RUFUS RACING FIRST AND SECOND AT 918 GRAND PRIX

The second weekend in March was a charmed one for Maxxis-sponsored racers, who outraced the .competition at major races across the country

Powering through a snow-covered track, Rufus Racing dominated the podium at the 918 Grand Prix, with driver Chip MacLaughlin taking his first victory as a driver along with co-driver Brad Christiansen and team owner Zandy Willems and co-driver David McKenney taking second place. MacLaughlin chose Maxxis Trepador tires for the 918, while Willems ran Creepy Crawlers.

“I have the honor to have the easiest duty with Rufus Racing, the driver of the #4 Eco-Staff car. The hard work comes before the green flag drops from our owner, co-drivers, pit crew, and our partners. They make me look good, and that’s no easy task! Without them, achieving our very first first and second place podium positions racing Ultra4 wouldn’t have been possible. Maxxis, as a partner, was a very crucial part of that achievement!” said MacLaughlin.

Dustin Jones and co-driver Dustin Henderson won their second consecutive Mint 400, just three months after winning the 2021 race (delayed due to the pandemic). The two finished more than 22 minutes ahead of the next athlete and set a record for this year’s course loop, winning both the overall and the UTV Pro Turbo class. “It’s crazy—they truly make this one of the roughest off-road races that we run all year,” said Jones after the race. “It was crazy, but it was a fun course, and it was a rough course. We had a little wind in the morning, so we were able to make some good time. We had a strategy and we stuck to it, and somehow, it ended up working out!” Among the UTV Rally class drivers at the Mint 400 were Rhowan McGrath and her father Jeremy.

Also topping a Mint 400 podium was Zach Sizelove, who took the UTV Pro NA victory, with Ethan Ebert in second place. Elias Hanna made the class top ten in eighth place.

Hunter Hart (The Original Formula 88/Ithaca Recreation Sports/Maxxis/Fly Racing) got both the holeshot and a podium at GNCC Round 3, the Specialized General. Hart took second place at the race despite temperatures in the 30s, high winds, and a muddy, slippery course.