JERETT BROOKS CAPTURES THRILLING PRO 2 VICTORY AT SEASON OPENER

San Bernardino, CA

And just like that, Jerett Brooks is leading the 2019 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS) Pro 2 Category by capturing a thrilling race win during the General Tire So Cal Shootout at Glen Helen Raceway. To say Round 1 was thrilling is an understatement as this race was the highlight of the night. Brooks piloted the #77 Rigid Industries Pro 2 with patience and skill racing his way through the field to make the last lap pass for a checkered flag victory and also received the prestigious Optima Batteries Fast Lap Award.

Brooks had a solid start to the weekend maintaining consistent speeds during the two initial practice sessions where he clocked 5th fastest for both. During qualifying, the #77 Rigid Industries Pro 2 was the 2nd quickest on track. Unfortunately, there was an issue with timing, so LOORRS Officials determined they would start the Pro 2 race based off of the 2018 Points Championship.

As the night fell, Brooks would line up in 4th position for the race within the Pro 2 field but with the new “Staggered Start” behind the Pro 2 “M” (410 Mid West) trucks. Also new was the “Dead Stop-Start.” These uncertainties made for chaos and as if short course off-road racing is not chaotic enough. The green flag dropped firing off thousands of horsepower, and guzzling gallons of high octane race fuel. That may have caused an earth rotating anomaly, but when they piled up into the corner of Turn 4 and became a tangled mess with only the Pro 2 M trucks getting away unscathed, The LOORRS Officials “Red Flagged” the race and called for a total re-start.

After the trucks were finally separated and all re-racked together for a re-start, they finally got a clean green flag lap to get the race going. At this point, “I was just pissed off” Brooks explained. “All the rule changes, the qualifying issues, and after the rough start, I thought the front end of my truck was destroyed as it looked totally mangled.” Whatever Jerett was feeling switched on something fearless.

During Lap 1, Brooks moved up on Rob MacCachren, one of the greatest off-road racers of all time, like he was not even in contention and made the clean pass for 4th position. For the next four laps, Jerett hunted down RJ Anderson and worked him for two laps before making the pass on Lap 5.

Brooks was now in 3rd position with only the two Pro 2 M trucks in front. Jerett was in the zone, and the Pro 2 was running flawlessly. It could have been the General Tires digging deep. It could have been the Bilstein Shock Absorbers working through the jumps and holes. It could have been the Maxima Racing Oils keeping the engine running at peak performance. Whatever it was, it was something special to see and the fans were clearly pumped cheering him on as he charged his way to the front.

It was this point, on Lap 6 when Jerett earned the Optima Batteries Fast Lap Award. Brooks had clean air, the speed to burn some quick laps and to close the distance on the first Pro 2 M truck. By Lap 9 he had moved into 2nd place. “By the time I passed for 2nd, it became a little nerve-racking,” Jerett described. “I wanted to win, and it seemed everything was lining up just right. There is a huge gap between me and the race leader (Cory Winner in a Pro 2 M). We are blazing fast but is there enough time? So many thoughts were racing through my head.”

Brooks continued, “I finally caught up to Cory on Lap 16. We crossed the finish line with one lap to go. I bumped him in Turn 2 and completed the pass in Turn 3. From then on it was clear sailing to the checkers. I am very proud of this win. My team put in a lot of hours over the off-season, and it feels great for all the hard work to pay off! I need to recognize all our partners like Rigid Industries, Bilstein, General Tire, KMC Wheels, FK Rod Ends, Black Rhino Performance, FiberwerX, Optima Batteries, Kroyer Racing Engines, CBR Performance, Fortin Racing, Caspers Concrete, Howe Performance, Oakley, Maxima Racing Oils & Synergy Electric for their dedicated support of our Pro 2 truck.”

Jerett Brooks and the #77 Rigid Industries Pro 2 will return for the “Duel In The Desert” Round 2 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series on April 13 at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona.

Photography By: Bink Designs