7/22/2017
RacinBoys
McGrath one to watch as GEICO Off Road Shootout Presented by General Tire debuts at Wheatland
By Lyndal Scranton (Wheatland, MO) -- Jeremy McGrath has spent three decades going fast, at the wheel of various vehicles. He's was the face of supercross with seven AMA championships, been an X Games action-sport legend on his bike and even raced Late Model stock cars briefly for Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Whether it's two wheels or four, McGrath said nothing he's driven quite compares to piloting a Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Pro 2 Truck.
"I have driven a lot of different race vehicles, a lot of bikes and a lot of everything," McGrath said. "The Pro 2 is unlike any of the others. It's a handful."
McGrath is among the stars of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series christening the new 1.3-mile track at Lucas Oil Speedway this weekend. The GEICO Off Road Shootout Presented by General Tire continues Saturday and Sunday with qualifying in the mornings and races in the afternoon.
Action both Saturday and Sunday begins with qualifying at 9:30 a.m. with gates opening at 9.
Count McGrath impressed with the new nine-turn layout in south-central Missouri that's spreading short-course, off-road racing to the Midwest.
"It's exciting to get to go to a new track," McGrath said. "I'm holding out hope that we don't get any rain and we're going to have a great race. Hot and dry, that works for me."
McGrath leads the points chase in the high-powered, two-wheel-drive division heading into the weekend. Expanding on his thoughts on the Pro 2 being "a handful" to drive, McGrath said the motor capable of 900 horsepower makes it a unique beast.
"Being a two-wheel drive, it's pretty loose to drive," he said. "Add to that the dirt and you've got a real good time, for sure. It's funny, when you start driving Pro 2s, it has so much power that it kind of scares you.
"But you get used to it after a while and it's more of a nervous excitement. I enjoy it a lot."
McGrath, who won a round earlier this season at Ensenada, Mexico, said all forms of racing have some common denominators with his super cross success translating nicely to the off-road trucks.
"Not so much in the driving part, but the racing part," McGrath said. "When you're in the field, racing against other guys, you have a lot of those same circumstances that you would have when racing dirt bikes in a pack of 20 guys.
"Sometimes, it doesn't seem you have as much room on a truck track because the trucks are so big and the tracks are so big, but within reason. You have to make those passes count when you go for them. They're hard to come by sometimes."
The full-contact nature of trucks can lead to some on-track anger at times. McGrath said that's simply the nature of the sport.
"It definitely gets heated. From time to time, people get mad," he said. "But that's why we call it racing. I have a lot of great friends at the race track. It really helps when you know the competition.
"You now when guys are going to pull the dirty moves or what I would call the bad-etiquette driving. When you're around those guys, you plan accordingly."
McGrath said the best thing about the new track in Wheatland is how it spreads the sport, which mostly is based on the West Coast, to a new fan base.
"Lucas Oil Off Road short-course racing is like an undiscovered jewel," McGrath said. "People who have not seen this sort of racing in person need to do themselves a favor and check it out. TV is good, but TV doesn't do it justice."
"I'm excited to get this short-course racing in front of new fans. The more eye balls we can get onto this, the better. It's fun to watch. I find myself running up to the stands to watch the show when I'm not racing."
McGrath, 45, said he plans to race as long as he's competing for wins and having fun. The resident of Encinitis, Calif., said his wife, Kim, and daughters Rhowan and Bergen often get to travel with him to races though they were unable to make this trip.
"Right now I'm leading the points and have been able to battle for wins on most every occasion this year," he said. "As long as I have a fast truck and can compete up front, you never know how long I'll want to race.
"My main sponsor, Maxxis Tires, and us have another year on our contract after this. So it'll be for sure next year. From there, we'll play it by ear. I'm just trying to spread the word about our sport as much as I can and have fun."
Here's a weekend schedule for the GEICO Off Road Shootout Presented by General Tire:
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).
Off Road event tickets on Saturday also include admission to Saturday night's Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series program on the oval track. Hot laps there begin at 7 p.m.
For complete information on the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, please visit 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.
PHOTO: Jeremy McGrath leads the Lucas Oil Off Road Series points in the Pro 2 division.-- CREDIT: Kenny Shaw photo
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
