The inaugural season of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series has been in full swing since April, and with Rounds 5 and 6 taking place in my neck of the woods, I took a short trip down the I-15 to visit the site where the racing would be taking place, the Lake Elsinore Motorsports Complex. With a freshly built track, these two rounds would be the first-ever short-course races held in Lake Elsinore.
The LOORRS is the latest short-course endeavor sponsored by Lucas Oil and a host of other major companies involved with the off-roading world, including Geico Powersports, General Tire, and E3 Spark Plugs. The series features 7 classes--Unlimited 4, Unlimited 2, Unlimited Lite, Super Lite, Unlimited Buggy, Limited Buggy, and Kart--and some of the biggest names in off-road racing today. A 2009 season schedule is available at the end.
While short course off-road racing is nothing new, its enthusiasts and promoters have been hard at work boosting its public profile. And the arrival of the LOORRS could not have come at a better time, considering the recent departure of the now-defunct Championship Off Road Racing series. When CORR went bankrupt late last year, it opened a lot of questions surrounding the future of short-course racing. The insertion of the LOORRS schedule not only keeps drivers in their rides, but opens another avenue where off-road enthusiasts can support their sport.
Rounds 5 and 6 have taken place this past Saturday and Sunday (June 27-28), but I made my visit on Friday, June 26, during the media/press event. The event featured speakers, an early look at the trucks during their practice sessions, and a ride-along.