Being a title sponsor for an event is one thing, being able to back it up and succeed is something in its own. Polaris was the title sponsor of the 2016 Mint 400 and brought a force to be reckoned with.
Over 50 UTVs came out to this event in the fastest growing class in off-road racing. Polaris swept the podiums in both the Pro Turbo and Pro Production at this year’s race.
The Mint 400 is a 330 mile race, that organizers decided to run in reverse to make the “Great American Race” that much more difficult. Polaris racer Branden Sims would get to the front of the pack and never looked back taking the Pro Turbo class and the overall win.
When Sims and his co-driver looked back to see who was getting second, they saw fellow team member Justin Lambert’s co-driver pushing their RZR XP 4 1000. In a sportsmanly act they ran to help push the vehicle across the finish line giving Lambert and Cognito Motorsports their third consecutive Pro Production win and the second overall for UTVs.
Husband and wife duo Wayne Matlock and Kristin Matlock would each get second place in their respective classes. Ryan Laidlaw would end the Mint in third place in the Pro Turbo class and Benjamin Bischoff would take third in the Pro Production class.
They will do battle again with the Best in the Desert series heads to Laughlin, Nevada May 5th to 8th for the Method Race Wheels Laughlin Desert Classic. Do you think they will succeed there as well? Tell us in the comments below!

A team effort allowed Polaris to take the top two overall spots in the Mint 400. Photo Credit: Harlen Foley