Next Up - Mint 400

Ellstrom/Oberto Racing’s Sven Ellstrom and co-driver Chazz Arenidas will be back in action this weekend, racing in the Mint 400 on a rugged 100 mile course between Las Vegas and Primm, Nevada.

Ellstrom called the course, “One of the roughest we ever race on.” Adding, “The trick is to find the right combination of speed and caution to get you through seven hours of desert racing and score a high finish."

The game plan calls for three pit stops during the four laps-for fuel only if all goes well. Fewer than half the racers normally finish the grueling contest.

Racing begins at 8 a.m. Saturday and continues through the afternoon. Related activities begin in Las Vegas much earlier.

The schedule includes a parade of off-road vehicles on the Las Vegas Strip at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday and a huge display of vehicles and equipment at the Odyssey Battery Tech and Contingency days in the Fremont Street Experience Thursday and Friday – expected to attract huge crowds to downtown Las Vegas.

Team owner Erick Ellstrom feels the team is well prepared to make a run at the 2018 Best In The Desert Championship in the Pro Turbo UTV Class, following a disappointing early exit at the season opener in Parker, Arizona January 6.

“With all the support we have from Sonic Tools, Tensor Tires, VisionX, Holz Racing, Walker Evans and Oberto, we have completely rebuilt for this race,” said Ellstrom. “We will leave the line with a virtually new race rig and should be among the front runners. But we know it’s a long, hard race where anything can happen.”