Rough and tough racecourse will be a true test to racers’ off-road driving skills
ORS Staff
Best In The Desert’s Pahrump Nugget “250” presented by Supercross.com Race Course Features 255 Miles of History, Incredible Sights and Intense, Challenging Terrain
After a 9-year absence, Best In The Desert returns to Pahrump, Nevada with great anticipation and excitement. It was back in April of 2007 that Best In The Desert last based a race in Pahrump with the running of the old Terribles Town “250”. And racers that took part in the 2007 event won’t even begin to recognize the racecourse this time around.
In the words of Best In The Desert Director, Casey Folks, “This racecourse is absolutely awesome! It’s rough and tough and will be a true off-road test to the racers that take on the challenge.” The last time some of this racecourse route was used by Best In The Desert was 1998. This year’s course is deep with history, mixed in with new and exciting challenges to provide racers with an epic and memorable adventure.
Prior to the race, the Trick Trucks and unlimited Class 1500 cars will compete in the Time Trials for a chance to grab the prestigious “Team Ford” Pole Award and the first starting position. Justin Lofton (above) earned the award at the recent BlueWater Desert Challenge.
The race begins Saturday morning, December 3rd, with a nearly 16-mile long police escort from the Pahrump Nugget parking lot north to the official starting line in Johnnie. From there, the race starts out on its 255-mile single loop style escapade. This is a “chase race” featuring a total of 7 pits. Much of the racecourse was used 20 years ago as part of the original Best In The Desert 1996 Vegas to Reno race. There are also sections of it that racers traversed during the first ever running of the Mint 400 in 1968. The late Walt Lott’s inaugural HDRA “Frontier 500” included many of the same trails back in 1981.
The course travels through parts of Amargosa Valley and comes within a quarter mile of famed Yucca Mountain. Much of this area was formed millions of years ago from dense clouds of volcanic ash and compacted rock fragments. Racers will cross Crater Flat, another road completely comprised of volcanic ash. They will also encounter the towering “Windy Gap”. This is a wild and thrilling one-way extreme downhill ride. Another point of interest along the racecourse is a refueling pit located in the parking lot of the Alamo Fire Works. This is a fully legal fireworks outlet that will be offering racers with a special discount on purchases. But be sure to send them home with your pit crews and not carry them in the race vehicles. There will also be three spectator areas for race fans and citizens of Pahrump. There will be one at the starting line and Pit 7, both located on private property in Johnnie. The third one will be on BLM land adjacent to the racecourse.
Many parts of the racecourse were formed by ancient volcanic activity, including Yucca Mountain shown above.
Another exciting aspect of the Pahrump Nugget “250” presented by Supercross.com racecourse is that the finish line will be located right in the parking lot of race host Pahrump Nugget Hotel & Casino. To celebrate the finish, there will be the Pahrump Nugget Barbeque & Beer Garden in the parking lot as well from Noon until 7:00 PM.
Many great pre and post-race activities will include the Team Ford Welcome Party on Thursday evening beginning at 5:30 PM in the Pahrump Nugget Sports Book Bar. The Pahrump Nugget Barbeque & Beer Garden will be on Friday from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM in the parking lot, along with Contingency and Tech Inspection. After the race on Saturday, the Azunia Tequila After-Race Party will take place in the Pahrump Nugget Sports Book Bar that kicks off at 6:00 PM.
A great venue, new and challenging racecourse, final class championships up for grabs, incredible race related activities and a new tradition begins; the Pahrump Nugget “250” presented by Supercross.com will mark the return of Best In The Desert to the great city of Pahrump in grand fashion. Special thanks goes out to the Pahrump Nugget Hotel & Casino for hosting this grand event.
Pahrump Nugget “250” Schedule of Events:
Thursday, December 1, 2016
10 AM to 11:30 AM
Registration for the Time Trials – Trick Trucks and Class 1500
Pahrump Nugget Banquet Hall
12 NOON Meeting – 12:15 PM Staging – 12:30 PM Escort Starts
One Escorted Practice Lap for Time Trials for Trick Trucks and Class 1500
Time Trials immediately follows escorted practice lap
5:30 PM
Team Ford Welcome Party – Pahrump Nugget Sports Book Bar
Friday, December 2, 2016
9:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Drivers Registration – Pahrump Nugget Banquet Hall
9:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Car & Truck Contingency & Technical Inspection
Front Parking Lot – Pahrump Nugget
11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Pahrump Nugget Barbeque & Beer Garden, Parking Lot
5:30 PM
MANDATORY DRIVERS MEETING
Pahrump Nugget Banquet Hall
Saturday, December 3, 2016
6:15 AM
Car / Truck / UTV Staging
Pahrump Nugget / Holiday Inn / Gold Town Parking Areas
7:15 AM
Police Escort to the Start Line – All Race Vehicles
8:00 AM
1st Professional Car / Truck / UTV Starts
12 NOON to 7:00 PM
Pahrump Nugget Barbeque & Beer Garden, Finish Line
6:00 PM
Azunia Tequila After-Race Party, Pahrump Nugget Sports Book Bar
Sunday, December 4, 2016
8 AM – 9 AM
Continental Breakfast, Sponsored by the Pahrump Nugget
Pahrump Nugget Banquet Hall
9:00 AM
Awards Presentation, Pahrump Nugget Banquet Hall
Follow the action of the Lucas Oil Production Studios broadcasts of Best In The Desert events on the NBC Sports Network and MAVTV.
2016 Best In The Desert official sponsors: Ford Motor Company – official truck, General Tire – official tire, Lucas – official oil, Sunoco Race Fuels – official fuel, KC HiLiTES – official light, Polaris RZR – official UTV, Beta Motorcycles – official motorcycle, Fabtech – official Suspension, Rugged Radios – official communications, 212 Performance Gloves – official gloves, Method Race Wheels, McKenzies, Kartek, Sportsman Cycle Sales, Slime, Azunia Tequila, Fall Advertising and Prerunner Maniac.
Life is an Adventure.
Come Live Your Adventure with Best In The Desert…
THE AMERICAN OFF-ROAD RACING SERIES
Further information is available at:
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phone: (702) 457-5775
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Justin Lofton Trick Truck photo provided by DirtFocus.com
Important notice:
THE USE OF DRONES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED AT ANY BEST IN THE DESERT EVENT. Please be aware, Drones are VERY DANGEROUS to the safety of all concerned, both people in the air and on the ground.
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