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Murray Racing Wins BITD Vegas to Reno in Can-Am Maverick X3
Murray Racing Wins to Classes at the Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno

Downey, CA (8/23/2016) - Can-Am/ITP/Lonestar Racing’s Jason and Derek Murray are accustomed to running one car, splitting driving duties in the Best in the Desert Series. During the Vegas to Reno race, not only did they run two different UTVs in two classes, they debuted Can-Am’s new Maverick X3, and both of them won. Amazing? Not with these two legendary racers.

Murray Racing BITD Racing
The Can-Am / ITP / Murray Racing's Derek and Jason Murray earned two class wins at the BITD Vegas to Reno

 

In the Unlimited Class, Jason Murray debuted Can-Am’s much-anticipated Maverick X3. Featuring an inline three-cylinder engine and a host of race-ready features, the team, along with Lonestar Racing, prepared the car in an unprecedented 45 days.

 

“Vegas to Reno is always a long race and we compounded it by running two cars,” said Jason Murray. “So we were a little worried. But when the dust settled, and we were both on the podium in the first-place position, it was great to have that experience with my brother.”

Murray Racing BITD Racing
Jason Murray debuted the all-new Maverick X3 at the BITD V2R with an impressive win

 

The brand-new car placed Jason Murray last to start in the field of over 60 UTVs. He drove through the field to score the class victory.

 

Murray Racing BITD Racing
Just 3 days after its public debut, Jason Murray made history by earning the first win in the all-new Can-Am Maverick X3

 

“We were the last car off the line, so we battled dust all day,” said Jason Murray. “There were 60 UTVs in front of us at the start. We had some minor issues with the car on the first day. On day two, the car was flawless. It has tons of power. That three-cylinder engine just pulls in the soft stuff. The FOX suspension, with 22 inches in the front and 24 inches in the rear, really soaks up the whoops. I raced the Maverick X3 for 650 miles, and I could have turned around and drove back to Vegas, it felt so good.

 

“It was a great run,” added Jason Murray. “The Can-Am Maverick X3 is a beast. It comes out of the box ready to race. All we had to do was add the safety equipment and go racing. We ran the stock arms, drivetrain, stock clutch. The only things that weren’t stock were the cage, the nets, and the lights; all of the things that are required by for safety. The whole functionality is stock Can-Am.”

 

In Pro Turbo, Derek Murray scored the victory and kept himself in contention for the BITD Championship. He shed a little light on the process he and his brother went through to get the new car ready, as well as how to keep both cars competitive during the two-day race.

 

Murray Racing BITD Racing
Derek Murray earned the win in the Pro Turbo Class

 

“There was a lot of hard work to get these two wins,” said Derek Murray. “Can-Am called us and said: ‘We have this machine. We want you to build it, race it and win with it.’ So we said: ‘Sure.’ To pull off a build in that time frame is challenging, so we worked with Lonestar. They have the best machinery and equipment. We usually build our own cars, but we didn’t have the manpower. We only had three days of testing. We had lots of long days. We got the car, went out and got two wins.”

 

Murray Racing BITD Racing
Derek Murray kept his finishing streak alive with 43 consecutive finishes

 

Derek and Jason Murray, as well as their crew slept very little during the race weekend. Not to mention, both Murrays had to drive a full race by themselves.

 

“When we race together, we switch off on hard driving stints,” said Derek Murray. “This time, it was like we were both iron men, running hard for both days. It was a challenge, but we handled it. We had a few issues working on the car. So we had some sleepless nights between racing, and it was a long couple of days.”

 

The Murray’s kept their finishing streak alive with 43 consecutive races. For these two professionals, pulling off the unthinkable was just another day at the office.

 

“I had to have a good run and it was a challenge,” said Derek Murray. “We’ve finished on the podium six out of seven years at Vegas to Reno and we wanted to keep our finishing streak alive, not to mention the points. We got it done and it was a good day for Murray Racing.”

 

The Murrays will be back in action, in the Pro Turbo class with the new Maverick X3, during the Bluewater Desert Challenge, October 6-9 in Parker, AZ.

Murray Racing 2016 Sponsors:
Can-Am, ITP, Lonestar Racing, FOX, Yoshimura, Lazerstar, Torco, Beard Seats, K&N, Berts UTV, AMR Racing, Shoria, OMF, Rugged Radios, Streamline, Visual Impact, Pyrotech

Murray Racing

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