Sappington Brothers Win BITD Blue Water Desert Challenge

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by Press Release
Can-Am Maverick Turbo takes overall Side-by-Side class victory


The Desert Toyz / Can-Am Maverick Turbo team of Cory Sappington and his brother Scott Sappington notched impressive finishes on both days at the Best In The Desert (BITD) Blue Water Desert Challenge race to capture both the side-by-side overall win and the Pro Production Turbo class victory. The Desert Toyz tandem is the first team in history to win both days at this event.

The BITD Blue Water Desert Challenge held near Parker, Ariz., features a two-day format and a brutal desert terrain that tests both teams and the vehicles. Day one saw Scott Sappington, and his navigator Jason Flanders, behind the wheel. Starting in 20th position, Desert Toyz had a strategy to push it hard and pass as many competitors as possible. By the end of the first lap, Scott was well on his way of achieving his objective, as he and Flanders had charged past 10 others. Scott then passed four additional racers on the final two laps before crossing the finish line. At the end of day one, they were awarded the number one position with adjusted time.

The day-one dominance by Scott helped provide his brother, Cory, with the pole position for the second day of racing. Cory and his navigator Denise Nelson were lined up next to one of the fastest UTVs in the BITD series, but took the holeshot with their No. 904 Desert Toyz / Can-Am Maverick Turbo. From there, Sappington continued to drive smart and push the Can-Am for all three laps. By lap two, he held more than a 2-minute lead. One lap later, Cory rolled into the finish with a huge lead and the victory.

Desert Toyz Podium

The No. 904 Desert Toyz / Can-Am Maverick Turbo side-by-side vehicle used its stock turbocharged Rotax engine and Can-Am drive train at the BWDC in Arizona. (Photo by Desert Toyz)

The Sappington brothers not only won their class, but also took home the overall side-by-side win with a stock Rotax turbo engine and Can-Am drive train, against many competitors who run fully built engines.

“I stuck to my plan, [to] race my own race,” said Scott Sappington. “I was not going to let my lap times or my position dictate how hard I would drive. My navigator gave me all the right information to allow me to race through the dust.”

“My race plan was to get the holeshot, jump into the express lane and check out,” said Cory Sappington. “We are proud to represent Can-Am along with all of our other sponsors.”

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