The 2010 Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno brought together a field of early Polaris RZR, Yamaha Rhino and Kawasaki Teryx race vehicles for 534 miles across Nevada. Brandon Schueler drove the Jagged X No. 1919 Polaris RZR to the UTV victory, finishing the demanding desert race in 14 hours, 9 minutes and 18 seconds.
The win added another important result to the early Polaris RZR racing story. Jagged X helped demonstrate that production-based side-by-sides could survive long-distance desert competition during the formative years of organized UTV racing.
2010 Vegas to Reno UTV Results
| Overall | Class Finish | Class | Driver | Time | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Pro | Brandon Schueler | 14:09:18 | No. 1919 Polaris RZR |
| 2 | 1 | Sportsman | Rocker Head | 16:08:24 | No. 1999 Kawasaki Teryx |
| 3 | 2 | Pro | Jason Murray | 17:33:01 | No. 1917 Yamaha Rhino |
| 4 | 3 | Pro | Sean Lindberg | 19:50:05 | No. 1950 Yamaha Rhino |
| 5 | 4 | Pro | Jerome Vinagro | 20:47:35 | No. 1937 Polaris RZR |
Schueler finished nearly two hours ahead of Sportsman winner Rocker Head, who placed second among the UTVs in a Kawasaki Teryx. Jason Murray completed the podium in his Yamaha Rhino.
UTV Starting Order
| Race Number | Driver | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Sean Lindberg | Yamaha Rhino |
| 1924 | Mike Lasher | Kawasaki Teryx |
| 1938 | Brian Thomas | Polaris RZR |
| 1910 | Ricky Leard | Polaris RZR |
| 1943 | Yancey Reynolds | Polaris RZR |
| 1917 | Jason Murray | Yamaha Rhino |
| 1904 | Cory Sappington | Yamaha Rhino |
| 1919 | Brandon Schueler | Polaris RZR |
| 1937 | Jerome Vinagro | Polaris RZR |
| 1999 | Rocker Head | Kawasaki Teryx |
2010 Vegas to Reno UTV Photo Gallery
No. 1950 Yamaha Rhino — Sean Lindberg
No. 1924 Kawasaki Teryx — Mike Lasher
No. 1938 Polaris RZR — Brian Thomas
No. 1910 Polaris RZR — Ricky Leard
No. 1943 Polaris RZR — Yancey Reynolds
No. 1917 Yamaha Rhino — Jason Murray
No. 1904 Yamaha Rhino — Cory Sappington
No. 1919 Polaris RZR — Brandon Schueler
No. 1937 Polaris RZR — Jerome Vinagro
No. 1999 Kawasaki Teryx — Rocker Head
Videos from the 2010 Vegas to Reno
UTVs at Mile Marker 36
Pit 15 at Top Gun
Armin Schwarz brought the Norman Motorsports trophy truck into Pit 15, where the crew changed three tires, added fuel and serviced the driveline.
An Early Chapter in UTV Desert Racing
The 14th running of Vegas to Reno illustrates how different the UTV racing field looked in 2010. The naturally aspirated RZR, Rhino and Teryx competed long before today’s turbocharged, purpose-built UTV race vehicles arrived.
Despite their comparatively limited power and suspension travel, five UTV teams completed the 534-mile course. Jagged X’s victory further established the Polaris RZR as a serious desert-racing platform and helped lay the foundation for the much faster machines competing today.
