It’s a massive weekend in off-road racing and Jay Reichert of R&D Motorsports can’t go any bigger. Reichert is primed and ready for not only one but two races in completely opposite disciplines of off-road. First, Reichert will pilot the #26 Trophy Truck through the desert in SCORE-International’s Baja 500, in his first opportunity to solo a race in The War Machine. Backed by Rigid Industries, Reichert will immediately hop a plane following the conclusion of the race on Saturday and head straight to Austin, TX to compete in Robby Gordon’s Stadium Super Trucks at X Games Austin in front the largest action sports stage in the world.
For Reichert and teammate Charles Dorrance, SCORE-International’s Baja 500 has always been on the 2014 race schedule. But when SST announced in December it was selected by ESPN to join the list of sports at the upcoming X Games Austin, Reichert knew he had to make it happen and knew right where to go – Rigid Industries. With backing from Rigid, Jay will compete in front of thousands at X Games Austin in his home state of Texas.
“I couldn’t be more excited right now. This could possibly be a pivot point for the sport of off-road racing and I can’t thank Rigid Industries enough for allowing me to be a part of it,” commented Reichert. “It’s going to be a long weekend but there’s nothing more that I would rather do for Rigid than win the Baja 500, then grab an X Games Gold in Stadium Super Trucks.”
Typically, Reichert and Dorrance split time in Trophy Truck #26. This weekend, Dorrance leave the Baja 500 driving to Reichert and focus on his own X Games endeavor. Dorrance made his Stadium Super Truck debut at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and will be alongside Reichert in Austin, with hopes of a Baja 500 win for R&D the night before.
Rigid Industries remains the industry leader in LED lighting and continues to put its assets in to its athletes. Reichert will make his debut in SST racing in front of a home crowd with style. His Stadium Super Truck will be supporting a fresh new Rigid Industries wrap. Impact has hooked him up with a brand new Rigid Industries race suit and new helmet custom painted by Troy Lee Designs. X Games is set for June 5th-8th in Austin, TX and will all culminate with the Stadium Super Trucks Final kicking off Sunday’s events on June 8th at 2PM EST. The event will be broadcasted live on ABC.
Reichert has spent the last two months prepping The War Machine from its previous combat at the Mint 400 on top of working out the details for X Games Austin. The addition of an upgraded Alcon Trophy Truck Brake System, larger Trophy Truck Calipers and many other improvements to The War Machine make it more than ready for this weekends Baja 500. Reichert is currently putting in the pre-run hours in Baja to take home a win. In 2013, R&D crossed the finish line of the Baja 500 with no body panels left and a fourteenth place finish hasn’t sat well the past year. It’s all or nothing this year, as Reichert will solo the entire race.
“Last year was one of the most craziest Baja races I’ve ever been a part of,” says Reichert. “Charles started the race and by the time the truck was handed to me at Mike’s Sky Ranch, it looked like it had gone through hell. I flipped the truck on its lid as well but we managed to get the #26 Trophy Truck to the finish line. I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to be back in Baja and behind the wheel the entire race.”
Watch Jay compete in the X Games live on ABC on Sunday, June 8th at 2PM EST.
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2014 SCORE Baja 500 Photos