It is almost time for off-road teams to head to Sin City and embark on one most challenging races in the industry, the Mint 400.  This event has been called the great American race for one simple fact, it never disappoints anyone who attends.

We wanted to dig deeper and bring to you things that you should know about the race if you are heading out to Las Vegas, NV to see the race in person or sitting back and catching the highlights in PJs on the couch.

The 1980 Mint 400. The Mint is more than just an off-road race, it has a great legacy behind it. Photo Sourced: Mint 400.

History Lesson

Regardless if you will be present or not at the event, knowing the history event adds to the nostalgia of the race. The race first started as a public relations stunt in 1967 to promote the Mint Hotel’s annual deer hunt. What started as what some considered to be a joke has turned into one of the most iconic off-road races and a highlight for every team taking place.

Things were not all bright lights with this event, in 1988 the event went dark when the Mint Hotel was closed. It took 20 years to get up and going again when SNORE resurrected the event before selling it off to the Martelli brothers allowing them to take the event to the next level and bring it to what it is today.

The race may be the highlight for some folks, but for the city of Las Vegas the parade is surely on the top of the list. Photo Sourced: Mint 400.

Parade

Every great event has to have some type of parade and that goes for this one as well. To get the party started the vehicles will procession down Las Vegas Boulevard from Sunset Road to Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas starting at Wednesday March 9th at 12:45 pm PST.

This is a great chance for people into to catch the vehicles on one of the most iconic streets in the world. Not to often do you see a line of Trophy Trucks with the Bellagio fountains going off in the background. This also introduces off-road racing to people who may not know anything about it.

Contingency allows fans to get up close and personal with the race vehicles.

Stickers, Stickers, and More Stickers

Contingency is a time were fans can get up close and personal with the trucks. The event takes place Friday March 11th from 8 am to 5:30 pm PST at the Fremont Street Experience. This one of a kind contingency really exemplifies what this event has become, but also what it always was.

Trucks make their way through the maze at contingency before ending at technical inspection. Vendors line the paths making sure the teams have everything they need before heading out to the desert the next day.

This year there is something new for fans that are at the track or sitting at home.

Live Tracking

This year the Mint has teamed up with YB Tracking to provide updates to the public. “We have been looking for the right technology to utilize to allow people to track the race in real time. This is part of our larger strategy to grow the impact of The Mint 400 and off-road racing globally. Now fans will be able to track the race online as well as download the YB Tracking app for your mobile device,” stated Mint 400 CFO, Josh Martelli.

The app is available for both Android and Apple devices. It is an easy and simple process to get the app installed and tracking your favorite drivers. Once the app is installed search for the Mint 400 and add to your favorites. On race day tune in, tracking points will be transmitted every two minutes, with 30-second GPS fixes.

All the magic happens outside of Las Vegas closer to the California border.

Race Day

This year like years past there will be two races. The first race starts at 6 am PST on Saturday and is for the limited, less horsepower, vehicles. The unlimited race which features the popular Trick Truck class starts at 12:30 pm PST.

Anything can happen during the race, we will have to wait and see what carnage happens this year.

This year is packed with entries including 51 Trick Trucks, 65 UTVs, 31 Class 6100, 35 Class 1000, and 28 Class 1500. Drivers like Curt LeDuc, Rob MacCachren, Tim and Troy Herbst, BJ Baldwin, Bryce Menzies, and Jason Voss will all be trying to take down last year’s winner Justin Lofton.

The events may happen in Las Vegas, but the real action happens in the desert between Primm, Nevada and Jean, Nevada. There are specific spectator areas that viewers will be able to catch plenty of action, four in total. This races offers all types of terrain and includes some short course style areas near some spectator locations. The Mint 400 is a lap race so fans will see their favorite driver pass by multiple times.

And The Winner Is…

Stay tuned this week as we head out to Las Vegas and bring you all the sights and sounds. Keep it locked on Off Road Xtreme this week to find out who the will take the checkered flag at the 2016 Mint 400. Who do you think will take this year’s crown?