Wes Miller Interview: 2015 Polaris RZR Desert Racing
Wes Miller: Pro UTV SCORE & BITD Racing

We recently caught up with Wes at the Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno desert race to see what he’s been up to since getting out of the DVD sales business.

ATVRiders.com: Why did you stop racing quads?
Wes Miller: Well, I knew that I couldn’t race quads forever. After the 2012 Baja 1000, we had a mechanical issue and lost the race and the championship. I didn’t want to go out like that, so I decided to race one more year. With the help of some great teammates in 2013, we were able to win the Baja 1000 and the SCORE Championship. I wanted to step away on top. There were a lot of tragic events that year and it felt like it was time to hang it up. It was an amazing time racing quads in Baja, and I couldn’t have done it without my teammates, our support crew, and sponsors. I’m very grateful to all of them for everything they did to put us in the winner’s circle so many times.

ATVRiders.com: What are you doing now?
Wes Miller: I’ve wanted to transition into a UTV for some time now. Coming from the ATV world, I’ve seen the development of the UTV market first hand. In fact, we showcased some of the first UTV races in my Huevos videos back in the mid 2000’s. Back in the day, the guys from Rhinocraft came out and jumped their Rhino off my freestyle ramp. And we all went back East and raced one of the first UTV short course events with the WPSA, but back then, no one was doing it. The UTVs weren’t that fast and they broke down all the time. They just weren’t designed to do what we were doing. The past few years all of that has changed. Now there are more Pro UTV’s than quads and the cars have come a long way. There are multiple manufactures making competitive UTV’s and more joining the ranks. It is an exciting time for UTV industry, and seeing all of that, I decided I needed to get involved.

ATVRIDERS: Tell us about your race team?
Wes Miller: Well, I was looking to get into a UTV for SCORE and BITD. A friend of mine, Dave Lazovsky, that I used to race quads with back in the day was interested in it as well. At the same time another friend BC Vaught that managed the Bomb Squad, was starting rOtation Motorsports. We all went to the Baja 1000 last year and after talking decided to put together a team. Between BC and I, we had most of the sponsors we needed to make it happen. We started with a ’15 Polaris RZR XP 4 1000. We took it to Lonestar Racing for the build. Dan and Garrick did a great job on the car. LSR did the full cage and we went with their MTS Suspension Kit and Fox 3.0 Internal Bypass Shocks. Bikeman Performance did the motor with a Dalton clutch. We designed a one off K&N dual filter system. 30” GBC Mongrels with Tire Blocks on Hiper beadlock wheels. Pro Armor seats and harnesses. Baja Designs helped us develop an awesome light bar. Rugged Radios dialed in the radio, intercom, and GPS. And we run a Factory UTV full skid.

ATVRiders.com: And how is it going so far?
Wes Miller: Well we finished the car the night before the Mint 400. With almost no sleep, we had a good run. I charged through the pack off the start, but lost a belt and the whole field went back by. We got going again and worked our way up. It is crazy how many Pro UTV’s are at these races. There are 50+ entries at most events now. It makes for some great racing. We got into the top ten and at one point, I think we were top five. After a few more small issues, we ended up seventh. At the Silver State 300, we again were running up front but had belt issues and ended up tenth. The Baja 500 didn’t go so well with a DNF.

Vegas to Reno was going good. We started 34th and moved to seventh physically. I think we were top five adjusted. Our transponder wasn’t working on the IRC site, so we couldn’t track the car. I hopped out in Tonopah and Tommy Scranton, who’s been doing a great job as co-driver, got his first shot at driving the car. He was moving up until something broke in the steering and we had to call it at mile 319. I’m really looking forward to the remainder of the season. Our car is working amazing. The Fox shocks never cease to impress me. There are things I hit now in this car that would have beat the crap out of me on my quad.

ATVRiders.com: Is there anyone you would like to thank?
Wes Miller: Yes, definitely. My teammates Dave Lazovsky, Tommy Scranton, and new co-driver Austin Adler. BC Vaught and rOtation Motorsports for assembling a great group of sponsors. And all of our sponsors, we couldn’t do this without them. Polaris RZR, Mystik Lubricants, Kicker Audio, Lonestar Racing, Fox Shox, Bikeman Performance, GBC Tires, Hiper Wheels, Tire Blocks, Baja Designs, K&N Filters, GoPro, Factory UTV, Pro Armor, Rugged Radios, Fly Racing, Alba Racing, Toyskinz, Skat Trak, Stratus, Coldcock Whiskey, IMG Motorsports, Humbolt Motorsports, and Muzzys.