Chandler, AZ (8/21/2018) – Weller Racing’s husband-and-wife team Jason and Corry Weller put in a super competitive run in their newly built Dragonfire Racing Yamaha YXZ 1000R in the Vegas to Reno Best in the Desert Race. After making it all the way up to second, a jack issue just a 15 miles from the finish put them seventh at the finish.
With rain leading into the event, the course was faster than in year’s past and the YXZ1000R took to the racy 500-mile course in style. Jason Weller started 33rd, took it easy for a few miles and then went hammer down, making up 31 positions in 330 miles.
Jason Weller at the start of the 2018 Vegas to Reno Race
Corry Weller took over at pit 10 and was further extending the team’s lead when they had a tire issue in a rock section just before the finish. While raising the car to change the tire, the jack failed.
“It was heartbreaking,” said Corry Weller. “We had a great run. When Jason gave me the car I just wanted to make sure we didn’t lose any ground. The car was amazing and course was really fun.
Dragonfire Racing Yamaha YXZ 1000R
Jason Weller has been working on the car since the beginning of the season and has run two other BITD races leading up to the Vegas to Reno event. His impressive drive was made more special because it was his first time in the event.
“We made it from 33rd to second place” said Weller. “We had a really impressive run. I’ve been working with FOX and did a couple of tests. Not only were we impressed, they were impressed that the Yamaha could handle that well. We now know we’re capable of winning and that’s what we’re after.”
Lighting is key in Vegas to Reno because it starts in the afternoont and runs into the night. The Wellers ran a trick set of LazerStar lights that allowed them to dial in the amount of light needed depending on conditions.
Dragonfire Racing Yamaha YXZ 1000R
“I had never raced at night before,” explained Corry Weller. “At Parker I paid close attention to the way people came through the dark, what lights they were running, and who was having problems seeing. That observation was put to good use!”
Corry Weller isn’t going to dwell and what could have been. Instead, she understands that car is ready for greatness and a stroke of bad luck took her out of the race. With that said, the Wellers are competitors, so any disappointment will be bottled up and used to fuel their drive at the next race.
“Jason and I like to do well and to have a podium right in your hand…it’s hard to just get over it,” said Corry Weller. “I’m trying very hard not to dwell on it. Now we know we can podium in that car so we just want to do it.”
The Wellers will head back to short course racing in short order when they return to the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series during its visit to the Utah Motorsports Campus August 24-25.
Corry Weller at Tech in the Weller Racing Yamaha YXZ1000R
2018 Weller Racing Sponsors:
Yamaha Motor USA, Dragonfire Racing, Full Throttle Battery, Demon Powersports, Maxxis Tires, Axia Alloys, PAC Racing Springs, Raceline Wheels, Factory UTV, SPARCO USA, Lucas Oil Racing TV, Lucas Oil Racing Products, AIM Sports, Tubeworks, Action Sports Canopies, Lazer Star Lights, AZ Drive Shaft, XTC, Powersports, Weller Racing, LLC
