Z930 2025 Vegas to Reno Race Report

Z930 is a 2024 Can-Am Maverick R driven by Todd Zuccone with co-driver John Bray. After their victory in last year’s race with a Can-Am X3, John and Todd were determined to secure another V2R class win with their newly built Maverick R in the 2025 season.

Race Start & Early Challenges

The race began on a strong note, with the team making strategic passes in heavy dust and quickly catching up to the class leader, who was slowed by a less competitive vehicle. Seizing a rare opportunity for a double pass, Todd attempted to overtake but, obscured by dust, struck a large rock on the course. This resulted in a destroyed wheel & tire and a lengthy delay to put the spare on. During this setback, several slower class vehicles passed them, leaving the team at the back of their class by RM20, as well as trailing behind a whole group of slower vehicles, setting a challenging tone for the rest of the race.

Regaining Ground & Mechanical Issues

Undeterred, the team began overtaking slower cars as they settled into the grueling desert race. Around RM40, they encountered a deep silt bed, which clogged the transmission radiator fans with dust, causing them to stop working. Rising coolant temperatures forced Todd to adjust his driving, balancing speed with engine safety. At the first pit stop, the crew was unable to fix the fans, so the race continued with careful attention to engine and transmission temperatures. Todd explained, “I basically was driving by the coolant temperatures. I could push the car hard for short periods, then back off to allow the temps to drop.”

Making Up Ground & Further Troubles

Despite the challenges, they pressed on, overtaking more cars and working their way back into contention. At RM270, they struck another rock in the dust and blew out another wheel and tire. With only four miles to the next pit, they ran on the flat tire to save time and had it replaced quickly by the crew, maintaining their position.

Teamwork & More Adversity

While in the pit, they were asked to deliver parts to Todd’s son Jacob, who had broken a tie rod at RM297. Taking the necessary parts and tools, they resumed their race, but at mile RM290, the engine got extremely hot and they had to slow down considerably. Again, they lost places as cars they had previously overtaken passed them when they slowed to let the engine cool down. Back on course, they reached Jacob and co-driver Sam at RM297 with the needed parts to help them get moving again.

Final Push To The Finish

From RM297 to RM400, Todd and John regained lost ground, climbing to third place in their class. As evening fell and temperatures dropped in the mountains, the cooler air allowed them to push harder. By RM450, they overtook the second-place car and were chasing the leader. Despite their efforts, the winning team had already finished, leaving Todd and John to claim a hard-earned second place after a long day of changes and managing engine temperatures.

Conclusion

After overcoming numerous obstacles, mechanical setbacks, and challenging terrain, the Z930 team finished second in class, demonstrating resilience, quick thinking, and teamwork throughout the legendary Vegas to Reno race.

Sponsors

I want to thank all our sponsors who help us get to the finish line. Without the support and backing from these great companies, we would not be able to compete.

Evolution Powersports: The EVP engine components and custom ECU and transmission tuning proved instrumental in the team's performance. These upgrades provided the necessary power to chase down competitors throughout the race while also offering a pit limiter, which was particularly useful during the designated 11-mile stretch limited to 25 MPH. www.evopowersports.com

EVP.MOde: The MOde Aim PDM and dash integration stands out as one of the most impactful upgrades to the Z930. The automatic control provided by the PDM over essential functions significantly reduces the risk of user error—an invaluable benefit during the intensity of racing. The expansive 10” dash offers immediate access to all critical engine information across multiple screens, ensuring the team can monitor vehicle status at a glance. Additionally, the data collected throughout the race has proven to be valuable for post-race analysis and ongoing performance improvements. www.evopowersports.com

Maxxis Tires: Our Maxxis tires took a beating and although we got 2 flats, its hard for a tire to take massive hits that also bent forged wheels. www.maxxis.com

KMC Wheels: Our KMC wheels also took a beating, however when a 2500 pound race car hits a massive boulder at 50+ MPH, something has to give. www.kmcwheels.com

Shock Therapy: Our Fox IQS shocks tuned by Shock Therapy handled amazingly. The newly integrated external coolers significantly reduced shock fade and the IQS gave us the ability to change settings on the fly depending on the terrain. It was a huge advantage www.shocktherapy.com/ www.ridefox.com

CA Technologies: Our CA Tech A-Arms, trailing arms, and steering stabilizer have demonstrated excellent durability under substantial impacts. The suspension components endured significant stress without any complications. As a result, we have discontinued carrying spare A-arms and trailing arms in our chase truck, as the likelihood of chassis failure now exceeds that of damage to these components. www.catechusa.com/

PWR Cooling: This event marked the initial use of the new PWR cooling system. While there were instances of elevated temperatures, these were attributed to a malfunction in the OEM transmission cooling fans rather than the new radiator configuration. The PWR radiator took on additional cooling responsibilities as a result. With the OEM system functioning correctly, water temperatures remained at or below 190°F. www.pwrna.com

Triple R Lights: Our new lighting package the team at Triple R built for us was a game changer. The ability to control different lighting zones and adapt to changing conditions significantly improved nighttime visibility, allowing us to maintain a competitive pace even in challenging environments. The integration of RP amber spot and flood pods further enhanced illumination, delivering outstanding performance during adverse conditions. www.triple-r-lights.com

Alsup Racing: The chassis work and cage delivered outstanding performance throughout the race, consistently impressing the team with their durability. The integration of Alsup’s rear radiator mount proved to be a flawless solution, performing exactly as needed under demanding conditions. In addition, the front bumper was put to effective use, assisting in safely encouraging slower vehicles to move aside on the course. www.alsuprd.com

Zuke Designs: The PDM button mounts and the 10” dash bezel provided by Zuke Designs functioned flawlessly throughout the race. The dash bezel effectively eliminated glare, improving screen visibility under varying light conditions. Meanwhile, the ergonomically placed PDM button mounts allowed for quick and easy access during high-pressure moments, ensuring seamless operation and contributing to the overall efficiency of the cockpit controls. www.zukedesigns.com

HPR / Rugged: Our rugged radios supported by Richard at HPR performed amazing. Richard is always at the races and makes sure that we are always dialed in. The driver to co-driver communication is crystal clear and our pit crew was able to clearly communicate with us throughout the race.

StarStream Pro: The StarStream Pro system continues to impress with its capability to stream from two video cameras even in remote off-road environments. During this race, bandwidth was slightly reduced due to simultaneous music streaming, but the technology still delivered reliable connectivity. StarStream Pro has truly revolutionized off-road racing by enabling live video streaming under challenging conditions. www.starstream.pro

S3 Powersports // www.s3powersports.com
CT Race Worx // www.ctraceworx.com
DRT // www.drtmotorsports.com
LG Creative // www.lgcreativeco.com
Twin Pines Motorsports // www.twinpinemotorsports.com
106 Motorsports // www.106-motorsports.com
No Limit // www.nolimitrd.com
EvoSpec // www.evospec.com
Soul Seekers Podcast // www.instagram.com/soul_seekers_podcast
Rancho Bella Foundation // www.ranchobella.org
EVOMSit // www.evomsit.com
Can-Am // www.brp.com
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About Vegas to Reno

A Tradition of Off-Road Excellence

This year marks the 29th anniversary since Casey Folks revolutionized desert racing by including cars, trucks, and quads alongside motorcycles. The creation of Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno brought new levels of challenge and excitement, and each Vegas to Reno race since has embodied Casey’s vision for demanding, high-stakes competition.

The Legendary “Casey Folks” Vegas to Reno

The 29th anniversary of Best in the Desert’s Vegas-to-Reno race stands as the longest Point-to-Point off-road desert race in the United States, and the 2025 course stretches roughly 498 miles across Nevada’s unforgiving terrain. Racers in various classes of Motorcycle, Quads, UTV’s, Trick Trucks, Ultra 4, and everything in between compete in a 1 day desert race which starts near Las Vegas (Crystal, NV) and finishes near Reno (Dayton, NV), confronting a course that tests both skill and resilience.

Course Details
• Distance: Approximately 498 miles point-to-point
• Terrain: Deep sand / silt, dry lake beds, technical trails, rapid sections, and high mountain passes—including Dunlop Mountain (over 8,000 feet elevation)
• Elevation: Ranges from 3,000 to 7,200 feet, with dramatic changes throughout the route
• Climate: Extreme temperatures and persistent dust, often limiting visibility
Race Logistics
• Start Line: Crystal, NV (50 miles north of Las Vegas)
• Finish Line: Dayton, NV (50 miles south of Reno)
• Pit Support: 13 strategically placed pit locations ensure teams can respond quickly to mechanical or racing needs; most pits accessible to one chase vehicle per team

Challenge & Legacy

This race is more than a contest of speed—it’s the ultimate proving ground. Drivers, teams, and machines are pushed to their limits, contending with unforgiving landscapes and relentless adversity. Each year, the Vegas to Reno race stands as a testament to the spirit of off-road racing and the enduring legacy of Casey Folks.