Record crowd for off-road races at ERX
The biggest motorsports weekend in the Twin Cities did not disappoint thousands of fans as the ERX Motor Park Off-Road National presented by Polaris delivered a 900-horsepower assault on the senses. With more than 5,000 fans in attendance for the Lucas Oil Midwest Short Course League off-road truck series, the visceral racing atmosphere was bolstered by live music, ATV freestyle shows, Polaris RS1 celebrity race, outdoor expo, and a kids fun zone.
With plenty of hot and steamy weather on tap throughout the two-day event, the earth-shredding action on the purpose-built one-mile off-road racing track easily trumped Mother Nature. With top off-road racers including the father/son duo of Johnny and CJ Greaves, Chad Hord, Mike Vanden Heuvel, and hometown favorite Andrew Carlson, the thunderous roar of 900-horsepower trucks saw fans soaking up the rays to witness the power and high-flying action. To add to the excitement and much to the delight of his hometown fans, Carlson found himself on the podium three times in the top truck classes.
There were plenty of other celebrities on tap beyond the Lucas Oil competitors. Polaris Industries showcased their rally-inspired RS1 with a race featuring former snocross champ and current action sport athlete Levi LaVallee, as well as Diesel Dave and The Muscle from Discovery Channel’s hit television show “Diesel Brothers.”
Now encompassing 400-acres complete with wooded campsites, two world-class closed-course tracks, and an ever growing infrastructure of venues, ERX Motor Park has become much more than a local racing facility and is quickly gaining recognition throughout the motorsports community as one of the best facilities in the Midwest.
“This (ERX) has always been a long-term commitment,” said Jeremy Meyer, Director of Business Development for ERX. “The Off-Road National is our showcase summer event and the growth we have seen in just three years is beyond expectations.”
While the Off-Road National might be over for another year, the activities at ERX continue with the Summer Beater-X Series on select Thursday nights; the Lupulin Brewing IPA Invitational on August 4; Get Busy Livin’ Music Festival on September 22, and Day of the Dozers on September 29. To learn more visit www.erxmotorpark.com.
RESULTS: ERX Off-Road National, Presented by Polaris
Friday, July 13
Pro Modified SxS: 1-Kyle Chaney; 2-Rodney VanEperen; 3-Jason Luburgh
Pro Stock SxS: 1-Ryan Mulder; 2-Anthony Schwellenbach; 3-Jesse Klaus
PRO Lite: 1-Cody Kleiman; 2-Chad Rayford; 3-Cam Reimers
PRO 2: 1-Mike Vanden Heuvel; 2-Andrew Carlson; 3-Chad Hord
PRO 4: 1-Johnny Greaves; 2-CJ Greaves; 3-Andrew Carlson
Saturday, July 14
PRO Lite: 1- 1-Core Winner; 2-Cody Kleiman; 3-Cam Reimers
Pro Modified SxS: 1-Kyle Chaney; 2-Rodney VanEperen; 3-Elliott Burns
Pro Stock SxS: 1-Ryan Mulder; 2-Zach Martin; 3-Scott Wasz
PRO 2: 1-Chad Hord; 2-Mark Peterson; 3-Daely Pentico
PRO 4: 1-Johnny Greaves; 2-Andrew Carlson; 3-Ross Hoek