RIVERSIDE, California – Stronghold Motorsports will have a new look in 2014. The Riverside-based off road racing team, one of the best in the sport since its formation in 2009, next season will be competing in the red, white and blue colors of the MAVTV American Real network in both the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series and selected desert endurance events.
Stronghold managing partner Scott Bailey thinks it’s a perfect pairing. MAVTV, which has become the leading network for motorsports coverage, stresses family values in both its management and programming. That philosophy also is the Stronghold cornerstone and Bailey said after several successful years fielding multiple entries the team will focus on that again.
“This is all about family,” Bailey said. “That’s why we started the team. We’re going to refocus on that and go race and have fun.”
Son Brandon Bailey in Pro 4, grandson Madix Bailey in Jr 1 Kart and Larry Job in Pro Buggy will be the drivers in the Lucas Oil series of short course races while Scott and Brandon Bailey and Job will share the driving in the team’s new MAVTV Alumi Craft Chevrolet Class 1 desert car.
The team will begin testing the Class 1 car in early January and open its four-race desert season at the Best in the Desert (BITD) BlueWater Parker 425 in Parker, Arizona, February 1-2, 2014.
A new MAVTV Ford Pro 4 is being built for Brandon Bailey, who was the 2013 rookie of the year in the class, and that will debut when the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series opens March 22-23 at Wild Horse Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona.
MAVTV American Real is the fastest-growing network in the country and the leader in grass-roots motorsports coverage. The Lucas Oil Studios produce more than 300 hours of original programming each year and expanded into live event coverage by airing the season-ending Lucas Oil Challenge Cup races at Lake Elsinore, California, in October.
MAVTV plans to slowly increase its live motorsports programming, beginning with coverage of the famed Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals January 18 and a return to the Challenge Cup on October 25, and has signed broadcasting icon Dave DeSpain to host its live events and his own 30-minute interview and highlights show. In addition, “SPEED SPORT’ and “SPEED SPORT magazine”, two 1-hour programs being produced in partnership with National Speed Sport News will debut this year.
“We’re proud that we’ve been asked to join the MAVTV family,” Bailey said, “and we’re going to do everything possible to make it a long and happy relationship.”
STRONGHOLD MOTORSPORTS 2014 SCHEDULE
Jan. 31-Feb. 2 Best in the Desert BlueWater Parker 425 desert race, Parker, Arizona
March 14-16 Best in the Desert General Tire Mint 400 desert race, Las Vegas
March 22-23 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, Wild Horse Motorsports Park, Chandler, Arizona
April 25-26 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, Lake Elsinore (California) Motorsports Park
May 30-31 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, Wild West Motorsports Park, Sparks, Nevada
June 5-8 SCORE Baja 500 desert race, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
June 21-22 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele, Utah
August 1-2 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, Glen Helen Raceway, Devore, California
August 22-23 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, Wild West Motorsports Park, Sparks, Nevada
September 19-20 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, Las Vegas Motor Speedway
October 24-25 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, Challenge Cup, Lake Elsinore, California
November 12-16 SCORE Baja 1000 desert race, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico