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BEST IN THE DESERT Series
Parker 250 UTV Race
January 11, 2013

Best in the Desert Racing Series

Best in the Desert - Parker 250 - UTV Race Report
Jagged X Racing's Brandon Schueler Wins UTV Pro Class

BEST IN THE DESERT
Parker 250 ATV & SxS Links
Parker, AZ (1/13/2014) -The 2014 Best in the Desert Racing Series kicked off this weekend with the Parker 250, and It was defending Pro UTV Champion, Jagged X Racing's Brandon Schueler, taking the UTV Pro Class win in his Polaris RZR XP 900. Holz racing's Scott Kiger finished in the second spot with Can-Am's Cory Sappington rounding out the podium.  In the all new UTV 850 Pro Class, Vigor Motorsports’ Scott Martinez claimed the win with his John Deere RSX 850i after a brutal 160 miles of desert racing.

The off road racers all headed to the line in the hopes of kicking off the season with a win at the Best in The Desert Parker 250.

2014 BITD Parker 250 UTV Start
33 UTV Drivers headed to the line just as the sun was rising for the 2014 Best in the Desert Racing Series Parker 250 Season opener in Arizona

The Best in the Desert Parker 250 was held just outside of the town of Parker, Arizona, and racers were treated to ideal January weather with temperatures only in the low 50’s at the pre sunrise start, and once the sun came up, it quickly warmed up to almost 80 degrees by the end of the race with a with a slight breeze clearing the dust from the race course.

Coming off a short off-season, a total of thirty-three UTV teams entered to compete in the season opener. With all UTV classes set to race two laps, the racers were started just after 8:00 am, with fifteen second increments between each car. The notorious desert terrain of the Parker 250 stayed true to its extremely rough and treacherous obstacles.  Known as the tale of two courses, the first half of the course provides more high speed and "sand-wash" style terrain, while the second half of the race contained technical rugged sections and the very popular "rock garden". Racers would then follow deep rolling whoops all the way up to the finish line.

Polaris RZR XP 900 - Brandon Schueler
Defending BITD UTV Pro Class Champion, Brandon Schueler, got a mid pack start & began to work his way through the field in his Jagged X Polaris RZR XP 900

In the UTV Pro Class, defending Champion Jagged X Racing's 1919 Brandon Schueler had to battle his way to the win at this event. After a mid-pack start, Schueler had to work his way passed several racers, and had a little bit of luck on his side when the class leader experienced issues in the final half of the last lap, which allowed Schueler to take over the lead.

Polaris RZR XP 900 - Brandon Schueler
Polaris RZR XP 900 - Brandon Schueler
On the final lap, Brandon Shueler took over the lead from Scott Kiger to take the first win of the season in the Best in the Desert UTV Pro Class

After a devastating DNF at the 2013 Parker 250, Schueler held on this year to secure the Parker 250 win for 2014. Kicking off the season with an early points lead gives the defending champion plenty of momentum heading into the Mint 400.

Polaris RZR XP 900 - Brandon Schueler
Although Scott Kiger ran into some issues at the start of the race, he was able to take over the lead before the end of lap one

Holz Racing’s Scott Kiger ran into issues right off the start when he was forced to pull over and let Polaris’ Craig Scallion take off ahead of him in the all new Polaris RZR XP 1000, but Kiger came out right behind him and quickly made the pass as Kiger charged his way through the field to take over the physical lead before the end of lap one.

Polaris RZR XP 1000 - Scott Kiger
Scott Kiger would finish second in the BITD Parker 250 UTV pro class despite having CV problems in the final lap of the race

Kiger held the lead past the midway point of the second lap, but he suffered a unexpected CV issue, which caused him to back it off the gas and go into survival mode, which allowed Schueler and Jeff Obering in the 1902 Method Race Wheels SxS to make the pass with Kiger dropping back to third. Fortunately for Kiger, Obering would also run into issues in the final stretch of the race, which allowed Kiger to salvage a second place finish.

"It was disappointing to not get the win because the car was fast and handled great. All in all it was a good day,” said Kiger.

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