It seems a long time since the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series started the 2018 championship journey back at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Ariz. in April of this year. However, it’s actually only been about five months, and now into the second half of the season, Team GT’s Ryan Beat is having one of the best seasons in the history of Pro Lite competition.
Through eight rounds, Beat hasn’t finished off the podium yet. With four wins, Beat’s results have been nothing short of stellar, and his smooth, almost effortless style must make things all the more frustrating for those trying so hard to keep pace. Indeed, nobody’s been able to keep up with Beat, at least points-wise, this year, as Beat currently holds a 32-point lead over second-placed Brandon Arthur, who himself has had a solid, consistent season that most drivers would love to have. Arthur himself hasn’t finished outside the top five yet this year, but three second places and a third have netted him a huge deficit to Beat, and Arthur will need some luck to catch the championship leader with only four races remaining.
Third place in the standings is currently held by Team GT’s Christopher Polvoorde, who has only finished outside the top five one time this year. Polvoorde’s sweep of the Estero Beach weekend has definitely helped lock him in as a title threat. However, like Arthur, Polvoorde will have to find some extra speed to help him catch Beat. Mickey Thomas is the only other driver who’s got any kind of realistic chance, mathematically, in the championship race, as he sits 50 points behind Beat, but he’ll have to do even better than his already solid run of top six finishes if he’s to challenge those ahead of him.
