E3 Spark Plugs News

Kyle LeDuc (center) swept the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series season opener this past weekend, with Adrian Cenni and brother Todd LeDuc taking second and third places.

This past weekend marked the season opening of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series at the Firebird International Speedway in Chandler, Arizona, sponsored in part by E3 Spark Plugs. When the dirt settled, it was Kyle Leduc who took the top podium position, opening the 2012 season in grand style.

Driving for Team Associated, LeDuc came out of the gate throwing blows in Round 1 on Saturday, handily taking the checkered flag and nabbing the N-Fab Fastest Lap award. Adrian Cenni and brother Todd LeDuc took second and third place.

LeDuc continued his merciless on-track rein the next day, snatching up the top qualifying spot and the second row starting spot once an inversion was pulled in Sunday’s Round 2. During the race, he again battled it out with Cenni, at one point eyeballing nothin’ but track dirt out his side window. The podium was a repeat of the day before, with LeDuc loud and proud in first place, Cenni and Todd LeDuc in second and third again. Kyle ended the weekend with a double win and double N-Fab Fastest Lap bragging rights.

Marty Hart, Rob MacCachren and Leduc teammate Robby Woods took the top three spots, respectively, in the Pro-2 class. Team Associated’s Carl Renezeder nabbed the N-Fab Fastest Lap award, but that would be the highlight of his day. Mechanical issues sidelined him afterward.

Twenty-eight trucks took to the track in the Pro-Lite class, setting a record for the class’ largest field to date. Mud flew, metal crunched and smoke billowed. When the chaos cleared and the checkered flag dropped, it was R.J. Anderson, Chris Brandt and Cassie Currie took the podium spots.

Next stop for the LOORRS is the new Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Complex in Lake Elsinore, California April 21-22. E3 Spark Plugs, makers of the patented DiamondFire racing spark plugs, congratulates the season’s first winners and looks forward to the next track battle.

Round 13 of the Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series presented by Geico Powersports and co-sponsored by E3 Spark Plugs was a thrill-a-minute for fans, racers and one very special kid. In the midst of all the hard-fought competition on the tracks, 15-year-old Baydon Yundt enjoyed the experience of a lifetime thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a nonprofit organization that grants the wishes of kids with life-threatening medical conditions. Yundt’s wish was to meet X-Games champ and Metal Mulisha founder Brian Deegan. Not only did he get to meet Deegan, who raced in the Pro Lite Unlimited, but Deegan agreed to give Yount a ride-along on Friday. And it was Yundt who waved the green flag in both of the weekend’s Pro Lite Unlimited Races while his family enjoyed the view from the Lucas Oil VIP area and went back home to Monkton, Ontario, Canada with a bountiful booty of Metal Mulisha gear. E3 Spark Plugs gives props to Deegan and best wishes to Yundt and his family.

The full day of races proved a great one for racing. Blue skies, sunshine and a light breeze made it a comfortable one for all and the racers were on top of their game. The Pro 4 Unlimited provided particularly exciting, opening with a Jumbo Tron video production of “Deegan vs. Deegan.” The race began with Kyle LeDuc, Mike Johnson, defending points champion Carl Renezeder and Adrian Cenni leading, respectively. But that lineup got significantly shuffled by lap three with Johnson hitting the leading edge of the outside K rail and dropping to last place in turn one and Renezeder falling to last with a half spin in turn four. Cenni rolled his truck in turn four, prompting a full course yellow, but quickly re-fired his truck and got back onto the tracks. Shortly after, LeDuc’s rear suspension broke as he landed off a jump out of turn one, sidelining him for the rest of the day. When the smoke and dust cleared, it was Rick Huseman who crossed the finish line first, bumping him up to a total of 631 points and a 77-point lead for the season championship.

The Pro Lite Unlimited provided some on-track fireworks as well with a panel-crushing train of contact involving Marty Hart, Matt Loiodice, Jimmy Stephensen, Corey Sisler and Chris Brandt followed by a rollover in turn four by Loiodice. The last lap of the race was a battle between hart and Brian Deegan, but it was Deegan who was ahead at turn six when racers were forced in line while track officials cleared Aaron Daugherty’s rollover. The race ended under yellow with Deegan taking the win. Hart finished second, but closed the margin to points leader Brandt from 17 points to nine points with Deegan 30 points out and Loiodice 10 behind.

Visit LucasOilOffRoad.com for full results and check the E3 Spark Plugs blog for a recap of Round 14 coming soon.

When the Pro Lite Unlimited class rolled on to the track for Round 11 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Truck championship, E3 Performance Spark Plug fans assumed the #15 Stronghold Motorsports/Maxxis Tires Ford truck of Marty Hart would check out. After all, the series points leader was starting on the front row at Surprise, AZ, next to the Wik’s Racing Engines #11 Chevrolet truck of Adam Wik. But, lap one chaos was waiting for the field of trucks in turn four and a red flag flew stopping the race before Hart could complete a lap.

Pro Lite Unlimited winner Chris Brandt held off a last-lap charge in his Toyota truck at Round 11 of the Lucas Oil Off Road championship in Surprise, AZ. Photo courtesy of Lucas Oil, http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucasoil/

Not to be denied, Hart grabbed the lead on the restart and started to pull away from Wik in second. The #82 mavTV/Lucas Oil Toyota of Chris Brandt slipped by the Nissan truck of Jimmy Stephensen to take over third place. Just as Hart had built a comfortable lead over Brandt who was now running in second and Stephensen in third, his Ford engine started to smoke. By the time the competition yellow flew, Hart’s motor was losing spark. With Hart sidelined by mechanical failure, all eyes turned to watch the restart between Brandt and Stephensen.

When the green flag flew, Brandt would get the better of Stephensen to take the point. Later, Stephensen would out brake Brandt in turn four to take the lead but Brandt quickly reclaimed the top spot. Wik pitted with a flat tire on the last lap. Brandt continued to hold off the hard charging Stephensen at the checkered flag. Third place went to Matt Loiodice in the MasterCraft Safety/Jimco Ford truck. If you want winning performance from your truck spark plugs, insist on E3 Spark Plugs for your car, truck or motorcycle.

Record crowds packed the grandstands at the legendary Glen Helen short track for Round 9 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Truck series. Over the past two decades, E3 Spark Plugs Racing fans have made annual treks to San Bernardino to watch some of the world’s best truck and motorcycle off road racing. This year was no exception when the Pro Lite Unlimited trucks pulled on track for the penultimate race of the evening. Front row starters Sean Geiser in the ReadyLift/Bully Dog truck and FNTech/Makita’s John Beyer had a sold-out crowd on their feet for the green flag.

A sold-out grandstand at Glen Helen Raceway stayed on their feet for the duration of the night when the Lucas Oil Off Road Truck Championship Racing Series visited the San Bernardino track for Round 10 of the 2010 season. Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucasoil

At the end of lap one, the Toyota trucks of Geiser and Beyer were running first and second. Last night’s winner Marty Hart in the #15 Lucas Oil/LAMB Energy Ford was in third place just ahead of the MasterCraft Safety/B.F. Goodrich Ford of Matt Loiodice. The Nissan truck of Life Gear/Motul driver Javier Sacio moved to the fifth spot but was soon under fire from the #82 Hart & Huntington/mavTV Toyota of Chris Brandt. Hart wasted little time getting by Beyer to take over second place and Brandt disposed of Sacio as a full course caution flew for the burning truck of Corey Sisler.

At the restart, Geiser brushed the wall with his Bully Dog Toyota causing him to roll over on the outside of turn two. This brought out the second full course caution of the night. Track workers quickly rolled Geiser’s truck back to its wheels dropping the pole sitter to the back of the pack. When the green flag flew, Brandt moved his Hart & Huntington/mavTV Toyota up to third. At the competition yellow, Hart was up front, with Loiodice running in second, Brandt was third, Adam Wik had moved the #11 LAT Racing Oil/King Shocks Chevrolet to fourth, and Beyer rounded out the top five.

Loiodice would spin to the inside of turn one allowing Brandt to take the white flag in second. On the final lap, Brandt got a great run out of turn four and going into turn five pulled alongside Hart. The duo drag raced the final stretch of the very rough Glen Helen track with Brandt nearly taking Hart at the line. Hart had just enough of an edge to hold on for the win ahead of Brandt, Beyer, Wik and Aaron Daugherty. If you’re looking for the winning edge, insist upon E3 performance spark plugs for your favorite ride. Our patented DiamondFire technology will give your car, truck or motorcycle 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.

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.

Hope all of our truck racing fans caught Speed Channel’s coverage of last month’s Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series. Strong winds and a slick track sent teams scrambling as everyone searched for traction in the Las Vegas desert. Whether you’re cruising’ the “Strip” or testing your skills off the pavement, E3 Truck Spark Plugs with our patented DiamondFire technology offer you energy, efficiency and ecology for your favorite ride. Remember to bookmark our website and check often for the latest information about advancements in truck and car spark plugs.

Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series – Round Five

The Pro2 Unlimited Class of the E3 Spark Plugs Off-Road National, saw Todd Leduc in his Toyo Tires/Jagermeister Ford truck take an early race lead over fast qualifier Rob MacCachren and Rodrigo Ampudia runing second and third, respectively. Red Bull’s Ricky Johnson finished the day two laps down with a disappointing end to his attempt at winning his third Lucas Oil event in a row at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Johnson clipped the outside wall on the opening lap and quickly found himself sidelined with mechanical problems. Once MacCachren got around Leduc, there was no looking back as his Ford truck outpaced the field to the checkered flag.

Lucas Oil/Tecate Ford driver Rodrigo Ampudia had a series high 2nd overall finish with a last lap, last jump pass on Leduc who was nursing his Ford truck home in third place with a bad transmission. Veteran racer Jeff Ward had a steady drive through the pack in his Speed Technologies/Goodyear Tires truck and gave Chevrolet a fourth overall finish on the day. The 4 Wheel Parts/Magnaflow Exhaust Ford of Greg Adler is “Leaving Las Vegas” with fifth place points from Round Five. The win at Las Vegas gave MacCachren a commanding 36-point lead over off-road truck series rival Ricky Johnson.

In the Pro Lite class of the Lucas Oil Off-Road Truck series from Las Vegas Motor Speedway, veteran racer Marty Hart grabbed the lead when inverted pole-sitter Adam Wik rolled his truck in turn one after the start. Wik landed on all fours but Jacob Person and defending class champion Brian Deegan slipped by for second and third behind Hart. When Rockstar/Metal Mulisha’s Deegan tried to pass Person’s Geiser Bros Ford, contact would leave Deegan sidelined with mechanical woes and out of the points. Later in the race, Matt Loiodice and Person would tangle allowing Adam Wik to recover from his lap one rollover and finish second overall on the day.

Kevin Probst #9 R/C Race Truck

Got a little race fan in the family? Look for a new toy truck just like the one racer Kevin Probst takes on the tracks.

E3 Racing Spark Plugs driver Kevin Probst had a disappointing seventeenth place in Round Five of the Pro 2 class finishing 11 laps down after getting caught up in another truck’s crash. The E3 race team would rebound the next day for a 6th place overall finish in Round 6. A little something for the youngest race fans: Over the weekend, Probst Motorsports announced two new partnerships with X-Factory R/C Cars and BC1 Graphics to create and market a toy truck just like the one he races. The Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series heads to Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah, for rounds 7 and 8 next weekend. Best of luck to Kevin and the rest of the E3 truck racing team. Catch all the action from Salt Lake City on June 26 & 27.