Randy Merritt and Mongo Racing Finish 2nd at the 2013 Silver State 300
By Steven Draper
Randy Merritt and the crew at Mongo Racing have been very busy at work during this first half of the 2013 Best In the Desert Racing Association season. Merritt opened the year with a class Win in his TNC built KC Hilites General Tire Icon Vehicle Dynamics Class 7200 Ford numbered 7281 at the 2013 BITD Blue Water Parker 425 in Parker AZ, but hit a new low when he was forced onto the trailer early at the 2013 BITD Mint 400, but Merritt and his crew knew there was still a lot of races miles left in the season to recover.
On May 3, 2013 Merritt and the crew at Mongo Racing arrived in Las Vegas, NV for the 2013 BITD Silver State 300 presented by Canidae Natural Pet Foods and the Tap It Brewery looking for redemption to propel themselves back into the 2013 Class 7200 Points Championship.
Merritt drew the second starting position in the pre-race random starting draw, but knew there were still over 50 Unlimited vehicles starting just in front of him. Merritt started the race behind the wheel of the KC Hilites General Tire Icon Vehicle Dynamics Class 7200 Ford Truck from the second starting position in the high deserts of Nevada just West of Caliente NV. Merritt piloted the KC Hilites General Tire Icon Vehicle Dynamics Class 7200 Ford Truck through the tight terrain and mountain roads for 298 official miles. Merritt stayed in the top two physical trucks in class for the first 215 miles, when Merritt was passed in the pits while getting fuel.
The top 5 Class 7200 trucks were running a tight race and track position was key in this terrain. Merritt would regain the second position by race mile 250 and hold off a charging field for a strong Second place finish in his Class 7200 KC Hilites General Tire Icon Vehicle Dynamics 7281 Ford Truck.
After the race Merritt said, “We only stopped for F&L fuel today because the General Grabbers did their job with no flats and the Icon Vehicle Dynamics Suspension components along with the K&N Filters performed Outstanding. Because of the speed of the course and our starting position we only used our KC Hilites HID and LED lights to help us see through the dust as we passed the other vehicles on the track.”
Merritt’s finish propelled himself back into 4th place in the Class 7200 Driver Championship standings and with the “Longest Off-Road Race in the United States” BITD’s Vegas to Reno next on the schedule, August 15-17, 2013, Merritt is looking to repeat his 2012 BITD Vegas to Reno Class 7200 Victory to solidify his standings it the Class 7200 Championship chase.
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 FK Rod Ends.
Visit www.mongoracing.com for additional information about the team and sponsorship opportunity.
