Robby Gordon Holds Overall Points Lead Heading into General Tire “Vegas to Reno”, “The Longest Off-Road Race in the United States”

As the top off-road racers gather to take on the challenging second half of Best In The Desert’s 2012 6-race race season, racing icon Robby Gordon holds the overall, and Class 1500 points lead with 300 points in his bright orange RPM, Geiser Bros. truggy. Gordon leads the General Tire sponsored Class 1500 unlimited car of Mike Childress sitting in second overall and in class, with 273 points.

The Trick Truck standings are even closer with Mark Weyhrich and Steve Sourapas tied at the top with 242 points each. They are followed closely by Gordon’s RPM teammate, Juan Carlos Lopez with 238.

It’s only fitting that the second half of the season begins with perhaps the most technical and challenging race on the schedule. The 534-mile General Tire “Vegas to Reno” course, known as “The Longest Off-Road Race in the United States”, is the ultimate test of man and machine as they try to survive the demanding Nevada desert. This race will prove to be pivotal in so many racers’ quest at a season class championship. That’s why so many of them come to take on the historical event.

Entries are now up to 319 cars, trucks, motorcycles, quads and UTVs. With additional racer registrations being accepted up to the day before the race, this race could easily result in the largest field of the season. Racers from all over the world, including Europe, Canada, South America and Australia have already signed up for this epic adventure.

Here’s how the entries stack up at this point:

Car/Trucks – 197

Motorcycles – 79

Quads – 20

UTVs – 23

Total – 319

Activities leading up to the 2012 General Tire “Vegas to Reno” race will officially get underway Wednesday, August 15^th, when the Trick Trucks and open Class 1500 buggies get set to go head to head at the Time Trials for a shot at the coveted “Team Ford” Pole Award and the $1000 in bonus cash from Steve Olliges of Team Ford Lincoln that goes along with it. Best In The Desert is the only off-road desert racing organization that holds this type of qualifying format for every race on the schedule. The special format really allows the fastest race vehicles, regardless of car or truck, to compete on equal ground for the “dust-free” first starting position and a great shot at the overall four wheeled race victory.

Contingency and tech inspection kicks off Thursday, August 16^th, from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM at the Aliante Station Casino and Hotel in North Las Vegas. Race fans will have the chance to get up close to the race vehicles and drivers as well as check out thousands of awesome race related products on display as they weave their way through the parking.

2011 “Vegas to Reno” – Defending Class Winners

Car and Truck Class Winners by Overall Time

Class 1400             Steve Strobel/Dale Ebberts             Ford                         9:52:39

Class 1500             Garrick Freitas/Danny Freitas             Jimco                         9:57:41

Class 1200             Troy Vest/Geno Licitra                         Chevrolet             11:26:18

Class 1100             Bryan Folks/Rick Graf                         Ford                         11:40:38

Class 7200             David Caspino/Neal Mason             Ford                         11:43:18

Class 8000             Don German/Chris German             Chevrolet             11:50:20

Class 1000             Chad Giguiere/Cody Bullock             Custom                         11:59:37

Class 2000             Bryan Meyers/Kyle Hearold             Custom                         12:35:43

Class 3000             Mike Belk/Wendy Belk                         Seagroves             12:55:53

Class 6100             Jim Riley/Rick L Johnson                         TrophyLite             13:19:12

Class 8100             Randy Merritt/Chris Golding             Ford                         14:05:03

Class 1800             Jim Goff/Shane Baich                         Lothringer             14:48:10

Class 1700             Michael Vernak/Matt Vogler             Jeep                         16:33:17

Class 7100             Blake Henn/Freddy Paris                         Ford                         17:44:52

Class 4400             JT Stephens/Dave Cole                         Custom                         20:28:27

Motorcycle, Quad & UTV Class Winners by Overall Time

Open Pro             Shane Esposito/Chris Brown             Kawasaki             9:39:27

Open Exp             Justin Morrow/CarlMaassberg             Honda                         10:13:53

O-30 Pro             David Fry/Jason Trubey                         Honda                         10:36:02

250 Exp                         Ryan McManus/John Harbauer             KTM                         10:57:43

Quad Pro             Greg Stuart/Nicholas Granlund             Laeger                         11:06:39

O-30 Exp             Marc Jenkins/Greg Willitts                         Honda                         11:14:51

O-40 Pro             Scott Glimp/Tim Morton                         Honda                         11:20:41

O-40                         Exp Steven Fuller/Todd Abratowski             Honda                         11:30:49

IM Exp                         Jake Oswald                                     Honda                         11:48:54

Open Am             Greg Parker/William Williford             Honda                         12:00:40

O-50 Exp             Mike Mieras/Brad Kohler                         Husaberg             12:14:38

Quad Exp             Juan Dominguez/

Alonzo Dominguez                         Honda                         12:46:18

QIM Exp             Gerald Nunes                                     Honda                         13:02:19

Quad Am             Richard Goforth/James Ortiz             Can-Am                         13:11:41

250 Pro                         Jesse Canepa/Matt Canepa             Yamaha             13:20:43

IM Am                         Dennis Buckmeyer                         Kawasaki             13:32:00

QIM Am                         Norm Graham                                     Suzuki                         19:42:30

UTV Pro             Brandon Schueler/Chad Riccio             Polaris                         13:27:42

2012 General Tire “Vegas to Reno” Schedule of Events

Wednesday – August 15, 2012

 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM 

Registration for Time Trials for Class 1400 & 1500 Only

Aliante Station, Scottsdale Ballroom

1:30 PM – Staging for Practice Lap

Time Trials for Class 1400 & Class 1500

Time Trials will start immediately after the practice run

7:00 PM to 9:00 PM – Welcome Party & Time Trials Results

Cabo’s Bar, Casino Floor, Aliante Station

Thursday – August 16, 2012

8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Drivers/Riders Registration – Scottsdale Ballroom, Aliante Station

8:00 AM to 5:00 PM 

Car – Truck – Motorcycle – Quad – UTV

Contingency Inspection and Technical Inspection

Aliante Station Casino Hotel – Parking Lot

5:00 PM

MANDATORY Drivers/Riders/Pit Crew Meeting

Scottsdale Ballroom, Aliante Station Casino Hotel

Friday – August 17, 2012

5:15 AM

Motorcycle/Quad/UTV Staging

5:45 AM

1st Professional Motorcycle Leaves the Start Line

8:45 AM 

Car/Truck Staging

9:30 AM

1st Professional Car/Truck Leaves the Start Line

Saturday – August 18, 2012

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

General Tire “Vegas to Reno” Awards Presentation

Grand Sierra Resort Convention Center

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.

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

Further information available from: www.bitd.com