TOOELE VALLEY, Utah -- The newly-created Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Series – Utah begins its first full season of competition on the Off Road Short Course at Miller Motorsports Park this Saturday, May 5.

This new amateur off-road short-course racing series was created to address the enthusiasm shown locally for this type of racing and to develop further talent to move up the ladder to the professional Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series.

The series will hold an open practice on Friday from 4:00-7:00 p.m., and admission for this will be free to the public. Saturday’s schedule includes practice, heat races and feature races. It is hoped that five classes will be competing, but this depends on participation. The tentatively planned class roster includes Kid Karts, Buggies, Tuff Trucks, Jeeps/Rock Crawlers and UTVs. There will also be Pro Trucks on hand from Jeff Clark and Jerry Daugherty’s Live Fast/Play Dirty Motorsports that will test and give demonstration runs.

“We are extremely excited to see the growth of and enthusiasm about the regional series that has been displayed during the off-season,” said Jerry Daugherty, Race Director for the Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Series - Utah. “The vehicle counts have doubled, and the potential here in the Utah region is without limits. The racers here are dedicated, and they are great examples of what grassroots racing is all about. Having started my racing career 35 years ago in grassroots racing, I’m a prime example of where things can lead, so I encourage anyone who has an interest in short-course racing to come out and join us. Collectively, with the Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Series in Southern California and Arizona, the future and growth of short-course off-road racing is as bright as ever!”

As part of the Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Racing Series, the Utah Region joins the Southern California and Arizona regions and the Arizona Short Course Championship in promoting and developing grassroots short-course off-road racing. Utah Region officials will be working with their Southern California and Arizona counterparts to develop uniform rules and safety standards for exciting new classes as each region develops. While the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series rulebook will be utilized for existing short-course off-road racing classes, additional new classes will be added to create opportunities for off-road racers at all levels to compete safely in short-course off-road racing.

Subsequent dates for the 2012 Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Series – Utah season are June 16, July 7, August 18 and October 6, with the Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Shootout scheduled for November 10 in Las Vegas.

Admission on Saturday is priced at $6 for adults, with kids 12 and under admitted at no cost. Active-duty military personnel are eligible for a 50-percent discount on tickets.

To obtain tickets for or information regarding Miller Motorsports Park, call 435-277-RACE (7223) or visit the track’s website at www.MillerMotorsportsPark.com. For more information on the Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Series – Utah, visit www.LucasOilRegionalUtah.com or call 801-889-8644.