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BEST
IN THE DESERT
Pahrump Nugget 250 |
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Downey, CA (12/7/2016) - Can-Am
/ ITP / Lonestar Racing’s Jason and Derek
Murray drove through the field to finish second
in the Pahrump Nugget 250, the season finale
for the Best in the Desert Series. The brother’s
runner-up effort handed them second in the BITD
Pro Turbo UTV Class Championship.
After experiencing mechanical issues in the
last race, the brothers started second to
last in the field on the difficult, silt-covered
and rocky 255-mile course. They drove through
the field and overcame brake issues to net
the runner-up result.
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The
Can-Am / ITP / Murray Racing Team finished
off the year 2nd in the Best in the
Desert Pro Turbo UTV Championship just
a few weeks after wrapping up the SCORE
BAJA Championship |
“We were a couple of minutes off, but this
Can-Am X3 ran awesome,” said Derek Murray.
“We are running a bone stock suspension and
drive train and it can compete with the rest
of them. We left nothing on the course and
another great season is in the books. Can-Am
has made an amazing machine.”
The Murrays started the race with the deck
stacked against them. They knew, however,
that they had the most competitive ride in
the field in Can-Am X3. Jason Murray won the
Vegas to Reno event in the Can-Am X3’s debut.
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The
Murray's started toward the back of
the field on one of the toughest courses
of the year with plenty of rocks and
silt beds |
“We knew we had our work cut out for us because
this is one of the roughest and rockiest courses
out there,” said Jason Murray. “It was fast
and rough. Our X3 ran amazing. We had a virtually
flawless day until the end. We’re running
a bone stock X3 with suspension, arms, and
powertrain. It’s pretty amazing to see what
this X3 can do right out of the box.”
The Murrays add the second-place BITD trophy
to their 2016 SCORE International Championship
award. In addition, the pair kept their finishing
string alive.
“It’s a good year for Murray Racing,” said
Derek Murray. “We’re first in the SCORE Championship
and second in BITD. We’ll be back for 2017.
That’s about 45 consecutive finishes in our
Can-Ams. That has got to be a record in BITD.
There is nothing more reliable, faster or
better than Can-Am. We’re super happy about
our consistency and reliability.”
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ITP's
Derek & Jason Murray charged their
way into the 2nd spot, but they weren't
able to reel in the leader before the
checkered flag |
In the heat of racing finishes, it’s easy
to lose sight of all the people that made
it possible for the Murrays to be so competitive.
Derek Murray made sure to mention those that
helped them get to where they are this season.
“My brother Jason does all of the dirty work
behind the scenes in the shop,” said Derek
Murray. “Our program is at the top of who
is out there. Shawn Srader is our lead mechanic.
He’s only been with us a few months, but the
bar has been raised. We have Eric doing a
great job to keeping our team moving. Bill,
Bob, Monty are all great guys. Of course we
couldn’t do it without our sponsors: ITP,
Lonestar, Fox, Rugged Radios, Beard Seats,
Torco, LazerStar, K&N, and of course Can-Am.”
The Murrays will return to BITD next season.
Since debuting the X3 in the middle of the
season, they will spend the month off further
developing the competitive Can-Am.
“We want to build up the Can-Am X3 next year,”
said Derek Murray. “Right now, though, stock
seems to be doing great.”
The Murrays will kick off the 2017 BITD season
at the UTV Nationals Parker 250. That race
is scheduled for January 6-7, 2017 in Parker,
AZ.
Murray Racing 2016 Sponsors:
Can-Am, ITP, Lonestar Racing, FOX, Lazerstar,
Torco, Beard Seats, K&N, Berts UTV, AMR Racing,
Shoria, OMF, Rugged Radios, Streamline, Visual
Impact, Pyrotech
