5-25-2010

The #9 E3 Spark Plugs / Lucas Oil / Goodyear Unlimited Pro 2 team arrived in Vegas Wednesday to ready for the weekend events in Vegas for the 5th and 6th rounds of racing in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series presented by Geico Powersports. The weather was cool all weekend with spotty rain and unusually high winds. Overall, t-shirt and shorts weather for the Illinois based team.
Practice and qualify Friday, Race round 5 Saturday, Round 6 Qualify/Race Sunday

With the #9 Pro 2 passing technical inspections and ready to practice, Thursday was just a setup and prep day for the team members. Zep, Pops, Rick and Derry and new addition Brian all arrived in the morning to set up the pit area and get the truck ready to go through the tech inspections. The inspection is usually basic, but in this round, the chassis of all pro 2 trucks were checked closely for proper sizing and construction.

The Friday morning practice showed Kevin with the 7th quick time. Qualify was next in the afternoon. Kevin was moving the truck around well and during what was to be the final push to chase a good time, the torque converter let go and the #9 lit up like a candle. Using the on board flame out system, Kevin quickly extiquished the fire and climbed out of the truck unharmed. The qualify run was only good for 10th due to the performance of the converter, but a clean start to the weekend.
 

Round 5
The #9 was on the grid in the 5th row outside on the 20 truck grid. Kevin had a good start only to have a bonehead move from another driver in turn 1 take him out from contact. " I cleared into 8th position starting my exit from turn one when I was t-boned by another truck. The contact blew the steering hose off and the day ended 2 laps later! " said Kevin after the race, "it is a shame, the E3 Spark Plugs Lucas Oil Goodyear #9 was fast in practice and the changes we made to get quicker never saw the light of day!"

Round 6
Kevin had an issue in qualifying in the morning practice that was also due to the round 5 contact. No qualify lap. The #9 will take the rear spot.

At the start of round 6, Kevin decided to get through turn one without making any moves to let the carnage start and settle out. The first 4 to 5 laps, Kevin just adjusted the brakes and kept out of trouble until the mid race mandatory caution. At the caution, Kevin was up to 10th. After the green the #9 really started to move forward. Turning fast laps, Kevin was able to keep clean and pass 4 more trucks to finish in 6th. The day was good starting 18th and keeping clean for a good finish. "We made some changes to the suspension and it took me some time to learn what the truck was capable of doing" said Kevin, " it was fast and cornered much differently from the earlier practice, but I loved the changes and cannot wait until Salt Lake City and round 7&8"

The team would like to thank all our partners, but would also like to recognize two additions to the Probst team. Continuing our tradition of partnering with innovative companies like E3 Spark Plugs and Lucas Oil, Probst Motorsports is proud to announce two new partnerships: X-Factory RC Cars and BC1 Graphics. The newly formed partnerships will provide cross promotional marketing exposure for all parties involved. Probst Motorsports driver Kevin Probst will have an X-Factory SCX-60 mid-motor short course truck, with an exact replica body of the #9 E3 Spark Plugs Pro-2 Unlimited, at all races for display as well as use during the Pro Driver RC races. The SCX-60 is based on X-Factory’s X-60 stadium truck, which is known for being incredibly dialed and fast at RC races across the globe. BC1 Graphics has come on board as the team’s official graphic supplier, as well as providing replica lids for the team’s RC vehicles. Additionally, replicas of the #9 E3 Spark Plugs Pro-2 Unlimited truck will be offered to BC1 Graphics’ customers through their website.
For more information about these companies go to: www.xfactoryrc.com  and www.bc1graphics.com .

For more detailed information, check out the great TV schedule on www.lucasoiloffroad.com  as well as on our web site www.probstmotorsports.com .