2024 UNLTD Championship Chase: Class 1, Class 1 Unlimited, and R400: Unlimited
The 2024 UNLTD Off-Road Racing season concludes on October 2-6 with the return of the California 300. As we prepare for an epic finish to this year’s campaign, we’re going to take a look each week at the top racers across the dozens of classes that make up a typical UNLTD entry list.
This week, our focus shifts to some of the most powerful classes in an UNLTD field. Here’s a look at how Class 1, Class 1 Unlimited, and R400: Unlimited racers started the season:
Class 1
Class 1 entries always see a bit of an explosion at the BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400, but the Parker 400 entry list was nothing to sneeze at, either. Seven entries showed up for the opener, with five of them making it through all three laps; when all was said and done, Conner McMullen took not only the class victory, but also a surprise overall win, as the car class triumphed in the sport’s return to Parker. McMullen was just over five minutes clear of overall runner-up Justin Davis’ Unlimited Truck SPEC entry, and more than 17 minutes ahead of the second-fastest Class 1 machine of Mario Fuentes Zaragoza, who finished fourth overall.
McMullen carried that momentum into the Mint 400 by posting the fastest qualifying time for the second race in a row, but issues on the second lap and outside assistance ended his chase for another win. Fuentes Zaragoza led the class from start to finish, coming home more than an hour ahead of runner-up Jay Reichert, the only other Class 1 racer to complete all four laps.
Two podiums for Fuentes Zaragoza, combined with Mint 400 DNFs for Madix Bailey and Dan Myers, give the #179 team a healthy points lead coming into the California 300. With 335 points to Bailey’s 274 and Myers’ 269, making it to the finish line in Barstow all but guarantees Fuentes Zaragoza and Mafuzar Motorsports the class title.
Class 1 Unlimited
Class 1 Unlimited takes the Class 1 car to the next level, without any technical restrictions and even the capacity for 4WD vehicles. Keith Basso was the first Class 1 Unlimited entry of the season in the Parker 400, whe Mint 400 saw the legendary Casey Currie and Shannon Campbell join Basso on the grid. Unfortunately none of the trio were able to make it to the finish line of the Great American Off-Road Race, but Basso holds a comfortable points advantage as the class torch-bearer.
R400: Unlimited
Unfortunately for both R400: Unlimited entries at the Mint 400, neither Cole Johnson nor Mike Spindler were able to make it to the finish line. Both made it through three laps of the Unlimited Race, but neither could complete the fourth and final one. However, it wasn’t all bad news for Johnson, who also ran Friday’s Limited race and took first in the Modern Military class.
Catch up on all of the 2024 UNLTD Championship Chase posts:
July 18: UTV Modified/UTV Stock/Youth
July 25: Limited Truck
August 1: Limited Car, Vintage, and Military
August 8: Motorcycles
August 15: UTV Pro NA and Pro Stock
August 22: UTV Pro and Pro Open
August 29: Class 10 and Class 5 Unlimited