King reigns supreme at BITD Parker 425

Parker, Arizona - The BlueWater Resort & Casino Parker "425"no doubt stands alone as one of everyone’s favorite off-road race.  The annual race holds a special place in desert races hearts, this race is true off-road racing and attracts more competitors than any other event.  The course combines all the tough elements, from high speed graded roads to rough moon hill sections, rocky stair steps and long uphill sand washes that play havoc on equipment.  Despite all of the rough and wet condition Parker threw at this year’s competitors, King still continued to reign supreme, winning 10 of 15 class once again shinning their crown.

Harley Letner drove his Letner Roofing Alpha-Chevrolet across the line winning  Class 1500 after sharing driving duties with his cousin, Kory Halopoff. After missing out on the victory at the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge two weeks ago, Letner came to Parker and Halopoff were gunning for a win, and they got one.

“We never had one problem all day,” the 25-year-old Letner said. “It was just gas it and go all day. After the last few races, me and Kory sat down and decided that we just needed to get it to the finish and not worry about setting the fastest lap of the race every time. If we get to the finish line, we usually get good results. That has been working for the last few races, so we’re just going to keep trying it.”

Letner had high praise for the course and said that the Parker 425 is a race with which he has a personal connection.

“The track was awesome, and this race is awesome,” Letner said. “I’ve been racing this race since I was 15, and it just gets better and better. It has the best of everything. It’s fast, it’s rough, it has sand washes and rocks. It has all the old tried-and-true stuff, like where you come up Osborne [wash] under the bridge. That was the way my dad and my grandpa raced it, and I love that they brought that back. I just love Parker, and I don’t think I’ll ever not come here.”

2009 BITD Parker 425 Winners fitted with King Shocks

Harley Letner BITD Class 1500 Bryce Menzies BITD Class 1000 Rick St. John BITD Class 1100 Marcrea Ewing BITD Class 8000 Jason Ruane BITD Class 7200 Curt Geer BITD Class 2000 Erin Wahl BITD Class 7100 Eric Helgeson BITD Class 1700 Jon Krellwitz BITD Class 3700 JC Farris BITD Class 1800

Sources; off-road.com, bitd.com