The Sopwith Trophylite race truck retired after only 53 miles in the Silver State 300 desert race, held April 24th in Alamo, Nevada.

The event began with veteran racer Richard Cassey at the wheel and Brandon Dalton riding as navigator on one of the most enjoyable and scenic courses on the Best in the Desert racing calendar. A driver change was scheduled at Pit 4, 162 miles into the event, where teammate Stephen Cox would jump in the cockpit and drive the truck to the finish line.

Everything went according to plan in the initial stages as the Sopwith truck made it through Pit 1. Cassey was maintaining a solid pace and running mid-pack at the end of the first hour, when a rock tore into the oil pan and struck the transmission plate. The incident took place at mile marker 53 on the 300-mile course. It was impossible to repair the truck in the field and Best in the Desert emergency crews towed the vehicle off the race course. The team was forced to accept a disappointing DNF, finishing 6th in class.

The Silver State 300 was only the second event of a busy summer for the Sopwith racing team. Upcoming events include road course racing in Oklahoma, the legendary Vegas to Reno desert race, and much more.