$125,000 ROCKSTAR Race Late Results

GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY, Dec. 13, 2010: Most of the time, different classes of vehicles in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series tend to stick to themselves. Pro 4 Unlimited trucks don’t go picking fights with their Pro 2 Unlimited brethren, and Pro Lite Unlimited and Pro Buggy Unlimited vehicles wouldn’t face off against each other at all.

On Sunday at Firebird International Raceway’s newly renovated off-road facility, all of that came to a sudden, dusty change during the $125,000 Rockstar Energy Lucas Oil Challenge Cup.

First off was truck-vs.- buggy, the racing equivalent of high-speed disorganized chaos. When all was said and done, the buggy would prove victorious in the Pro Lite Unlimited vs. Pro Buggy Unlimited shootout, thanks to some daring driving by Doug Fortin.

Fortin edged out Pro Lite Unlimited truck competitor Brian Deegan in an exciting Cup final. While Deegan chased Fortin, he found himself locked in a side-by-side, truck-vs.-truck battle with 2010 series champion Pro Lite Unlimited champion Marty Hart.

That Deegan-vs.-Hart battle may well have left the door open for buggy driver Justin Davis, who ducked in front of Hart at the race’s end to finish third.

Davis told the crowd the truck-vs.-buggy competition was “…out of control fun.”

Fortin, who survived the race to come away $20,000 richer, started the race 20th.

“I was just going one car at a time, one car at a time,” Fortin told the crowd. “…It was just a great race.”

Next up was the Civil War of trucks, as Pro 4 Unlimited competitors squared off in the final Cup showdown of the day against their rivals from Pro 2 Unlimited. Let’s just say the two classes of vehicles didn’t play nicely. Twenty-six competitors started the Cup showdown – when the smoke and sand cleared and the checkered flag flew, only 14 competitors remained.

Pro 4 Unlimited’s Kyle Leduc made it through the on-track chaos to earn a hard-fought win over Pro 2 Unlimited competitor Bryce Menzies and Pro 4 Unlimited rival Carl Renezeder. Leduc’s son Todd just missed making the podium in fourth place.

With Leduc’s victory – his second of the day - he took home an impressive $30,000. He said the win didn’t come easy.

“It was insane to drive out there at this raceway,” Leduc said. “…It was insane!” There was so much smoke and chaos…”

It didn’t take long following the afternoon’s opening ceremony for the racing fireworks to begin. Midway through the Limited Buggy Cup Race, a multiple car accident occurred entering the backstretch of the track.

The driver faring the worst undoubtedly was Kyle Lucas. His buggy was left teetering precariously over an incline bordering the track. He would require medical attention following the accident.

After the restart, Geoffrey Cooley and Justin Smith engaged in a heated one-on-one battle for the Cup. Smith would ultimately prevail, overcoming a smoking engine that ultimately blew seconds following the race. John Fitzgerald finished third.

In the Super Lite Cup, Leduc recorded his first victory of the day, claiming $10,000 after successfully holding of Chad George and Colton Greaves. Leduc kept things interesting, periodically abandoning four wheels for two, including a moment when he nearly tipped over during the final lap.

Ryan Beat and Robert Vanbeekum were the day’s other victors. Beat captured the SR1 UTV title, while Vanbeekum grabbed the win in Unlimited UTV.

The Superstars of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series will return to Firebird International Raceway on March 19-20th for the first race of the 2011 season. To learn more, please visit www.firebirdraceway.com or call 602-268-0200.