Gavin Harlien Earns ProLite Rookie of the Year and Ends 2014 LOORRS Season with Challenge Cup Podium
October 30th, 2014 (Mesa, Arizona) – Gavin Harlien has consistently proven that he is a natural born athlete and an extreme apex competitor in any challenge. As the driver of Harlien Racing’s #55 Ford Raptor ProLite in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, Gavin has demonstrated himself to be the most regularly highest finishing new racer in the division which has earned him the 2014 Rookie of the Year Title.
With less than a full season under his belt, and during the flagship event of the 2014 season; the Lucas Oil Challenge Cup, Gavin removed any doubt of his driving talent and caught the attention of a packed house at Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park. Harlien would take the lead right near the start of the race on lap 2 and would fight off a 23-truck field of the world’s best ProLite Racers for 95% of the 15 lap event. Gavin held the lead position until the second to last turn on the final lap when 2014 TORC Champion Jerrett Brooks, who was on a three race winning streak, made a daring charge inside slamming doors to take point for the victory. Harlien maintained composure and raced the #55 ProLite past the cheering grandstands and across the checkers for a 2nd place podium; his highest finish for the year.
Gavin was all smiles in victory lane as he was being interviewed by CBS Sports Network Anchor Erin Bates. “What a race! This was an amazing finish to the 2014 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series. I was working hard for that victory but I am very pleased with a 2nd Place finish in the Lucas Oil Challenge Cup. To top everything off we have secured the 2014 ProLite Rookie of the Year Award! All the effort has really paid off. I have to recognize and thank all our sponsors for their support. A3 Energy Bar, GoPro Cameras, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels, FOX Racing Shox, Cali's Finest Clothing, Ironclad Performance Wear, Slick Products, Freestyle Watches, Smith Optics, Lucas Oil Products, Simpson Race Products, and Team Associated. Without their part in Harlien Racing, we would not be here.”
Gavin Harlien’s race resume boasts 26 Podiums in his short but growing career that has spanned less than four years as a competing racer. Gavin is a graduate of the very prominent 2012 Modified Kart Class when he earned his first Rookie of the Year title. It should be noted that this same group of former “Mod Kart” graduates are now earning some of the sports highest honors. Sheldon Creed is now a 9x Short Course Champion. Jerrett Brooks is the 2014 TORC ProLite Champion. Bradley Morris is the 2012 LOORRS ProLite Rookie of the Year. Mitchell Dejong is the 2012 TORC ProBuggy Champion and will likely earn the Red Bull Global Rally Cross Lites Championship in 2014. These racers have many more years of experience when compared to Harlien; however Gavin is not far behind. As the newly acclaimed 2014 LOORRS ProLite Rookie of the Year, Gavin Harlien can now place his own name in the history books alongside these competitors.
Gavin’s 2014 racing accolades include LOORRS ProLite Rookie of the Year, a 2nd place finish in the Lucas Oil Challenge Cup, racing to two Top 5 finishes in Robby Gordon’s Formula Off Road Stadium Super Trucks, earning ten Top 10 finishes, competing in the Summer X-Games Austin Texas, being a featured driver in X-Games GoPro Course Preview seen by almost 1,000,000 viewers, finishing 4th in his first ever Formula Off Road event at St. Petersburg, FL, being a featured driver in Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series special vignette piece which aired on CBS Sports Network, being featured in three commercials which included Travis Pastrana & Jeremy McGrath and aired during live telecasts of the 2014 Summer X-Games and Lucas Oil Motocross series, and increasing social media by over 50K new followers .
Gavin’s next stop will be in Las Vegas to participate in the Formula Off Road Racing and live exhibition demonstrations all next week during the SEMA international automotive trade show.
