DESERT RACING
BEST IN THE DESERT Shaun Ochsner PARKER 425 Story: Photos: Shaun Ochsner & Best in the Desert
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he Best in the Desert Parker 425 has always been a widely popular race to start off the season with. Best in the Desert had to make some changes to this year’s event. Covid-19 concerns forced the series to move the start and finish line off of the property of the Colorado River Indian Tribe (CRIT). The event was moved into the desert just off of Shea Road. There also was not an opportunity for the top classes to qualify this year due to the CRIT closure. Instead, a random drawing of entries was held to determine starting positions. To limit exposure, the drivers meeting was held online, and tech and
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contingency was held as a “drive through” event. What followed were two days of off-road racing at the level everyone has come to expect from Best in the Desert. The green flag dropped Friday morning as several classes of race vehicles rocketed off into the desert, setting off on a journey on the 126-mile course. Three laps later, winners would be determined. Wheeler Morgan took the class 10 victory with a course time of 5 hours, 53 minutes and 38 seconds. Racing was tight in class 5 with Cade Garcia finishing just a
