A Victory for Alexander Motorsports at the General Tire Las Vegas to Reno Race
- Oct 17, 2013
Lining up in the Class 5,000 (Unlimited Baja Bug), Steve Alexander would be manning the steering wheel, while team member, Mark Pettit would be serving as the navigator. When the race was deemed underway, the team was the second to leave the line. However, they had no intentions of doing anything but leading the field of drivers. No more than ten minutes had elapsed and they were already at the head of the pack. However, as mile-25 neared, Alexander noticed an inconsistency in the rear suspension. Continuing to the first pit, Alexander and Pettit were greeted by a crew, who was geared up and ready to alleviate the issue. Within 40-minutes the crew had the issue resolved and Alexander Motrosports was back on track and in pursuit of a victory.
Pushing forward, Steve Alexander and Mark Pettit managed to regain the lead 125 miles into the race. Reaching pit six at the 220 mile marker, Doug Roorda took over behind the steering wheel, while Pettit remained at the navigator position. The pit crew gave the rig an inspection and refueled at mile 354 in preparation for a section of track consisting of huge silt beds and rugged mountains. Not only was the tearm faced with treacherous conditions, but a falling sun would soon lead to darkness With other drivers closing in on their lead, no time was wasted when Roorda rolled into pit 13, and Steve Alexander took over the driving position again. With Sean Babb as his co-driver, they embarked upon the final 75-miles of the race with vigor. Quickly disappearing into the desert night, the team crossed the finish line more than 15 hours after the waving of the green flag deemed the race underway. Finishing one-hour-and-fifteen-minutes ahead of the second place vehicle, Alexander Motorsports had earned the victory and their rightful place atop the podium. When asked at what point was he confident the race was in the bag, Steve Alexander said, "As we crossed the finish line. When you see cars broke down 2-miles before the finish, it reminds you that it's never over until it's over. You have to stay focused," he ensured. "The Vegas to Reno is the longest off-road race in America," he continued. "A lot of people come to race it and have never seen the finish line. last year, we broke 315-miles into the race; It's a hard race to finish and a harder one to win."
Referring to the victory, he said, "I would say my confidence went up a couple of notches. But you can't let it go to your head. The next race could smack you right back down again." A win at the Vegas to Reno event is a testimony that team Alexander Motorsports is a well-oiled machine. However, they would likely be quick to admit that maintenance is equally as essential as any other aspect of the sport. That in mind, they are strong advocates of using K&N products to keep their engines running at their optimal performance and contaminant free. "K&N keeps our fuel, oil and air clean," explained Steve Alexander. "This is our second season running their products. We won the championship last year and are leading the points this year. K&N filters has played a huge role in our success." Looking to the future, Steve Alexander explained, "We want to move up to a different class. I would like to get a truck. I love racing buggies, especially the class-5. But there is more competition in the truck classes." Alexander Motorsports has aspirations of walking away with another championship at the 2013 season's end. With a little luck and a lot of hard work and determination, their goals to man the highest point on the podium might very well come to fruition. |
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| Related K&N News Articles about the Las Vegas to Reno race: CT Racing's Danny Prather and Dave Scott 1st Pro Quad at 2012 BITD Las Vegas to Reno Race; Las Vegas to Reno Best in the Desert Off Road Race Win for K&N Supported Team; Best in the Desert Las Vegas to Reno 1000 Race is a Wild Adventure Off Road Event |
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