K&N UTV Racer Katie Vernola Fights to an Impressive Finish in the Mint 400

Mar 16, 2017

Katie Vernola racing her Polaris UTV in the Mint 400 in Primm, Nevada

The race day started before sunrise for K&N-sponsored Katie Vernola

“I finished my first Mint 400!” Katie Vernola had reason to be excited. It wasn’t easy, but the veteran UTV racer finished her first Best in the Desert (BITD) UTV Pro Turbo class race. Finishing was especially sweet since it came in the brutal Mint 400 in the desert outside of Primm, Nevada.

In a race like the Mint 400, fighting through mechanical issues is part of the game. Vernola and her teammate Matthew Hove had their fair share of equipment challenges in their Polaris RZR Turbo on the way to the finish line. After Vernola and her team took care of the early-race problems in the pits, the K&N-sponsored racer ran consistent and fast laps on the demanding Mint course to finish an impressive 17th in her class.

Vernola fought through mechanical issues to conquer the Mojave Desert course

“During the first 30 miles, I went through two belts and an axle, but that’s the Mint 400 for you…it was brutal,” said Vernola. “We figured out the problem, fixed that and kept picking up the speed from there. We tried to stay smooth and consistent and let the car do its thing. Once I came around the short course area, I saw some big UTV teams and was happy to finish the race with the top guys.”

While Vernola is an experienced WORCS and Terracross UTV racer, this is her first season in BITD. In Vernola’s first career desert race, the Parker 425, tire issues ended her race just past the halfway point. While the learning curve in desert racing is steep, Vernola proved she is up to the challenge. Drawing from her experience in that first race, Vernola kept the UTV together for the full race.

Vernola trusts K&N filter technology to keep her engine clean even in these brutal conditions

“This is just my second Best in the Desert race and my first ever finish. I could not be happier. BITD is a whole other animal from short course racing. That is huge for me. I grew up in the desert, but I never raced in the desert. The experience is what makes it awesome. I got to do it with Matt, who is a good friend and great driver.”

Vernola was effusive in her praise of the sponsors and crew that helped her get through the Mint 400.

“I can’t thank all my sponsors enough,” said Vernola. “I want to thank my pit crew, Pete Corwin, Niko and Angelo Skiparnias, Jay Rockow, Jim Osier, and Sara Price for helping me get to the finish line."

Next up for Vernola are the WORCS rounds 4 & 5 in Lake Havasu, Arizona on March 18-19. In the WORCS series, Vernola is chasing the points championship in SxS Pro Unlimited Class.

Katie Vernola with her Polaris UTV after the Mint 400 in Primm, Nevada

Vernola is all smiles after her Mint 400 finish

The next BITD race on the schedule is round three in Laughlin, Nevada April 14-15. That race will be the UTV World Championship where Katie is looking to build on the momentum she garnered from her impressive Mint 400 finish.

We at K&N congratulate Katie Vernola on her fantastic Mint 400 race. K&N is proud to be a major sponsor of “The Great American Off-Road Race” and we are honored to be part of the success of so many great desert racers.

If you are looking for top performance and protection for your Polaris UTV, check out the brand-new K&N 63-1133 Polaris intake.

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