Steve Sourapas Edges BJ Baldwin at BITD Parker Qualifying

With more than 225 entries so far the Best In The Desert Blue Water Resort & Casino “PARKER 425” is ready to kick off with a bang. Tomorrow marks tech and contingency for the event, which runs from February 2rd through 4th in Parker, Arizona, but today served as qualifying for the top classes.

Steve Sourapas took home the Team Ford “Pole Award” of $1,000, taking the edge over BJ Baldwin as the fastest overall vehicle and the fastest Trick Truck (Class 1400). In the open-wheel Class 1500 division, Robby Gordon qualified first (third fastest overall), with Ray Griffith finishing next in class a few second behind him.

Best In The Desert notes it is the only long distance desert racing organization that runs this kind of qualifying format for every race as it pits the two fastest classes heads up to compete for an equal shot at the “overall” race victory. For more information about the weekend’s events, visit http://www.bitd.com/. Check back with Off-Road.com over the weekend for more on the race.

Top 20 Qualifiers
1. Steve Sourapas – 4:53:371 – Class 1400
2. BJ Baldwin – 4:57:472 – Class 1400
3. Robby Gordon – 5:02:355 - Class 1500
4. Ray Griffith – 5:06:831 - Class 1500
5. Justin Lofton – 5:06:897 - Class 1500
6. Dale Dondel – 5:07:194 - Class 1500
7. Randy Wilson – 5:07:371 - Class 1500
8. Tim Herbst – 5:11:931 – Class 1400
9. Derrick Sproule – 5:11:945 – Class 1500
10. Carl Beal – 5:13:460 – Class 1400
11. Jimmy Nuckles – 5:13:750 – Class 1400
12. Mike Childress – 5:14:524 – Class 1500
13. Jason Voss – 5:15:912 – Class 1400
14. Rick D. Johnson – 5:16:263 – Class 1400
15. Sam Berri – 5:18:492 – Class 1500
16. Mark Weyrich – 5:19:019 – Class 1400
17. Greg Nunley – 5:19:830 – Class 1400
18. Tory Herbst – 5:20:802 – Class 1400
19. Juan Carlos Lopez – 5:21:408 – Class 1400
20. Ken Losch – 5:22:965 – Class 1400