Best In The Desert, the world’s largest off-road desert racing organization, announced that more than 200 race teams have already signed up for the 2016 BlueWater Resort & Casino Parker 425 presented by IMPACT. With just days remaining to sign up for the race, Casey Folks, director of Best In The Desert said, “We now have 49 Trick Trucks, 27 Class 1500 unlimited cars, 38 class 1000s and 28 Class 6100 Spec Engine Trick Trucks registered to race.” Casey continued to say, “We had over 550 racers and pit crew members take part in our Pre Fun Run. The interest has been overwhelming in this legendary event and I know 2016 is going to be an awesome year for not only us, but also for all of our great and loyal racers.” The Legend Lives On as the annual BlueWater Resort & Casino Parker 425 presented by IMPACT in Parker, AZ, February 4-7 kicks off the Best In The Desert’s 2016 six-race schedule for the car & truck classes.

The race weekend formally gets underway on Thursday, February 4th, with Time Trials for the Trick Trucks and Class 1500 unlimited cars as they go head-to-head on a specially designed course to qualify for the first overall starting position and claim the coveted $1,000 Team Ford “Pole Award.”

Directly following the Time Trials, participants will parade their vehicles to the center of town for the “Downtown Parker Experience.” The “Downtown Parker Experience” features all the race vehicles from Time Trials on display along with live entertainment all afternoon long. This is a great festive event for both race fans and local residents to take in.

The fast moving, exciting Pit Crew Challenge presented by NAPA Auto and Truck and the Down & Dirty Radio show, will also be held in conjunction with the “Downtown Parker Experience” and take place at 5:30 PM. The competition will feature Trick Truck teams competing two at a time in an elimination bracket for a shot at the prize money. Plus, Impact will be awarding the top finishing 6100 pit crew team with three crew suits and three crew helmets.

The race weekend continues on Friday, February 5th, as contingency and technical inspection take place in the parking lot of the BlueWater Resort & Casino with the beautiful Colorado River as a backdrop. Race fans will have the chance to get up close to hundreds of race vehicles as they weave their way through contingency row as well as check out the latest off-road and racing accessories from the industry’s top manufacturers.

The 2016 edition of the BlueWater Resort & Casino Parker 425 presented by IMPACT gets underway on Saturday, February 6th. with an all new starting format. The day’s first start will feature classes 1000, 1100, 1200, 1700, 2000, 2400, 3000, 3700, 5000, 6000 and 8100. This group of race vehicles will stage 5:00 AM Saturday morning, February 6th, at the “Parker Python”, adjacent to the main pit located just outside downtown Parker. These classes will then start the race, beginning at 6:00 AM. Some of these classes will compete for two laps, with the remaining classes running three laps. This first start will feature a Gran Prix Finish, which means when the overall leader receives the checkered flag, all others crossing the finish line after that will also receive the checkered regardless of how many laps they have completed.

The second start of the day will feature the Trick Truck class, along with classes 1500, 6100, 7200 and 8000. These racers will stage at 12 noon at the “Parker Python.” From there, they will be escorted to the starting line located on California Ave. in the middle of downtown Parker. The winner of the Time Trials will get the solo green flag start at approximately 1:30 PM. The top 20 start at one minute intervals, the rest of the field will start one at a time at 30-second intervals after that. All of these racers will compete for three laps with no Gran Prix Finish, as the green flag drops just past 7:00 AM for the first car or truck on California Ave. in the middle of downtown Parker.

The huge entry field will be off to take on 425 miles of Arizona’s most challenging desert, battling the fierce competition and chasing their dreams of a 2015 class championship. The Parker 425 is also a very spectator friendly race. The famous “Parker Python” infield section adjacent to the main pit area is extremely popular with race fans. Another excellent viewing area is located along Shea Rd., just outside of town.