For this year's Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno
2023, DVR Motorsports partnered up with Nations Finest nonprofit to provide adrenaline therapy, veterans networking and comprehensive support for our nation's heroes. With that DVR Motorsports was able to complete the mission by providing the opportunity for 6 veteran driver/codrivers to get a ride of a lifetime in the DVR Motorsports flagship car.
This year's V2R was one for the books! DVR Motorsports partnered with Nations Finest to extend our outreach and support to more veterans than ever. V2R is a 534 mile race through the brutal Nevada desert and it was just that, BRUTAL! Kendall started the race as the driver around 1:10PM with our new Veteran “Poncho”, a soon to be retired Army pilot. We set off the start line in Armagossa valley in the newly rebuilt RZR 1000 Flagship car #1850 and had a great run up until mile 40, we blew a belt after cruising through the deep silt beds at 60MPH. Fortunately we threw a new belt on in just a few minutes and we were back on course racking up miles. We actually blew another belt about 40 miles later and this one cost us a little more time. The belt shredded and wrapped around the primary but our new vet Poncho was on it and we had the primary off and on with the new belt in about 5 minutes. We were back on course again and had been passed by a few vehicles which meant we had to push through the zero visibility dust and get around a few vehicles. Poncho was on point with his navigation as we were driving blind solely off his navigation.
We pushed on to pit #3 for a co-driver swap where we swapped Poncho for Carmen, another new veteran with Nation's Finest. With a fuel top off and another new belt Carmen and I were off to conquer the desert once again. We were on a great pace through the desert and fought through some more dust to pass another race vehicle. We ended up blowing another belt at RM167 but this one cost some more time. The belt blew off the cover and wrapped around the axle causing the inner axle boot to pop off. I had to use some zip tie magic to get the cover back on and the boot slid back over the axle and secured so it wouldn’t become another problem down the road. After about 10 minutes this time we were again back on course headed to pit 5 at RM190 for another Driver/Co-Driver swap.
Waiting at Pit 5 with 1850 approaching quickly team driver Stetson Galloway began suiting up for battle alongside Nations Finest very own Army Veteran Curtis Butler. With determination in their eyes and their eyes on the prize, Stetson and Curtis left pit 5 in a hurry on their way through the desert. Unfortunately, being forced to pull over only a half mile outside of the pits due to a bolt failure in the front driveshaft. While staying calm and collected Stetson jumped out of the car to find a solution to the problem, unable to find a bolt small enough Stetson began to zip tie the prop shaft to the differential. Knowing this was a temporary solution to the problem Stetson put the car in 2 wheel drive and began charging to the next pit putting a lot of trust into a couple zip ties. Nonetheless Stetson and Curtis had a clean smooth run into pit 6.
Awaiting at pit 6 DVR chase was set up and
ready to get to work on 1850. With a bolt in hand the team was able to cut the last 2 remaining zip ties holding the prop shaft to the differential, getting it replaced with a bolt to allow us to switch to four wheel drive once again. While the team worked on the car Poncho again jumped in the navigator seat for another leg of our journey toward the finish line! With four wheel drive working again Stetson was able to pick up the pace and found their groove and began putting the miles behind them. With roughly 50miles between pit six and pit seven Stetson and Poncho had a smooth fast run with their minds set on getting to the finish.
Approaching the 250 mile mark and roughly 500 yards outside of pit 7 Stetson and Poncho went up and over a small jump/roller which on the landing bent a rear radius rod and snapped the passenger rear shock. Fortunately we were able to Continue into the pits where DVR chase was waiting to look over the car. Once in the pits it was determined our race was over as we unfortunately did not have a spare shock. Although we only made it 250 miles of the 534 miles we felt accomplished and knew we gave it all we had and felt very grateful the shock broke when it did and didn’t leave us stranded on the course. Even though we didn’t finish we still managed to get the mission done and give some veterans a ride of a lifetime. Thank you to our sponsors and supporters. We couldn't do any of this without you.
Carmen Perez Testimonial
