former the new Production 1000 class, a showcase for the all-purpose vehicles.
What is short-course racing? Unlike the long courses in the desert, short courses are enclosed and purpose-built for racing. The one at Lucas Oil Speedway is more than 6,000 feet or about 1.3 miles in length with seven left-hand and two right-hand turns, including some high-flying jumps.
Are there specific areas to keep an eye on? Lewis said the front straightaway, right in front of the covered grandstands, will be fun. It includes a couple of jumps and the backstretch features perhaps the high-speed section of the track with the biggest jump, launching the vehicles four stories into the air and off the ground for about 100 feet.
Grandstand seating should provide great viewing all the way around. But fans might use binoculars to focus on a specific driver and to watch them work the wheel inside the cockpit.
"To me, it's kind of three tracks in one," Lewis said of the Lucas layout. "It has a lot of really cool high-banked, high-speed stuff in it and then it also has a lot of real technical rhythm sections and things of that nature, with switchbacks, and it also has a lot of real high, long jump stuff in it as well. It's kind of got the best of all three worlds ... a big track (1.3 miles) but it has a lot of short-track stuff to it as well."
How fast will be the vehicles go? Lewis said the featured Pro 2 and Pro 4 trucks are capable of doing more than 100 miles per hour, but likely will dial back from that to preserve the health of the truck's motor, chassis and tires.
Can fans see the vehicles up close and meet the drivers? Part of the beauty of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series is that admission includes a pit pass. So you can watch your favorite driver tear up the race track and then go right down to his/her pit and watch the crew work to get ready for the next race. The drivers enjoy meeting fans and are often available for photos and autographs throughout the day.
Who are some of the leading drivers? Season championship points leaders in 2017 include Kyle LeDuc (Pro 4), Jeremy McGrath (Pro 2), Jerett Brooks (Pro Lite), Eliott Watson (Pro Buggy), Cole Keatts (Mod Kart) and Brock Heger (Prod 1000 UTV).
McGrath is the most successful AMA Supercross racer in history who also became a star for his participation in ESPN's X Games. He's made a smooth transition into racing trucks and is seeking his second win of the 2017 season this weekend.
When does it start and end? The complete daily schedule is listed below, but Off Road Racing is a daylight sport. Gates to the public open at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday with qualifying starting at 9:30 a.m. After a break during the lunch hour, races in the afternoon begin at 1 p.m. for Mod Karts and UTVs and at 2:30 for opening ceremonies and the rest of the races.
What else goes on or is available to do between races? You can grab a bite to eat from our concessions stands, enjoy a cold beer or soda or check out some of the great merchandise. Vendors will have a wide variety of items for sale.
How about the dirt oval track on Saturday? Fans purchasing tickets to Saturday's Off Road races or a three-day Off Road pass get free admission to Saturday night's Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series program on the Lucas Oil Speedway dirt track.
For ticket information either the Off Road track or dirt track program, contact admissions director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or via email at nichole@LucasOilSpeedway.com.
Here's a rundown of the GEICO Off Road Shootout Presented by General Tire, for the practice day on Friday and races on Saturday and Sunday:
Friday
Noon - Spectator gates open.
1:30 p.m. - Session 1 practice (3 laps for each class); a 30-minute break before session 2 practice.
4:30 p.m. - Session 3 practice.
Tickets: $10 general admission/pit pass combo (ages 6 and up), FREE (ages 5-and-under). 3-day pass, GA/pit pass combo ($60 day of event, $50 in advance online at http://www.showclix.com/events/8559). Seniors (62 and up) 3-day pass $54 day of event and $44 in advance online. Youth (ages 6-15) 3-day pass $20 (day of event and online). All tickets include access to the pit area.
Saturday and Sunday
9 a.m. - Spectator gates open.
9:30 a.m. - Mod Kart qualifying, followed by Pro 4, Pro Lite, Pro Buggy and Pro 2 qualifying.
11 a.m.-1 p.m. - Break for lunch/vendor exhibit visits.
1 p.m. - Mod Kart exhibition race, UTV race.
2:30 p.m. - Opening ceremonies followed by Pro 4, Pro Lite, Pro Buggy and Pro 2 races.
Tickets: $30 general admission/pit pass combo (ages 16 and up) day of event and $25 in advance online; seniors (62 and up) 3-day pass $27 day of event and $22 in advance online. Youth (ages 6-15) 3-day pass $10 (day of event and online). All tickets include access to the pit area. FREE ages 5-and-under. Family Pass GA/Pit Pass Combo $60 Includes Admission for 2 Adults and Up to 3 Kids Ages (6-15) can only be purchased day of event at the gate; Adult Weekend (3-Day) GA/Pit Pass Combo-$60 (Day of Event) and $50 in advance online; Seniors (62 and up)/Military Weekend (3-Day) GA/Pit Pass Combo-$54 (day of event) and $44 in advance online. Youth Ages (6-15) Weekend (3-Day) GA/Pit Pass Combo-$20 (day of event and online).
For complete information on the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, please visit http://www.LucasOilOffRoad.com.
Construction on the Lucas Oil Speedway Off Road track, which is approximately 6,000 feet in length, began in the spring of 2016. It joins a vast complex that includes the dirt track which plays host to the Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series, "Lake Lucas" where the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Series holds two major events each year and the Slick Track where go-kart racing is held weekly and competitive quarter midget racing has been held for the first time in 2017.
For complete Lucas Oil Speedway event information, archived stories, ticket info and schedules, visit http://www.LucasOilSpeedway.com.
To get ticket information on any event this season at Lucas Oil Speedway, contact admissions director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or via email at nichole@LucasOilSpeedway.com for further information.
Lucas Oil Speedway is located at Highways 83 and 54 in Wheatland, Missouri. A campground with shower and bathroom facilities is also available. With its entrance located just outside the pit gate this sprawling scenic camping facility will continue to enhance the racing experience at the Diamond of Dirt Tracks.
Click http://www.LucasOilSpeedway.com for more information and detailed directions to the speedway or call the Track Hotline at (417) 282-5984.
In addition, fans can get social with Lucas Oil Speedway by following @LucasSpeedway on Twitter, clicking "Like" at http://www.facebook.com/LucasOilSpeedway and on http://www.youtube.com/LucasOilSpeedway.
Submitted By: Kirk Elliott
