August 18-21, 2010
Nevada

Menzies Motorsports BLAZES Trail in Quest for BITD Vegas to Reno Checkers
#70 Bryce Menzies EARNS Top Ten Overall

Las Vegas, Nevada – Nevada’s barren desert dealt a toll among the worlds top off road desert racers in the 2010 edition of Best in the Desert’s Vegas to Reno race. The United States longest point-to-point off road desert race kicked off early Friday morning as temperatures began to heat up the desert floor.

Battling the harsh desert over a racecourse that spanned 534-miles, Las Vegas based Menzies Motorsports unleashed the fury of the #70 Ford Kroyer powered Trophy Truck after starting from the 14th position behind some of the best racers in the desert. In the end, Bryce earned a solid top ten finish claiming the tenth spot overall and 7th in the elite BITD Trick Truck class.
Bryce Menzies began the three-day event with a less than par qualifying effort after race officials watered the course heavily and the Vegas young gun spun a 360 degrees in the racecourse infield in Primm, Nevada.

Best in the Desert’s contingency and technical inspection kicked off Thursday at the Aliante Resort and Casino parking lot under very warm temperatures as the #70 Blanco Basura/Bully Dog race truck snaked through the lines and gave race fans the opportunity to get up close and personal with Bryce Menzies and his Menzies Motorsports “Big Red Machine.”

Despite the less than stellar qualifying time, Bryce led his race team to the start line with determination and grit hoping to turn the corner and charge to the front in Friday’s 541-mile race.

And that he did, as the green flag dropped and he mashed the pedal on the #70 Ford F150 Kroyer powered race truck. “The truck was really good right off the start line and although the dust was extremely heavy we were able to keep a great pace through the desert. The first couple hundred miles were pretty much follow the leader with a hope to get towards the front as others had issues and pitted.”

With an army of Big Red Machine race support trucks chasing the #70 race truck and migrating north on US 95, Bryce Menzies continued his charge across some of the most desolate desert in the United States.

“The pit crews performed flawless today,” said race team manager, Ian Beaman. “The logistics involved in moving our team along the racecourse and providing support to the race truck at any possible moment is a daunting task, but we wouldn’t want it any other way. We have assembled some of the best people in off road desert racing and our crew rallied throughout the 12-hour endurance race performing at championship levels at each and every pit. We couldn’t ask anymore from the pit crews.”

As the dust trails floated off the lead pack it was evident that the pace of the race picked up as teams that started in front of Bryce Menzies began to experience mechanical issues. Unfortunately, the #70 was slowed by a series of their own stops on the racecourse checking potential issues that resulted in falling behind the lead pack while nearing the 200-mile mark.

Approaching race mile 300 the decision was made by Bryce Menzies to change out drivers/co-drivers for the second half of the race. Las Vegas desert racing veteran, Larry Job, and race team manager, Ian Beaman, suited up for the last 250-miles of the race.

Exiting the race truck both Bryce and co-driver, Pete Mortensen commented the Nevada desert had taken its toll on them over the first 300 miles of the race. Bryce explained further, “Concentrating each and every second of the first 305-miles of this race was taxing. The dust is so heavy and of course this year the race began without anyone prerunning so it was difficult. I kept thinking it would get better but it never did and I hate to get out of the drivers seat but I thought if we were going to have any chance at a top three we needed to put in a fresh driver and co-driver.”

Larry Job rallied quickly and immediately began the assault towards the checkered flag. With a renewed sense of confidence the race was back in full motion.

The miles clicked off very fast as the blaze red race truck contrasted against the lightly colored silt.

After a perfect run in the northern Nevada desert and with the checkered flag in sight, the #70 Ford F150 Blanco Basura / Bully Dog race truck descended into the Best in the Desert’s finish line arena claiming the 7th position among the elite Trick Truck racers and 10th position overall.

Steve Menzies commented, “This is our third desert race in a Trophy Truck and were moving right along, but today we might have had a few too many stops to be a top three contender. We’re getting there, but we’ve got to streamline a few of our systems in order to get back into the winner’s circle. We won in our first ever Trophy Truck race and the team is clicking on all cylinders, we just need some refinement.”

Menzies Motorsports desert racing program is supported by the best companies in the off road racing industry including BFGoodrich Tires, Blanco Basura, METHOD Wheels, Bully Dog, FOX Racing Shox, MasterCraft Safety and DIRTnewz.com

Next up for Menzies Motorsports will be Rounds 11 and 12 of the 2010 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, to be held September 25-26, 2010, at SPEEDWORLD in Surprise, Arizona.

For more information on Menzies Motorsports, visit www.menziesmotorsports.com

The American Off-Road Racing Series…Best In The Desert!