RENO, NV AUGUST 17, 2011 Mike Shaffer and the Shaffer-Motorsports Team will run the longest offroad race in the US on Friday August 19th; the TSCO Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno race. The team is currently in third place, only 10 points out of first in the Class 1000 series. Their goal is to improve on the third place finish that they had at the Silver State 300 and move closer to the Best in the Desert series Class 1000 win. “We have had a solid season so far, and look to continue pushing to the front of the pack at this race,” said Mike Shaffer, driver of record and owner of Shaffer’s Offroad.
With 552 miles to the finish line, the team of Mike Shaffer, Shawn Twitchell and Daniel Aeberli will have to keep the Torchmate Racing #1066 Class 1000 car at the front of the pack by maintaining consistency. Shawn Twitchell and co-driver Ian Twitchell will start the race. Mike Shaffer and co-driver Daniel Rosenberry will get in the car at Pit 5, race mile 194. Daniel Aeberli will get in the car at Pit 11, race mile 400 and will drive to the finish line. The entire team will be at Tech and Contingency at the Aliante Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on Thursday August 18, 2011.
Since the BITD Silver State 300, the car has undergone a complete teardown and prep at Shaffer’s Offroad. The full service treatment included mounting new BFGoodrich tires, having the chassis crack checked and repaired, rebuilding the shocks, rebuilding and re-gearing the transaxle, rebuilding/replacing the CV’s, repairing the steering rack mount, and rebuilding the front shock mounts. They relocated the fuel system, fire extinguishers, wire harness, the computer and fuse block for better access. They added a rear sway bar, a steering brake, new rear bumper, new rear panels and the rear arms have been heat treated. And as usual, the list goes on!
Four chase trucks and 10 volunteers will support the Torchmate Racing #1066 car for the race. “Without these great people we couldn’t make it happen,” said Shawn Twitchell. Bernie Strom, Amber Strom, John Cantrell, Chris Miller, Ray Swanson, Josh England, Benjamin Palma, Francie Albertson, Dan Hays will be chasing and Big Rich Klein will handle communications and tracking remotely.
Follow the BITD Vegas to Reno race at www.racetheworld.net, Track car #1066
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