Tesla Cybertruck Enters Desert Racing

The Cybertruck is competing in the Mint 400, known as America's most challenging off-road race, held in the desert south of Las Vegas. The event is notoriously tough on vehicles; in the top classes last year, only 40% of the competitors managed to finish the race. This entry marks the first time a Cybertruck has been prepared for and entered into a major desert race. The vehicle was built by Chewy Barrientos of Kilowatt Customs, an Arizona-based shop specializing in EV customizations, in collaboration with AJ from The Original Baja Shop. While the truck appears largely stock on the outside apart from a wrap and extra lighting, the interior has been stripped and fitted with a full roll cage to meet safety regulations. The massive central infotainment screen and the steering yoke, however, remain. To handle the punishing terrain, the team retained the factory air suspension but fortified it with heavy-duty, billet aluminum components. The truck also features a two-and-a-half-inch lift kit, steel bumpers, skid plates, and beadlock wheels from Unplugged Performance, a well-known Tesla modifier and one of the team's sponsors. The race consists of two 95-mile laps. The team estimates the Cybertruck's off-road range at about half of its street range, which would not be enough to complete the full 190 miles. Following a precedent set by Rivian, Mint 400 organizers allow EV competitors to leave the course after each lap to recharge at a nearby Supercharger before continuing the race.