Downey, CA (1/11/2018)
- Murray Racing’s Jason and Derek Murray got
back into the thick of Best in the Desert Series
competition by finishing fifth in the season
opening Parker 250 in Arizona. The brothers
were ready to shake off bad luck and start the
season strong. And they did.
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Can-Am
/ ITP / LSR / Murray Racing's Jason
& Derek secured a Top Five Finish
at the Parker 250 Best in the Desert
Season Opener |
The three-lap race was held on an 80-mile
loop through desert and canyons. Warm weather
led to dusty conditions. After starting 22nd,
Derek Murray quickly worked his way into the
top five. Jason Murray ran the final lap and
snagged the top five in the Can-Am Maverick
X3 MAX.
“We worked our way into the top five and
paced it there all day,” said Jason Murray.
“We had no major issues and it’s great to
be back here racing in 2018. We’re hoping
to get back to the way we used to run and
stay in the top five all year.”
|
|
Jason & Derek Murray plan to
race the Can-Am Maverick X3 MAX in the
Best in the Desert Series this year |
The Murrays were pleased at the progress
they’ve made on the Can-Am Maverick X3 MAX.
Although they’ve made minor changes to the
car, it remains one of the fastest in the
field.
“This is our fourth race on this Can-Am X3
MAX,” said Murray. “Every race we like it
more and more. We’ve been making some finite
changes to some little details, but all-in-all
the car is wicked fast. I want to thank Can-Am
for making such an awesome vehicle.”
The conditions got rougher as the race progressed.
The Murrays were pleased at the way their
Fox Shocks, Lonestar Suspension, and ITP Tires
performed, especially in the changing conditions.
|
| Jason
& Derek Murray shared driving duties
on the way to their top five finish
at the Parker 250 |
“These ITP UltraCross Tires are next level,”
said Murray. “We were smashing through the
rocks. In certain sections at the end I was
trying to catch the leaders and they put up
with a ton of punishment; not one flat all
day.”
On the final lap, the sun began to set and
the dust began to settle in the air just above
the canyon floors. Thankfully, the Murrays
outfitted their machine with a full complement
of Lazer Star lights.
“The race started a little bit later, but
thanks to our Lazer Star Lights we had no
problems,” said Murray. “The lights really
helped us get through the dust.”
The Murrays fought bad luck during most of
2017, a streak that ended with a strong and
consistent run here. With 56 entries in the
UTV Pro Turbo class, and BITD points set in
part by car count, the Murrays are now in
prime position to make a title run.
That run continues as the Murrays will have
locked up a prime starting spot in the venerable
Mint 400. That race is scheduled for March
8-11 in Las Vegas.
Murray Racing
2018 Sponsors:
Can-Am, ITP, Lonestar Racing, FOX, Yoshimura,
Lazerstar, Torco, Beard Seats, K&N, Berts
UTV, AMR Racing, Shoria, OMF, Rugged Radios,
Streamline, Visual Impact, Pyrotech
