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The Vegas to Reno race held by Best in the Desert is the United States’ longest off-road race with over 540 miles of treacherous terrain. This years race was a single day point to point race just starting north of Las Vegas in Beatty and ending in Dayton, Nevada.
This is an extreme race that pushes teams through the Nevada desert weaving through small cities that normally do not see many visitors. The race is long and grueling, but we were able to follow the teams and catch them at the finish line.
Hitting The Ground Running During Time Trails
Time trials were the day before contingency where the trick truck class would compete at “Apex” an undisclosed track just outside of Las Vegas. At time trials the trucks are competing for the fastest lap time to lead the race on Friday.
The sun was beating down approaching the start time of time trials with everyone excited to get it underway. The first lap of time trials is called a “parade lap” where a Best in the Desert official leads all the racers in a single file line through the course, this would be the first and only time the racers would see the course.
Kevin Thompson of Concrete Motorsports surfing on the dirt (left) and Ryan Arciero driving the Seaspan trick truck built by Herbst Smith Fab (right) during this year's Vegas to Reno race.
To follow each racer would take their best shot at running through the course to place their best time. Some racers took it steady some took it fast and well Steve Olliges took it a little too fast and flipped on its lid and got disqualified from time trials. Rob MacCaharen would be the one to lay down the fastest time and lead the field onto the long journey to Reno.
Basking In The Sun On Race Day
Contingency would follow time trials the next morning where all the racers would show off their rides in front of the vendors and spectators. Once safety inspection came to a close many headed out to Beatty to stay close to the start while some stayed in Vegas.
All race vehicles have to pass a safety inspection before they are allowed to race.
The starting line was backed up out onto highway 95 of support teams and trailers trying to access the pit. The race started at 9:30 am for the trick truck class with the UTV classes following. The weather was not bad with at 10 am with a slight breeze at 82 degrees. Chasing a race of this magnitude has its logistic concerns but many of the teams had multiple chase crews that would leap frog from pit to pit to stay ahead of their driver.
Many of the UTVs ran into over heating issues leading to popping head gaskets including Jacob Carver in his new Rhys Millen Racing Polaris RZR. The trucks would make their way through race mile 97 which was just after pit 3. There was a straight away with a fast soft corner where many through plumes of sand.
Rob Maccachren (left) was the first trick truck through race mile 97, while Bryce Menzies was out pulling wheelies (right).
Rob MacCahren was the first to pass with Bryce Menzies and Tim Herbst following. Anthony Terzo in “Cinco Cinco” 55 Youtheory Racing truck would only make it just a mile past us after clipping a rock that was hanging onto the course.
Phil Blurton and Wayne Matlock would be battling it out for the lead in the Turbo UTV class over the next 50 miles. This years course had a freeway underpass with a seven foot height clearance and a bed of rocks to follow. Larry Rossler driving the Safecraft Polaris RZR was of the drivers that managed the rocks with ease seeming to float over them while most the Can-Am’s would have some difficulty.
Pat Okeefe of Safecraft Safety Equipment invited out Heavy D and Diesel Dave, from the TV show Diesel Brothers, to get to drive the end of the race in the 6120 truck. Steady following the live tracking you could see Jason Voss making killer time passing up the field and putting him in the lead.
With night already upon us, Jason trusted his KC Hilites to light the path to the finish if he could keep it together. While Jason was trying to keep a steady pace to finish, there was a fierce battle going between Ellstrom/Holz Racing Polaris RZR and Phil Burton in the No Limit Can Am to see which would be first on box.
Paul Wadlington rock crawling in his Polaris RZR (left), Dirty Life Wheels 6100 truck made it through the underpass (center), and Gastel Racing in his Can-Am (right) during one of the trickier parts of the race.
Heavy D and Diesel Dave jumped in the Safecraft truck three-quarters through the race and ran into issue after issue with power steering and eventually blowing a transmission just 60 miles out from the finish. Jason Voss would be the first trick truck through the line in Reno with and following.
First on the box for the UTV Class was Phil Burton in the No Limit Can Am with Ellstrom/Holz Racing right behind them. Live tracking for the Ellstrom/Holz Racing went out after race mile 350 and surprised the whole class by being the second to the line. Having it being so close times were needed to be assured of who was ahead in overall time.
Jason Voss would be the first place finisher in the Trick Truck class winning the 2017 Vegas to Reno race (top). Jeff Proctor made it to the finish in his Honda Ridgeline (left) and Joshua Cobb in the Safecraft Trophy Lite driven crossed the line around 1:00 am (right).
To Ellstrom/Holz Racing surprise they were just 13 seconds behind first place, what a finish! It goes to show you that even with 540 miles of desert you can still only win by just a few seconds if you aren’t on your game. As for the Diesel Brothers, they showed an immense amount of drive coming through the finish at 6 am Saturday morning.
For more highlights and photos, be sure to check out the gallery below!
