The Lucas Oil Midwest Short Course League continues its second season this Friday and Saturday, with the ERX Off-Road National bringing the sport’s top racers to ERX Motor Park in Elk River, Minnesota. The Friday-Saturday show features two full race programs, with dozens of top racers ready to face off in the Pro Mod, Pro Stock, and Sportsman Stock UTV categories.
Last month’s Forest County Potawatomi Brush Run from Crandon International Raceway kicked off the season, with a pair of familiar faces topping the pro ranks. Kyle Chaney swept the Pro Mod races on Saturday and Sunday, while CJ Greaves continued his pursuit of dual championships in Pro Stock and Pro 4 truck by taking both of his UTV races on the weekend.
That makes them their respective class points leaders, with Chaney up by 22 on Zack Beavers and Scottie Lawrence and Greaves holding a four-point advantage over Jeremy Houle. Defending Pro Mod champion Rodney VanEperen will look to rebound from a disappointing Crandon and improve on his 11th place standing, while last year’s Pro Stock champion Ryan Mulder is within range of regaining the lead in third, just 17 points behind Greaves.
Johnny Holtger and Owen VanEperen split the Sportsman Stock races from Crandon, but it’s VanEperen who leads the points heading into ERX. He came home fourth in the first race before taking the victory, while Holtger placed 17th in the second race. VanEperen’s points lead is currently 14 over Jake Kosmecki, with Mike Caswell, Trevor Bushmaker, and Holtger completing the top five.
Chaney is the defending winner of both Pro Mod races from ERX last year, while Mulder arguably won the Pro Stock championship here in 2018 by sweeping both races as Greaves finished 32nd and eighth. Defending Sportsman Stock winners Gabe Johnson and Kyle Greaves have each moved up to Pro Stock, where they rank fourth and fifth in points, respectively.
The Sportsman Stock and Pro Mod UTV races from this year’s ERX Off-Road National will take place before opening ceremonies on both Friday and Saturday, putting them in the late afternoon on both days. Pro Stock UTV will be the second race to compete after opening ceremonies on both days, directly following Pro Lite trucks. Following ERX, the Lucas Oil Midwest Short Course League will return to action for a tripleheader on August 9-11 at Bark River International Raceway.
Words by: Chris Leone // UTVUnderground.com
Photo via: ERX Motor Park
