2026 Mint 400 Vehicle Parade Returns Off-Road Superstars to Las Vegas Strip
Festivities for the 2026 BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400 are officially underway with the completion of the annual Mint 400 Vehicle Parade. One of the most iconic parts of the Great American Off-Road Race saw tens of millions of dollars worth of off-road racing machinery shut down the Las Vegas Strip, working its way from the Mandalay Bay to the Wynn Las Vegas.
The Mint 400 Vehicle Parade is the longest-running motorsports event on the Las Vegas Strip. For decades, the Strip has closed down on race week for competitors to lead their race vehicles past some of the city’s most enduring structures and countless off-road race fans and tourists alike. From top-level cars and trucks set to take on Saturday’s Unlimited Race to motorcycles, UTVs, and even some of the Mint’s more out-of-the-box entries, the parade provides a great sampling of what to expect from the race itself each year.
This year’s fleet of vehicles was paced by the Unlimited Truck of seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, who makes his return to off-road racing with the iconic Terrible Herbst Motorsports team. As always, racers expected to go for wins in all of this weekend’s races took part, while vehicles from the Military class and even a Cybertruck added some unique flair to the proceedings.
Waiting for racers and fans alike at the end of the parade route was the annual Mint 400 Kickoff Party, which returned to Atomic Liquors on Fremont Street. Attendees were able to purchase six-packs of Belching Beaver’s official Mint 400 beer while mingling with racers, including Class 10 and UTV Pro drivers registering for tomorrow’s qualifying sessions for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Race.
“This year’s Mint 400 Vehicle Parade was one for the ages,” said Mint 400 CEO Matt Martelli. “Each year the lineup of parade entries gets bigger and better, and we had an incredible list of racers taking part. Having Jimmie Johnson’s truck for his return to the desert lead the way was only the beginning. We’re excited to bring this momentum forward into another amazing race week!”
With race festivities officially underway, attention shifts to Thursday’s Mint 400 Off-Road Festival and Limited Race qualifying. Fremont Street East will be open to the public for free from 8AM-6PM as racers work their way through the tech and contingency line past over 100 industry-leading exhibitors. Meanwhile, Limited Race qualifiers will leave the line in Primm starting at 8AM and work their way back to Las Vegas to take their spot in the Off-Road Festival. The full race schedule can be found at https://themint400.com/schedule/.
The Mint 400 has held the title of the toughest, most spectacular off-road race in North America since 1968 when it was first run. Initially, the race was a public relations event promoting the Mint Hotel’s annual deer hunt, but what started out as a hotel promotion soon grew into a legitimate desert race. Since its 2008 revival, “The Great American Off-Road Race” has only gotten bigger and more prestigious, and deeper fields every year only make it tougher to win.
This year’s Mint 400 will take place from March 4th - 8th in Las Vegas. More information on the event for racers and spectators is available at TheMint400.com, or follow the event on Facebook and Instagram.
Details regarding racer registration, sponsorship packages, exhibitor vending, spectator tickets, camping, and parking passes for the American Off-Road Racing Championship are live on americanoffroadracingchampionship.com
About American Off-Road Racing Championship
About the American Off-Road Racing Championship:
The American Off-Road Racing Championship (AORC) is the premier desert off-road racing league in North America, created through the unification of Best in the Desert (BITD) and Unlimited Off-Road Racing (UNLTD).
Best in the Desert, founded in 1984 by legendary racer Casey Folks, is the longest-running and most respected off-road racing series in the U.S., with a legacy that includes iconic events like Vegas to Reno, the Silver State 300, the Parker 425, and the Laughlin Desert Classic.
Unlimited Off-Road Racing, established by the Martelli Brothers in 2023, produces world-class events such as The Mint 400, The California 300, and The Parker 400. UNLTD is recognized for its focus on innovation, storytelling, and large-scale racer participation, with events known for high car counts, challenging courses, pre-running, and family-friendly fan experiences near major markets.
Together under the AORC banner, BITD and UNLTD preserve the heritage of desert racing while building its future—offering racers, sponsors, and fans a unified championship built on clarity, consistency, and world-class competition.