Republic Services Mint 400 Desert Clean Up presented by Sylvania Off Road Celebrates 10th Anniversary in 2026
One of the Mint 400’s most enduring pre-race traditions took place on Saturday afternoon, as hundreds of members of the off-road community descended upon Jean, NV for the 10th edition of the Republic Services Mint 400 Desert Clean Up presented by Sylvania Off Road. After surpassing half a million tons of trash removed from the desert over the life of the event last year, this year’s edition saw an estimated 20 tons of illegally removed waste removed from the Nevada desert.
Focused on the Jean OHV area, one of the most popular spectator areas for Mint 400 fans, the Mint 400 Desert Cleanup promotes sustainable habits and responsible public land use for residents and off-road enthusiasts alike. Participants were rewarded with an official T-shirt commemorating their participation in the event. As always, prizes from major Mint 400 partners like race title sponsor BFGoodrich, Eibach, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Rugged Radios, Bilstein, and many others were also up for raffle for lucky volunteers.
The first Mint 400 Desert Cleanup took place in 2017, removing nearly 15 tons of trash from the Nevada desert. Subsequent events only saw more and more trash removed, passing the quarter-million pounds mark in 2022 and half-million mark in 2025. Both Republic Services and Sylvania Off Road returned as the premier sponsors of the event from last year, establishing each brand’s long-term commitment to cleaning up the desert.
“A huge thank you to everybody involved with this year’s Mint 400 Desert Cleanup, from our partners at Republic Services and Sylvania Off Road to all the volunteers who picked up trash and all of our additional partners who donated raffle prizes,” said Mint 400 CEO Matt Martelli. “Over the past decade, we’ve transformed the Nevada desert landscape with all the trash we’ve removed, and it’s something we take a lot of pride in as we aim to take care of our race course and our spectator areas.
“We’re looking forward to continuing to grow the Desert Cleanup for years to come, until someday there’s nothing left to clean up. Until then, we’d like to remind everyone not to trash the desert!”
With the Desert Cleanup in the books, attention turns once again to BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400 race week. Events in downtown Las Vegas begin on Wednesday with the annual Mint 400 Vehicle Parade down the Las Vegas strip, followed by the Mint 400 Off-Road Festival on Fremont Street East on Thursday. A full program of races for Unlimited, Limited, Motorcycle, and Youth racers will be held in Primm on Friday and Saturday. The full race schedule can be found at https://themint400.com/schedule/.
The Mint 400 has held the title of the toughest, most spectacular off-road race in North America since 1968 when it was first run. Initially, the race was a public relations event promoting the Mint Hotel’s annual deer hunt, but what started out as a hotel promotion soon grew into a legitimate desert race. Since its 2008 revival, “The Great American Off-Road Race” has only gotten bigger and more prestigious, and deeper fields every year only make it tougher to win.
This year’s Mint 400 will take place from March 4th - 8th in Las Vegas. More information on the event for racers and spectators is available at TheMint400.com, or follow the event on Facebook and Instagram.
Details regarding racer registration, sponsorship packages, exhibitor vending, spectator tickets, camping, and parking passes for the American Off-Road Racing Championship are live on americanoffroadracingchampionship.com
About American Off-Road Racing Championship
About the American Off-Road Racing Championship:
The American Off-Road Racing Championship (AORC) is the premier desert off-road racing league in North America, created through the unification of Best in the Desert (BITD) and Unlimited Off-Road Racing (UNLTD).
Best in the Desert, founded in 1984 by legendary racer Casey Folks, is the longest-running and most respected off-road racing series in the U.S., with a legacy that includes iconic events like Vegas to Reno, the Silver State 300, the Parker 425, and the Laughlin Desert Classic.
Unlimited Off-Road Racing, established by the Martelli Brothers in 2023, produces world-class events such as The Mint 400, The California 300, and The Parker 400. UNLTD is recognized for its focus on innovation, storytelling, and large-scale racer participation, with events known for high car counts, challenging courses, pre-running, and family-friendly fan experiences near major markets.
Together under the AORC banner, BITD and UNLTD preserve the heritage of desert racing while building its future—offering racers, sponsors, and fans a unified championship built on clarity, consistency, and world-class competition.