Best In The Desert, the world’s largest off-road desert racing organization, announced that 236 entries have already signed up for the 2013 Blue Water Resort & Casino Parker “425”. “The Legend Lives On” as the annual Parker “425” in Parker, AZ, is set for this weekend, February 1-3. This will be the first race on the six-race schedule for Best In The Desert’s car & truck classes.
The heated action of the Time Trials sets the pace for the race weekend.

The race weekend action gets underway this Thursday, January 31st, with the Time Trials. Nearly 90 Trick Trucks and Class 1500 cars will qualify on a specially designed 5-mile course for a shot at the first overall starting position and the coveted $1,000 Team Ford “Pole Award”. Along with the bonus cash, the top qualifier gets to start dust free as he tackles the challenging Arizona desert. With the huge field of unlimited cars and trucks, the fastest qualifiers will definitely have an advantage for a chance at the first overall finish.

Directly following the Time Trials, participants will parade their vehicles to the center of town for the “Downtown Parker Experience”. The “Downtown Parker Experience” will feature all the high tech race vehicles from qualifying on display for race fans and local residents to check out up close along with live entertainment all afternoon long.

At 5:00 PM, in conjunction with the “Downtown Parker Experience”, the Parker Pit Crew Challenge presented by the MINT 400 & the Down & Dirty Radio Show will take place. This exciting competition will feature 16 Trick Truck teams competing two at a time in an elimination bracket for a shot at a minimum of $2,000 in prize money. The Parker Pit Crew Challenge will also be streamed live on Race-Dezert.com.

Contingency and technical inspection take place in the parking lot of the Blue Water Resort & Casino this Friday, February 1st. Race fans will have the chance to see hundreds of race vehicles first hand as they weave their way through contingency row. They’ll also have the opportunity to check out the latest off-road and racing accessories from the industry’s top manufacturers.

The 2013 edition of the Blue Water Resort & Casino Parker “425” officially gets underway on Saturday morning, February 2nd, as the green flag drops just past 7:00 AM for the first car or truck on California Ave., right in the middle of downtown Parker. The huge race field will be off to take on the first 425-mile leg of the desert racing season as they chase their dreams of a 2013 class championship.

The Parker “425” also marks the first race in the $138,000 Best In The Desert 2013 Trick Truck Challenge. This is the third year of the Best In The Desert Trick Truck Challenge where each participating team kicks in a $6,000 fee towards bonus prize money to be paid out to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place Trick Truck finishers in each of the six Best In The Desert races, plus a year-end bonus. Steve Sourapas was the big winner in 2012, taking home $54,500 in bonus money over the course of the year. After having been the top Trick Truck Challenge recipient as well as the 2012 Trick Truck champion, Sourapas will be handing over the driver of record duties to Rob MacCachren for 2013 in the #6 Corona Ford F-150.

Robby Gordon has committed to race the entire 2013 Best In The Desert series as well as take part in the Trick Truck Challenge in his #77 truck.

Participating drivers in the $138,000 Best In The Desert 2013 Trick Truck Challenge:

Kyle Conlon, #5
Rob MacCachren, #6
Dale Dondel, #7
Mark Weyhrich, #9
Greg Nunley, #10
Juan Carlos Lopez, #18
Adam Householder, #24
Steve Olliges,#27
Ryan Hancock,#29
Shawn Croll, #32
Ken Losch, #34
Jason Voss, #35
Scott Schovajsa, #45
Tracy Graf, #58
Mike Walser, #67
Jesse Jones, #76
Robby Gordon, #77
TJ Flores, #80
Kevin Curtis, #92
Steve Strobel,#94
Scott Whipple, #95
BJ Baldwin, #97
Gary Weyhrich, #98

Best In The Desert 2013 Trick Truck Challenge Year-End Bonus Money Sponsors:
Bunderson Racing
Dougans Racing Engines
Fox Shox
Geiser Bros.
Jimco Racing
KC HiLiTES
King Racing Shocks
Kroyer Racing Engines
MasterCraft
Patton Racing Engines
Racer Engineering
Rockwell Time
Wiks Racing Engines

Parker “425” Schedule of Events

Thursday, January 31, 2013
9:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Registration for the Time Trials – Class 1400 & 1500

11:30 AM
10:30 AM Staging – 11:30 AM One Escorted Practice Run for the Time Trials
Time Trials Immediately follows practice run

2:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Show & Shine – Downtown Experience / Downtown Parker
Display of Time Trial Vehicles, Street Fair
5:00 PM – Pit Crew Challenge / Presented by The MINT 400 and The Down & Dirty Radio Show

6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Results & Time Trials Party
Reception hosted by McKenzies Performance Products

Friday, February 1, 2013
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Drivers Registration

9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Car & Truck Contingency & Technical Inspection
North Parking Lot – Blue Water Resort & Casino

Saturday, February 2, 2013
6:15 AM
Car and Truck Staging

7:00 AM
Police Escort Leaves the Blue Water Resort & Casino

7:15 AM
1st Car/Truck Starts – California Avenue – Downtown Parker

Sunday, February 3, 2013
9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Awards Presentation – Blue Water Resort & Casino