Las Vegas, NV – BJ Baldwin is looking forward to getting back to full speed this weekend at Best In The Desert. BJ managed to finish in 12th place at the Mastercraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 despite a mechanical issue discovered during pre-race testing. The mechanical issue emerged just a few hours before the race took place, which left little time to correct it. BJ was able to compete but was not up to full speed on raceday. With the mechanical issue fixed, it will give BJ and the crew a chance for redemption.
“That’s racing; we were able to finish the race but we didn’t have the truck we needed to stay with the leaders,” said BJ, “We did our best to get some valuable points towards the SCORE Desert Series and the World Championship of Desert Racing points battle. We are back at 100% and really looking forward to the Mint 400. My truck Rampage is ready to go and it’s always good to be racing in our own back yard. The Mint 400 has been a big part of Las Vegas history. We have won it in the past; it would be great to add another Mint 400 victory to our record.”
BJ will commence the race weekend at 3:15 pm Wednesday, March 20 during the inaugural 4 Wheel Parts Mint 400 Off-Road Vehicle Parade! BJ will be part of a massive group of off-road racecars led down Las Vegas Blvd by Mint 400 founders Mel Larson, Norm Johnson and the 2013 Mint 400 Grand Marshall, KJ Howe. The display is in tribute to the famed Mint 400 vehicle processions that took place on Fremont Street decades ago. The vehicles parading down Las Vegas Blvd are part of a massive field of over 250+ entries that will compete Saturday, March 23 just outside of Las Vegas at The Great American Off-Road Race.
The vehicle procession kicks off an entire week of events taking place in Las Vegas. “The course will be tough but not as gnarly as San Felipe. The Mint 400 events have all the glamour and allure Vegas has to offer,” says BJ, “A Mint 400 victory is very prestigious; we’d like to get another win in our home town.”
Photography By Brian Binkert