2014 Mint 400 Race Discussion

Join in and discuss all the action from the 2014 Mint 400. Robby Gordon will drive the #77 Toyo Tires/SPEED Energy/Traxxas Racing TT #77. Qualifying is on Thursday, March 13th and raceday is on Saturday, March 15th. Live chat will be available on Saturday during the Mint 400.

Those attending the race in person, the SPEED Energy Souvenir hauler WILL be located in downtown Las Vegas. ( 6th street aka Raptor Lane ) - across from the Traxxas display.

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Permalink Reply by Buzzzz on March 15, 2014 at 12:05pm

OK thank you!

Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on March 15, 2014 at 12:17pm

join us in chat for links

Permalink Reply by Bricoop on March 15, 2014 at 11:46am

Some light reading for you all:

http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/14/nascar-qualifying-i...
NASCAR qualifying is nothing compared to Mint 400 off-road race; just ask Robby Gordon

NASCAR drivers who still don’t like the new qualifying system should count their blessings after hearing what happened to former NASCAR driver Robby Gordon.

Gordon had to sit through one of the longest qualifying sessions he’s ever experienced in his off-road racing career, waiting for nearly 90 Trophy trucks and off-road buggies before he had a chance to hit the track and lay down his qualifying run Thursday in preparation for Saturday’s Mint 400 outside Las Vegas.

Believing in the old saying that “good things come to those who wait,” Gordon was one of the last qualifiers on the grid and ultimately wound up with an outstanding run that placed him third in Saturday’s starting lineup.

Gordon and his No. 77 SPEED Energy/Toyo Tires/Traxxas truck overcame difficult desert track conditions – not to mention countless ruts left by those who went out in front of him – to cover the 3.4-mile track layout in 3 minutes, 12.943 seconds.

Gordon was less than three seconds off the qualifying runs of pole sitter Dale Dondel (3:10.295) and second-quickest Bryce Menzies (3:10.850).

Based upon the race’s rules, Dondel has the front row all to himself, while Menzies and Gordon will be side-by-side in Row 2. The Mint 400 consists of four 100-mile laps, with drivers not only racing each other, but also racing against the clock.

The race begins later Saturday at 4 pm EDT and will likely take longer than six hours to complete.

Taking the checkered flag in just over six hours, five minutes, Gordon won the 2012 edition of the Mint 400 (did not compete in last year’s race), while Menzies won last year’s event.

http://sxsnews.com/index.php/2014/03/robby-gordon-to-start-third-in...
Robby Gordon to Start Third in Saturday’s Mint 400

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (March 14, 2014) – Despite being one of the final qualifiers in a stacked field of more than 50 Trophy Trucks and more than 35 off-road buggies, Robby Gordon will start third in Saturday’s Mint 400.

Gordon and his No. 77 SPEED Energy/Toyo Tires/Traxxas truck overcame difficult Las Vegas-desert track conditions left by more than 80 competitors in front of him to record a lap of 3 minutes, 12.943 seconds over the 3.4-mile qualifying loop. His time was less than three seconds short of top-qualifier Dale Dondel (3 minutes, 10.295 seconds) and second-fastest qualifier Bryce Menzies (3:10.850).

Dondel will start alone in the first position while Menzies and Gordon will start side-by-side in second. Desert racing is a race against the clock and it is critical for competitors to start near the front of the field due to dust and rapidly deteriorating track conditions. The Mint 400 consists of four 100-mile laps, which in addition to changing course conditions also causes lapped traffic to become an issue throughout the final three-laps.

Gordon won the 2012 Mint 400 and did not compete in the 2013 race. Menzies is defending champion.

The race begins at 1 p.m. PDT (4 p.m. EDT) and is likely to take more than six hours for the winner to complete. Gordon’s winning time in 2012 was just more than six hours and five minutes.

Gordon, who has won at every level of motorsport in which he has competed including the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the IndyCar series, is a 10-time participant and nine-time stage winner in the famed Dakar Rally international off-road race – where he became the first American to win a stage in 2005 – a three-time Baja 1000 winner, a four-time Baja 500 winner, a seven-time SCORE International Off-Road Series Champion and the 2012 Best in the Desert Grand Champion.

Fans can participate in the Mint 400 experience by connecting on http://www.planetrobby.com and follow along with the team on Facebook and Twitter at: www.facebook.com/thespeedenergydrink, and http://twitter.com/SPEED_ENERGY.

The No. 77 Trophy Truck is supported by SPEED Energy, Toyo Tires, Traxxas, 4 Wheel Parts, Chevrolet, Magnaflow Exhaust, Eibach Springs, Mastercraft Safety, Embee Performance, MAC Tools, Replay XD, Impact Racing, Lincoln Welders, Ron Davis Racing Products, Techni Waterjet, Hella, Mechanix Wear, Saftey-Kleen, Kartek Off-Road, Team Gordon Race Wheels, Jamar, Anaheim Hills Auto Body, Trelleborg, Macs, Torchmate, and T-Rex Grills.

Permalink Reply by Bricoop on March 15, 2014 at 12:19pm

A couple of Tracking Links:

As mentioned earlier, RG is in the 1400 class. As you can see from the tracking, Trucks are currently all over Vegas.

http://irctracking.com/2014/Mint400/LasVegas/
http://www.racetheworld.net/ircstore/ (this should have additional links later)

Permalink Reply by Bricoop on March 15, 2014 at 1:14pm

I could be mistaken, they may put on the trackers just before the start, but I thought it was at contingency.

Permalink Reply by TOG on March 15, 2014 at 1:50pm

I believe RG doesn't start until 4pm/et ( 1pm local )

Permalink Reply by Bricoop on March 15, 2014 at 2:16pm

For those unfamiliar with the starting procedures, Dale Dondel (pole sitter) will head out first. 30 seconds later RG and Bryce Menzies will drag race to the first turn. See here for last years start (Begins at 18:40). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8JqCaLbOqU

Ive been told passing here is quite tough, Getting an early lead and staying out of dust are crucial to putting yourself in position to win. RG qualifying 3rd is incredibly beneficial.

Permalink Reply by Buzzzz on March 15, 2014 at 5:42pm

Menzies is on a tare almost home!

Permalink Reply by Bill McPherson on March 15, 2014 at 4:24pm

Looks like RG maybe down at RM2- Broken Transmission being reported.

Permalink Reply by Robert Valentine on March 15, 2014 at 10:14pm

He had touble with it in the Qualification. I don't know if they had a spare. They are only 27,000+. Too bad.

Permalink Reply by TOG on March 15, 2014 at 4:26pm

As soon as it began, it's over. It was a great test, great qualifying session.

Permalink Reply by Chupakabras on March 15, 2014 at 5:23pm

will they replace the trans,. or just go home,.

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