Reno, NV – Brandon Arthur went from the bottom to the top and back again in a wild race weekend during rounds 5 and 6 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series. It was Brandon’s first time racing at the Wild West Motorsports Park outside Reno, Nevada. The track at Wild West Motorsports Park climbs to the top of a ridge before plunging back down again. The one mile long track offers an incredible 1,000 feet of elevation change. The gravity assist makes it one of the fastest tracks in the series.
During practice on Friday, it was obvious the set-up on the Pro Traffic Services Competitive Metals Prolite truck was a little off. With no time to fix it before qualifying, Brandon got what he could out of the truck landing in the 20th starting spot. During the race, he got tangled up in traffic and spun out. Using every bit of speed from the huge down-hills to his advantage, Brandon put his head down and worked his way back up to 8th at the checkered flag. It was a good drive for Brandon and the team had a chance to figure out the set-up.
Round 6 on Saturday night would allow the team to show what all the hard work and support from Pro Traffic Services, Competitive Metals, Rigid Industries LED Lighting, Toyo Tires, Magnaflow, Aeromotive Fuel Systems, Trailready Beadlocks, FOX Racing Shox, Wirefab, Summers Brothers, ECP Powder Coating, F&L Racing Fuels, Maxima Racing Oils, FiberwerX, graphics by Bink Designs and Mastercraft Safety Equipmentcould produce. Brandon ran the second fastest time in qualifying and with the inversion, started on the pole.
“I have to hand it to the crew,” said Brandon, “The truck was on rails. After we took the green flag, I pulled out a four truck lead.”
Behind Brandon, Brian Deegan was making a charge and soon was battling with Brandon for the lead. “I held Deegan off for several laps, not sure how many, then we got a caution flag.
After the restart, we were side by side going into turn three.” Deegan got past Brandon in the corner but Brandon got a good run and passed him right back. As the battle began to heat up, another caution flag slowed the pace. After the restart, Brandon hooked a rut in a corner and went up on two wheels. He saved it but got passed by the pack. Ironically, Deegan hooked a rut the same way while leading the race in round 5 costing him the win. The same fate was in store for Brandon. He had the truck under him for another charge but a wreck in turn one left him with nowhere to go; he got collected and his race was over.
You could argue that without the caution flags Brandon would have taken the win but nothing is certain in racing. One thing is certain, the crowd took notice of his battle with Deegan.
Not many can get around “the General” after he makes a pass. Brandon Arthur, “The Stinger” can! With every round, Brandon and his team shorten the learning curve. Regardless that it was their first time racing at Wild West Motorsports Park, the team got the truck completely turned around giving Brandon a rocket on Saturday. The team will be in Tooele, UT at Miller Motorsports Park June 21 – 22 where they will have another crack at the Prolite win.
Photography By: Brian Binkert