To win in the desert is a matter of endurance. The prevailing saying in this sport is, “You can’t win if you don’t finish.” This notion is often forgotten as soon as the green flag drops and the trembling nervousness one feels at the starting line bubbles over, but it is immediately replaced with the pleasure of pure unadulterated speed. The vibrations of these machines run up your spine and through your arms and legs, and soon tunnel vision overrides any sense of fear. A primal instinct takes over, and the only thing that your mind can comprehend is catching the guy in front of you. Your vision is obstructed by an opaque cloud of dust, but your foot stays firmly planted, gas pedal to the floor, or as they say in racing circles, “Hammered Down.” 100 mph beasts roaring like lions, chasing prey like cheetahs. This wild event is no county fair demolition derby. It’s the absolute pinnacle of off-road racing. Million-dollar race trucks, factory motorcycle teams, buggies, and UTV’s lining up to compete against each other, the clock, and themselves. In all seriousness, it’s a magic year to witness the 25th Annual Maxxis Tires “Casey Folks” Vegas to Reno Off-road Race!

The Inaugural VTR (Vegas to Reno) race was held in late 1996 as a result of the Best in the Desert (BITD) Association’s idea of catering to the entire off-road racing community by opening the once motorcycle-only association to trucks and buggies. In a BITD press release, the association is quoted saying, “While the motorcycles held the early advantage, the cars and trick trucks soon caught up, celebrating overall winning times themselves. And now it’s the UTVs who are climbing the ranks. It’s all a part of the competition.” Fast forward to 2020 and the field has grown to 400 competitors and is now considered the largest off-road race in the United States. Boasting a course length averaging 500 miles or better, it is also the longest single day off-road race event in the U.S. According to a USA Today Readers Poll, VTR was named the seventh most prestigious motorsports event in North America. As for the 2021 event, race promotor BITD worked all year to make the classic off-road race special for its silver anniversary. 

The founder of the event and the BITD Association, Casey Folks, a racing legend in his own right, approached the sport’s many different aspects. In regard to racing, Folks competed in many off-road motorcycle events, including racing The Baja 1000 thirty times and once traveling to Africa for The Tunisia Rally. Folks was just as prolific a race promotor as he was on track. According to a BITD press release, the inception of the Vegas to Reno off-road race is said to have given birth to the “American off-road racing series.” This isn’t the only event racing pioneer Folks presided over. He also worked as the operations manager for the Incas Rally in Peru and as an event coordinator with Italian-based company Acerbis Adventure to hold a 1,900-mile motorcycle endurance race, The Nevada Rally.

Folks passed away on January 12, 2017. His legend lives on through the Best in the Desert Association, and the BITD family said, “Life was an adventure for Casey, and he brought contagious excitement and energy to everything he did.” The 25th running of the Vegas to Reno pays special homage to Folks’ life and contributions to the world of off-road racing.

In the buildup to this year’s main event, BITD announced this year would have a record attendance, and the field is hot. Bryce Menzies, an Arizona resident of Mesa, is looking to set a record by winning the VTR for the third time, piloting the RedBull Trick Truck. Other classes, such as the UTV class, boasted a heavy field of contenders. Over 130 entrants and UTV Turbo Class champ Phil Blurton will be fighting to hold the title of Champion from the best of the best in the class. The Pro Open Motorcycle Class Ricky Brabec aims for a repeat as the overall winner of the 2020 VTR with Jacob Argubright and Dalton Shiry of the Husqvarna Factory team hot on his heels.

Over 106 motorcycle, quad, and three-wheeler teams will take on the Nevada desert for the 25th running of Vegas to Reno. With around 57 unique classes, there is sure to be a flavor of motorcycle, truck, buggy, or UTV action for everyone.

Chief Marketing Officer for the BITD association Bryan Folks said, “We are pumped to see such a large turnout for our flagship event. It’s great to see the racing community come together and participate in the race that launched Best in the Desert as a Truck/Car series. I am sure my dad would be very pleased to see how the event has grown.” Bryan Folks explained further on in his statement that the 2021 VTR can be lived streamed from the BITD Facebook Page.

Chad Walker