Lake Elsinore, California (July 28, 2009) – Todd LeDuc made his unforgettable debut in the Lucas Oil Off Road Series this past weekend in Lake Elsinore, California. The Rockstar Energy / Makita driver won first place both Saturday and Sunday in the Unlimited 2 division. Although Todd is a committed TORC Series competitor, and in the TORC Series championship hunt, he competed this past weekend in the Lucas Oil Off Road Series to support his sponsor Rockstar Energy Drink, who was the event sponsor.

Todd LeDuc dominated both days of the Unlimited 2 class by defeating the large field of 18 trucks. Starting in eighth for Saturday’s race due to an engine problem during qualifying, LeDuc exercised patience and clean driving while working his way to the front. Carl Renezener gave LeDuc a run for the money as they battled for the first place position, but LeDuc took over the lead for the win after passing Renezener on the last turn of the last lap.

On Sunday, LeDuc hustled from the eighth position to second in just the first two laps. After quickly making his way to first place, a mid-race spin out landed him back in seventh place. With a mandatory caution lap and half the race left, LeDuc still had time to get to the front of the pack. LeDuc broke through to third place with ease, but passing Carl Renezener for second took some strategic setting up to do. Once passed Carl, LeDuc drove around leader Bryce Menzie on the second to last lap after Menzie took a turn too sharp. LeDuc took first place once more as the checkered flag dropped and the fireworks shot into the late evening sky.

Todd LeDuc may have taken the Lucas Oil Off Road Series’ cash, trophies, and air time, but his priority now is preparing his truck for the next TORC Series race, August 8 & 9 in Bark River, MI. “It feels great to win for Rockstar at the Rockstar sponsored race, and in SoCal, but I leave for Bark River in five days. Its time for me to clench a victory in the highly competitive TORC Series” said Todd LeDuc. Todd’s younger brother Kyle added to the weekend of success by also winning both days in the Unlimited 4 division.

Televised coverage of this past weekend’s Lucas Oil Off Road Series in Lake Elsinore can be seen on The SPEED Channel, Sunday, August 23 at 1:00 PM.

Todd LeDuc is sponsored by:
Rockstar Energy Drink
Makita Power Tools
Toyo Tires
Ford
KalGard Lubricants
K&N Filters

Just three weeks after claiming six points-earning podiums at Crandon International Raceway the Rockstar / Makita Team LeDuc once again made the cross-country trip to Bark River, Michigan to compete in Rounds 7 and 8 of the Traxxas TORC Series.  Taking the horsepower to the limits and challenging even the most experienced drivers, Bark River International Raceway is arguably one of the most demanding tracks in this nationwide circuit – testing the limits of both man and machine.  With a crowd of 12,000 strong, Team LeDuc once again proved they are a force to be reckoned with by claiming three podiums during the TORC Series’ debut in Bark River.

With 15 Pro 2WDs staged and all looking for the win, it was anyone’s guess who would take home the coveted checkered flag in this highly competitive class.  Starting in the fifth position during Round 7, Todd LeDuc drove his No. 3 Rockstar / Makita Ford Pro 2WD at a consistent pace and earned the fifth place finish.  Sunday’s Round 8 competition found the No. 3 methodically working his way through the early race carnage to claim the second spot on the track during the third lap.  As the fierce competition heated up, Todd entered into a three way battle for first with Jeremy McGrath and Rob MacCachren.  Eventually settling into his pace, Todd crossed the finish in third and earned Team LeDuc Racing the third podium of the weekend.

             Crandon, WI (June 24, 2009)—The Traxxas TORC Series came to Crandon International Off Road Raceway for rounds five and six of the 2009 schedule. It was the LeDuc team’s turn to make the 2,000 mile trek to Wisconsin to compete at the most prestigious track on the TORC circuit, in front of over 24,000 fans.

            A unique characteristic of the infamous Crandon Int. Raceway is the competition land rush start. The 17 Pro 2WD drivers lined up in one row, 17 wide, as oppose to the traditional two by   two NASCAR style start. The Crandon racetrack is unlike other TORC Series race tracks in that each lap is over twice the distance, resulting in a 10 lap race, as oppose to 20 laps. 

            Saturday’s Pro 2WD action began underway as the Rockstar / Makita driver Todd LeDuc started in the number two position which proved beneficial as he grabbed the hole-shot into turn one, and took the early lead. Todd retained his first place position after the mid-race mandatory yellow flag, but a fierce battle with Rob MacCachren ensued at lap seven. Rob narrowly passed Todd in turn three as they both pulled away from the rest of the field. With only two laps two go, Todd looked for every opportunity to regain his lead. Todd admits, “Rob basically out foxxed me running that good line in the Gravel Pit”. Todd ultimately crossed the finish line only one truck length behind Rob MacCachren, clinching the second place finish. After Saturday’s round five,  Todd moved from fifth in points to third behind points leaders Ricky Johnson and Rob MacCachren.

Todd LeDuc takes the holeshot on Saterday

          Round six of The TORC Series on Sunday packed even more action into the Pro 2WD class. Although Todd started fourth on the starting grid, it was Ricky Johnson who pulled the hole-shot first. Todd’s engine hesitated at the start leaving him to settle for a sixth place beginning. He maintained that position until the competition yellow flag at lap number five. At the mid-race restart, Todd knew he needed to make his move to the front. Rob MacCachren was Todd’s first victim before quickly driving around Dan Vanden Heuvel for the fourth place spot. 

           The pass around Jeremy McGrath was considered simple compared to the battle that lay ahead with Ricky Johnson for second place. Coming into lap eight, Todd smelled blood as Ricky Johnson slowly developed a rear flat tire. Entering lap nine Todd made his move by bumping Ricky from behind and passing him on the inside. Ricky Johnson obviously did not appreciate Todd’s bump, as he returned the gesture by using his truck to remove Todd’s Rockstar paint. However, it did not work, as Todd  finished in second place behind race leader Scott Taylor. After the round, Todd said, “Wow, that race felt like a desert race, it was so dusty. I took a lot of risks and they all paid off”. The risks on the track and two second place finishes catapulted Todd into second place in the TORC Series points.
  
           Televised coverage of rounds five and six at Crandon International Raceway can be seen on ESPN2 on Sunday, June 28 at 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM EST. Todd LeDuc’s next stop on the 2009 TORC race schedule is Bark River International Raceway in Bark River, Michigan for rounds seven and eight. The action will take place over two days, July 11th and 12th.