Gray Leadbetter Scores Top Five in Return to Pro Truck Racing
Professional off-road racer Gray Leadbetter made a successful return to Championship Off-Road’s Pro truck ranks over the weekend, as she returned to Ryan Beat Motorsports for her Pro Lite debut in the Show-Me Off-Road Shootout at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri. When all was said and done, Leadbetter and the #28 On Track School/Yokohama/Pepper Palace team opened the season with a fourth place finish on Saturday to begin the new campaign.
In practice and qualifying, Leadbetter was one of the fastest racers on track, and she converted that speed into time spent at the front of the pack on Saturday’s first race day. Despite contact from other competitors, she remained steadfast on the tough and technical Wheatland course to remain in the top five at the checkered flag. While mechanical issues ended her race early on Sunday, it was clear that the speed of Leadbetter and the #28 team would be a force to be reckoned with towards the front all season long.
Alongside her Pro Lite debut, Leadbetter also made one more start in Pro SXS, the same class where she finished top 10 in COR points last year. Despite tight turnarounds as she competed in classes racing back-to-back, Leadbetter showed quick pace as she filled in for Kyle Chaney in her Can-Am Maverick, contending for top 10s on both days.
“We learned a lot in Wheatland to get the season started, and I can’t thank everybody enough for their support,” said Leadbetter. “It was great to be back with RBM and back behind the wheel of a truck, and I had a lot of fun running one last race in Pro SXS before our focus shifts to Pro Lite for the rest of the season. We showed that we can run up front out of the box, and now we’re ready to build on that with even better results for the rest of the season.”
Leadbetter’s next race weekend will be June 6-8 at Antigo Lions Roaring Raceway in the Pro Lite. In her last two visits to Antigo in a truck, Leadbetter was four-for-four in Pro SPEC podiums with RBM, including a win in the 2022 season opener and three runner-up finishes. Click here for more information on the Antigo Off-Road National.
Gray Leadbetter’s Championship Off-Road program is supported by On Track School, Yokohama, Pepper Palace, Sparco, Vision Wheel, and Ryan Beat Motorsports. For more information on Gray, follow her on social media @grayleadbetter or visit GrayLeadbetter.com for her full schedule.