The Mint 400 is the most historic off-road race held in the United States. And the Miss Mint Contest is just one of the many events that help kick off the race. But before we go further into the gorgeous gals of the contest, let’s take a moment to talk about the race.

Taylor Nicole Snyder from McKinney, Texas, is one of the contestants, and a racer.

Norm Johnson organized the first ever Mint 400 Off-Road Rally back in 1967 to promote The Mint Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Two buggies raced 600 miles across the desert from The Mint Hotel to the Sahara Hotel in Lake Tahoe, California. The stunt garnered the attention of people all over, and the idea of a bigger race took shape almost overnight. For years, the Mint 400 was one of the premier off-road events, at times fielding upwards of 500 cars and trucks.

When the Mint Hotel was sold to Jack Binion, who owned the Horseshoe Club next door, in 1988, the race’s future was up in the air. But its fame and financial benefit to the city and to its businesses was such that it continued for at least two more years before being discontinued.

Unfortunately, for reasons still not quite understood (perhaps hotel management just didn’t understand the benefits nor have the willingness for such an undertaking), the famous Mint 400 went dark for 20 years.

General Tire and SNORE worked together and resurrected the Mint 400 in 2008, running it until the Martelli Borthers partnered with Best In The Desert Racing Association 2012 and took the race to an entirely new level. Under this new direction, the Mint 400 has been on a rise to its former glory–it was once known as The Great American Desert Race.

The race is now preceded by activity that begins on Wednesday with a BBQ for racers and spectators, a staging parade of race vehicles; time trials and a driver meet-and-greet held Thursday; Saturday, March 15, 2014 is the main event on a 100-mile loop on which drivers run four laps; and Sunday is the awards ceremony. And there are gobs of parties in between.

Thursday is also the Miss Mint Contest, which brings us back to where we started this conversation. The Miss Mint Contest is just one part of the wild action-packed party leading up to the most historic desert race in the United States.

Megan White from Ridgecrest, California, grew up in a family of off-road racers and races UTVs.

The Miss Mint Finalists will be judged, in person, in a final round held Thursday, March 13, 2014. The Finalist with the highest score will be determined by the judges (at their sole discretion) is selected as the Grand Prize Winner.

However, only eight Finalists will be present in Las Vegas, and you can help choose those eight Finalists. Here’s how: Go to Miss Mint Contest and check all the contestants. Take your time and make your choices carefully. Pick the eight beautiful woman you would like to see go on to be Finalists in the 2014 Miss Mint 400 Contest and give them your Like! Oh yeah, there are race cars and trucks, too!