best in the desert

59 UNLIMITED CLASS CARS AND TRUCKS ARE READY TO COMPETE FOR THE COVETED NUMBER ONE STARTING SPOT AT BEST IN THE DESERT’S GENERAL TIRE “VEGAS TO RENO”

murf Uncategorized best in the desert, General Tire, off road, reno, trucks

There is no better way to start the 543-mile long General Tire “Vegas to Reno” race than at the head of pack and dust free. And on this coming Wednesday, August 14th, 59 unlimited class cars and trucks will be competing for a chance to do just that and claim the “Team Ford” Pole Award.

Best in the Desert is desert racing’s only sanctioning body that holds Time Trials for the unlimited car and trucks at every one of their events and allows them an equal opportunity to compete head-to-head for the first starting position. At this year’s running of the famous General Tire “Vegas to Reno”, the Longest Off Road Race in the United States, an elite group of the greatest off-road racers in the world, 33 Class1400 Trick Trucks and 26 Class 1500 Unlimited Cars, will gather at a secret location in the desert outside of Las Vegas to determine who is the fastest one of them all.
Rob MacCachren has been a dominating force at the Time Trials as of late in his Trick Truck having claimed the pole position at six of the last nine events dating back to the 2012 Parker 425. Justin Lofton broke his streak at last May’s Silver State 300 in his Class 1500 unlimited car. But with a field of 59 of the sport’s fastest drivers battling each other and the scorching Las Vegas heat, anything can happen. With only one day separating Time Trials and the start of the race, how far do these drivers push themselves and their machines for the top starting spot? The winner of the Time Trials will be announced Wednesday evening at the Salted Lime Bar inside the Aliante Casino & Hotel.

Casey Folks, the director of Best in the Desert, stated, “One of our most popular events, “Vegas to Reno”, entices the world’s elite to take on a course that many will find the most challenging terrain in the world. And to maintain a pace for 543-miles is a tribute to not only the vehicles, but to the strength and endurance of these racing athletes. And, our 59 racers entered into qualifying will find themselves faced with a unique challenge when they start Time Trials this year!“

Another bonus by racing Best in the Desert is the “Team Ford” Pole Award, and the $1000 cash prize presented by Steve Olliges, owner of Team Ford Lincoln of Las Vegas. The cash along with a unique trophy is awarded to the fastest qualifier of the Time Trials held before each Best In The Desert race for the car and truck classes.

After Time Trials, the General Tire Vegas to Reno race festivities continue in North Las Vegas, Nevada on Thursday, August 15, with contingency and tech inspection at the Aliante Casino & Hotel. There you will see the most unbelievable display of state-of-the-art, high-tech cars, trucks, motorcycles, quads and UTVs that are built for racing today, not to mention the BEST off-road desert racers competing today. The race gets underway Friday morning, August 16. The race will end in Dayton, just south of Reno, Nevada. Due to the 543-mile long race course, a 24-hour time limit has been set, so racers will still be coming into the finish line Saturday morning. Competitors will then celebrate their accomplishments and collect their awards at the Grand Sierra Resort Saturday evening.
Complete Time Trials Event Entry List:
Trick Trucks – 33
Class 1500 Unlimited Cars – 26

Starting Order
1 – Schovajsa (Trick Truck)
2 – Eugenio (Trick Truck)
3 – Croll (Trick Truck)
4 – Beaver (Trick Truck)
5 – Dondel (Trick Truck)
6 – Tuls (Class 1500)
7 – Jefferies (Class 1500)
8 – Matney (Class 1500)
9 – Griffith (Class 1500)
10 – Foster (Class 1500)
11 – Whitton (Trick Truck)
12 – Losch (Trick Truck)
13 – Curtis (Trick Truck)
14 – Whipple (Trick Truck)
15 – Graf (Trick Truck)
16 – Berri (Class 1500)
17 – Walser (Trick Truck)
18 – MacCachren (Trick Truck)
19 – Lofton (Class 1500)
20 – Jacobs (Class 1500)
21 – Gruber (Class 1500)
22 – Rockhill (Class 1500)
23 – Carroll (Trick Truck)
24 – Vest (Trick Truck)
25 – McMillin (Trick Truck)
26 – Hovey (Class 1500)
27 – Keysar (Class 1500)
28 – Boyle (Class 1500)
29 – G. Weyhrich (Trick Truck)
30 – Brown (Class 1500)
31 – Voss (Trick Truck)
32 – Nunley (Trick Truck)
33 – Walker (Class 1500)
34 – Strobel (Trick Truck)
35 – Menzies (Trick Truck)
36 – Staats (Trick Truck)
37 – Paxson (Class 1500)
38 – Letner (Class 1500)
39 – Scheeler (Trick Truck)
40 – Reid (Class 1500)
41 – Jones (Trick Truck)
42 – Galewick (Class 1500)
43 – Wilson (Class 1500)
44 – Price (Trick Truck)
45 – Olliges (Trick Truck)
46 – McGillivray (Trick Truck)
47 – Frank (Trick Truck)
48 – Flores (Trick Truck)
49 – Schwarz (Trick Truck)
50 – Dean (Class 1500)
51 – Freitas (Class 1500)
52 – Hancock (Trick Truck)
53 – Hutchins (Class 1500)
54 – Hengeveld (Class 1500)
55 – Wood (Class 1500)
56 – Lunn (Trick Truck)
57 – M. Weyhrich (Trick Truck)
58 – LeDuc (Trick Truck)
59 – Mitchell (Class 1500)
General Tire “Vegas to Reno” schedule:
Wednesday August 14 – Time Trials
Thursday, August 15 – Driver Registration, Contingency and Tech Inspection, Aliante Casino & Hotel in North Las Vegas.
Friday, August 16 – Race for all classes starts near Beatty, finishes at the Dayton Event Center.
Saturday, August 17 – Awards presentation in Reno at the Grand Sierra Resort.

Red Bull will be supporting contingency at the Aliante Station Resort & Casino in North Las Vegas, and also at the finish line at the Dayton, Nevada Event Center.

Best In The Desert is also fortunate to have some of the best companies in the off-road world as our sponsors. Thanks to Ford Motor Company, General Tire, VP Racing Fuels, Lucas Oil, KC HiLiTES, Fabtech, John Deere, Beta Motorcycles, Slime, McKenzies, Azunia Tequila, PCI Race Radios, Kartek, Rockwell Watches, Fall Advertising and Sportsman Cycle Sales.

The American Off-Road Racing Series…Best In The Desert!

Further information available from: www.bitd.com
email: bitd@bitd.com, phone: (702) 457-5775

MEDIA CONTACT: www.fallads.com/bitd, email: mediabitd@fallads.com

Rob MacCachren photo by DirtFocus.com
Justin Lofton photo by HighRev Photography

Best in the Desert

murf Uncategorized best in the desert, blue water resort and casino, off road race, Parker 425, race dezert, truck racing

Best In The Desert, the world’s largest off-road desert racing organization, announced that 236 entries have already signed up for the 2013 Blue Water Resort & Casino Parker “425”. “The Legend Lives On” as the annual Parker “425” in Parker, AZ, is set for this weekend, February 1-3. This will be the first race on the six-race schedule for Best In The Desert’s car & truck classes.
The race weekend action gets underway this Thursday, January 31st, with the Time Trials. Nearly 90 Trick Trucks and Class 1500 cars will qualify on a specially designed 5-mile course for a shot at the first overall starting position and the coveted $1,000 Team Ford “Pole Award”. Along with the bonus cash, the top qualifier gets to start dust free as he tackles the challenging Arizona desert. With the huge field of unlimited cars and trucks, the fastest qualifiers will definitely have an advantage for a chance at the first overall finish.

Directly following the Time Trials, participants will parade their vehicles to the center of town for the “Downtown Parker Experience”. The “Downtown Parker Experience” will feature all the high tech race vehicles from qualifying on display for race fans and local residents to check out up close along with live entertainment all afternoon long.

At 5:00 PM, in conjunction with the “Downtown Parker Experience”, the Parker Pit Crew Challenge presented by the MINT 400 & the Down & Dirty Radio Show will take place. This exciting competition will feature 16 Trick Truck teams competing two at a time in an elimination bracket for a shot at a minimum of $2,000 in prize money. The Parker Pit Crew Challenge will also be streamed live on Race-Dezert.com.
Contingency and technical inspection take place in the parking lot of the Blue Water Resort & Casino this Friday, February 1st. Race fans will have the chance to see hundreds of race vehicles first hand as they weave their way through contingency row. They’ll also have the opportunity to check out the latest off-road and racing accessories from the industry’s top manufacturers.

The 2013 edition of the Blue Water Resort & Casino Parker “425” officially gets underway on Saturday morning, February 2nd, as the green flag drops just past 7:00 AM for the first car or truck on California Ave., right in the middle of downtown Parker. The huge race field will be off to take on the first 425-mile leg of the desert racing season as they chase their dreams of a 2013 class championship.

The Parker “425” also marks the first race in the $138,000 Best In The Desert 2013 Trick Truck Challenge. This is the third year of the Best In The Desert Trick Truck Challenge where each participating team kicks in a $6,000 fee towards bonus prize money to be paid out to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place Trick Truck finishers in each of the six Best In The Desert races, plus a year-end bonus. Steve Sourapas was the big winner in 2012, taking home $54,500 in bonus money over the course of the year. After having been the top Trick Truck Challenge recipient as well as the 2012 Trick Truck champion, Sourapas will be handing over the driver of record duties to Rob MacCachren for 2013 in the #6 Corona Ford F-150.
The American Off-Road Racing Series…Best In The Desert!
Further information available from: www.bitd.com
email: bitd@bitd.com, phone: (702) 457-5775
MEDIA CONTACT: www.fallads.com/bitd, email: mediabitd@fallads.com

Steve Sourapas Takes Top Share of the $120,000 Best In The Desert Trick Truck Challenge Bonus Money

murf Uncategorized best in the desert, off road, Parker 425, Steve Sourapas, trucks

When the 2012 Best In The Desert race season got underway at the Parker “425”, twenty of the world’s top Trick Truck drivers had signed up for the second annual Trick Truck Challenge. Each participating team kicked in a $6,000 fee towards bonus prize money to be paid out to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place Trick Truck finishers in each of the six Best In The Desert races, plus a year-end bonus.

For 2012, Steve Sourapas walked away with the lion’s share of Trick Truck Challenge bonus money along with the beautiful trophy that goes to the overall winner. Going into the last race of the year, the Sourapas entry, driven by Rob MacCachren, sat eleven points behind the truck of Mark Weyhrich. In order to win the Trick Truck Championship and claim the top spot among the participating Trick Truck Challenge drivers, MacCachren had to finish first and have Weyhrich come in no higher than third place. When the checker flag fell at the end of the Henderson “250”, that’s exactly how they finished; Rob MacCachren first, Mark Weyhrich third. So when the total bonus money was added up, Steve Sourapas ended up the big winner, taking home $54,500 over the course of the year. Mark Weyhrich was second with $32,000. Other drivers that took home Trick Truck Challenge bonus money over the year included BJ Baldwin with $16,000, Juan Carlos Lopez with $7,000, and Adam Householder, Jason Voss, Rick D Johnson, and Steve Olliges each with $6,000.
Casey Folks, director of Best in the Desert, said, “This was our second running of the very popular Trick Truck Challenge, and I congratulate all the drivers for stepping up to the plate and knocking it out of the park.” He went on to say that he expects 2013 to be a banner year for Best In The Desert and the Trick Truck Challenge to get even bigger. The 2013 season is just around the corner, beginning with the legendary Blue Water Resort & Casino Parker “425” in Parker, AZ, February 1st thru 3rd along the beautiful Colorado River.

Participating teams for the 2012 Trick Truck Challenge:
Adam Ashcraft, #78
Adam Householder, #24
BJ Baldwin, #1
Cameron Steele, #16
Greg Nunley, #10
Gary Weyhrich, #98
Jason Voss, #35
Jerry Zaiden, #75
Jesse Jones, #76
Jimmy Nuckles, #48
Juan Carlos Lopez, #18
Kevin McGillivray & Chad Ragland, #56
Mark Weyhrich, #9
Rich Voss, #36
Rick D. Johnson, #71
Ron Whitton, #39
Scott Whipple, #95
Steve Olliges & John Swift, # 28
Steve Sourapas & Rob MacCachren, # 6
Will Staats, # 42

2012 Trick Truck Challenge Winners:
Parker “425” 1st Place Mark Weyhrich $10,000
2nd Place Juan Carlos Lopez $6,000
3rd Place Olliges/Swift $3,000

Mint “400” 1st Place Sourapas/MacCachren $10,000
2nd Place Adam Householder $6,000
3rd Place Mark Weyhrich $3,000

Silver State “300” 1st Place BJ Baldwin $10,000
2nd Place Sourapas/MacCachren $6,000
3rd Place Jason Voss $3,000

Vegas to Reno 1st Place Mark Weyhrich $10,000
2nd Place Rick D Johnson $6,000
3rd Place Jason Voss $3,000

Blue Water 1st Place Sourapas/MacCachren $10,000
Desert Challenge 2nd Place BJ Baldwin $6,000
3rd Place Mark Weyhrich $3,000

Henderson “250” 1st Place Sourapas/MacCachren $10,000
2nd Place Mark Weyhrich $6,000
3rd Place Olliges/Swift $3,000

Year-End Bonus (based on final Trick Truck points standings):
1st Place Steve Sourapas $3,500
2nd Place Mark Weyhrich $1,500
3rd Place Juan Carlos Lopez $1,000

Year-End Contributing Sponsor Bonus Money Awarded for 1st Place:
Steve Sourapas $10,000 from TSCO
Steve Sourapas $5,000 from Geiser Bros.

Best In The Desert official sponsors: Ford Motor Company – official truck, General Tire – official tire, Lucas – Official Oil, VP Racing Fuels – official fuel, KC HiLiTES – official light, John Deere – official UTV, Beta – official motorcycle, FabTech – Official Suspension, Fall Advertising, Prerunner Maniac, McKenzies, PCI Race Radios, Sportsman Cycle Sales, KarTek, and Rockwell Watches.

The American Off-Road Racing Series…Best In The Desert!
Further information available from: www.bitd.com
email: bitd@bitd.com, phone: (702) 457-5775
MEDIA CONTACT: www.fallads.com/bitd, email: mediabitd@fallads.com

Steve Sourapas photo by: MikesRacePhoto.com
Mark Weyhrich photo by: DirtFocus.com
Copyright © 2012 Fall Advertising, All rights reserved.

88 Teams Set to Compete for the “Team Ford Pole Award” at Blue Water Resort & Casino Parker “425” Time Trials

murf Uncategorized 425, best in the desert, blue water casino, ford, off road racing

The 2012 Blue Water Resort & Casino Parker “425”, February 3rd thru 5th, gets off to a fast start this Thursday when the Trick Trucks and Class 1500 unlimited buggies line up for a shot to see who is the fastest qualifier for the number one starting position and win the coveted $1,000 “Team Ford Pole Award”. Best In The Desert is the only desert racing organization that utilizes this type of qualifying format between the two fastest classes for an equal chance at who will be first off the line. The Time Trials are held prior to each race on an approximately 5-mile secret course. Each competitor is given one practice lap and then one lap to go for the money.

To date, 34 of the marquee Trick Trucks and 54 Class 1500 buggies have entered the race. The list of entries for the Blue Water Resort & Casino Parker “425” features the sport’s top off-road racers. Trick Truck drivers include B.J. Baldwin, Robby Gordon, Cameron Steele, Tim & Troy Herbst, Larry Roeseler, Steve Olliges, John Swift, Ryan Arciero, Chad Ragland, Steve Sourapas, Rob MacCachren, Jesse Jones, Bryce Menzies, Mark & Gary Weyhrich, Scott Whipple, and the list goes on and on. Unlimited Class 1500 competitors include Steve Appleton, Chuck Hovey, Dale Dondel, Randy Wilson, Sam Berri, Todd Jergensen, Ray Griffith, Mike Childress, Garrick Freitas, Pat Dean, T.J. Flores, Justin Lofton, Todd Tuls, and a host of others.

Since 2006, Steve Olliges, owner of Team Ford Lincoln in Las Vegas, NV, has sponsored and presented the “Team Ford Pole Award”. Steve has been a great supporter of Best In The Desert and off-road desert racing. He is constantly thinking of ways to make the sport better and more exciting for everyone involved. The Time Trials qualifying format is just one more reason why racers love racing Best In The Desert; just one more thing that sets Best In The Desert apart.

No one racer had won the Team Ford Pole Award twice, until the 2008 Bilek Racing Silver State “300”, where Sam Berri won for the second time. Now it looks like Sam is the man to beat with eight “Team Ford Pole Awards”.

Past “Team Ford Pole Award” Winners:
2006 – Henderson’s Terrible “400” – Rob MacCachren

2007 – Parker “425” – Garron Cadiente

2007 – Terrible’s “250” – Mark Post

2007 – TSCO “Vegas to Reno” – Todd Wyllie

2007 – Las Vegas “300” – Mark Weyhrich

2007 – Henderson’s Terrible “400” – Sam Berri

2008 – Parker “425” – Chet Huffman

2008 – Terrible’s “250” at Primm – Billy Gasper

2008 – TSCO “Vegas to Reno” – BJ Baldwin

2008 – Bilek Racing Silver State “300” – Sam Berri

2008 – Henderson Fabtech Desert Classic – Andy McMillin

2009 – Parker “425” – Steve Sourapas

2009 – Terrible’s “250” at Primm – Chet Huffman

2009 – TSCO “Vegas to Reno” – Andy McMillin

2009 – Bilek Racing Silver State “300” – Chuck Hovey

2009 – Henderson Fabtech Desert Classic – Sam Berri

2010 – BlueWater Parker “425” – Sam Berri

2010 – Bilek Racing Silver State “300” – Kyle Jergensen

2010 – TSCO “Vegas to Reno” – Sam Berri

2010 – BlueWater Desert Challenge – Sam Berri

2010 – TransWest Ford Henderson “250” – Sam Berri

2011 – BlueWater Parker “425” – Sam Berri

2011 – Bilek Racing Silver State “300” – Chuck Hovey

2011 – TSCO “Vegas to Reno” – Kyle Conlon

2011 – BlueWater Desert Challenge – BJ Baldwin (Class 1400)

2011 – BlueWater Desert Challenge – Ray Griffith (Class 1500)

2011 – TransWest Ford Henderson “250” – Justin Lofton

Best In the Desert Blue Water Resort & Casino Parker “425” schedule of events:

Thursday, February 2, 2012
11:30 AM ––
Practice Run for the Time Trials, Time Trials Immediately follows practice run

3:00 PM to 5:00 PM ––
Show & Shine – Downtown Experience / Downtown Parker – Display of Time Trial Vehicles, Street Fair

6:00 PM to 7:00 PM ––
Results & Time Trials Party
Reception hosted by McKenzies Performance Products, Dig Lounge – Blue Water Resort & Casino

Friday, February 3, 2012
9:30 PM to 6:00 PM ––
Car & Truck Contingency & Technical Inspection, North Parking Lot – Blue Water Resort & Casino

Saturday, February 4, 2012
7:15 AM ––
1st Car/Truck Starts – California Avenue – Downtown Parker

Sunday, February 5, 2012
9:00 AM to 10:30 AM ––
Awards Presentation – Bingo Room – Blue Water Resort & Casino

Best In The Desert official sponsors: Ford Motor Company – official truck, General Tire – official tire, Lucas – Official Oil, VP Racing Fuels – official fuel, KC HiLiTES – official light, John Deere – official UTV, American Beta – official motorcycle, Fabtech – Official Suspension, Fall Advertising, Prerunner Maniac, McKenzies, PCI Race Radios, Bullet Liner and Sportsman Cycle Sales.