BEST IN THE DESERT Vegas to Reno August 14, 2015

The Murray brothers recorded their fifth podium in six starts at the BITD Vegas to Reno. Derek Murray started the race and employed a less-conservative approach than in year’s past. The team overcame a few minor issues to claim an impressive second place finish less than eight minutes behind the class winner after over 13 hours of racing.

Can-Am / ITP / Murray Racing's Derek & Jason Murray pushing their Can-Am Maverick Max Turbo to its limits through the silt

“Last year, I fell off the pace by being too conservative, so I was pushing harder than I was last year,” said Derek Murray. “I handed it to Jason and Monty and they just started picking off cars. They had no flats and no issues. The car really came to life when it got dark. We were overheating during the day, so the cooler temperatures really helped us. The Lazerstar lights worked awesome. We were running 70+ at night and it was like it was running during the day. The Can-Am, ITP Tires, Lonestar Suspension and Fox Shocks all performed awesome.”

The Murray Brother's secured their 5th Podium finish at the BITD Vegas to Reno with the second spot on the podium

Jason Murray was pleased with the power offered by the unique turbo setup on the Can-Am Maverick. “This thing has tons of power,” explained Jason Murray. “With this turbo it just freaking rips! This course, it’s definitely rougher, but our finish is really a testament to these Can-Am UTVs. Six years ago we were lucky to even finish a race, and now we’re in contention for the win. These Can-Ams are competitors.”

Rounding out the podium was Jagged X Racing, and the finishing driver, Blake Van de Loo, explained that in his nearly decade experience in BITD Vegas to Reno race, he’d never seen a rougher course. After starting 37th in the 1919 Polaris RZR with Brandon Schueler driving and Van de Loo co-driving, the team ran the first 300 miles virtually trouble free. Van de Loo drove the last 245 miles with Chad Hummer co driving.

Jagged X Racing started in 37th, which meant they had their work cut out for them working through the field in the dust

“This is my eighth race here, and I think it was the roughest course so far,” said Van de Loo. “We started behind the trucks and buggies and that makes it rough. The cross terrain and rocks were crazy. There was a lot of carnage out there, but we didn’t turn a wrench on this Polaris. We had a couple flat tires, which we expected, but no other problems.”

Jagged X Racing's Brandon Schueler & Blake Van de Loo charged their way to a third place finish

Schueler said traffic figured into the team’s finish, as did the dust and the rough conditions: “There was a lot of traffic and a lot of dust,” said Schueler. “This was a rough course, but it was a fun day. I need to thank Jagged X, Polaris Industries, Jackson Motorsports, BF Goodrich, and the new Walker Evans Shocks worked awesome.”