The High Desert Hustle Kart Race is back in the Biggest Little City at the Livestock Events Center for four days this week starting on Monday.
This kart racing event is the highest paying outlaw kart dirt race in the entire world. Some call it a destination race.
The track the drivers race on is a temporary dirt track that was built specifically for these drivers to compete this week.
They have six divisions of competitors ranging from all ages.
250 from all over the country come to compete in this four-day race.
The top prize is $10,000, and the winner will be crowned this Thursday.
Tanner Holmes, a Professional Racecar Driver and the winner from last year tells us about the track.
"This is big because it's also something that's just different," he said. "This is a one-time track build. So it's a unique racetrack they put it in for just this week, so it's a fresh start. The drivers come here, and they don't know what to expect."
Holmes tells us the play by play from his own experience when he placed first.
"Last year we led about the second half of the race were really really intense," he said. "We started about sixth and worked my way to the front and I had some stuff go my way and I put myself in a good position on the last lap, As I was leading the second place car was behind me and slid me, as we were both going for $10,000 to win and $3,000 to get second, so he slid me, made contact, and he lost his chain and I was able to slide by. We we're separated by that much."
Holmes says they're hoping to win again this year, but they say in order to do that you have to have a good week of performances.
He explains "With this event you have two chances with two prelim nights, but I think it really just comes down to qualifying well, getting through your heat race and qualifier upfront on a prelim night and kind of just cruise around from there."
A lot of racers say they want to win this race as a good start to their new year for 2025.
Holmes describes the event further.
"It doesn't get any more exciting than what we have here," he said. "I mean, we have go-karts. You're sitting one inch off the ground. We have almost 100 horsepower and you're going to see anything from tight racing, bumping and banging and you might see guys upside-down which we don't love to see but it's just part of it."
From what we're hearing this event is a thrilling experience.
Steven Blakesley, the Director of Marketing for the High Desert Hustle races explains how these karts are fast enough to race.
"These go-karts, they use motorcycle engines to power them at about 100 horsepower at about 400 pounds so they absolutely rocket around the track and on this high bank track they'll be going over 60 miles an hour with fans right on top of them," he said. "It's a great experience."
Blakesley tells us they kicked off their racing this year in February and it was a huge success, so they kept the racing going and they're using this event as a New Year's celebration.
He tells us more of what ticket holders can expect "They'll have a big country concert that's after the races that's free for the fans on Tuesday, so a great way to end 2024 and kick off 2025 so the folks in Reno can celebrate their new year here at the high desert hustle."
Blakesley says outlaw kart racing happens all over the United States but was really born and bred in California.
But he talked to us about what kind of goals the drivers have competing in races like these.
"If you're wondering where these kids are headed, one of the greatest outlaw kart racers is Kyle Larson who won the NASCAR Cup Series title. So that's the caliber of driver," he said. "Some of these kids would like to go to that level and join Kyle in the big leagues."
The racers will be on the track starting at 1:30 or 2:00 p.m. every day. Tickets start at $20 and kids eight and under are free entry. The event goes until 10:00 p.m. and Thursday night will be the finale where a special opening ceremony will take place at 4:30 p.m.
Blakesley says "It wont be a run of the mill race, probably most people that come this week will have never seen something like this before and you really have to see it to believe it."
He adds "Last year our runner up was a 13 year old driver and you could feel the emotion in what this race meant to him, and he wanted that victory, but ultimately just being able to run second was a big accomplishment for him and so to have the fans the interviews the sponsors, this is kind of a Super bowl for these kids and a real big opportunity for them."
