The Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS) season came to a close last weekend at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Arizona. The grandstands were packed as fans watched Kyle LeDuc dominate the Pro4 Unlimited field in his No. 99 Rockstar Energy Drink / Makita Tools F-150. Kyle had qualified first and ran away from the competition early and never looked back, setting the fast lap in the process. Meanwhile, Kyle’s brother Todd was battling with rally driver Liam Doran for fourth place for much of the race, with both trucks shedding their body panels in the process. Todd won the battle with Doran and finished just off the podium. Todd finished third in season points in the No. 4 Rockstar Energy Drink / Makita Tools Ford and took home Rookie of the Year honors for the class in the pr ocess. Kyle LeDuc finished just in front of his brother for second place this season, while his six Pro4 Unlimited victories were more than any other driver in 2011. Father Curt LeDuc battled the flu in addition to his competitors, finishing seventh on Saturday in his No. 43 Makita Tools / TRUXXX Lift and Level Ford and eighth for the season out of 18 drivers in Pro4 Unlimited.
Last year Kyle LeDuc cleaned up at the end of the 2010 LOORRS season, winning both the Super Lite and Pro2 Unlimited versus Pro4 Unlimited cup races to take home over $40,000. This year Kyle was hoping to take home the $15,000 prize in the Pro Lite Unlimited versus Pro Buggy cup race. Kyle qualified second in Pro Lite Unlimited on Friday and set the fast lap on Saturday on his way to a second place finish for the final round of regular season racing, so it was clear that he had the speed necessary to win to the cup. Kyle passed all of the competition in his No. 99 ROCKSTAR Energy Drink / Toyo Tires Pro Lite and had gapped the field by the mandatory caution, but after 28 vehicles were bunched up, hard contact from behind damaged Kyle’s suspension, causing him to roll on Lap 18 and ending his day in Pro Lite Unlimited.
In the Pro2 Unlimited versus Pro4 Unlimited main event, Kyle was once again to repeat his win from last year and bring home another $30,000, but 24 other racers had plans of their own- including Kyle’s own brother and father. Curt LeDuc started on the first row of the Pro4 Unlimited class, but the entire Pro4 field still had to make up half a lap on the Pro2 competitors in front of them. Kyle LeDuc started all the way at the back but was passing competitors at will, seemingly picking off another truck as he accelerated out of each corner. By Lap 8 Kyle had passed all of the competition and was on his way to yet another victory, but fate had other plans and the right rear tire came flying off of Kyle’s truck, taking his chances for victory with it. Meanwhile Todd LeDuc worked his way up to second place and dove under Robby Woods in Turn 3, but when Woods rolled Todd received a black flag penalty and was forced to move to the back of the pack. In an effort to make up ground with time running out, Todd rolled in Turn 4, putting him on the infield as a spectator next to his brother. Curt LeDuc stayed out of the carnage and managed to finish the race in eighth place overall and second amongst the Pro4 Unlimiteds.
Check your check your local listings for insane LOORRS and Lucas Oil Challenge Cup action on CBS, the Speed Channel , Versus, and MavTV. Next season brings changes for the LeDuc clan, but regardless of what happens in the off season all three ‘Duc boys will be back on the track for more LOORRS racing in 2012. You can get the latest information on Team LeDuc on their Facebook page at:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002206672633
Photo: Getsome Photos