San Bernardino, Calif. ~ History was made in Southern California as the AMSOIL Championship Off-Road season, presented by Brunt, raced under the lights at the legendary Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino. For the first time, the series has brought its high-horsepower Pro divisions to California, and the opening night delivered a show worthy of the stage. Fans packed the grandstands to watch the best in the business battle on one of short course racing’s most iconic tracks.

The atmosphere was electric as Glen Helen’s historic layout pushed drivers to the limit with fast straightaways, sweeping corners, and dramatic elevation changes. With championships on the line and only two rounds to decide the season, Friday night’s action set the tone for an unforgettable finale weekend in SoCal.

Henderson Continues Late Season Streak with Pro 4 Win 

Friday night at Glen Helen belonged to Jimmy Henderson, who showed once again that he’s becoming a force in Pro 4. Henderson launched into the lead off the start and never looked back, driving a rocketship that hooked up out of every corner. Mickey Thomas applied pressure early, but Henderson found another gear in the second half, steadily pulling away to score his third win in the last four races.

“On the start, I had to get the holeshot,” said Henderson. “We were just really aggressive going into turns one and two, and then after that, we just ran really good laps. We knew this track was going to come apart and it did.”

Behind him, Thomas and RJ Anderson waged a fierce early battle before Anderson muscled into the runner-up spot. Adrian Cenni soon joined the fray, throwing everything he had at Anderson in a spirited fight for second, but Anderson held strong as the laps wound down.

With the championship in sight, CJ Greaves drove a calculated race. Keeping his truck clean, he picked his way into third by lap 14 and held it to the finish, moving one step closer to his 10th career Pro 4 championship. Henderson may have owned the night, but Greaves remains in firm control of the season-long crown heading into the finale.

Gutierrez Holds Off Beat in Thrilling Pro 2 Showdown

The Pro 2 trucks lit up Glen Helen Raceway on Friday night with a race that, while it ended as it began, proved to be one of the most thrilling contests of the season. Rick Gutierrez started on the pole with Ryan Beat alongside, and as the rain fell, the two put on a masterclass in wheel-to-wheel racing. Gutierrez powered ahead off the line, but Beat refused to back down, pulling alongside on multiple occasions. Each time, Gutierrez answered with perfect lines and precision through the jumps and corners, fending off every challenge to claim his third win of the year.

“This track is insane,” said Gutierrez. “We got whoops, we got sand, we got high-bank corners. It was super competitive. Ryan was on my but the whole time. Any mistake I made, he was going to be right there,”

Beat’s runner-up finish was just as valuable as it was exciting, as he shaved 14 points off his deficit to championship leader Keegan Kincaid, who had to claw back from deep in the field to salvage sixth. Kyle Greaves continued his late-season charge with another strong run, crossing the line third for his fourth podium in the last five rounds.

The night also marked a special debut, as Supercross champion Ken Roczen made his first start in short-course off-road racing, showing steady speed in tricky conditions to finish seventh.

Pro Lite Goes to Barry in Tight Battle as Holtger Inches Closer to Pro Lite Crown

The Pro Lite championship hunt came into Glen Helen Raceway with Johnny Holtger holding a 52-point lead and firmly in control of the standings. A steady run on Friday would all but secure his title, but it was Connor Barry who carried the urgency, needing a win and some help to keep his championship hopes alive. Under the California lights, Barry rose to the challenge with a determined drive to his second win in the past three races.

The race was far from straightforward. Making his season debut, Brody Eggleston came out swinging, running on Barry’s bumper early before slipping past to take the lead on lap 10. From there, Eggleston looked poised to steal the spotlight, fending off Barry’s pressure with clean lines and aggressive pace. But with two laps to go, Barry found the opening he needed, muscling back into the top spot.

Eggleston refused to back down, staying glued to Barry’s rear bumper until disaster struck. Pushing for the win, he clipped a k-rail and shredded a tire, ending his bid for victory. That left Barry clear to the checkered flag, while Holtger seized second to extend his championship cushion. Joey Maciosek capitalized on the late drama to grab third, rounding out a thrilling night of Pro Lite action at Glen Helen.

Miller Edges Van Den Elzen to Take Pro Spec Win and Points Lead

The Pro Spec championship fight couldn’t be closer as the series made its Southern California debut at Glen Helen Raceway. Just one point separated Chris Van Den Elzen and Wyatt Miller entering the weekend, and by night’s end the battle came down to those two once again.

Early on, Dylan Parsons and Nick Visser traded blows in a heated fight for the lead, but lap 12 changed everything when both Parsons and Visser’s trucks went off track within two turns of each other. That handed the advantage to Miller, who had been patiently running third. With Van Den Elzen charging up from sixth at the start, the championship rivals set up a dramatic finish. In the end, Miller’s pace proved strongest as he drove to his sixth win of the season and moved into the points lead. 

Van Den Elzen crossed the line second, while Ronald Kosciesza held off Draxton Szymik in the closing laps to secure his second straight podium in third.

Mason Jr. Breaks Through with Pro Buggy Win

The Pro Buggy championship picture tightened on Friday night as points leader Chaden Minder faced heavy pressure from defending champion Jordan Bernloehr and a deep field of contenders. Local standout Dave Mason Jr., who showed flashes of speed earlier this season at Spring Crandon, stole the spotlight at Glen Helen with a breakthrough performance.

Zachary Drapkin jumped out to the early lead, but Mason Jr. capitalized when Drapkin pushed wide on lap three and never looked back. Mason controlled the pace the rest of the way, driving to his first win of the season in front of his hometown fans. 

Bernloehr made a late charge into second with two laps to go, scoring his ninth podium of the year and closing the gap in the points race. Tony Keepers muscled into third on the final lap, while Minder finished just outside the top three and Billy Buth rounded out the top five.

Krajicek Knocks Off Field for First Career Pro SXS Victory 

The Pro SXS field rolled into Glen Helen with Owen VanEperen holding a 39-point lead and eyeing his third straight win, but a wild night under the lights reshuffled the deck. With rain beginning to fall, local standout Ronnie Anderson from Riverside, Calif., stormed to the front, holding off Chase Carr and defending champion CJ Greaves in a razor-thin battle at the front of the pack.

For much of the race, Anderson and Greaves set the pace, but chaos struck on lap nine. Anderson spun and broke, collecting Greaves in the process, while third-place runner Jeb Bootle was also forced out. That handed the lead to Kolton Krajicek, who then had to withstand a furious charge from Max Gordon, storming from dead last on the grid. Gordon briefly grabbed the top spot, but Krajicek quickly countered, retaking control and hammering down to secure his first career Pro SXS victory.

Points leader Owen VanEperen clawed his way through the chaos, climbing from deep in the field to finish second and extend his championship cushion. Behind him, rookie Ariel Buyarski delivered a breakout drive, holding her own in the late laps to secure her first career Pro SXS podium in third.

VanEperen Opens West Coast Debut with Pro Stock SXS Win

The Pro Stock SXS title was already in hand, but Owen VanEperen showed why he’s the class of the field by charging to his second straight victory in Friday night’s action at Glen Helen. His West Coast debut didn’t start as planned, running eighth in the opening laps, while Jeb Bootle controlled the pace out front with David Gay applying pressure.

A full-course caution on lap five bunched the field, and Gay quickly slipped past Bootle for the lead. VanEperen, however, was on the move, slicing through the pack and reeling in the leaders. With seven laps remaining, he powered past Gay and never looked back, crossing the line less than a second ahead to cap his championship drive in style. 

Gay held firm for second, while Cross Kirchmeier stayed consistent to earn his sixth podium of the season in third, with Bootle finishing fourth.

Class 11: While not a regular division for Champ Off-Road in the Midwest, Class 11 made a strong impression under the lights at Glen Helen. Blake Wilkey jumped out front early and looked poised to control the race, but former IndyCar driver Cole Whitt found another gear in the second half. Whitt was on rails as he pulled away and drove to a commanding win in his series debut. Wilkey stayed smooth to secure second, while former Pro Spec champion Chad Rayford impressed with a third-place finish in his own Class 11 debut.

170/200 SXS Recap: Ava Rodriquez set the pace early, but it was Stetson Wyman who laid down the fastest laps and powered his way to the win. Maddox Tiedemann charged into the runner-up spot, while Rodriquez held on to round out the podium in third.

Class 1-2/1600 Buggy: Travis Jones put together a flawless drive, leading every lap on his way to a wire-to-wire victory. Darren Sefton kept the pressure steady behind him and secured a solid second-place finish.

UP NEXT FOR CHAMPIONSHIP OFF-ROAD: Glen Helen Raceway on Saturday, September 26th.

About AMSOIL Championship Off-Road

AMSOIL Championship Off-Road is the premier short-course off-road racing series in North America. Showcasing the sport’s top drivers, teams, and race machines, this elite national championship brings high-octane, door-to-door racing to legendary venues spanning from Michigan to southern California. From PRO4 and PRO2 trucks to high-flying buggies, SxS, youth divisions and more, AMSOIL Championship Off-Road delivers non-stop action, fan-focused events, and a national platform for racers and partners. With live broadcasts and television coverage, a passionate fanbase, and support from industry-leading sponsors, AMSOIL Championship Off-Road continues to push the limits of off-road motorsports. Learn more at offroad.lab.b2tech.us and follow @ChampOffRoad on social media.