Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series heads South of the Border

First race at the Baja International Short Course at Estero Beach in Ensenada brings short course off road racing to Mexico.

Baja California and the seaside town of Ensenada are no strangers to off-road racing. Residents of the town and nearby gather downtown for contingency and in the wash to watch the Trophy Trucks, buggies and Baja Bugs fly through on their way down the peninsula during the SCORE Baja 1000 and 500. This weekend, though, they will be treated to a different kind of off-road racing, where they get to sit in grandstands and watch the entire race from start to finish.

The Rockstar Energy South of the Border Battle on the Baja International Short Course at Estero Beach marks the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series' first foray into Mexico. The sport already has fans in Ensenada thanks to hometown hero Rodrigo Ampudia, but this will be their first opportunity to see it live without traveling to the U.S.

"I think that the fans will be amazed with short course off road racing," says Ampudia, whose family owns several bars and restaurants in Ensenada – including Papas&Beer, which adorns the side of his Pro 2 Ford – and was instrumental in making the event happen. "I think it's a type of racing that they haven't really appreciated because a lot of them aren't able to come to the races in the States. For the racers, I think it's going to be a spectacular event. When you go down to Baja and you get the contagious happiness and the adrenaline from the fans and they're excited to see you, it makes you appreciate what you're doing and all of the hours and effort you've put into the program."

Ampudia won't be the only driver known to the Baja fans, even if he has the biggest cheering section. Pro 2 and Pro 4 racer Rob MacCachren is the defending Baja 1000 champion. Multi-time Pro 4 and 2 champ Carl Renezeder has won in Baja, as has Pro 4 driver Doug Fortin. So while the style of racing may be different, many of the names will be familiar.

The style of racing will be a bit different for the drivers as well. Due to its location on a peninsula that pokes out into All Saints Bay, the landscape is quite flat with a water table that is just below the surface. Track builder Gary Hubert wasn't able to dig down, and any dirt for features had to be brought in. That said, Series Director Ritchie Lewis says that while it may be different from what LOORRS drivers are used to, it should still be an exciting and raceable track.

"It's 1.1 miles long, a pretty long track" he explains. "This track has a sand pit, which is something kind of new. Coming off a sweeper you run into a big sand pit; we tried to work with what the land provided for us. We're excited to see how the guys are going to navigate that. It's got good, long straightaways and an awesome rhythm section. It's as good as any we have at any racetrack, really nice rollers. We do have one big nice jump that will have them jumping into the homestretch.

"I'm really proud of the job that Gary Hubert has done. Our dirt doctor has done a really good job for us, and it's going to make for some really good racing," he adds.

Lewis says that there are plans to bring in more dirt and build up some banking in the turns, but that's something for the future. The deal to race at Estero Beach is for at least three years, and the track has been planned so that the turns can be built up without moving anything. In fact, the whole track has been mapped with GPS, so that should a catastrophic storm hit Baja, they can rebuild the track exactly as it is. All signs point to a long-term commitment for the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series to race race in Ensenada.

"The city and everything that the Ampudia family has put into this, the family at Estero have been very easy to work with," says Lewis. "We've made a lot of improvements, even for them in the parking lot and stuff, because we have the heavy equipment in place. A lot of people have put a lot into this to try to make it a successful event. We're really excited about what we're doing."

Gates for the Rockstar Energy South of the Border Battle open up at 8 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, with practice and qualifying starting at 8:45 on Saturday and 9 a.m. on Sunday. Opening ceremonies will be at 2 p.m. on both days, with Pro 2 leading off the action.