San Bernardino, CA – The Stinger, Brandon Arthur, turned his venom loose on the Pro Lite field at round 10 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series held at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, Ca. Brandon has been constantly moving up through the ranks in his rookie season in Pro Lite. In round 10, he put it all together with a convincing win over a hungry field of top-notch racers.
Brandon was finally on even footing going into Glen Helen. Most of the tracks he has raced on this season were brand new to him. Not only has Brandon raced at Glen Helen before but he had an opportunity to test there weeks before the race. The work testing paid off as Brandon was dialed in right off the trailer. After running fastest in practice, he went out and qualified 4th despite a transmission issue that developed during the session. It was actually lucky that the transmission went south when it did. The crew got a chance to change it and get the truck prepped before the race started. During the race Brandon got bottled up mid-pack finishing 7th. Decent results but Brandon knew he could run much better given the chance.
The following day he would get his chance. Not only was he fastest qualifier in his group but the draw for inverted starting position was a zero; meaning Brandon would start on the outside of row one next to past Pro Lite Champion RJ Anderson. In turn one it looked like RJ would jump out in the lead but Brandon was having nothing of it. He put the bright yellow Pro Traffic Services, Competitive Metals, Rigid Industries Pro Lite in the lead for good, taking the win and setting the fastest Pro Lite lap of the weekend. “We got a good drive off the start thanks to my Toyo Tires and took the lead,” says Brandon, “I battled with RJ the whole way but he ran me clean. We had a great race and came home with the win.”
“We would not be where we are today without 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 Equipment. We also welcomed Heatshield Products to our group of sponsors this race. They help us with heat shielding and thermal protection on the truck. The crew and I have been very determined to run out front. We finally got a little luck to go with all the hard work we’ve been putting into the team.”
Brandon’s goal at the beginning of the season was to learn the tracks and work his way onto the podium. He has reached that goal and then some; shattering the expectations of many along the way. It was obvious during round 10 that he’s won over the crowd as well. His rapid ascension may be surprising to some but not to those who have seen him succeed in everything he does. He wanted to return to shortcourse racing and it looks like he has picked up right where he left off.
Brandon next heads to Wild West Motorsports Park in Sparks, NV. August 22-23. The last time he was there he battled for the lead with Brian Deegan. With the momentum from his win at Glen Helen and good set-up notes from last time in Sparks, it’s going to be another wild one at Wild West Motorsports Park.
Photography By: Brian Binkert