Yup, that time again...Tomorrow, Saturday 4/19 is the 2nd race in the Best in the Desert Series for 2008. The first race (Parker 425 in January) ended in a DNF for TXR and we are hoping (praying?) for a better result this time...The Xterra has been properly tested for this race having done a few hundred pre-race prep miles and the driveline problems (a constant worry in previous races) appear to have been eliminated with the help of Superior Axle & Gear. Add that to the fact that the team now has an entire spare rear end on the trailer (something they've never had before) hopes are high. Dave Blakely and Robert Pinion should be arriving momentarily at contingency and getting the X through inspection. Here is the info you need to follow along:

Terrible's 250 at Primm, NV

Format--3 lap race of 84 miles each
Start Time for TXR--Approximately 8:30AM Eastern (5:30AM Pacific)
Team #--3112
Team Class--3100 (Stock SUV)
Key Competitors--3101 (Falkosky) and 3111 (Hall)

Team Forum for Race updates: TXR Forum!!
Tracking site to follow the race: Race Tracking!!

Any questions feel free to ask...I will be providing updates as long as the team is racing....Keep your fingers crossed!!

Good luck to themm..

Good Luck TXR!!

Excellent...contingency is done, the X is in and ready to go...it was race ready when it arrived so no last minute prep work to be done and Dave is going out to dinner with his family while Robert handles the drivers meeting and getting the X all shiny. They also did a TV spot for KC HiLites as well, likely to appear in the next KCHiLites compilation video...5 entries in class 3100. 3 Ford Explorers, 1 H3 and the X...The X will start in the rear of the class-per Dave's request...Remember, the race starts around 8:30 Eastern and I will be in frequent contact with the main pits to keep everyone up to date!!

And they are at the starting line....looks like there are now 6 entries in class 3100....I think thats the highest # in the past year...will make the challenge even greater!! If when you bring up the tracking page and get the map but don't see the vehicle #'s on the left side, just hit the refresh button and they should appear--at least they did for me...

Out on lap two in 2nd place!! 84 miles down...168 to go!! Rod Hall in his H3 is in the lead by 5 miles...

No DNF....but no real finish either...finished 4th out of 6 in class....they LITERALLY taco'd a lower front control arm--folding it in half--and by the time their pit crew flagged down another vehicle to carry a spare out to them and then got it on, well...they got the X back up and running just fine but missed the cutoff time to take their third lap--so no DNF as they were stopped by the Marshal but no full race either--finished 169 miles out of the 253 and could have easily kept going at full speed...

Dave's personal report:

This past weekend the Nissan Xterra had a good run going at the BITD Terrible's 250, until 10 miles from the end of lap 2. We broke the driver lower A-arm, tie rod end and bent the upper A-arm. We had all the parts with us to fix it and we did. Only to not be allowed to start our 3rd lap. I know we were running a strong second when this broke as Falkowsky was 15 miles behind us according to Iritrack. Falkowsky went by and ended up getting to start his 3rd lap. Rod Hall was about 15 miles ahead of the Xterra when it broke. Hall took 1st, Falkowsky 2nd, I believe we got 4th.

The new SUPERIOR rear end parts worked flawless!!! The 4.56 ratio allowed us to pull all the gears. At one point the Iritrack showed us at 116MPH. I know I caught and passed Jeepspeeds on the dry lake. The SPAL fans kept everything in check. We had no over heating issues what so ever. We now need to have COBB change the ECU so we don't get a top speed cut out. Another race with no flats on those Goodyear MTRs!

I am displaying at the Off-Road EXPO this weekend in SLC. The Xterra will be in the KC HiLiTES booth. They wanted it just like it finished the race. So I garaged it dirty just like it finished.

I am thinking about running a BORE race the following weekend after the show. I want to do some shock valving changes. I feel I can only get true result from a real race situation. Plus the X was still running strong at the end of the Terrible's 250. I have a long down time before the V2R in August.