Chasing Trophies Under the Lights in Lake Elsinore

LAKE FOREST, CA (July 22, 2009) – After enduring blazing heat at the end of June in Lake Elsinore, California, the Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series took mercy on the fans and announced earlier this month that this weekend’s events will be held under the lights at the Lake Elsinore Motorsports Complex on Saturday and Sunday evening.

Fans, drivers, crew and track workers alike will benefit from night racing, where the racing action promises to be much hotter than the temperature.

“We’re really excited to run under the lights,” explains Unlimited-4 points leader, Carl Renezeder. “Not only will it be more enjoyable for the fans temperature-wise, but they’ll see even better racing because the track will hold more moisture. When we race in the heat of the day, the hot temps and the hot sun make the track go from sloppy wet to dusty dry in just a few laps. With the sun off the track, the dirt will have a chance to release that water slowly, giving us the opportunity to develop lines on tacky dirt throughout the race – just like you’d see at a sprint car or late model event.”

Rounds seven and eight will also mark the beginning of the second half of the season for the series, which will conclude its points championship at the Primm Valley Off-Road Raceway November 14–15. The series will then host a non-points, big-money, big-bragging-rights event back in Lake Elsinore on Saturday, December 12, where the best off-road racers will battle it out for the final time in 2009.

The first half of the season has played out pretty well for Renezeder. He has three wins out of six races in his Lucas Oil/General Tire Unlimited-2, and five wins in six races in his Lucas Oil/General Tire Unlimited-4. His driving skill set hasn’t translated directly over to the Team Associated RC10 celebrity races, but that’s coming along each weekend as well.

In the points chase, Renezeder leads the Unlimited-4 category by a 24-point margin, while he trails the Unlimited-2 leader by 13 points in fifth place.

“We’re chasing two points championships, just like we’ve done every year for the past eight seasons,” concludes Renezeder. “But each race day, we have our sights set on victory. Like my crew guy, Brett, said one Saturday morning: ‘the letter of the day is W, and today we’re looking for two of them.’ If you put the wins together, the championships will come.”

Quick Stats on Carl Renezeder

Birth date: April 16, 1964
Residence: Laguna Beach, CA
Home Town: Montebello, CA
Family: Wife: Kelley; 4 Children
Education: UCLA graduate, All-American Water Polo player
Hobbies: XTERRA triathlon, swimming, cycling, skiing, snowboarding, surfing

84 Career Short Course Wins (8 in Lucas Oil Off Road Series, 65 in CORR, 10 in WSORR, 1 in RJORGP)
5-time National Champion (CORR Pro-2 – 2005 & 2006, CORR Pro-4 – 2003, 2007, 2008)

2009 to date: 3 Unlimited-2 wins, 5 Unlimited-4 wins