RJ Anderson Dominates Baja Capturing 1st Pro2 Win & Taking Pro-Lite Points Lead

Track conditions at LOORRS rounds 11 & 12 were far from ideal at Estero Beach Baja International Race Track; the sand filled dirt presented a challenge for track officials to keep prepped

For the first time in Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series (LOORRS) history, the series traveled south of the border to Ensenada, Baja California Mexico for Rounds 11 & 12 of the LOORRS 2015 race season. The newly designed Baja International Short Course track sits adjacent to the Estero Beach Resort and hosted the series’ biggest names and thousands of fans from Mexico and the US. Local officials, the Papas & Beer Racing Team, and Lucas Oil worked tirelessly to develop a facility designed to host races for years to come.

The Baja International Short Course’s rhythm section proved to be less of a concern for the larger suspensions of the LOORRS Pro-2 class; however the track deterioration was worse

K&N sponsored LOORRS short course off-road racer RJ Anderson and the RJ37 team began their pilgrimage to Baja on the Wednesday before the race weekend. Coming into the weekend the RJ37 team hoped for a bit of luck to help RJ capture his first win in the sports premier Pro-2 class. But while Anderson had been struggling to find his groove in Pro-2, he demonstrated once again why he is a champion in the Pro-Lite division.

As the green flag waived RJ Anderson rocketed off the start and pulled ahead of Rob MacCachren in turn two followed by a furious back and forth battle before RJ pulled away

RJ Anderson began the weekend of LOORRS racing 2nd in points for the Pro-Lite class with a poor showing in round three as his only roadblock to an all-out points lead. Track conditions were far from ideal at Estero Beach Baja International Race Track. The sand filled dirt of Estero Beach presented a challenge for track officials to keep prepped between races. Practice and qualifying in the Pro-Lite class proved the course and its rhythm section to be anything but rhythmic.

After a late race yellow flag restart RJ Anderson fought off Pro-2 Champion Bryce Menzies and soared to his first Pro-2 victory with thousands of LOORRS fans cheering him on

RJ qualified second fastest on Saturday, laying down his quickest time in only the second lap of qualifying, eventually slowing as the track deteriorated. The green flag dropped and it wasn’t long before the rhythm section claimed its first victim. By the end of the race a quarter of the field was out. RJ maintained his position in the K&N filters equipped #37 Pro-Lite truck and finished 3rd in class, giving him his 8th podium this season and nudging him ever so slightly into the points lead just ahead of Jarrett Brooks.

Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series officials gave RJ Anderson his moment in the spotlight allowing him time to appear on the podium before jumping into the K&N equipped #37 Pro-Lite truck

The Baja International Short Course’s rhythm section proved to be less of a concern for the larger suspensions of the Pro-2 class, however the track deterioration was worse. The RJ37 team struggled to find the “hot setup” for Estero Beach and qualified ninth in Pro-2. When the race started, RJ took his time and fought through the rough course and ferocious field of the sport’s best off-road racers. K&N filters’ RJ Anderson finished the race in 5th place and headed into Sunday’s LOORRS round 12 races feeling confident.

After an evening of celebration, RJ Anderson & the RJ37 race team headed home with two 1st place trophies, one 3rd place trophy, and the Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Pro-Lite points lead

Qualifying in Pro-2 went much better for round 12 with RJ claiming the fifth fastest time on track. RJ Anderson drew a #6 inversion putting him on the front row next to racing legend Rob MacCachren. This was exactly the type of lucky break the team had hoped for. As the green flag waived RJ rocketed off the start and pulled ahead of MacCachren in turn two. RJ and Rob battled furiously back and forth for several laps, but eventually RJ pulled away. After a late race yellow flag restart RJ Anderson fought off Pro-2 Champion Bryce Menzies and soared to his first Pro-2 victory with thousands of LOORRS fans cheering him on.

Lucas Oil officials graciously gave RJ his moment in the spotlight and allowed him time to appear on the podium before jumping into the K&N equipped #37 Pro-Lite truck. "A lot of hard work and dedication has gone into achieving my first Pro-2 win. I'll hang onto this memory for the rest of my life. I am really stoked I got to share the victory with my family, friends, sponsors and team. Without them none of this would be possible," said Anderson.

RJ qualified second in Pro-Lite round 12 and the inversion kept him on the front row. With a “trimmed down” rhythm section, the Pro-Lite trucks ran a much quicker and more confident pace. RJ Anderson & Brooks battled hard through the first few laps. RJ took and maintained the lead for ten laps, earning the RJ37 team their second victory of the day, further extending RJ’s Pro-Lite points lead.

After an evening of celebration, RJ Anderson & the RJ37 race team headed home with two 1st place trophies, one 3rd place trophy, and the Pro-Lite points lead. RJ Anderson would like to thank LOORRS, the Papas & Beer Racing Team, local officials, and LOORRS fans for an unforgettable weekend. RJ would also like to extend a special thank you to the Menzies Motorsports team, family & friends, and all of the sponsors and team partners for their tireless support of the RJ37 program. “Without you, none of this would be possible!” said Anderson. RJ will compete next in Sparks, Nevada for Rounds 13-14 at Wild West Motorsports Park on August 22 & 23, 2015.