Parker 400 Festivities Kick Off With Inaugural Desert Clean-Up presented by Tread Lightly!
Jan. 6, 2024
Off Road Racer Staff
Estimated 12 tons of trash removed from Arizona desert
The return of the Parker 400 is officially imminent, as the inaugural Parker 400 Desert Clean-Up presented by Tread Lightly! brought the off-road racing and Parker communities into the Arizona desert on Saturday to pick up illegally dumped waste. When all was said, nearly one hundred volunteers removed an estimated 12 tons of trash from the desert, part of UNLTD Off-Road Racing’s commitment to promote sustainable habits and responsible public land use in the off-road community.
“Thanks to Tread Lightly! and all of the volunteers that made the inaugural Parker 400 Desert Clean-Up a success!” said UNLTD Off-Road Racing CEO Matt Martelli. “Whenever we put on a new event, it’s important to us to make a strong first impression with the local community, and showcasing our commitment to cleaning up the desert is a huge part of that. It’s also a great way for us to build momentum going into race week, as we prepare for the Off-Road Festival on Thursday and two days of racing next weekend!”
The inaugural Parker 400 Desert Clean-Up sent volunteers out from the CRIT Start/Finish Line Gauntlet to collect trash. Volunteers included 2024 Parker 400 Grand Marshal and former Parker mayor Dan Beaver and his son, professional off-road racer and radio host Jim Beaver, both of whom call Parker home.
“We’re very thankful to the Town of Parker, La Paz County, the Colorado River Indian Tribes, BLM, and local landowners for their support in bringing The Parker 400 back,” said UNLTD Off-Road Racing COO Josh Martelli. “This cleanup is a show of respect and a recognition of the ongoing responsibility we have to demonstrate responsible land stewardship. It is vital to preserve access to this amazing desert, not only for our current recreational and racing activities but also for future generations to enjoy and appreciate.”
UNLTD Off-Road Racing’s Desert Clean-Up events take place the Saturday before each of its three events. The Parker 400 Desert Clean-Up follows in the footsteps of the Mint 400 Desert Clean-Up in Las Vegas, which has removed over 375,000 pounds of trash from the Nevada desert over the past seven years. Volunteer information for the Mint 400 Desert Clean-Up will be released in the coming months.
The Parker 400 marks the first of three races on the 2024 UNLTD Off-Road Racing Series calendar. It will be followed by the BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400 on March 6-10 in Las Vegas and the California 300 on October 2-6 in Barstow, California. The series is supported by a robust lineup of full-season partners including Magnaflow, Camburg, Vision Wheel, Cage WRX, and Rigid Industries.
Details regarding racer registration, sponsorship packages, exhibitor vending, spectator tickets, camping, and parking passes for UNLTD Off-Road Racing are live on Unlimitedoffroadracing.com.