Matt Parks Joins Jagged X for 2012 BITD Season

With the 2011 Best In The Desert (BITD) season complete, Brandon Schueler and the Jagged-X desert off-road race team fell just a few points short of capturing their fifth Pro-UTV championship in as many years. Despite falling short, the factory-sponsored Polaris racing team still viewed the season as a success. The team managed to win its fifth consecutive Vegas-to-Reno race, currently the longest race in North America and by far the most difficult in the BITD series. The team also managed to collect two wins and three second-place finishes on the season.

With UTV racing growing at such an impressive rate, Jagged-X felt that the time was right to take its race program a step further for 2012. So for the upcoming season Jagged X / Polaris Racing will add a second car to the desert program. 2011 BITD Pro UTV Champion Matt Parks is now a member of the Jagged-X race team. Parks will be piloting his #1932 Polaris RZR-4 at the 2012 BITD season opener at the Parker 250 with a whole new look.

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Polaris RZRs Take Top Two Spots at BITD Pro UTV Series

The Henderson 250 was the last race of the six-race Best in the Desert series, and the Pro UTV title was on the line. Four-time championship winner Jagged X led the series by a few points with Matt Parks right on its tail. The Transwest Ford Henderson 250 would be the deciding factor.

The race started before dawn with freezing temperatures and howling winds in Jean, Nev. The Jagged X crew was confident with the No. 1919, but in racing, nothing is ever a sure thing. By mile 14, they realized how something as small as a clogged fuel injector could change an entire season. Brandon Schueler managed to limp the No. 1919 into the second pit and after some diagnosis and a quick repair the car was back on the course at 100 percent. Even a few minutes lost in a short race like this is detrimental. Schueler was able to make up some time but in the end, was short of the finish the team had hoped for. When the dust cleared the Jagged X No. 1919 team ended the incredibly great season in the second overall position.

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Parks Wins Bluewater Desert Challenge UTV Race in RZR 4

Matt Parks started the weekend seven points out of the lead in the Best In The Desert race series. He needed a win at the Bluewater Desert Challenge to remain in contention with only one more race on the schedule. The Challenge is a two-day event – three laps of the 25-mile desert course both Saturday and Sunday. Driving his “Baja Bobsled,” a custom 2-seat Polaris RZR 4 built by Holz Racing Products, Matt and his co-pilots, Jason Spiess (Saturday) and Mike Carr (Sunday), raced aggressively through the dust.

“The Kroyer built RZR 800 engine ran flawlessly both days,” says Matt. “It was really put to the test in the deep sand and silt.”

Parks finished second on Saturday, 1:35 behind the first-place UTV Pro – the Jagged X Ranger RZR XP 900. Like Saturday, the 15-UTV field started behind Jeep Speed and Baja Bug Classes. Jagged X had a strong start off the line and Parks chased him through the pack of Jeeps and Bugs that started ahead.

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Jagged X Wins Fifth Straight Vegas to Reno UTV Race

Best in the Desert’s Vegas to Reno race is the longest and toughest, off-road desert race in the U.S., and Polaris Ranger RZRs were out in full force. In the starting field of 14 for the 553-mile race, was the four-time defending champions, Jagged X in its No. 1919 Ranger RZR XP 900 and Polaris Regional Sales Manager, Matt Parks in his Holz Racing Ranger RZR 4 800.

When the dust settled, Jagged X would have their fifth consecutive Vegas to Reno win with Parks finishing second. With only five Side-by-Sides finishing, Ranger RZRs would sweep the podium with a Ranger RZR XP 900 also finishing third.

The Jagged X team dedicated most of its summer race break preparing and fine tuning the No. 1919 Ranger RZR XP 900 race car. The XP has performed well since its debut at the Silver State 300 in April, but the team has been working on small refinements and adjustments to make this machine the best it could be. Jagged X, with much help from Chad Riccio of CR Designs, stepped up its game on the support side of things with two completely equipped chase vehicles.

All this work combined with some great drivers and co-drivers paid off when the flag dropped early Friday morning. The No. 1919 driven By Brandon Schueler with Mike West in the navigation seat took no time to take their seventh starting spot to the front of the pack. By Pit 4, they found themselves chasing the always-consistent Polaris Ranger RZR 4 of Matt Parks, watching for any chance to get out front for some fresh air. The two Ranger RZRs swapped the lead several times in the first 350 miles with both teams being plagued by minor problems. With an elapsed time of 13 hours, 27 minutes and 42 seconds the Jagged X Ranger RZR XP 900 finished 52nd overall out of 99 car and truck finishers proving just how tough Polaris off-road vehicles are. The win moves Brandon Schueler into the points lead for the 2011 BITD championship series with two races left to go.

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