For immediate release
MARCH 17, 2015 MESA, AZ The dust has settled and LetzRoll Offroad Racing has been officially named the 2nd place finisher in the 4400 class of The 2015 Polaris RZR Mint 400, presented by General Tire. After sitting on course for over an hour as injured drivers were cared for, race officials wanted to review the end of the race and adjusted times before naming all of the official winners and positions. The wait is over and LetzRoll Offroad Racing is proud to bring home a podium finish in their first ever MINT 400.
“We had an absolute blast from start to finish over the past 4 days in Vegas for the MINT 400. It was a incredible experience to race the hardest desert race in North America with some of the greatest racers currently behind the wheel” said Andrew McLaughlin, owner and driver of the ESAB Welding and Cutting / Yukon Gear and Axle 4493. “The 4493 car is outstanding. It felt good to actually stretch the legs and run with people outside our 4400 class and see how we compare. We learned a tremendous amount that will help us in our racing as well as had a blast. What else could you ask for?”
The race itself was three grueling laps in the punishing southern Nevada desert, just outside Las Vegas near Primm. The 4493 was the last car to leave the line as the 4400 class started at the rear of the field full of Trophy Trucks and Class 1 power houses. BJ Baldwin, Robbie F. Gordon, Robbie Mac, and a host of other high profile, high dollar teams were attacking the desert. The dust was thick as smoke and contributed to the accident 31 miles into the race. Two people were injured and airlifted to a Las Vegas hospital. While not fatal, both have had their lives altered forever. Please continue to pray for them and their families. A “go fund me” account has been started to help offset the recovery expenses for Jason Poole. You can help by clicking here: <a>http://www.gofundme.com/jpoole</a>
Once the race was live again, the leaders (who did not have to stop until back at the start finish line) were only 30 miles behind the 4493. Andrew tells the story: “Jay and I looked out the window and went ‘Hey look! The helicopter! Cool!’ After a few seconds, though, I realized this wasn’t KOH and I was like ‘Oh no, Jay. They aren’t here for us! Check your mirrors! Check your mirrors!’ and sure enough, BJ Baldwin goes blowing by us in a cloud of dust. I don’t think we saw clear race track again. We just put our foot down, trusted the GPS and our ADS Racing Shocks, and put the Jimmy’s 4x4 IFS chassis to the test."
This race saw more than it’s fair share of issues for the 4493, including a recurring belt issue. Over the course of the race, Andrew “deployed the Jay” 8 times to change a belt. EIGHT! Five of those were strange circumstance (two were exploding tires that took out the belt… one was a strap from the spare tire that came loose, got in the pulleys and took out a belt…one was from a really strong “nerf” from a trophy truck at 75 MPH…) “We need to figure that out. That has never happened before and it is what kept allowing Mike Klensin to pass us. That being said, it was really strange to be going 75 MPH then suddenly be going 85 MPH because a Trophy Truck is pushing you out of no where” concluded Andrew.
Racing deep into the night, the team had one more challenge to overcome: a shredded tire 10 miles from Pit A. Earlier in the day, the team’s TireBall filled spare had come off the car when the strap got caught in the pulleys. They also had a flat and the only tire available at the pit was NOT a TireBalls tire. That’s the one that shredded. Andrew and Jay drug the back end of that car through the dirt at race speed for 10 miles while communicating with the support team on their Rugged Radios (which kept them in contact from every spot on the course). The Pit A team, who were amped up and ready to go, greeted them with intensity. Driving on the flat had obliterated the Raceline wheel, and the rear rotor, and the caliper was somewhere in the desert. So after changing the flat and fueling the car for the final 80-mile sprint in the desert, the team had to also clamp off the brake line and have front brakes only. They completed the pit stop and stormed off into the night, once again chasing Mike Klensin, who had passed when they had that flat (and yes, changed another belt…)
Experiencing clean air for the first time in hours, the 4493 made great time though the night with all of their bright Rigid Industries lights lighting up the desert as bright as daylight. Upon entering the checkpoint at RM 76, the team was informed the racecourse was closed as originally scheduled (1 AM). Andrew and Jay tried to lobby for the hour time credit they were due for the stoppage, but they were denied and instructed to leave the course (as was Mike Klensin at RM 90 and Tim Diekman behind the4493). Tired and frustrated, yet energized and excited about the day’s race, the team loaded the 4493 onto the trailer and headed back to Las Vegas. Most of the team had been up 24 hours at this point as they had helped support Goodall Racing’s UTV entry in the morning race.
Sunday morning came way too early and was only filled with more disappointment. As of Sunday morning, the team was being assigned a DNF for not completing the course. We discussed the additional hour due to the team with Casey, the Best in the Desert race promoter, who promised to review the information, our times and speed, and location on the course before making any final decisions. Casey called Andrew on Tuesday, March 17th and congratulated him for officially finishing 2nd in The 2015 Polaris RZR Mint 400, presented by General Tire and validating the entire effort made by the race team, Andrew, and Jay. Thrilled with a podium finish in our first MINT 400, the team looks forward to taking the top spot in 2016.
LetzRoll Offroad Racing would like to thank all of our friends and family for their support. Comprised of a volunteer pit team and support staff, it truly is a labor of love every time we take the course. We could not be competitive without the support of our amazing partners: ESAB Welding and Cutting, Yukon Gear and Axle, ADS Off Road Racing Shocks, ARTEC Industries, Raceline Wheels, Goodyear Tires, Rugged Radios, Racepak, Jimmy’s 4x4, TireBalls, Dynomax, Sparks Pro Racing transmissions, Rigid Industries, Ballistic Fabrication, CIS, JM Rigging, Austin Machine, Tilden Motorsports, WhiteCollar Publishing, and Solid Axle Industries. Special thanks to Joe Pierce who flew in from Maine, Shawn Smith, Dave Cole (radio), Mike Wixom (radio), Steve Langley (radio), Jeff Wilstead, Alan Johnson (media / security), Becky McLaughlin, Crew Chief, Loren Healey, Jimmy Jack, the Goodall family, Goodall Racing, the host of Ultra4 drivers not racing who helped support us in the pits, D Squared Racing, Campbell Racing, the BITD course crews, and our fellow U4 drivers in the race for all the support.
#teamdynomax #ruggedradios #teamracepak #ESABOffroad #lror #LetzRoll #themint400 #takecontrol #ADSracingshocks
