LAKE FOREST, CA (March 3, 2009) – After a brief off-season, Carl Renezeder, the defending Unlimited 4 and Unlimited 2 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series champion, and his crew are prepared for the season opener at a brand new facility at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend, March 6-7. After a historical season of winning both championships and the inaugural Lucas Oil Challenge Cup, the team knows that each new season brings new challenges and win stats only help with filling pages of a history book.
“It’s been fun to celebrate the 2009 season,” commented Renezeder, now a seven-time national champ, “but we drew that clichéd line in the sand and are ready to defend what we earned last year. Of our 15 rounds of racing this year, only four of them will be at a track we’ve raced on before, so it’s a blank sheet of paper for everyone. Luckily, I feel like that’s where we thrive.”
The series opens in Las Vegas, and then returns to Speedworld Motorsports Complex in Surprise, Arizona – a track where Renezeder found plenty of success in 2009 in his U4 with three wins, but never found the top spot in his U2. The series will then go back to Las Vegas before heading out to the stunning Miller Motorsports Park in the Salt Lake City area of Utah. The second half of the season will likely open in Southern California (location TBA), then one more time each to Surprise, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada, all leading up to the season finale and Challenge Cup race at another new purpose-built facility at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Arizona.
While the facilities are new, the team brings back all the tried and true aspects that all contributed to last year’s success. Lucas Oil Products has been one of Renezeder’s key advantages on and off the track for over a decade and the red, white and blue colors that have become synonymous with his team will adorn the hood and doors of his trucks for the 12th consecutive season. General Tire, now in its sophomore season with the team, will again provide the crucial connection of the truck to the track, while Team Associated continues to provide the connection to the fans who can drive their very own Renezeder replica R/C trucks long after the event is over. AEM provides the gauges, Bosch is the tool of choice, VP Race Fuel is in the tank, and Race Proven alternators keep the power going. Embee does all of the metal finishing, Tubeworks makes the trusted rearends, hubs and axles, Subè Sports provides the PUMA gear and Cobra Seats, Tech1-R Forged Alloy wheels hold the General Tires, and Borla handles the exhaust. Team Renezeder trusts no other helmets than HJC and no other belts than Schroth, King Shocks have taken Renezeder’s abuse for nearly two decade (with unyielding success), the trucks are plumbed by XRP, MSD provides ignition, and the folks a Blue C continuously remind the team of the big picture. New this season: the crew will stay sharp all weekend with the nutrition provided by Chronic Tacos. All of that equals a recipe for success.
Thursday and Friday will host practice and qualifying, then rounds one and two will take place Saturday and Sunday. Visit www.lucasoiloffroad.com for details of the season’s television coverage on CBS, Speed, Versus, Outdoor Channel and MavTV.
About Carl Renezeder
Birth date: April 16, 1964
Residence: Laguna Beach, CA
Home Town: Montebello, CA
Family: Wife: Kelley; 4 Children
87 Career Short Course Wins (11 in Lucas Oil Off Road Series, 65 in CORR, 10 in WSORR, 1 in RJORGP)
7-time National Champion (LOORRS U4 – 2009; LOORRS U2 – 2009; CORR Pro-4 – 2003, 2007, 2008; CORR Pro-2 – 2005 & 2006)
2009: LOORRS Unlimited 4 Champion; LOORRS Unlimited 2 Champion; 8 Unlimited-4 wins including the inaugural Rockstar Energy Lucas Oil Challenge Cup; 3 Unlimited-2 wins
2008: CORR Pro-4 Champion; 4 CORR Pro-4 wins ; 2 CORR Pro-2 wins; 2 WSORR Pro-4x4 wins; 2 WSORR Pro-2WD wins; 1 RJORGP GP4 win; Won Day 2 of SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge
2007: CORR Pro-4 Champion; 8 CORR Pro-4 wins including the Jason Baldwin Memorial Cup; 3rd in CORR Pro-2 points; 7 CORR Pro-2 wins; 3 WSORR Pro4x4 wins including the FCP Chairman's Cup; 3 WSORR Pro2WD wins; Won 40th Annual SCORE Baja 1000 with Riviera Racing
2006: CORR Pro-2 Champion; 6 CORR Pro-2 wins; 2nd in CORR Pro-4 points; 4 CORR Pro-4 wins; Won SCORE Laughlin Leap (159’), Won Day 1, 2nd overall at the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge; 3rd in SCORE Las Vegas PRIMM 300
2005: CORR Pro-2 Champion; 9 CORR wins, including the Nissan Nationals in Pro-4; 2nd in CORR Pro-4 points
2004: 8 CORR wins; Governor’s Cup Champion; 2nd in CORR Pro-4 points; 3rd in CORR Pro-2 points
2003: CORR Pro-4 Champion; 8 CORR wins; Borg Warner World Champion; 2nd in CORR Pro-2 points
1994-2002: 9 CORR wins and multiple podiums in CORR; Won SCORE Baja 1000 (Class 1 – 1994); 2 podium finishes in SCORE Baja 500
