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“The General” Brian Deegan started the 2011 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series with a strong weekend. The 2010 Lucas Oil Driver of the Year leads the field in points after the first two rounds in the Pro 2 Unlimited Class. Deegan began Saturday with an assertive win in round one of the Pro Lite Unlimited class at the Firebird Raceway in Phoenix, AZ. Deegan held the lead throughout the race with Brandt and Stephensen battling for second and third respectively.
Saturday’s Pro 2 Unlimited class was more of a battle, Deegan got into it with MacCachren on the last lap as they came together when Deegan made the pass three turns from the finish line. In the next turn Deegan’s truck was hit from the rear by MacCachren, causing Deegan’s truck to spin out. Deegan ultimately took his truck to the finish line in the fifth spot. After the race, MacCachren was given a black flag penalty for his collision with Deegan in turn four, costing him a 1 lap penalty.
“It was an exciting race for me to be battling with a guy like MacCachren. its too bad how the day ended up, but things should be all good between us moving forward,” said Deegan.
Sunday’s Pro Lite Unlimited race started off strong for Deegan who shot off the start and led early on until he had some mechanical problems causing him to drop off the pace and nurse the truck home for an 11th place finish. Later that day in the Pro 2 Unlimited Race Deegan took the early lead of the start ahead of Saturday’s winner Bryce Menzie. Deegan led the first 17 laps this time only to suffer handling problems the last 3 laps. Deegan managed to secure a 3rd place finish and his first podium appearance in just his third career race in the Pro 2 class. For the weekend, Deegan led the most laps on Saturday and Sunday of all the drivers totaling 26 laps.
“We came in on Saturday and started the season off completely dominant in the Pro Lite, setting the pace, and winning by a large margin,” said Deegan after the weekend. “On Sunday I was on my way to do the same thing, and had some technical problems with the truck. In the end, I chose to get the truck around the track to savage points, with the end goal being the championship.”
Deegan announced he would donate his winnings from the 2011 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, “In the end we were able to raise funds for the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, it was a positive weekend,” said Deegan.
Jeff “Ox” Kargola has had a great couple of weeks as he’s coming off a win at the San Felipe 250 and set direction to race him Super Lite in Round 1 & 2 for the Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series in Arizona. Besides from the “shuffling” of cars on the start, OX managed to battle his way and pull up with the rest of the pack in the front. On the restart at the halfway point, Jeff “Ox” Kargola took the lead and never looked back, as he was able to keep his truck hooked up and in control to stay in front! CONGRATS to OX & 1st place podium finish.
“I think I really owe this win to the General Tire Grabbers and the Method Wheels,” he said. “The combo seems to be really working perfectly out here. It’s kind of slick for everyone else, but I’m grabbing, hooking up and taking it away.”
In Pro Buggy Unlimited with the man himself Justin “Bean” Smith, a tight battled ensued at the front of the pack for much of the race. Doug Fortin held the lead for much of the race, fighting off another veteran in Jerry Whelchel as well as Justin “Bean” Smith, who won the championship in the Limited Buggy class last year. Davis was forced to pull off near the end of the race with mechanical issues and was unable to continue. Smith was able to hold on for second place in his first race since stepping up from Limited Buggy.
“I didn’t know what to expect stepping up next to these competitors, but to be on the box the first time out I’m pretty excited about it,” Smith said. “We tried to stay away from the trouble, and there was a little bit in front of us and it helped us out a little bit maybe, but I’ll take it.”
Congrats to the Metal Mulisha team for there great weekend of racing. Rounds 3 and 4 of Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing takes place in Surprise, Arizona on April 16th and 17th.
