E3 Spark Plugs News

Over the weekend, E3 spark plugs driver Rick Huseman dominated Rounds 9 & 10 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series at the famed Glen Helen Raceway short track in San Bernardino, CA. With long-time E3 driver, Kevin Probst, retiring from the series in 2010, E3 teamed this season with Monster Energy to sponsor the #36 Toyota of Huseman. The 14-year veteran of off-road racing responded with four straight wins to grab an early lead in the 2011 points series. Rick had dominated the 2010 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Pro-4 Championship with 10 wins in 15 rounds of racing.

After a poor performance in Rounds 7 & 8, the E3 Spark Plugs /Monster Engery team again proved that they have the truck to beat in the LOORRS’ Pro-4 Championship. Huseman, who began off road racing in the southern California desert with his brothers Danny and Kevin, posted a double win at Glen Helen event. In Saturday’s main event, Houseman finished 2.4 seconds ahead of long-time rival Carl Renezeder in the #17 Lucas Oil truck and the #11 of Adrian Cenni. Under the lights in Round 10, Huseman battled the #99 of Kyle Leduc to a 1.4 second win as the pair led Renezeder to checkers.

With back to back wins at Glen Helen, Houseman now stands nine points off the LOORRS Championship points lead for 2011. The E3 Spark Plugs race team will be busy preparing for Rounds 11 & 12 at Speed World Off Road Park in Surprise, Arizona, on September 24th and 25th.

Carl Renezeder and Kyle LeDuc dominated in the Round 6, Pro 2 and Pro 4 classes of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series presented by Geico Powersports and co-sponsored by E3 Spark Plugs.

If ever there was an epic short course race, it happened Sunday at the Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, CA. Round 6 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series presented by Geico Powersports and co-sponsored by E3 Spark Plugs had fans either on the edge of their seats, or out of their seats altogether – standing and cheering as Carl Renezeder and Kyle LeDuc battled it out in one of the most contentious races we’ve seen all season.

The Round 6 Pro 4 Unlimited started with Adrian Cenni in front, followed by LeDuc, Renezeder, Todd LeDuc and Rick Huseman following. Huseman spun out on lap two and Cenni exited the race by the end of lap three when his truck suddenly slowed. At the competition yellow, it was Kyle LeDuc, Renezeder, Huseman, Todd LeDuc, and Curt LeDuc in the top five and the leading three soon began to separate themselves from the rest of the pack and start a heated battle for the finish line. Of the three, it seemed Renezeder (who won both the Pro 4 and the Pro 2 in Round 5 the day before) and LeDuc who wanted that checkered flag most. The two ran neck-and-neck for the remainder of the race, each man making mistakes that momentarily him the lead, but catching up quickly. Finally, it was LeDuc who won by just a half-truck length ahead of Renezeder. Huseman, Todd LeDuc and Kent Brascho rounded out the top five.

“This was a great race because nobody was on the sidelines,” LeDuc said from the podium. “We were all up here battling, giving it everything.”

The Pro 2 Unlimited provided fireworks of its own. Renezeder again started on the front row alongside Brian Deegan, followed by Rodrigo Ampudia, Robby Woods and Greg Adler. By lap three, however, Adler had forced his way up the track to second place and, like a man possessed, was hot on Renezeder’s heels. Just after the restart, a nasty pileup claimed several would-be contenders and soon, the race was between Renezeder, Adler and Rob MacCachren who was making up time lost to an early spinout. Adler and MacCachren traded places a few times, but a broken driveshaft slowed MacCachren as he approached the finish line. Renezeder made it back-to-back Pro 2 wins with Adler finishing second and MacCachren third. Deegan had rebounded nicely from an earlier collision with Woods to take fourth place. Fifth went to Geiser.

E3 Spark Plugs congratulates all of the weekend’s winners. Next stop for the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series: Miller Motorsports Park in the Salt Lake City, UT suburb of Tooele for Rounds 7 and 8 raced on an all-new track June 25 and 26. See you there!

Round 5 of the 2011 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series paid tribute to the late Jeff "Ox" Kargola.

Round 5 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series presented by Geico and co-sponsored by E3 Spark Plugs got underway Saturday at the Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, California. Fans were loving the sunny springtime weather and the excitement got kicked up a notch with the presence of off-road legend and NASCAR star Robby Gordon competing in the weekend’s Pro 2 Unlimited field.

Before the engines revved, racers, staff and fans paid tribute to the late Jeff “Ox” Kargola, who passed away April 29 after sustaining a head injury on the second day of the Desert Assassins’ Rip to the Tip motocross event in Baja, CA. Kargola was among the rising stars of the series and is deeply missed.

In Saturday’s Pro 4, Rick Huseman was a marked man, having won the first four races. Sure enough, he bolted out front, followed closely by Adrian Cenni and all three LeDucs – Kyle, Todd and Curt. But, that didn’t last. Cenni ended up in the hot pits on lap six with an unknown issue. Todd LeDuc suffered a shredded left rear tire compliments of a determined Carl Renezeder.

When the green flag dropped after a competition yellow, Renezeder charged past Huseman. The on-track upset didn’t set well with Huseman, who over-jumped the tabletop into turn two of lap 14, planting his front bumper and nearly sidelining himself. The result was a broken shock that kept him from catching up with Renezeder, who gradually increased his lead all the way to the checkered flag. Huseman managed second place followed by Kent Brascho, Josh Merrell and Todd LeDuc.

The Pro 2 Unlimited provided some serious fireworks – literally. The race began with Renezeder and Robby Gordon starting side by side. Renezeder quickly took the lead with Gordon charging hard behind in the first lap, but pulled off the track and out of the race before completing the second lap. The race continued with two red flags for fires onboard Robby Woods’ and John Gaston’s machines. Robbie Pierce’s rollover in turn three brought full course caution. Flat tires for Brian Deegan and Rob Naughton, plus a scary-looking crash that involved Rodrigo Ampudia over-jumping into turn five and landing on Naughton’s side added to the suspense. When the dust and smoke cleared, it was Renezeder who held on for a clean sweep of the two big truck classes. Rob McCachren took second followed by Deegan, Ampudia and Naughton.

E3  Spark Plugs racing fans, be sure to check our next blog for Pro 4 and Pro 2 highlights from Round 6 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series.

Two rounds and the championship battle for the 2010 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series co-sponsored by E3 Spark Plugs remain, but many already are gearing up for next year’s racing schedule. Rounds 13 and 14 of this year’s season take place November 6 and 7 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and the season-ender championship race event happens December 11 and 12 for the season titles in all classes plus the Rockstar Energy/Lucas Oil Challenge Cup.

A shot from the 2010 Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series at Speedworld Off Road Park Sunday, September 26, 2010.

With the 2010 season coming to an end, officials announced the 2011 schedule, which closely mirrors 2010′s thus-far successful run. The 2010 lineup featured favored familiar venues and brought record crowds. The 15-round battle for the 2011 season championship begins and ends at the Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Arizona. Other stops between the March 12 start and the December 11 championship round include Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, CA; Speedworld Off Road Park in Surprise, AZ; and Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, UT.

“We have had the opportunity to establish some fantastic partnerships while building these unique, purpose built tracks,” says Series Director Tony Vanillo. “While we are making our 2011 plans now, it’s a great feeling to know that we are preparing to return to these tracks for the second and third year. This stability is fantastic for the sport.”

E3 Spark Plugs is proud to remain a co-sponsor of the Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series throughout 2011, along with MAVTV, Geico Powersports, Rockstar Energy Drink and others.

Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series – 2011 Schedule

• Round 1 – March 12 – Firebird International Raceway – Chandler, AZ.
• Round 2 – March 13 – Firebird International Raceway – Chandler, AZ.
• Round 3 – April 16 – Speedworld Off Road Park – Surprise, AZ.
• Round 4 – April 17 – Speedworld Off Road Park – Surprise, AZ.
• Round 5 – May 21 – Glen Helen Raceway – San Bernardino, CA.
• Round 6 – May 22 – Glen Helen Raceway – San Bernardino, CA.
• Round 7 – June 25 – Miller Motorsports Park – Tooele, Utah
• Round 8 – June 26 – Miller Motorsports Park – Tooele, Utah
• Round 9 – August 6 – Glen Helen Raceway – San Bernardino, CA.
• Round 10 – August 7 – Glen Helen Raceway – San Bernardino, CA.
• Round 11 – Sept. 24 – Speedworld Off Road Park – Surprise, AZ.
• Round 12 – Sept. 25 – Speedworld Off Road Park – Surprise, AZ.
• Round 13 – Nov. 5 – Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Las Vegas, NV.
• Round 14 – Nov. 6 – Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Las Vegas, NV.
• Round 15 – Dec. 10 – Firebird International Raceway – Chandler, AZ.
• Lucas Oil Challenge Cup – Dec. 11 – Firebird International Raceway -Chandler, AZ.

If you’re a Lucas Oil/E3 spark plugs racing fan, be sure to check back for race results and highlights throughout the rest of the 2010 season and the thrill-promising 2011 season.

For the second night in a row, the grandstands at the San Bernardino track were sold-out for the big dogs in the Pro 4 Unlimited Class as E3 Performance Spark Plugs racing fans packed the Glen Helen Raceway for Round 10 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing series. Eric Barron was starting on the front row in the LAT Racing Oil/KMC Wheels Chevrolet truck next to the #22 Hart & Huntington/Grenade Ford of Josh Merrell. Barron would take the early lead ahead of Saturday night’s runner up, Kyle LeDuc. As trucks bounced off each other through the rough rhythm section, Merrell would bring out a full-course yellow on lap three as his Hart & Huntington Ford ended up on its roof.

Pro 4 Unlimited driver Curt LeDuc took the time to pose for this Rockstar Energy Drink moment. At Glen Helen's rough short track, LeDuc flipped the #43 in turn three of Round 10 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Championship series. Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucasoil.

After the restart, the #99 truck of LeDuc would reclaim the point as a determined Carl Renezeder in #1 Lucas Oil/General Tire Ford began to work his way toward the front of the pack. The Traxxas/Monster Energy Toyota of series points leader Rick Huseman had moved into third behind LeDuc and Renezeder before the #31 truck of Mike Johnson spun the Monster Energy Toyota in turn four. Johnson’s aggressive driving would earn him a black flag sending the K&N Filters Ford truck to the rear of the field alongside a disappointed Huseman. After the restart, Renezeder in the #1 Lucas Oil Ford truck was quick to continue his battle with Kyle LeDuc for the lead.

On the penultimate lap of a second night of spectacular racing, Carl Renezeder would roll his #1 Lucas Oil/General Tires truck leaving local favorite Kyle LeDuc in the Makita/Toyo Tires Ford to take the win. Second place would go to a hard-charging Rick Huseman, who had worked his way through the pack after stopping to change a flat tire when Merrell rolled his truck on lap three. A well-deserved third place went to Kent Brascho in the B.F. Goodrich/Lucas Oil Chevrolet ahead of Mike Johnson’s K&N Filters Ford truck. Rounding out the top five was early race leader Eric Barron in the #3 LAT Racing Oil Chevrolet.

An unlucky Renezeder in the #1 Lucas Oil Ford recorded the fastest lap of the race and was the only driver to break the 45-second barrier on the extremely rough Glen Helen short course. The Lucas Oil Off Road Racing teams have a few weeks off to regroup before heading to Speed World Off Road Park in Surprise, Arizona, for Rounds 11 and 12 on September 25-26. Only five championship rounds remain before Pro 4 Unlimited drivers compete for the 2010 Lucas Oil Off Road Challenge Cup scheduled for December 12 at Firebird Raceway in Phoenix, AZ. If you are looking for championship performance, insist on E3 Truck Spark Plugs for your truck.

As the final group of trucks pulled out of the pits for the Lucas Oil Off Road Truck Championship at Glen Helen Raceway, a sold-out crowd were on their feet for the start of the very popular Pro 2 Unlimited class. Round 10 saw the MasterCraft/Rockstar Ford of Robbie Pierce starting on the front row alongside the E3 Spark Plugs Racing truck of multi-time champion Kevin Probst. This was the best starting position of the season for the #9 Chevrolet of Probst who has been plagued with gremlins and mechanical woes throughout 2010.

E3 Spark Plug's Kevin Probst put his #9 Chevrolet truck on the front row for Round 10 of the Lucas Oil Off Road championship series event at Glen Helen Raceway outside San Bernardino, CA. Photo courtesy of Lucas Oil Racing http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucasoil.

Robbie Pierce would grab an early lead but lots of lap-one action and a very rough track would leave the MasterCraft/Rockstar Ford on its roof in the track’s rhythm section bringing out a red flag. Emergency workers attended to Pierce who was visibly shaken after his spectacular flip and was taken to a local hospital for precaution. The Canidae Chevrolet of Jeff Geiser grabbed the lead on the restart but points leader Rob MacCachren wasted no time in working past Geiser. When the mandatory competition yellow flew, it was MacCachren, Ricky Johnson, Bryce Menzies, Carl Renezeder, and Geiser in first through fifth.

The #7 Bully Dog Ford truck of Menzies got by Johnson on the restart when the former AMA motocross champion pulled his Traxxas/Red Bull Ford off track with a mechanical failure. Johnson’s retirement would be the sign of things to come as trucks were crashing and breaking all the way around the rough San Bernardino track. In fact, Menzies would pull off just before the white flag leaving only six trucks to finish the full 20-lap race distance. Renezeder took second behind MacCrachren, with Greg Adler in third and Rogero Ampudia in fourth.

The E3 Spark Plugs racing team has a few weeks off to regroup before heading to the Speed World Off Road Park in Surprise, Arizona, for Rounds 11 and 12 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing series on September 25-26. There are only five championship rounds remaining before drivers compete for the 2010 Lucas Oil Off Road Challenge Cup scheduled for December 12 at Firebird Raceway in Phoenix, AZ. If you are looking for championship performance from your truck, insist on E3 Truck Spark Plugs. Our patented DiamondFire technology delivers the Energy, Efficiency and Ecology both on and off road.

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The E3 Spark Plugs Racing fans turned out in record numbers for Round 9 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Truck National Championship at Glen Helen Raceway. Located at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains in Southern California, Glen Helen Raceway has hosted some of the best off road races in history in both two-wheel and four-wheel categories. This year was no exception as sold-out crowds watched the best drivers in the world end up on their roof trying to find the fastest lines around one of the roughest tracks on the national circuit.

Josh Merrell thought he was racing down under when the #22 Hart and Huntington Ford took a tumble in front of a sold-out crowd at Glen Helen Raceway. Photo courtesy of Lucas Oil Racing http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucasoil/

As the truly standing room crowd awaited the start of the Pro 4 Unlimited class, the top two qualifiers, Rick Huseman and Carl Renezeder, were sent to the back row having missed the mandatory driver’s meeting early in the day. That would put the #99 Rockstar/Circle K Ford truck of Kyle LeDuc on the front row alongside Adrian Cenni in the #11 BF Goodrich Tires Chevrolet. LeDuc took an early lead as the Traxxas/Monster Energy Toyota of Huseman was heading to the front.

Renezeder would bring out a full course caution after putting his #1 Lucas Oil/General Tire Ford on its side after the un-rhythm section before turn three. On the restart, local fan favorite Huseman charged to third place behind LeDuc and Cenni. He would later get by Cenni and took advantage of a LeDuc mistake that saw the Rockstar Ford truck land on all four after rolling over in the deep ruts. LeDuc would rally late to pressure the Toyota truck of Huseman for the lead but Huseman would claim his seventh victory in nine races. LeDuc held on for second ahead of Cenni in third.

If you are looking for peak performance from your truck, insist upon E3 truck spark plugs for the road or the track. E3 plugs are the only spark plugs named by the Environmental Protection Agency as an eco-friendly device. The E3 technology offers a clear advantage in Hydrocarbon and Carbon emissions control while at the same time improving your truck’s power and fuel economy. E3 spark plugs burn fuel more completely in the cylinder and put less pollution into the air. Let our patented DiamondFire Technology deliver the Energy, Efficiency and Ecology that you need.

As you pulled through the gates at Glen Helen Raceway for Round 9 of the 2010 Lucas Oil Off Road National Championship, you just knew there was going to be fireworks. First, the Southern California fans always pack the house for any off-road motorcycle and truck event. Second, there is the fierce rivalry for the points chase in a bunch of classes, and nobody ever knows what’s going to happen under the lights at Glen Helen. Third, you have one of the most challenging short courses that changes its demeanor every lap. Finally, the raceway nestled in the basin of the San Bernardino National Forest is known for putting on spectacular fireworks displays for the fans.

Stronghold Motorsports/Readylift veteran off-road racer Marty Hart claimed his third victory of the 2010 at the famed Glen Helen Raceway to take a 3-point lead in the Lucas Oil Off Road National Championship series. Photo courtesy of Stronghold Motorsports racing team. http://www.strongholdmotorsports.com/

Veteran off-road racer Marty Hart grabbed the early lead in the Pro Lite Unlimited Class over Sean Geiser. Geiser was of one the first of many drivers to end up on the roof and Rockstar Energy/Metal Mulisha driver Brian Deegan slipped by for second place. Deegan had set fast time in qualifying but started in Row 2 after an inverted start. The 12-time X-Games medalist wasted no time in running Hart down. The series points leader Chris Brandt, in the #82 BFGoodrich Tires/Lucas Oil Toyota, would have troubles of his own and relinquished 3rd place to Matt Loiodice when he pulled off with a couple of laps to go.

Deegan was pestering Hart by diving inside then going outside as the pair raced every corner like it was the last lap of the race. Finally, Deegan got too wide and ended up rim riding his truck around the wall in Turn Two. Hart would still have to hold off the hard charging Deegan but the veteran off roader put his Stronghold Motorsports/Lamb Energy Drink truck in the winner’s circle for the third time during the 2010 season. The win was Hart’s sixth podium and gave him a three-point lead over Brandt and Deegan. If you are looking for fireworks from your truck, insist on E3 truck spark plugs with the patented DiamondFire technology. E3 spark plugs provide you with the Energy, Efficiency and Ecology that you need.

The E3 Spark Plugs Racing team pulled through the gates at Glen Helen Raceway with high hopes for Round 9 of the 2010 Lucas Oil Off Road National Championship series, but so did every other team. It is always great fun to race in front of a packed house and the promoters at the San Bernardino track know how to put on a spectacular show for the Southern California race fans. Unfortunately for the racers, they have to endure three days of qualifying and racing on one of the roughest short tracks on the off road circuit. This year was no exception as several drivers in each class would find their truck upside down, over the berm or rim riding the walls.

The #7 Bully Dog/Super Clean Ford truck of Bryce Menzies was fast under the lights at Glen Helen Raceway finishing in second place of the Pro 2 Unlimited class for Round 9 of the 2010 Lucas Oil Off Road National Championship. Photo courtesy of Luca Oil Racing http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucasoil/.

Pro 2 Unlimited points leader Rob MacCachren would start the race from inside row 2 in his #21 Rockstar/Fox Racing Shox Ford. Pole sitter, Greg Alder would take an early lead in his 4 Wheel Parts/BFGoodrich Tires Ford just ahead of the Bully Dog/Super Clean Ford of Bryce Menzies. By the end of lap one, MacCachren moved to the front with Alder running just ahead of a hard charging Carl Renezeder who had slipped by Menzies. Renezeder attacked the Rhythm Section into turn three but could not get his Lucas Oil/General Tire Ford stopped and put Alder on his roof bringing out a red flag. Officials would black flag Renezeder sending his truck to the rear of the field for the restart.

Stronghold Motorsports rookie driver Robert “Fig” Naughton would move to second place for the restart ahead of the Bully Dog entry of Menzie in the 3rd place. Miller Motorsports Park winner Rodrico Ampudia would restart in fourth. Ampudia found a burst of speed and rocketed to the front, picking off Menzies and Naughton in the space of two turns. After a mandatory competition yellow, MacCachren made a rare mistake as he nearly spun in turn three. Ampudia was set to strike, but as the Pro 2 Unlimited field piled into the corner, Ampudia was spun around and ended up off the track. Naughton would again take over second place ahead of Menzies and the Red Bull/KMC Wheels Ford of Ricky Johnson.

Todd LeDuc got together with Naughton a couple of turns after the restart taking both trucks off track. The Bully Dog truck of Menzies would reclaim second place with Red Bull/KMC racer Ricky Johnson up to third. MacCachren would take the win in his Fox Racing Shox Ford, his fifth of the season and his eighth podium in nine races. Byrce Menzies would finish in second just ahead of former AMA motocross champion Ricky Johnson. Canidae Pet Foods/Geiser Bros. driver Jeff Geiser would finish fourth with Mike Johnson (no relation to Ricky) in fifth. If you expect peak performance from your truck, insist upon E3 truck spark plugs before you go off road. Our DiamondFire Technology delivers Energy, Efficiency and Ecology.

Picturesque views and lots of action-packed off-road racing greeted fans over the weekend as Miller Motorsports Park hosted Round 7 and Round 8 of the 2010 Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series. This was the first year the off-road vehicles raced in the salt desert just west of Salt Lake City near Tooele, Utah. In Saturday’s Pro2 Unlimited class final, Lucas Oil/Tecate Ford driver Rodrigo Ampudia claimed his first ever series win and, on Sunday, E3 Truck Spark Plugs driver Kevin Probst posted a solid seventh-place finish in the Pro2 final for Round 8 of the championship.

Pro2 Unlimited driver Carl Renezeder rebounded to finish 3rd in Sunday's feature event after taking a spectacular end-over-end tumble in the Lucas Oil offroad truck on Saturday at Miller Motorsports Park outside Tooele, Utah. Photo courtesy of www.teamrenezeder.com.

Rockstar Makita’s Todd Leduc finished second to Ampudia in Round 7 of the Pro2 Unlimited off-road trucks class just ahead of former NORBA pro downhill mountain bike racer Robert Naughton. In Sunday’s final event, Leduc would again finish in the runner’s up position this time behind series points leader Rob MacCachren. AMA multi-time national MX champion Ricky Johnson brought his Red Bull truck home in third but was later disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct. Johnson’s indiscretions moved Carl Renezeder to third overall. Good luck came late in the weekend for Renezeder who flipped his Lucas Oil-sponsored truck end-over-end in Saturday’s feature.

In the Pro Lite Unlimited class on Saturday, Hart & Huntington/Rockstar truck driver Chris Brandt took the checkers ahead of Monster Energy’s veteran ace Marty Hart with Jimmy Stephensen, Jacob Person and Adam Wik rounding out the top five. On Sunday, Hart claimed the win in a battle with former X-Games freestyle gold medalist Brian Deegan. Jacob Person and Adam Wik moved up one spot each from Saturday’s round finishing third and fourth respectively. Brandt could only manage a sixth place overall in Round 8 behind Anthony Verdone.

The E3 Spark Plugs team of Kevin Probst heads to San Bernandino, California, for Round 9 and Round 10 of the Lucas Oil Off-Road Truck Series on August 7 & 8. The popular Glen Helen Raceway is always a favorite of diehard off road racing fans. Whether you’re cruising across town or testing your skills in the salt desert, E3 Car Spark Plugs with our patented DiamondFire technology offer you energy, efficiency and ecology for your ride. Remember to bookmark our website and check often for the latest results from the Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series.