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Team
Polaris Jagged X RZR XP 900 UTV took
top honors at BITD Vegas to Reno
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Minneapolis, MN (8/23/2011) -
Best in the Desert's Vegas to Reno race is
the longest and toughest, off-road desert
race in the U.S., and Polaris RANGER RZRs
were out in full force. In the starting field
of 14 for the 553-mile race, was the four-time
defending champions, Jagged X in their No.
1919 RANGER RZR XP 900 and Polaris Regional
Sales Manager, Matt Parks in his Holz Racing
RANGER RZR 4 800. When the dust settled, Jagged
X would have their fifth consecutive Vegas
to Reno win with Parks finishing second. With
only five Side-by-Sides finishing, RANGER
RZRs would sweep the podium with a RANGER
RZR XP 900 also finishing third.
The Jagged X team dedicated most of their
summer race break preparing and
fine tuning the No. 1919 RANGER RZR XP 900
race car. The XP has performed
well since its debut at the Silver State 300
in April, but the team has
been working on small refinements and adjustments
to make this machine the
best it could be. Jagged X, with much help
from Chad Riccio of CR Designs,
stepped up their game on the support side
of things with two completely
equipped chase vehicles.
All this work combined with some great drivers
and co-drivers paid off when
the flag dropped early Friday morning. The
No. 1919 driven By Brandon
Schueler with Mike West in the navigation
seat took no time to take their
seventh starting spot to the front of the
pack. By Pit 4, they found
themselves chasing the always-consistent Polaris
RANGER RZR 4 of Matt
Parks, watching for any chance to get out
front for some fresh air. The two
RANGER RZRs swapped the lead several times
in the first 350 miles with both
teams being plagued by minor problems. With
an elapsed time of 13 hours, 27
minutes and 42 seconds the Jagged X RANGER
RZR XP 900 finished 52nd overall
out of 99 car and truck finishers proving
just how tough Polaris off-road
vehicles are. The win moves Brandon Schueler
into the points lead for the
2011 BITD championship series with two races
left to go.
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Parks
Polaris RZR 4 800 UTV
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Parks and co-driver Jason Spiess were fortunate
enough to draw the first starting position
and had a clean run and had a nice lead at
the half way point in the race when Mark Holz
and his co-driver Rob Utendorfer took over.
Holz held the lead until he noticed that battery
was losing voltage and at the next pit stop,
they pulled the hood to get more air to the
rectifier and returned to the race in second
place. Holz and Jagged X swapped the lead
several times and the top two cars were running
nose to tail 425 miles into the race and still
hadn't been caught by the Trophy Trucks and
unlimited buggies. Unfortunately, the car
had a rear A-arm bolt snap which took them
out of contention for the win. They patched
the car together to get him to a pit with
the proper parts and Holz was on his way to
the finish line.
"We came into Vegas to Reno with the
points lead and knew that we had to
finish this 553 mile race in order to stay
in the hunt for the
championship," said Parks. "We had
a blast racing out front and dicing
with the Jagged X guys. Without the more than
three hours of down time, we
might have had a shot for the win, but honestly
I am super stoked to finish
this race and to get second."
Matt Parks is sponsored by Holz Racing Products,
Walker Evans Wheels and
Shocks, Kroyer Racing Engines, Maxxis Tires,
Tire Balls, OMF, Pure Polaris
Lubricants, Valley Cycle, Utendorfer Graphic
Design, Desert West Off Road
Race Prep, Muzzy's.
Jagged X is sponsored by Polaris Industries,
Cutting Edge Manufacturing,
Vision X Lighting, BF Goodrich Tires, Wicked
Built, CR Designs, Summers
Brothers, Simpson, OMF, Affordable Powdercoating,
Mountain States
Contracting, Total Auto Pros, Walker Evans,
Elka Suspension, UTV Underground
About Jagged X:
Jagged X is a family owned business located
in Phoenix Arizona. Formed in 2003 from a
passion for off road vehicles, Jagged X quickly
became a pioneer in the custom side by side
segment and is known for bringing their customers
quality and innovation with their own brand
of style. In 2007 Jagged X formed an aftermarket
partnership with Polaris industries with the
introduction of the exciting new RZR. They
continue to lead the pack in the development
of exciting products for the RZR such as long
travel suspension, billet and tubular accessories.
