Mongo Racing Wins Best In The Desert’s Class 7200 Season Opener, Parker 425 in Parker AZ

Mongo Racing Wins Best In The Desert’s Class 7200 Season Opener

Parker 425 in Parker AZ

The 2013 Best In The Desert Racing Association’s season opener is the classic Parker 425, billed as the “Legend Lives On,” was held February 2, 2013. The 2013 Parker 425 would not disappoint its title as several records were broken including most Unlimited Trucks and most Car and Trucks for this event in Best In The Deserts history.

Mongo Racing’s Parker 425 race events began on Wednesday, January 30, with the Parker Youth Off-Road Experience held at the Pop Harvey Park in Parker AZ where kids from the 4 local schools were given a chance to meet the invited drivers, crews and their race vehicles. Followed by Thursday, January 31, where Merritt and crew participated in the Parker Downtown Experience for the Parker 425 Racers and Fans. Friday was a full day of Contingency and Technical Inspection at the Blue Water Resort and Casino in Parker AZ.

Saturday, February 2, 2013, was race day for the Best In The Desert’s Parker 425 “The Legend Lives On.” The morning was chilly and overcast, but weather did not stop the thousands of fans from lining California Ave and the surrounding desert to watch the first and biggest event of 2013.

Randy Merritt, driver of the 7281 KC HiLiTes General Tire Class 7200, started the race 4th in class of 19 official starters. Randy stayed in the top 10 in Class 7200 for the first lap as he passed many vehicles or got caught up in set backs.

Randy finished lap 1 of the 425 mile 3 lap race in 6th place and after a quick pit stop for a full load of F&L fuel he was 16 minutes behind the leader. Randy had a fast second lap as he moved into 2nd in Class 7200 and only 7 and a half minutes behind the leader.

Randy started the third lap and final lap after another quick pit stop and he knew he had to push the TNC Machine built Class 7200 hard to catch the leader. Lap traffic and dust would not impede Randy as he raced the 136 mile lap on a mission. By Race mile 91 Randy was 24 seconds behind the leader on corrected time and charging. By the finish line Randy had taken the lead and won his first Best In The Desert Parker 425 “The Legend Lives On” race since 2003 by over 8 minutes.

“The KC HiLiTES General Tire truck ran great all day today and the ICON Suspension and General Grabber tires worked great on this course. I have to thank my Crew, Family and Sponsors for this great day,” commented Randy at the finish line.

The Mongo Racing Class 7200 Unlimited Ford number 7281 is sponsored by KC HiLiTES, General Tires, TNC Machine, ICON Vehicle Dynamics, Trail Ready Bead Lock Wheels, Kincaid Racing Engines, Yukon, Wilwood, Pro AM, EBC Brakes, Master Craft Safety Innovations, F&L Fuel, Lucas Oil, K&N Filters, McQueen’s Prototype Designs, Borla Exhaust, MSD Ignition, and Mongo Made Graphics.

Visit www.mongoracing.com for additional information about the team and sponsorship opportunity.

By Steven Draper

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