Mint 400
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| Location | Primm, Nevada, United States |
|---|---|
| Corporate sponsor | BFGoodrich Tires |
| First race | 1968 |
| Distance | 400 mi (640 km) |
| Circuit information | |
| Surface | Desert off-road |
The Mint 400 is an annual American desert off-road race held in Nevada, near Las Vegas. First run in 1968 as a promotional event for The Mint Hotel and Casino, it became known as "The Great American Off-Road Race".[1]
The event includes multiple off-road vehicle categories, including motorcycles, UTVs, buggies, cars and trucks. After a long hiatus following the late 1980s, the race was revived in 2008 and later became part of modern desert-racing series competition.[1]
History
The Mint 400 was created in 1968 by Norm Johnson, promotions director of The Mint Hotel and Casino. It began as a public-relations event connected to the hotel, but quickly developed into a major desert race.[1] The first race, officially called the "Mint '400' Del Webb Desert Rally", sent more than 100 vehicles across roughly 400 miles (640 km) of desert, with the route beginning and ending at The Mint Hotel in Las Vegas.[2]
During the 1970s and 1980s, the race attracted competitors from several branches of motorsport, as well as celebrities from film, television and entertainment.[1] Early notable competitors included Parnelli Jones, Al Unser, Rick Mears, Rodger Ward, Mickey Thompson, Ivan Stewart, Walker Evans, Rod Hall, James Garner and Steve McQueen.[1]
The future of the race became uncertain after the sale of The Mint Hotel. The event continued into the late 1980s, including the 1989 Binion's Nissan Mint 400, but the Mint 400 name then fell inactive for nearly two decades.[3][1]
The race was revived in 2008 with the support of General Tire and the Southern Nevada Off-Road Enthusiasts.[1] In 2011, the Martelli Brothers acquired the event and formed a partnership with Casey Folks and Best in the Desert for the 2012 race.[4] The partnership with Best in the Desert ended after the 2019 season, with the Mint 400 operated independently from 2020.[5]
In 2023, the Martelli Brothers formed Unlimited Off-Road Racing, whose events included the Mint 400, the California 300 and the Parker 400.[6] In 2025, Unlimited Off-Road Racing and Best in the Desert announced the formation of the American Off-Road Racing Championship.[7]
Format and classes
The modern Mint 400 is run over a desert course of roughly 400 mi (640 km) and includes separate races for different vehicle categories. Current classes include unlimited trucks, limited trucks, open-wheel desert cars, UTVs, stock-production vehicles, vintage vehicles, motorcycles, youth classes and other specialty divisions.[8]
Winners
Modern overall four-wheel winners
The following table lists overall four-wheel winners since the race was revived in 2008.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Brian Collins and Chuck Hovey |
| 2009 | Andy McMillin |
| 2010 | Roger Norman |
| 2011 | B. J. Baldwin |
| 2012 | Robby Gordon |
| 2013 | Bryce Menzies |
| 2014 | Steve Sourapas and Andy McMillin |
| 2015 | Justin Lofton |
| 2016 | Justin Lofton |
| 2017 | Rob MacCachren |
| 2018 | Bryce Menzies |
| 2019 | Justin Lofton |
| 2020 | Luke McMillin and Jason Duncan |
| 2021 | Rob MacCachren and Cayden MacCachren |
| 2022 | Kyle Jergensen and Shawn Shanks |
| 2023 | Eric Hardin and Andrew Myers |
| 2024 | Adam Householder and Trevor Ellingham |
| 2025 | Adam Householder and Trevor Ellingham[9] |
| 2026 | Kyle Jergensen and Shawn Shanks[10] |
Motorcycle winners
Motorcycles were part of the early Mint 400 and returned in the modern era.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1968 | J. N. Roberts and Gunnar Lindstrom[11] |
| 1969 | Mike Patrick and Phil Bowers[12] |
| 1970 | Mike Patrick and Phil Bowers[13] |
| 1971 | J. N. Roberts and Max Switzer[14] |
| 1972 | Rolf Tibblin and Bob Grossi[15] |
| 1973 | Rolf Tibblin and Mitch Mayes[16] |
| 1974 | No race |
| 1975 | Mark Mason and Jack Johnson[17] |
| 1976 | Rolf Tibblin and Jack Johnson[17] |
| 2019 | Ricky Brabec and Kendall Norman[18] |
| 2022 | Dalton Shirey and David Kamo[18] |
| 2023 | Dalton Shirey[18] |
| 2024 | Preston Campbell[18] |
| 2026 | Ciaran Naran and Lyndon Snodgrass[19] |
Notable entrants
The Mint 400 has attracted competitors from several areas of motorsport and entertainment. Notable entrants have included Parnelli Jones, Al Unser, Rick Mears, Rodger Ward, Mickey Thompson, Ivan Stewart, Walker Evans, Rod Hall, James Garner, Steve McQueen, Mort Sahl, Gordon Cooper and Ted Nugent.[1] Stone Cold Steve Austin served as grand marshal of the 2025 race and competed in the UTV class.[20]
In popular culture
The Mint 400 is closely associated with Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which began with Thompson's assignment to cover the 1971 race. The race also appears in the 1998 film adaptation, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.[21]
References
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- ^ a b c d e f g h Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."History of The Mint 400". The Mint 400. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Mint Names Starter For Desert Rally". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 25 February 1968.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Glick, Shav (20 April 1989). "Once Again, Mint 400 Will Be a Battle for Survival". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Mad Media & Best in The Desert to Produce the Greatest Off-Road Race in the World - The Legendary Mint 400" (Press release). PR Newswire. 13 December 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Bowe, Anthony (30 April 2019). "The Mint 400 Ends Partnership with Best in the Desert". The Shop. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."About UNLTD Off-Road Racing". UNLTD Off-Road Racing. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Best In The Desert and Unlimited Off-Road Racing Unify to Form the American Off-Road Racing Championship". The Mint 400. 16 August 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."UNLTD Off-Road Racing Classes". UNLTD Off-Road Racing. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."BFGoodrich Racing rides high at 2025 Mint 400". BFGoodrich North America Newsroom. 10 March 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."BFGoodrich Racing conquers 2026 Mint 400". BFGoodrich North America Newsroom. 12 March 2026. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Orr, Ed (1 June 1968). "Mint 400". Cycle World. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Rusz, Joe (1 June 1969). "The Mint 400". Cycle World. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Farnsworth, Bryon (1 June 1970). "The Mint 400, '70 Style". Cycle World. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Sanford, Bob (1 July 1971). "The Mint 400". Cycle World. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Archives Column: The Mint 400 - 1972". Cycle News. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Nicholls, B. R. (1 July 1973). "Mint 400". Cycle World. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."The Mint 400: 1968 to 1976". Race-Dezert. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ a b c d Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Results". The Mint 400. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Ciaran Naran, Lyndon Snodgrass Win 2026 BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400 Motorcycle Race". The Mint 400. 8 March 2026. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.""Stone Cold" Steve Austin to be Grand Marshal of the 2025 BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400". The Mint 400. 24 February 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
External links
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