It's Going to be a Great 2012!

Friday, January 6, 2012 by Austin Kimbrell
Pro Lite Unlimited

Happy 2012 to each of you!  Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year's celebration, we certainly did!  As we look to 2012, we are grateful for everyone who supported us in 2011, and look forward to a great 2012 4 x 4 off road racing season!

The 2012 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series is posted on our website at: http://www.kimbrellracing.com/schedul   We hope you can make at least a few of the races for 2012.  We had added Reno, NV to the a list of great off road courses included in the 2012 schedule.  You'll notice that the schedule kicks off a week later than last year, but also finishes up in October rather than December, so hopefully that shift in scheduling will make it easier on our fans.  We sure hope so, as we love to have you out there with us!  

Always let us know on our Facebook page if you are going to make it to the race, as we would love to have you stop by the pits and say hello!  Our Facebook page is at www.facebook.com/pages/Kimbrell-Racing/108444685887624 .   Please do stop by, like our page, and say hello!

2012 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Schedule

Monday, November 28, 2011 by Austin Kimbrell
Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series

Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series - 2012 Schedule


We are very excited about the 2012 schedule, including the addition of Reno, NV, offering some of the finest extreme off road racing in the nation.  We are of course still focused on finishing 2011 strong, but wanted you to have a peek at 2012 4 x 4 Racing.  Here you go!

Round 1 - March 31 - Firebird International Raceway - Chandler, AZ
Round 2 - April 1 - Firebird International Raceway - Chandler, AZ
Round 3 - April 21 - Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park - Lake Elsinore, CA
Round 4 - April 22 - Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park - Lake Elsinore, CA
Round 5 - May 19  - Speedworld Off Road Park - Surprise, AZ
Round 6 - May 20  - Speedworld Off Road Park - Surprise, AZ
Round 7 - June 23 - Miller Motorsports Park - Tooele, UT
Round 8 - June 24 - Miller Motorsports Park - Tooele, UT
Round 9 - August 4 - Glen Helen Raceway - San Bernardino, CA
Round 10 - August 5 - Glen Helen Raceway - San Bernardino, CA
Round 11 - Sept. 1 - Reno, NV
Round 12 - Sept. 2 - Reno, NV
Round 13 - Sept. 22 - Las Vegas Motor Speedway - Las Vegas, NV
Round 14 - Sept. 23 - Las Vegas Motor Speedway - Las Vegas, NV
Round 15 - October 27 - Firebird International Raceway - Chandler, AZ
Lucas Oil Challenge Cup - October 28 - Firebird International Raceway - Chandler, AZ

We will post this on the Kimbrell Racing website also so you can refer back to it.  The Kimbrell Racing web address is www.kimbrellracing.com.     Also, the winner of the Kimbrell Racing VIP Prize Package has been picked and notified by text message.  We are waiting for the winner's response, so check your text messages!  The VIP package includes tickets to the last round of off road madness for the 2011 season and great Kimbrell Racing gear.   Looking forward to seeing you at the last round and Challenge Cup at Firebird Raceway in Phoenix on Dec. 10th and 11th!

Qualifying Results for Austin Kimbrell

Saturday, November 5, 2011 by Austin Kimbrell
austin - air

Austin moved out in qualifiers yesterday, putting him in GREAT position for today's races.  In the Pro Lite Unlimited, Austin qualified 4th, then they pulled a number 4 (inverted), so he will be starting on the pole today!    Austin qualified 7th in the Super Lite so will be starting 7th.

We are excited and feeling really good about today's  4x4 racing!  Stay tuned for race results, we will keep you posted! 

Rounds 13 and 14 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series This Weekend at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway!

Monday, October 31, 2011 by Austin Kimbrell
Dirt Flinging driving!

It's race week and we are gearing up!  John went to Las Vegas to pick up the new engine, and our top off road trucks will be ready to chew up some serious dirt this weekend. Our team is working hard to get the trucks in top shape to give Austin the edge that he needs to get it done this weekend. 

We are coming down to the wire for the 2011 series.  There is the race this weekend in Las Vegas, then Round 15 on December 10 at Firebird Raceway in Phoenix, and then the Challenge Cup on December 11th also at Firebird.    Austin still looks good in points standings for the LOORS Ultra Lite (top ten) Off Road Racing Championship, and is a top contender for Rookie of the Year in this class.  He is hanging tough in the Pro Lite Unlimited as well, just outside of top ten, but we expect to change that this weekend!

If you haven't done so already, be sure to text Austin to 49798 to subscribe to live race updates via text message! (your standard text rates apply).    We also are asking folks on Kimbrell Racing's Facebook page to post good luck messages to Austin.  The most creative message will be posted on our blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc., so be sure you post!  Here is the link for Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kimbrell-Racing/108444685887624

We will be posting new race photos and 4 x 4 truck video from the races on the website, so be sure to check it out:  http://www.kimbrellracing.com/#!__photos

As always, thanks to our family, great fans, sponsors, and race team!  

Countdown to the November Race

Thursday, October 13, 2011 by Austin Kimbrell
Speedword RaceSpeedworld race
The next race is coming up fast!  November 5th and 6th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, one of the finest off road courses in the LOORS 4 x 4 off road racing series.  The Speed Channel will be covering the race.  We are busy making sure the trucks are in great shape and looking forward to moving up in rankings with our eyes set on the off road racing championship in December back in Phoenix.

Currently Austin is in great shape in the Super Lite class, and a top contender for Rookie of the Year in the Super Lite.  Austin continues to battle in the Pro Lite as a first year driver in that tough class, and he is close to the top ten ranking drivers.  Austin is an exceptionally aggressive driver and for his first year out in both the Super Lite and Pro Lite Unlimited classes, he is making remarkable progress.

We just posted some great photos on Facebook of the LOORS race at Speedworld in Surprise, AZ.  Please go check them out at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kimbrell-Racing/108444685887624.   Great pictures of working in the pits on the trucks, our great fans, and of course some racing pics.  Also, new 4 x 4 extreme videos are posted on the Kimbrell Racing website, so check it out at www.kimbrellracing.com/videos

It's 2012 sponsorship time, and we have great marketing opportunities available for our sponsors including branding on our trucks, trailer, and pit, plus direct marketing inclusion on our website, our blog, social media, our text messaging platform, and direct access to race fans from our pits.  For sponsorship information, contact johnk@kimbrellelectric.com.

As always, a big thanks to our sponsors and providers of our off road equipment, off road truck parts, and off road gear, our crew, and fans - you guys make it all possible!  We look forward to you joining us in Las Vegas, and of course our great local fans in Phoenix for the finale - the Championship Cup at Firebird Raceway on December 10-11th.  After such a great fan turnout in September, creating our "sea of red" Kimbrell Racing t-shirts, we know we need you there for sure!  
 




More Racing Updates from LOORS Rounds 11-12

Tuesday, September 27, 2011 by Austin Kimbrell
best off road vehicle
More Race Updates from Loors....

Thanks again to all our CREW Family and friends  for this past weekend of extreme off road racing at rounds 11-12 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Race in Surprise, AZ!

A very special thanks to XMF - Xtreme Machine Fabrication (Jimmy Owens and Scott Mears).   Without these two individuals it would almost be impossible to keep the pace that we do in this off road madness….  They share their 4 x 4 off road racing expertise with us, plus share their great sense of humor, just making it fun for everyone!  They really make our pits so enjoyable! makes our pits so enjoyable  ……

Thanks also to the rest of the crew who worked so hard for so many hours this past weekend. 

Another thanks to Joey DiGiovanni with UTV Underground for all the great photos and friendship.  Thanks also to UTI Universal Technical Institute for the graduate interns they make available.

And finally,  congratulations to Mike and Nicol Blackenship for their new addition to their family... baby Daphne!  Welcome baby Daphne!
 
 
More details of what happened at the race this past weekend...
 
Although it was not the results we were hoping for with all the mechanical difficulties, we still saw some impressive and aggressive racing from Austin.  When he started out on Saturday in the Super Lite he was in the back of the pack due to qualifying position on Friday, but quickly started moving thru the pack towards the front. At turn 3 Austin got pushed out wide, which landed him on the k rail.   The impact broke the left lower A arm off, and so Austin had to exit the race.
 
The Pro Lite on Saturday started again in the back, but quickly moved up to 5th after the yellow flag.  Austin was in good position when an oil sending unite failed, shutting down the engine. Austin did the smart thing and pulled off to keep from further damaging to the engine.
 
Everyone then worked furiously on the trucks to get us back in shape for Sunday's races.  On Sunday we had further difficulties.  The Super Lite started the race, then broke a Hines joint causing the rear left A arm to fail, and so once again we were taken out of the race.
 
The Pro Lite  never made it into the race as a timing belt failed on our shake down laps Sunday morning, causing the timing to change and damaging the engine.  We just didn't have enough time to change it out to the backup between the shake down laps and the race.

Tough weekend, but we have a tough team, tough driver, and great fans.  We are shaking it off, working to make our trucks the best off road racing vehicles out there, and staying focused on the next race in Vegas.  We hope to see you there, and thanks again for your support!


Thanks for the Weekend!

Monday, September 26, 2011 by Austin Kimbrell
Race prep
The Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series cranked back up this past weekend with rounds 11 and 12 at one of the great off road courses, Speedworld Offroad Park in Surprise, AZ.  It also happens to be our home town, so we had a great turn out, and want to give a big shout out to our fans - we turned a BIG portion of the stands RED in support of Kimbrell Racing! 

Every race features a little bit of off road madness, but it was a tough weekend with the trucks.  The bright spot is that every time we race it is a team effort!  Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who worked so hard this past weekend, you guys are the best!

Every race we know what a big role our sponsors play in making extreme off road racing all possible, including Toyo Tires who supply our off road truck tires, were out there this weekend, and always supporting us.  If you haven't done so already, be sure to check in on their Team Toyo Tires race site - very cool, and their Facebook page as well.  These guys are awesome and really support racing.  Don't forget Lucas Oil - they make this race series possible, so be sure you check out the site and give them some racing love!  Fiberwerx helps our trucks hang together!  At any race you'll see pieces of trucks come flying off, and these guys are the glue that help keep us in one piece!  Thanks, Fiberwerx!  Check them out! Method Wheels make our trucks lighter, stronger, and faster  - thanks for your sponsorship support! And of course, Kimbrell Electric, our family owned business that provides high quality commercial electrical services to the Phoenix metro area.

So... thank you fans!  Thank you race team! Thank you sponsors!  Thank you family!  We are so grateful for your support, you guys make it happen.

One more thank you to the folks at Homeward Bound - Becky did a great job hanging out talking to fans all weekend for a great cause.  Don't forget that Homeward Bound Homeward Bound's mission is to provide families with a hand up, not a handout. The money raised will help support the organization's many programs working to help and empower families in need. With national television and radio, plus local coverage and large crowds of loyal fans, we hope to generate substantial donations and awareness nationwide.  Homeward Bound is a 501-C3 organization and all funds contributed are tax deductible, received with deep gratitude, and put to work making a difference in the lives of these Phoenix families.   A text message fundraising system has been set up, with 100% of all contributions going directly to Homeward Bound.   Donations can be made by texting the word FAMILY to the number 24453.

Here is the update from the weekend: We had some tough breaks with the trucks on Friday and on Saturday. On Friday all sorts of stuff broke, and after working until 1:30 in the morning to be ready for Sat., we had to pull out of the Super Lite when the truck quit shifting gears, and pull out of the Pro Lite when we dropped a cylinder.   As you know, 4 x 4 racing means that our off road equipment takes a pounding, and when something breaks you work fast and hard. Everyone pitched in to get us back in the race on Sunday, so thank you!  Even the best off road equipment breaks from time to time, and so on Friday worked until 1:30 in the morning, and then on Saturday had to pull out of both the Super Lite and Pro Lite Unlimited races from off road truck parts breaking down.  Sunday we were back in it, but couldn't pull it all together to make it to the podium.

With five rounds left to run, the off road racing championship is right in our sights.  The battles are tough out there,  points are at a premium, and the stakes are high.  We are going to stay focused and start prepping for Las Vegas on Nov. 5th and 6th.  We have the best team, the best fans, the greatest sponsors, and awesome family support, so thank you again to everyone who makes this race team possible.

As always, if you have not done so already, be sure to join us on Facebook, on Twitter, on our website at www.kimbrellracing.com, and for live race updates via text message, text AUSTIN to 24453.  And.... if you want to win great race gear, go to our Facebook page for info on how to enter!

What About the Engine?

Wednesday, July 13, 2011 by Austin Kimbrell
Kimbrell #88

We are tuning up the trucks getting ready for Glen Helen, so what about the engine?  It takes guts AND horsepower to get out in front in 4 x 4 racing.  Our racing engine is built by Kroyer Racing Engines.  Top off road trucks have to muscle through the mud to get it done, and our Kroyer engine definitely gets it done.  They have been building championship racing engines for over a decade, and have over thirty titles to prove it.  I, for one, am glad we are using their horsepower to power our off road equipment as we battle it out in the Lucas Oil Off Road Series.

Be sure to text AUSTIN to 24453 for live race updates, and come hang out with Kimbrell Racing on Twitter and Facebook.   Thanks for your awesome support! 

Austin Kimbrell  #88
Kimbrell Racing