Desert race launched careers
Johnson, Mears among top drivers emerging from Mint 400
Jimmie Johnson began his auto racing career racing off-road and stadium buggies before graduating to NASCAR, where he won a record-tying seven championships in the Cup Series.
Rick Mears followed much the same blueprint en route to winning the Indianapolis 500 four times.
Four years before he sipped milk in victory lane after winning his first 500, Mears won the Mint 400 in the desert surrounding Las Vegas.
It is a race in which champions are made. And just as often broken.
On Saturday it will be contested for the 35th time over three laps of a diabolical rock-strewn course originating in Primm that will test the mettle of man and machine.
Three things to look for in the Mint 400:
Lofton’s lofty goal
After becoming the first three-time overall winner in Mint 400 history in 2019, Justin Lofton will be gunning for No. 4 in 2020.
The former NASCAR racer — Lofton won one Truck Series race in 84 starts and also had four Xfinity Series starts from 2010 t0 ‘12 — won last year’s Mint with a time of 5:24:26, adding to his overall championships in 2015and‘16.
Another victory Saturday would give the 34-year-old California veteran four overall wins in six seasons — a record and model of consistency that would be difficult to top.
Local threats
It wouldn’t officially be a Mint 400 without a Las Vegas driver or two contending for the title, as Rob Maccachren
and Bryce Menzies are expected to do again this year.
Maccachren, one of the greatest to have even torn around desert sage, in 2017 finally captured the Mint 400 overall title that had eluded him for so many years.
Menzies crossed the line first in 2013 and 2018, when he shared driving duties with Jake Povey.
Both Las Vegans were in the hunt for the overall win last year.
Menzies and eventual winner Justin Loften swapped the lead several times before Menzies was slowed by a flat tire on the third and final lap. Menzies’ misfortune enabled Maccachren to make a late charge that also was derailed by a tire puncture.
Tracking positive
Brett Sourapas finished second to Lofton by 2 minutes, 56 seconds at last year’s Mint and once again will share driving honors with his brother, Christian, in this year’s race.
Christian Sourapas’ penchant for running fast precedes his desert racing career — he posted personal bests of 10.82 and 21.49 in the 100- and 200-meter dashes as a freshman sprinter for the University of Oregon’s renowned track and field team before transferring to Southern California.
The brothers’ father, Steve, played football for the Trojans before switching focus to off-road racing and winning the 1987 and 2014 Mint 400 overall championships with Dave Richardson and Andy Mcmillin as co-drivers.
Contact Ron Kantowski at rkantowski@reviewjournal. com or 702-383-0352. Follow @ronkantowski on Twitter.