Jake Carver and Dustin Jones Earn Mint 400 Podiums on ITP Tires
• ITP Coyote® and Ultra Cross R Spec® Tires Carry Side-By-Side Vehicle Racers to UTV Pro Turbo Class Podiums at 2020 Mint 400 Off-Road Race
FRANKLIN, Tenn., March 12, 2020 – Team ITP racers Jake Carver and Dustin Jones both earned podium finishes in the UTV Pro Turbo class at the 2020 Mint 400 off-road desert race outside Las Vegas, Nev. Carver took the runner-up spot, while Jones scored an impressive third-place finish.
Dustin Jones came from the back of the pack in the UTV Pro Turbo class to earn a top-five physical finish and third overall after a time adjustment. Jones ran ITP Ultra Cross R Spec tires on his Can-Am Maverick X3. (Photo supplied by Tuba Art Films)
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The Mint 400, The Great American Off-Road Race, operated as a stand-alone event this year and the prestigious desert competition didn’t disappoint as it offered multiple classes for trucks, motorcycles, class 10 cars as well as at least eight side-by-side vehicle classes, including four for youth racers and three professional divisions. The UTV Pro Turbo class, the most prestigious of the side-by-side ranks, included 34 total entries.
Carver (Polaris, Shock Therapy, ITP), who kicked off the 2020 season with third-place run at the Best In The Desert Parker 250 race, completed all four grueling laps of the 107-mile course relying on 33-inch ITP Coyote tires to help him reach the finish line. He ended the race in 8:39:14.222, which was good for second place, behind another Polaris RZR racer. The 8-ply DOT-compliant Coyote radial performance tire offers extreme versatility for desert racing and was designed for drivers who demand precision handling and lateral stability during recreation and racing.
“With my podium finish at the Parker 250, and now again at the Mint 400, I am a bit frustrated coming up short of a BIG win, but we had an incredible (race) time and we represented our sponsors to the best of our abilities,” said Carver. “The 33-in. ITP Coyote tires are worth every penny!”
Dustin Jones came from the back of the pack in the UTV Pro Turbo class to earn a top-five physical finish and third overall after a time adjustment.
Jones (Can-Am, S3 Powersports, Monster Energy, ITP) put in a stellar race as well, finishing less than three minutes behind Carver to secure third place. His finish was especially impressive considering he started the race in the last position. Jones put the hammer down all the way to the final flag, where he crossed the line in fifth place. After time adjustments were made, the Louisiana racer ended up on the box in third place.
“[I had a] Last place draw position to unofficial podium finish,” stated Jones on his Facebook page. “A wild day battling from the back and running in dust literally all day.”
Jones ran 31-inch ITP Ultra Cross R Spec tires with 8-ply radial construction and non-directional tread pattern. The tire’s versatile design allows it to conquer varying terrain, while providing excellent traction and control on both hard pack and loose soils found in the desert.
Dustin Jones, who took third place in his class at the 2020 Mint 400 event, chose 31-inch ITP Ultra Cross R Spec tires to take on the varying terrain in the Nevada desert. (Photo supplied by Tuba Art Films)
“We really value their feedback and trust in our products,” noted Rhett Turpin, Director of ITP Sales at The Carlstar Group. “Both drivers chose to run two different ITP tires and setups, and both drivers ended up on the podium, proving our innovative tire engineering is definitely designed to excel in the most challenging desert conditions — in the U.S. and around the world.”
For more information on ITP Tires and wheels, including the just announced line of Tenacity XSR / XNR performance UTV tires, visit www.itptires.com.
All photos supplied by Tuba Films.
ABOUT ITP
Since 1982, ITP has been the world’s #1 ATV/UTV aftermarket tire and wheel source. The premier ITP products are developed utilizing an experienced staff of engineers, designers and technicians at its two American tire facilities in Clinton, Tennessee, and Jackson, Tennessee, to develop award-winning tire-and-wheel designs for virtually all ATVs and side-by-side vehicles. Numerous outlets distribute ITP tires across the United States and in more than 25 countries worldwide. ITP is a registered trademark of The Carlstar Group, LLC. For tech questions call: 1-909-390-1905. Visit: www.itptires.com
About The Carlstar Group
The Carlstar Group is headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee and is a global manufacturer of original equipment and aftermarket specialty tires and wheels for the agriculture, construction, outdoor power equipment, powersports, high speed trailer and manual markets. The diverse portfolio of solutions is offered under several leading brands including Carlisle® tires and wheels, ITP® tires and wheels, as well as Cragar®, Black Rock® and Unique® wheels and Marastar® flat free and manual tires.
The Carlstar Group employs over 3,400 associates in 17 facilities located in 4 countries. The Carlstar Group has a culture of converting great ideas into advanced products and has created a legacy of excellence in product innovation, quality, and customer service. For more about The Carlstar Group, visit www.carlstargroup.com
