125 of desert racing’s most competitive vehicles, carrying the stars of the sport, VIP guests, and more, descended upon the Las Vegas Strip this afternoon for the annual BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400 Vehicle Parade. A staple of the event each year, the Vehicle Parade took more than $40 million worth of desert racing machinery through the city from Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino to Fremont Street East in downtown Las Vegas, before giving way to the official Mint 400 Kickoff Party at CraftHaus.

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“There’s no better way to get Mint 400 week started than with the annual Vehicle Parade through the Las Vegas Strip,” said Mint 400 CEO Matt Martelli. “It’s amazing to be able to take over the city for one day a year, and the parade is always immensely popular with racers and the general public alike. It’s the perfect way for us to draw fans to both tomorrow’s Mint 400 Off-Road Festival on Fremont Street and the race itself on Friday and Saturday!”

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This year’s Mint 400 Vehicle Parade was led by 2021 BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400 Grand Marshal, Las Vegas Sheriff, and newly announced Nevada gubernatorial candidate Joe Lombardo. An avid desert racer himself, Lombardo will compete in this year’s event in the stacked Unlimited Truck Spec class, competing for COPS Racing in the same #251 truck he’ll race in honor of fallen friend John Langley, creator of the “COPS” television show and a passionate off-road racer himself. Immediately following Lombardo in the parade were the #51 COPS Unlimited Truck of Zak Langley and #150 COPS Class 1 car of Morgan Langley.

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For those watching the Mint 400 Vehicle Parade, the event demonstrated just how diverse the entry list is each year for the Great American Off-Road Race. Ranging from the premier Unlimited Trucks to the booming UTV classes, fan-favorite limited race vehicles to motorcycles with some of the desert’s most daring riders at the helm, the Mint 400 Vehicle Parade offered something for off-road, racing, and automotive enthusiasts of all types.

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The Mint 400 has held the title of the toughest, most spectacular off-road race in North America since 1968 when it was first run. Initially, the race was a public relations event promoting the Mint Hotel’s annual deer hunt. but what started out s a hotel promotion soon grew into a legitimate desert race. Since its 2008 revival, “The Great American Off-Road Race” has only gotten bigger and more prestigious, and deeper fields every year only make it tougher to win.

The 2021 BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400 continues with tonight’s Dinner of Champions at Main St. Provisions at 7PM, featuring chefs Justin Kingsley Hall and Drew Deckman. More information on the event for racers and spectators is available at TheMint400.com, or follow the event on Facebook and Instagram.

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