VEGAS TO RENO - A LOOK BACK

one of them. “I remember the first year we raced. We paraded down I15, on the highway, to get to the starting line. People got a chance to see the cars up close going down the road. I thought that was really cool. I’ve raced 47 years in a buggy, and now I’m learning to drive a truck. I hope we can get an overall win. I’ve never finished better than 2nd overall; it haunts me. I tell people all the time, even if I’m in a wheelchair, as long as you can get me in the car, I’ll race it!”

The Murray Brothers, Derek and Jason, had the best race ever. “It was 2016 and Can-Am just released the X3,” said Jason. “They gave one to the S3 guys, Dustin

Jones, and one to us. We built the car in 20 days. We met up to go testing and then went straight to the starting line. I was in the new car and took the win in the Unlimited Class. Derek was in the existing car and took the win in the Turbo Class.”

“My mood all day is to push and stay focused,” says Phil Blurton. “The UTV class is so competitive, it has even turned Vegas to Reno into a sprint race. We push so hard all day, crossing the finish line is awesome. I love that it's close to home so my wife gets to drive out and be waiting there for me. You know you just finished the longest off-road race in the U.S. when it’s over. My favorite Vegas to Reno was when we rolled the car while leading at about race mile 100. We got it back over and drove from almost last place all the way back up to first and won the race.”

Then there was the time for Vito Ranuio when the shoe was on the other foot with Blurton. “I think we were ahead on time, but you can never count out Blurton,” says Vito. “We came around a corner and saw Phil out changing a tire. We knew there was no doubt, we had the win. It is such a great feeling crossing the finish line with the win. The toughest competition showed up and we beat all of them. I love to watch the in-car from that race. It was great for everyone on the team, our families, our sponsors, and our fans.”

The team aspect of Vegas to Reno really comes into play. If the crew isn’t in the right place, you can lose the race. “I rely solely on my pit support to be at each pit to give me fuel, parts, food, etc,” says Skyler Howes. “At a loop race you may only need one or two support vehicles. At V2R, it’s possible to need 3 or more depending on the pit strategy. You need to make sure you have support at every stop and that you don’t beat the chase vehicle there.”

For many crews it’s their chance to shine. Some are on top teams and are earning a pay check. For others, the pit crew consists of family, friends, and sometimes other teams they compete against. I recall a story from one of the Jeepspeed racers about his crew staying in one of the pits a little longer after servicing their own truck because another team’s crew was stuck in traffic. They helped pit one of their competitors. Later in the race, the same team returned the favor even though their truck was running just behind them in second place. They all want to win, but there is a lot of mutual respect because the biggest challenge is always the desert.

“Point-to-point for me is a lot better because it means we get to go somewhere and give the pit crew a destination and

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Check out our full range of lights and accessories at rigidindustries.com something to chase,” says Ricky Brabec. “My favorite thing about Vegas to Reno is the adrenaline, the adventure and getting the whole team involved in helping and supporting. It’s all about the logistics. If it's fun and flowy, you can get on it with some calculated risks. The mood throughout the race is always amped up; it's the adrenaline for me. I do this stuff to catch the adrenaline feel, and it's a bad addiction.

In 2015, Jason Voss took his third consecutive overall Vegas to Reno victory. We'll have to wait and see if Ryan Aciero is able to match that magical accomplishment this August.

When it's pure fun, or when it’s dusty and you're stuck behind someone else, I'd say the adrenaline is pretty similar. You have fired up angry adrenaline or fun and fast adrenaline. To cross the finish line is always an accomplishment. A finish is always good; another notch on the belt.”

The bikes were faster in the beginning, but the Trick Trucks and buggies then began to give them a run for their money. They run different sections now so the comparison is not relevant. Everyone thinks that the Trick Trucks are the fastest on four wheels, but the Unlimited Open Wheel cars have held their own. To win at all is incredible, but those with multiple wins are part of an even more exclusive group. Andy McMillin has won overall twice; both times “The Long Way.” That’s something Brian Stewart knows well. He won the Nevada 1000 race in 2002 and the Millennium Nevada “2000” in 2000. That Millennium race was seven days of stage racing. Destry Abbott and Skyler Howes have two overall wins. Bryce Menzies and Ryan Arciero both have back to back wins so far. Sitting at the top of the win category are Johnny Campbell, Ricky Brabec and Jason Voss have four wins apiece. Jason Voss won three straight in a row. This year Ryan Arciero is trying to match that feat.

Whoever comes out on top this year will be anyone’s guess. The only thing you can count on is that they will have earned it. Whether it’s the desert or the competition, The “Casey Folks” Vegas to Reno race brings out the best in the desert. That was Casey’s goal from the very beginning.