By Jacob Zuccone, Evolution Powersports
Coming off a strong run at the Silver State 300, the 2970 Segway Super-Villain Race Team lined up for the 2025 Vegas to Reno with one clear goal—cross the finish line. We knew we were competing against programs with bigger budgets and heavily built cars, but confidence in our car and preparation kept our focus sharp. The race started smoothly, @sam_rode and I settled in quickly until race mile 47, when a blown tire forced an early stop. After swapping it, we pushed on to Pit 2 for fuel and a fresh spare. From there, we maintained a fast yet conservative pace.
Segway Super Villain
The toughest moment came at race mile 296, roughly 20 miles before Pit 8, when the driver-side tie rod broke at 65 MPH on a graded road. With a 40-foot ravine looming, I was able to steer the car safely off course. Unfortunately, our tool bag had fallen off earlier, leaving us without what we needed to make repairs. My dad, @todd_zuccone , was able to deliver a replacement tie rod and tools as he raced up to Reno as well in a different class. Unfortunately, we were still unable to complete the fix without additional tools. As we debated calling the race, @zach_kisman with GFI Racing stopped to help, offering supplies for a temporary fix, but nothing held. At 10:45 p.m., @rescue_32_mss_ with @racesafely arrived. Justin and his wife not only had the right tools but also the right attitude to get us moving again. By 11:45 p.m., the tie rod was replaced and the car was back on track.
Segway Super Villain
Running on pure determination, we pushed through the night. At Pit 11, we were met by competitor—and Sam’s fiancé @mccleerey13 who had already finished his own race but stayed to support us. Finally, at 4:45 a.m., exhausted but determined, we crossed the finish line. It wasn’t perfect, but it was exactly what we set out to do—finish the longest off-road race in the United States. We would not have been able to achieve this without our amazing team of @jake_ath, @dylan_aksamit, @kenman80, @ballpark13, The entire @ssp_racing1 team, the incredible spectators, Zach Kisman, Rescue 32/ @_turndupracing, and all of our incredible sponsors for helping ensure the 2970 Super-Villain crossed the line.
Jacob Zuccone and Sam Rode at the Finish Line
Segway Super Villain SX20T Clinches P1 at the BITD Silver State 300
Segway Super Villain SX20T to Face the Ultimate Test at Vegas to Reno
Segway Powersports Releases New Super Villain Sport Side-by-Sides
