JoeyD23
#utvunderground
Coastal Racing / Holz Racing Debut NEW Polaris RZR XP900
Well it was cold, cool, and freezing! The 2011 BITD Henderson 250 was not the most challenging of courses but story lines were made and battles were waged. Coming into the race Matt Parks had a small points lead over Jagged X and Murray Racing. With this being a double points race it could have been anyone's championship to win, but once Jagged X had to pull off course to address some vehicle issues it became Parks championship to lose. Nonetheless Murray Racing in their Can-Am Commander 1000 did not roll over. Clicking off the miles Derek and Jason Murray got faster and before they knew it were breathing down the neck of the current points and race leader Matt Parks. Parks in his 1932 Polaris RZR4 was hard charging all day but was having some rear suspension / shock problems causing for some harsh bottoming out. This pounding the car was taking was enough for them to pull over to perform a rear shock adjustment. This adjustment gave Murray enough time to get around them and from there the 1917 never looked back. The Murray Racing Can-Am Commander was able to deliver Can-Am their first BITD UTV win ever, unfortunately for them it just wasn't enough to edge out Parks who would still retain the BITD season points championship.
UTVUnderground wants to extend a huge congrats to both Matt Parks and his 1932 Baja Bobsled for taking home a hard faught championship. You would be hard pressed to find anyone involved in this sport who would say that Parks didn't deserve to win this year. The 1932 battled for the win in every race this season and because of that were able to clinch a well deserved season championship. UTVUnderground is proud to have the 1932 as part of our team, and I am personally proud to call Matt a friend. From top to bottom Matt Parks shows class in hos he carries himself, how he races, and how he prepares his car and team.
UTVUnderground also wants to congratulate Murray Racing on their win. While it is easy for the winner of the race to be overshadowed by the one who wins the season championship it is important to point out that Murray Racing has been fighting off issues all season long while working out the bugs on a new race UTV. No one had competed a full season on a Can-Am Commander yet so this was a big challenge to get this UTV dialed in. It took them a season but it showed in this race that they have finally figured it out and that their Can-Am can and will compete against the Polaris lineup of awesome race machines that compete in the BITD series. Much of what I said about Parks I can say about Murray. Derek, no matter the circumstances is always courteous and polite, he always exudes professionalism and is a just an all around great person. I look forward to all they have to offer next year in competing in their car.
Despite a bummer race for them I do not want to overlook the Jagged X team. I think most would agree that Jaged X has set the bar for UTV desert racing and their drive and development is a huge reason we are seeing the caliber of cars competing in this series. Anytime a Jagged X UTV lines up to race you know they men business and you know you have some very worthy competition, no matter the series or race. If Jagged X built a NASCAR I would put money on them doing well! Even though they didn't perform the way they wanted to a the HEnderson 250 they still completed the race, they still were at the finish line to congratulate the winners and finishers, and they still intend on coming back to battle next year. They fly the UTVUnderground colors proud as do most in the series, and for that we are thankful!
I want to give special mention and props to the John Deere racing programs. These UTV's, the Gator's, are not your prototypical racing platforms yet Scott Martinez and Lucas Hand respectfully built machines that were able to compete in the toughest off road racing series in the Unites States. Both teams had their problems learning how to turn a working farm vehicle into competitive desert race UTV's. I am proud to have been able to support both these guys in one way or another and I was extremely excited to see Lucas Hand's 1913 get the finish they deserved at the last race of the season. My fingers are crossed that both teams will be back next year!
Well, thats my rough wrap up of the year. I want to thank each every team who represented for UTVUnderground this year, Lacretia and the Rockstar Racing Team, Sean Cook in his Fabtech RZR, Mike Lasher and the Monster Energy Kawasaki Teryx, Bobby Raber, Michael Lansky, and all of those I am forgetting. Thank you very much, I can't begin to tell you how proud I am to see your cars with our colors on them ripping up the deserts of Nevada. I am proud to call many of you friends and I am super excited for Parker next month!!! See you all in 2012!!!!
EDIT: Jagged X actually came into the 2011 Henderson 250 with the Points lead.
Special thank you to Vincent Knakal of Mad Media for waking up early to come shoot pics with me!!!! Many of these pics are his and I am stoked to be working with such respected and talented photographers such as him!
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