Off-Road Gran Prix : Harris Wins Main Event at San Diego

The best thing about stadium off-road racing for Glenn Harris is the “neck-and-neck” strategy of the sport.

Saturday night, Harris had little opportunity to enjoy any close action with his fellow drivers.

Harris, from Camarillo, gained big leads in both the qualifying heat and the final of the featured grand national truck division to score an easy victory in the second event of Mickey Thompson’s Off-Road Gran Prix series before 37,405 fans who braved 30-degree weather at Jack Murphy Stadium. Steve Millen was second and Roger Mears a distant third.

The only time Harris had much competition was in the opening trophy dash. In that one, the right door on Harris’ Mazda was caved in by Toyota driver Steve Millen.

“Last week (at Anaheim) he clobbered me,” Harris said. “He’s been leaning heavily on my equipment lately.”

Harris’ equipment was safe during the evening’s feature race. Harris started in the second row, something he hasn’t done since 1985.

“It makes a big difference starting up front,” Harris said.

Halfway through the first lap, Harris passed teammate Jeff Huber and took the lead for good. The only time Harris was challenged came on the final lap, when Millen got close on the opening turn of the lap.

In earlier races, Greg George of Ontario powered his way past Tim Maples of West Los Angeles to win the ultrastock main event, and El Cajon’s Ron Pierce took the lead in his tiny 360cc machine on the next-to-last lap, overcoming what appeared to be a safe lead by Dan Hamilton, to win the Odyssey division.

In the four-wheel ATV main event, Jimmy White of Yorba Linda nosed his Suzuki past Chino’s Gary Denton to finish first.

Hometown favorite Ivan (Iron Man) Stewart of Lakeside withdrew after he aggravated a pinched nerve in his back during a warmup. Last year’s winner here, Sherman Balch, also withdrew because of a back injury suffered during a practice run.

During a preview run before last week’s Anaheim event, Stewart, 40, suffered whiplash to his lower back after his Toyota bottomed out on a jump at Anaheim. Stewart, who was replaced by Toyota teammate Al Arciero, said: “A lot of people came out to watch, and I feel bad about missing the race.”