The Great American Off-Road Race
The Mint 400
Kawasaki Battles the Brutal Desert at The Mint 400
The dust has settled, the engines have cooled, and the final results are in—GFI Nevada Racing fought through the brutal Nevada desert to claim a podium finish at the 2025 BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400. After an intense battle across 400 miles of punishing terrain, Zach Kisman secured an impressive third-place finish in the UTV Pro NA class, while teammate Steve Austin locked down a strong fifth-place result.
From the moment the green flag dropped, Kisman and Austin each pushed their Kawasaki Teryx KRX® 1000 to the limit, navigating deep silt beds, razor-sharp rocks, and relentless whoops that claimed many competitors along the way. Kisman’s consistent speed and calculated aggression put him in podium contention early on, and as the race wore on, he maintained his position despite pressure from the competition. Heading into the final lap, he found himself ahead of the fourth-place driver, determined to hold his ground.
In his second-ever pro race, and after serving as the Grand Marshal for The Mint, Austin showcased resilience and precision in his racing. Holding steady in the top five throughout the race, he kept Kisman in his sights, ensuring a strong finish for the team. Despite the punishing nature of the course—where mechanical failures and race-ending crashes are common—both GFI Nevada Racing drivers held their own and powered through to the checkered flag.
RWD Racing Kawasaki made their highly anticipated debut at The Mint in the Project H2 Kawasaki side x side. Carson Wernimont manned the new car with his co-driver Brady Kelly through the challenging Nevada terrain and testing its limits. Wernimont was not able to finish the race due to a mechanical issue, although his time at The Mint did provide knowledge and experience to better dial in the car for upcoming races.
The Mint 400 is one of the most grueling off-road races in North America, pushing both driver skill and machine endurance to the absolute limit. With a podium finish and a top-five result, GFI Nevada Racing once again proved they have what it takes to conquer the desert and compete at the highest level of UTV racing.
Zach Kisman
“The Mint 400 is an absolute battle from start to finish. The course was brutal—deep sand, sharp rocks, and endless whoops—but our Teryx KRX® 1000 handled it like a champ. My team kept me dialed in all day, and we pushed hard to stay ahead in that final stretch. Finishing a race this tough is an incredible feeling, and I couldn’t be more proud of what we accomplished.”
Steve Austin
"I am excited to be asked to be Grand Marshal as well as to be competing at The Mint 400. It has been a goal of mine to race The Mint since I first got introduced to off-road racing. ‘The Great American Off-Road Race’ is going to be very special!”
Carson Wernimont
"I love The Mint course, it’s my favorite race of the year, but it for some reason doesn’t like me back. The new car absolutely flys through the big bumps, has a good pace and the suspension set up is on point, unfortunately we were faced with some challenges and had a small part failure along the way, but that’s racing. We’re already underway dialing it in for the next one. Thank you to our whole team, sponsors and everyone who supports us."
PRO NA Class Race Results
0
1
2
3
DRIVER
Zachary Kisman
Brian Thompson
Dan Benfield
VEHICLE
Kawasaki Teryx KRX® 1000
Polaris
Yamaha
Sportsman UTV Class Race Results
0
1
2
6
DRIVER
Anthony Aveggio
Matthew Bertero
Steve Austin
MOTORCYCLE
Polaris
Can Am
Kawasaki Teryx KRX® 1000
