BEST IN THE DESERT ANNOUNCES 2019 RACE SCHEDULE
Posted July 23, 2018
Some new dates, some new sponsors, and as always, great racing adventures are scheduled for 2019. It may still only be the summer of 2018, but Best In The Desert is moving forward and illustrating once again why we are the premier and most popular desert racing organization with the announcement of our eight-event 2019 race schedule. Best In The Desert’s Operations Manager Donald Jackson, had this to say regarding next year’s schedule, “While we still have a lot of great racing remaining this year, we’re also really excited about the impressive schedule we’ve got lined up for our Best In The Desert racers and fans to look forward to for next year.”
As is the tradition, the 2019 season kicks off January 11th and 12th in Parker, Arizona. This year’s event continues with the The GMZ UTV Winter Nationals “Casey Folks” Parker 250 presented by Polaris RZR. This is a special memorial race to honor the name of beloved Best In The Desert founder, Casey Folks. The race will mark the second anniversary of Casey’s passing and continues the tradition. This “Showdown in the Desert” is open to all Motorcycle, Quad, and UTV classes only.
Following the season opener is the famed BlueWater Resort & Casino Parker 425 presented by Impact on January 31 through February 3rd in Parker, Arizona. “The Legend Lives On” as the Car and Truck classes get their 2019 race season started in full force at this storied historical event along the majestic Colorado River. A special 1-day Pre-Fun Run for the race will be held on Sunday, January 13th.
Next on tap is the BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400. Known as “The American Off-Road Race”, it takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada, on March 7 thru 10, 2019. Ever since this race was added to the Best In The Desert race schedule in 2013, “The Mint 400” has gained immensely in both popularity and race entries. This is a points race for the Car, Truck, UTV classes, and for the first time in many, many years, the motorcycle classes are being added for this running of the race. The motorcycles were part of the inaugural Mint 400 in 1968 and we’re very excited to welcome them back.
Following The Mint 400, the Polaris RZR UTV World Championship returns to Laughlin, Nevada, on April 5th thru 7th. Titled “A Desert Race in a Class of Its Own”, this hugely popular event is open to desert and short-course UTV classes as well as Motorcycles and Quads. No Car or Truck classes for this race. The UTV Leap is back by popular demand. This event also includes a fun-filled Family Poker Run for UTVs only.
Next up is a racer favorite VT Construction Silver State 300 presented by Method Race Wheels scheduled for May 2nd through 5th. This point-to-point loop style race starts north of Alamo, Nevada and finishes at the “abandoned runway” just west of Caliente. “The American Adventure Continues” as the racecourse travels through incredibly scenic territory rich in Nevada’s cattle ranching and silver mining history. The race is open to all Best In The Desert classes and pre-race festivities will take place in Las Vegas. There will be a Pre-Fun Run for the race on April 20th and 21st, 2019.
Following the traditional short summer break, Best In The Desert racing gets back on track with its flagship event, the famous General Tire “Vegas to Reno” presented by FOX. For 2019, the 23rd annual running of “The Longest Off-Road Race In The United States” takes place from August 14th to 17th. Starting north of Las Vegas and finishing just south of Reno, Nevada, this grueling 500-miles plus, point-to-point racing adventure is open to all classes.
2019 will close out the season with the Method Race Wheels “Laughlin Desert Classic” presented by Polaris RZR. This two-day race format “Duel in the Desert” will take place October 10 through 13. With a special 16-mile racecourse set up next to the playground of the Colorado River, the race is open to the Car and Truck classes only. The popular and exciting 100% night race for UTVs is back Thursday, October 11th. This race will have two separate groups, racing 10 laps over the 16 mile course, illuminated only by their on-board vehicle lighting. This is an action packed event that has become extremely popular with both the racers and fans.
With the schedule set, the 2019 Best In The Desert race season will be another banner year for “The American Off-Road Racing Series” and all of its devoted racers and followers. It’s not too early to start your planning now.
2019 OFF-ROAD RACING SCHEDULE
JANUARY 11-12, 2019 – (Race in Parker, AZ)
MOTORCYCLE, QUAD & UTV POINTS ONLY – NO PRE-FUN RUN
BLUEWATER RESORT PARKER “425” presented by IMPACT
January 31- FEBRUARY 3, 2019 (race in Parker, AZ – Time Trials January 31, 2019)
CAR & TRUCK POINTS ONLY – 1-DAY PRE-FUN RUN ON SUNDAY, JAN. 13, 2019
BFGoodrich Tires MINT 400
MARCH 7-10, 2019 (race in Las Vegas, NV – Time Trials March 7, 2019)
CAR, TRUCK & UTV POINTS ONLY – NO PRE-FUN RUN
POLARIS RZR UTV WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
APRIL 5 – 7, 2019 – (Race in Laughlin, NV)
MOTORCYCLE, QUAD & UTV POINTS ONLY – FAMILY POKER RUN / UTVs ONLY
VT CONSTRUCTION SILVER STATE “300” presented by METHOD RACE WHEELS
MAY 2-5, 2019 – (Race Starts North of Alamo, NV – Time Trials May 2, 2019)
POINTS FOR ALL CLASSES – PRE-FUN RUN APRIL 19-20, 2019
GENERAL TIRE “VEGAS to RENO” presented by FOX
AUGUST 14-17, 2019 – (Race on Friday – Time Trials August 14, 2019)
POINTS FOR ALL CLASSES – NO PRE-FUN RUN
METHOD RACE WHEELS LAUGHLIN DESERT CLASSIC presented by Polaris RZR
OCTOBER 10-13, 2019 – (2-day race / Race in Laughlin, NV – Time Trials October 10, 2019)
CAR & TRUCK & ONLY – FAMILY POKER RUN / UTVs ONLY
UTV Only Night Race October 11th as part of this race
Schedule as of 7/17/2018 (Subject to change, please check Best In The Desert website periodically)
About Best In The Desert
Best In The Desert is recognized as the largest professional desert off-road racing organization in North America holding multiple off-road desert races. The philosophy of the organization is to provide top quality, World Class Off-Road Racing events, and more importantly to make those events exciting, spectacular, fun, different, well paying, and most of all, affordable. Based on over three decades of experience, and on years of sponsoring and promoting successful local and national events, Best In The Desert has achieved new levels in the sport of off-road desert racing. Best In The Desert, along with its racers and sponsors, enjoys recognition and exposure that sets it apart as “The American Off-Road Racing Series”.
2018 Best In The Desert official sponsors: Ford Motor Company – Official Truck, General Tire – Official Tire, Lucas Oil Products – Official Oil, Sunoco Race Fuels – Official Fuel, Rugged Radios – Official Communications, Fabtech – Official Suspension, Polaris RZR – Official UTV, KC HiLiTES – Official Light, Beta Motorcycles – Official Motorcycle, Method Race Wheels, Tactical Recovery Equipment, Trophy Tractor, R-N-R Steel, Dicks Racing Suspension, Slime, McKenzies, Sportsman Cycle Sales, Fall Advertising and True Travel Dynamics
Come Live Your Adventure with Best In The Desert…
THE AMERICAN OFF-ROAD RACING SERIESFurther information is available at:
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phone: (702) 457-5775Media Contact:
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Motorcycle and UTV photos provided by Harlan Foley