Second Annual Mint 400 Dinner of Champions Unites Off-Road Legends

The second annual Mint 400 Dinner of Champions saw some of off-road racing’s most legendary names visit the Kitchen at Atomic on Wednesday night, as the first day of this year’s BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400 drew to a close. Participants were treated to a three-course dining experience by chef Jackson Stamper, featuring high-quality meats from Stay Classy Meats, as well as wine and mezcal tastings.

Attendees honored at this year’s Mint 400 Dinner of Champions included Rob MacCachren, the 2017 Mint 400 winner and one of the sport’s all-time winningest drivers in both desert and short course racing; Larry Roeseler, winner of over a dozen Baja 1000s in both motorcycle and truck classes, and a motorcycle competitor in this year’s Mint 400; and JN Roberts, the overall winner of the inaugural Mint 400 on a motorcycle in 1968, who will serve as this year’s Grand Marshal as the bikes make their return to the event for the first time since 1976.

“The Dinner of Champions is a great way for us to bring together some of the biggest legends in off-road for a night of fine dining and even better company,” said Mint 400 CEO Matt Martelli. “It’s amazing to bring in guests like Rob, Larry, and JN, but to add a fine dining experience is to create a memorable night for everybody. We’re grateful to Stay Classy Meats for their support, and to our chef, Jackson Stamper, for delivering an amazing three-course meal for our 150 guests.”

Other guests at this year’s Mint 400 Dinner of Champions included KJ Howe, who served as Mint 400 race director for nearly two decades and was responsible for enduring event traditions like contingency on Fremont Street and the Miss Mint 400 contest; 2019 Dakar Rally rookie of the year Casey Currie, who will be competing in Class 4400 this year; two-time Mint 400 winner Justin Lofton, who will look to win his first Great American Off-Road Race since 2016; and dozens of other off-road luminaries, key supporters, and partners.

Thursday features a full schedule of events, with Method Race Wheels Time Trials allowing the Unlimited Truck, Class 1500, and Class 6100 racers to earn their starting spots in Sunday’s Unlimited race. Meanwhile, back on Fremont Street, the first day of the Mint 400 Off-Road Festival powered by Rockford Fosgate will bring the pageantry of the race directly to the fans in downtown Las Vegas. The day ends with the announcement of time trial results, followed by the Method Race Wheels Pit Crew Challenge. For up to date information on this year’s event, visit themint400.com or follow @themint400 on social media.