Estero Beach Race Report

Estero Beach, Mexico (May 19-20, 2018),

Team RJ37 headed south of the border to Estero Beach for rounds 2-3 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series in Mexico. This race is a personal favorite of ours after winning the inaugural event back in 2015. The off road racing fans of Baja are second to none!

After a heartbreaking finish at Rd. 1 earlier this year, RJ was determined to bounce back at the 4th Annual Rockstar Energy Drink Battle South of the Border. RJ qualified first for Rd. 2 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series and would start in the fourth position after the invert. After a hectic couple of laps, RJ sat in 2nd at the halfway point in his Polaris Rzr Pro2. RJ put on a late race charge, but would find himself holding his 2nd place position and claimed his first podium of the year behind his Rockstar Energy/ BFGoodrich Tires teammate Rob Mac.

Following his runner up finish in Rd. 2, RJ would again throw down the fastest Qualifying lap on Sunday and after a zero invert would be starting on the pole for Rd. 3. When the green flag dropped, RJ would drop the hammer to dominate the Pro2 field with a wire-to-wire victory. RJ was also awarded the fast lap award, making it a perfect day in the #37 Pro2. The team heads to Rd 4 & 5 in Wheatland, MI next month sitting only 8 points out of the points lead in 2nd place.

Coming off of Rd. 2 with the fastest lap in the Pro4 the team knew the truck would be a solid contender in Mexico. RJ placed the second fastest lap time in the class but start in the fourth position after the invert. After a fierce battle for first and an epic pass by RJ to get the lead, the second place truck would make a questionable move causing his truck to connect with RJ’s leaving RJ immobile enough to lose the lead. The officials black flagged said competitor for the move which put RJ into 2nd place.

Rd. 2 left the truck battered and bruised but the RJ37 team worked fiercely into the night to get the truck back to 100% for the next race. During qualifying RJ would pilot his Rockstar Energy Pro4 to the number 2 position and staying by catching a zero invert. RJ would keep his second place position all race behind his Walker Evans Racing teammate Doug Mittag. RJ would solidify a second place win once the checked flag fell. RJ is now sitting second in points for the season and only 2 away from first. We are excited to head out east to Lucas Oil Speedway for Rd. 4 & 5 of the series.

Production UTV

Ronnie had some mechanical issues during qualifying that put him in the 7th position on the starting line. Ronnie picked the first pack of UTVs in his way off within the first lap and would stay within the top pack for the remainder of the race crossing the finish line in third in his Walker Evans Racing Polaris RZR.