WHEATLAND, Mo. — Off Road Truck racing will return to Lucas Oil Speedway for the first time in several years during the MidAmerica Outdoors Championship Series, April 28-29.
MidAmerica Outdoors will debut its Pro Lite Truck Championship Series to coincide with its MAO Side-by-Side Series racers in an action packed two days.
Billy Champion, race director for the MAO Series, said he expects in excess of 225 UTV Side by Sides in various classes along with the Pro Lite Trucks. The Pro Lites are similar in appearance to the popular Pro 2 Trucks that once entertained fans at Wheatland.
“If you were a person sitting in the stands, just to hear the roar and thunder and watch these trucks, you could not tell the difference between a Pro 2, a Pro 4 and a Pro Lite,” Champion said. “The only difference is this is more the entry level, if you will. These trucks range in price $75,000-$200,000. You get a lot more people who are able to afford this.”
The MAO Side-by-Side Series has been around since 2000 with most events held at the organization’s home base in Jay, Oklahoma.
“We’re the largest short-course racing series in the country right now as far as racing and numbers,” Champion said. “Then you throw in Pro Lite trucks and we have the recipe for a big event at Wheatland.”
Though he doesn’t know how many Pro Lite trucks will be on hand, Champion mentioned he’s getting interest from drivers all over the country about making the trip.
The UTV classes on the schedule will include Pro Turbo, Pro N/A, Expert Turbo, Expert N/A, Amateur Turbo, Amateur N/A, Vet 40+ Turbo, Vet 40+ N/A, Women’s Turbo, Women’s N/A, Youth 800 N/A, Youth 1000 N/A, 170 Stock, 170 Limited and 170 Modified.
Because of the large number of entries expected, one round of qualifying races could be held on Friday, in addition to practice.
“It is going to be an action-packed weekend,” Champion said.