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Tag: Parker 425

BANNING MOTORSPORTS Debuts New 6100 Truck at BITD Parker 425

Parker, AZ (February 12th, 2015)– As Banning Motorsports rolled into Parker, AZ for the 2015 Best In The Desert, Parker 425, it became a reality as they were getting ready to debut their new 6100 Pro Truck. The Parker 425 has been apart of the series for generations and the season opener would see over 200 entries for the race. Championship points will start to be earned and this race would set the pace of what is to come for the year.

As the feature race for Banning Motorsports, they use this weekend to celebrate their past season. Inviting sponsors, supporters, fans, friends, family and team-members to their traditional after race dinner and party. Presenting plaques to their sponsors and team.

“We had another stellar year in 2014 with the 1178 car winning another championship, the 1023 car tying for a second championship.” Stated Lee Banning Sr. to the entire party. “Stellar performance in the Baja 1000 with a 3rd place podium finish, and the 2488 car we were finally able to get the engine package sorted out and ready for the 2015 year.”After much anticipation, Banning finally presented their new truck to the desert. Time Trials took place on Thursday prior to the race and this would be the first time BITD would have 6100 Pro Truck class qualifying. Banning Sr. qualified the new #6155 truck and was able to secure a 13th starting position.

Come race day Banning had a great start off the line around 8:15am. This year the morning sun was not an issue for them as they passed several trucks early on in the race. At race mile 30 they would be about 5th on the road. completing a flawless first lap, coming in to the main pit python they were only about five minutes behind the leader and eventual winner Brett Sourapas. After lap 1, Banning Sr. handed the truck over to Gary Williams.

The team experienced a longer than expected pit stop due to fueling issues which would set them behind on time. The second lap Williams would began to experience fuel pressure problems that caused us to back down the pace. Williams who still managed to pass a few more racers would pull into the pit for the final drivers change after the 2nd lap. Banning Jr. would take over driving for the 3rd and final lap, but yet another long stop trying to figure out fuel issues would set them behind yet again. Banning Jr. was finally off and back on course. Other than the fuel pressure issues limiting the full power, the drivers and co-driver, Chris Godfrey, did a flawless job.

The 2488 car with Bryan Folks and Tim Sullivan started out having a great day till around RM 98. Folks would miss a turn which would cause them to get off course, damaging the wheels. Folks would end up hurting his back and unable to continue. Sullivan moved to the driver’s seat and brought the car around to main pit on the right front tire. Adam Warren jumped in to co drive and the team would continue to the Midway pit where Rick Graf took over the driving duty’s the car. Still in the lead after all the problems Rick was charging hard when coming back to main pit and the vehicle would lose the transmission ending the day for 2488.

Banning Motorsports team also supports the Melton motorsports 1023 car and changed a cv in under 8 minutes enabling them to win their class by 18 seconds.
Lee Banning Sr. would like to thank the entire Banning Team for another stellar day in the desert, you all rock!!!

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February 12, 2015
JIMCO Racing Puts Four Vehicles in Top Ten at Best in the Desert’s Parker 425

Lofton works out kinks in brand new JIMCO Trophy Truck

Best in the Desert kicked off their 2015 car/truck season with the prestigious Parker 425 in Parker, AZ this past weekend. The challenging terrain was both a proving and testing ground in the early stages of 2015, as racers battled over four hundred miles with one of the most competitive fields in recent Parker history. Justin Lofton debuted his #41 Trophy Truck in promising fashion after a third qualifying position and holding a lead for part of the race but it was the JIMCO Class 1500 racers that put four vehicles in the top ten overall. (more…)

February 11, 2015
Robby Gordon to Start Second in Saturday’s Parker 425

PARKER, Arizona (February 6, 2015) – Robby Gordon qualified 2 for the Parker 425 Best in the Desert off-road race, falling just 1.6 seconds short of the blistering pace set by Dale Dondel in the Arizona off-road race which begins Saturday at 9:15 a.m. ET.

Dondel, of San Jacinto, Calif., set the fast time of the session and will start in front of the huge field of 44 Class 1400 Trick Trucks. Gordon’s qualifying time of 4 minutes, 48.041 seconds was just off of Dondel’s time of 4 minutes, 46.393 seconds. Justin Lofton of Westmorland, Calif. was third quickest 4.7 seconds off the quickest time, with Luke McMillan of El Cajon, Calif. fourth 5.8 seconds behind and Jason Voss of Cupertino, Calif. rounding out the top five more than 6.3 seconds behind Dondel. (more…)

February 8, 2015
Impact and MasterCraft Safety Go All In With Best In The Desert

Best In The Desert (BITD) continues to set entry records with every race, and Impact by MasterCraft Safety has taken notice. The ink is still drying on their commitment to be the presenting sponsor of the “BlueWater Parker 425 Presented by Impact” for 2014 and beyond. “We welcome Impact on board as the presenting sponsor of one of the most prestigious events in the world for desert off-road competition,” said BITD promoter Casey Folks recently. “They join some of the leading brands in helping make our series the largest, entry-wise, of any long distance off-road series. Impact’s products help keep our racers safe – the number one priority in my world.” (more…)

August 13, 2013
FOX Athletes capture numerous victories at BITD season opener.

FOX athletes begin the 2013 Best in the Desert racing series with multiple wins and a clean sweep of the 6100 class podium on a tough Parker, Arizona race course.

El Cajon, Calif. – Miles of deep sand and brutal rocks strewn across the legendary Parker 425 race course took its toll on many competitors but failed to prevent FOX athletes from wins in classes 1500, 1000, 1100, 6100 and 2000.

In the unlimited open wheel class, (1500) Corey Keysar took the win and fifth place overall ahead of FOX athlete Brian Parkhouse in second. “We were not concerned about a top qualifying position, it is a long race,” said Corey, “We ran just hard enough in time trials to start ahead of the slower cars in our class. On raceday, we would need a clean run. We had no issues, our FOX shocks were flawless.” (more…)

February 6, 2013
ROBBY GORDON DOMINATES PARKER 425

Parker, Ariz. (February 5, 2013) – For the second year in a row, Robby Gordon dominated the Parker 425. This was the first appearance of the No.77 SPEED Energy / Toyo Tires Trophy Truck since the 2012 San Felipe 250.

The SPEED Energy / Toyo Tires Trophy Truck was quick from the start of qualifying on Thursday to the conclusion of the 425-mile lap race on Saturday. Gordon qualified second behind pole winner Rob MacCachren, which resulted in him starting the race one minute behind MacCachren. With an impressive start, Gordon caught and passed MacCachren within 20 minutes. Gordon talked to his crew about transmission heating issues after pushing the truck hard for the first 18 miles. MacCachren stayed within 10 seconds of Gordon for a few miles until Gordon eventually ran away from him. Gordon would then battle with Jason Voss, the fourth place starter, for the lead; Voss would stay within a few minutes of Gordon on corrected time until the second lap. At that point, Gordon’s crew made an incredible pit stop at mid-way. The SPEED Energy crew changed two tires and filled the No.77 SPEED Energy / Toyo Tires Trophy Truck with fuel in just 57 seconds. When the two drivers reached Lap 3, Gordon had pulled ahead of Voss by nearly 6 minutes and 32 seconds physically but only 4 minutes and 32 seconds on corrected time. Gordon would maintain that lead for the final lap, carefully passing slower vehicles on the course. He was the first Trophy Truck to cross the finish line, resulting in a memorable and flawless race for Gordon and navigator Charlie Holbrook. (more…)

February 5, 2013