What a difference a race makes! After the new Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series presented by Geico Powersports kicked off with its series opener in Primm, NV, the best short course off-road racers in the world re-dawned their suits and helmets for the series’ second weekend of racing here at the Speedworld Motorsports Complex in Surprise, AZ. After an impressive opening weekend in Primm, it seems the lure of thundering engines and flying mud has drawn many more short course racers into the fray. Short course racing is back in force, and this weekend’s action kicked off with qualifying this afternoon.
                                                                                                                            
Unlimited 2
The drivers came thundering out of the blocks in Unlimited 2, and with all the drivers on the course at the same time, the action was less like a qualifying session and more like a full-on race! The fastest four qualifiers all posted their best times within the first two of their five allowed laps, with Greg Adler in the #10  4 Wheel Parts Ford taking a surprising pole with a time of 57.120 seconds. Just behind Adler was another surprise, the #7 Super Clean Ford of Bryce Menzies, who returned to Unlimited 2 competition for the first time this year. With a time of 57.214, Menzies should be one to watch as he gets rolling this season. Rodrigo Ampudia took third with a time of 57.459 in his #36 Papas and Beer Ford, followed by Carl Renezeder in his #17 Lucas Oil Ford, with a time of 57.848. Rounding out the top five was Jerry Whelchel in his #2 Dragonfire Racing Ford, with a time of 58.050. With the top five drivers covered by under one second, and the top 13 by under three seconds, the Unlimited 2 action should be fantastic tomorrow afternoon.

Unlimited 4
Unlimited 4 had surprises of its own. Here, all the drivers set their best times in the final two of their allowed five laps, and it was Travis Coyne in the #5 Pro Comp Ford taking the top time in 58.101 seconds. Carl Renezeder took a close second in 58.247 seconds driving his #1 General Tires Ford. Third was a rapidly-improving Alan Pflueger in his K&N Filters Chevy, with a time of 59.997, followed by Jerry Daugherty in his #23 Racin’ Dirty Chevy and the #8 Chevy of Kent Brascho. Daugherty and Brascho clocked in with times of 60.867 and 61.566, respectively.

Unlimited Lite
Robert Naughton continued his domination of the Unlimited Lite division with yet another run to pole position here in Surprise. Naughton took his #54 Maxxis Tires Ford to the top spot in a time of 61.321 seconds. Nipping at Naughton’s heels was Chris Brandt, who took second in 61.378 seconds driving his #82 Geico Powersports Toyota. Heath Carpenter’s Goodyear Tires-shod Ford was a surprising third quick in 62.288, while teammates Todd Cuffaro and Brian Deegan rounded out the top five in their Rockstar Energy Drink trucks, with times of 62.517 and 62.853, respectively.

Super Lite
It was a father-son one-two at the end of qualifying in the Bully Dog Super Lite division. John Harrah took top honors, while son Johnny took second, with times of 69.076 and 70.347 seconds. Third was Jason Patison in 70.780, followed by Brandon Bailey in 71.601 and David Reyes in 71.912.

Unlimited Buggy
After leading Unlimited Buggy qualifying for nearly the entire qualifying session, the #900 Redline Performance AlumiCraft was pipped by a resurgent Greg George, who took pole position in his fifth and final qualifying lap after being the last driver on track. George’s #933 Funco Motorsports buggy took top time in 59.601 seconds, ahead of the Porter’s 59.959. Third was the #957 of round 2 winner Chuck Cheek, whose CMI AlumiCraft rounded the course in 60.278. Fourth went to the #901 Foddrill Motorsports Toyota of Larry Foddrill in 60.601, and Porter’s #944 sister car of Joe Morgan was an impressive fifth in 61.136.

Limited Buggy
In the closest battle of the day, first through fourth positions in the Limited Buggy ranks were separated by less than two tenths of a second! First-time polesitter Kyle Quinn took top honors in 67.797 seconds, followed by round 1 and 2 winner Curt Geer, whose Lothringer rounded a lap in 67.843. Third was Bruce Fraley in 67.911, fourth was Eric Greener in 67.969, and fifth was Sean Geiser in 68.601.

UTV
The final class of the day to qualify was the UTV class. Chad George kept pole positions in the family by taking top spot in his #624 Kawasaki, with a time of 67.019. Second was Robert Vanbeekum in 67.513, third was Tyler Winbury in 67.930, fourth was Todd Romano in 68.746, and Jacob Person rounded out the top five in 71.664.