Team 71 Racing Vegas to Reno summary

TEAM 71 RACING TAKES FIRST PLACE IN VEGAS-TO-RENO

August 26, 2008 TEAM 71 Racing finished first overall to win the nation's longest and perhaps the most prestigious off-road race, the Best in the Desert TSCO Vegas-to-Reno race in the Nevada desert.

This tremendous victory marks the first overall win for TEAM 71 Racing and their driver Rick D. Johnson. The team finished ahead of everyone in their Trick Truck class and the entire field of racers with their phenomenal run.

"It was just an absolutely awesome day," said Johnson. "We just kept moving forward and tried to be really conservative in the rocks and not get flats. Sometimes, smooth is fast."

Johnson and co-driver Brian Sallee kept a consistently fast pace in moving from their 17th place starting spot up to the front of the pack. Johnson was ecstatic after the first overall victory in his 25-year career.

"We just kept passing people all day. It was an absolutely beautiful day for us."

The rugged terrain of the course wreaked havoc on tires throughout the day. TEAM 71 was able to overcome the difficulty of the race because of the superb performance by their new General Grabber competition tire.

"The course was challenging, but the tires hooked up great. The truck was dialed in for this course, and we are stoked to be bringing home a win for General Tire and Castrol," exclaimed Johnson. "Our Ford ran great all day, all of the extensive work we did on our engine program with Castrol paid off and the team really came together. It was absolutely awesome."

The number one overall finish puts TEAM 71 Racing in first place Trick Truck class in the Best in the Desert points standings. The Silver State 300 and the Henderson 400 are the only two remaining races for the 2008 BITD Points Championship.

"It is an incredible accomplishment to win this distinguished race," said Team Owner Eric Place. "We are seeing the results of all of the hard work by our crew and our sponsors. It is a fantastic accomplishment for everyone involved."