Chandler, AZ – Geoffrey Cooley came to Firebird International Raceway for the first two rounds of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series with the hopes of starting the season off with some positive results. He had a good season last year reaching the podium several times, taking third place in the championship and the Rookie of the Year title.

It was his consistency last year that paid off for him and it looks like that consistency is back only he’s stepped up his game. During Friday practice, he ran fourth fastest. In qualifying Saturday, he was third quickest. In round one, Saturday afternoon he finished on the podium in second behind his Alumi Craft competitor Bradley Morris. His Alumi Craft and Competitive Metals teammate Dave Mason was in third, for an Alumi Craft sweep of the podium.

Geoffrey qualified fourth fastest on Sunday but thanks to the inversion he started on the pole. He was dicing with Bradley Morris, Steve Greinke and his Competitive Metals teammate Dave Mason. Geoffrey searched the track to find a line he could use to make a pass. He settled on the berm that divides the high and low lines where the track splits leading into the last turn. At first, it appeared that he just went wide but he worked that line until he was able to make the pass on Morris for the lead. Passing Morris on lap 17 earned him the fastest lap of the race a 44.407 at 89.175 miles per hour. Geoffrey cleared the rest and holding the lead to the finish; his first win in the Pro Buggy class.

“I didn’t have the fastest car out there so I had to out drive the competition,” said Geoffrey “Firebird is tight with few places to pass. You have to do what it takes to get by if you want to win.” Geoffrey’s weekend of racing produced two podiums, the fastest lap on Sunday, his first win in a Pro Buggy and he goes to round three as the Pro Buggy points leader. “I have to give huge thanks to my spotter Matt Majors,” Said Geoffrey, “It was really competitive out there. Matt was constantly keeping me up to date on where the other guys were and what they were doing. I also need to thank all my sponsors who make it possible to go racing: Alumi Craft, Competitive Metals, MasterCraft Safety, Impact, Redline Performance, ProAm, Kartek, Jackson Motorsports, CBR, Fox Racing Shox, Harmon Racing Cells and Bink Designs.”

Geoffrey returns to the Lucas Oil Off Road Series April 26-28 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada. Visit Geoffrey’s recently completed website www.geoffreycooley.com for the latest up to date info and media.

Photography By Brian Binkert