McMillin Father Son Duo Rally at MDR Coyote Wash Race

Mark/Dan McMillin Finish 2nd in Night Race / Luke McMillin Just Short of First Victory

San Diego, California (June 15, 2009) Mark McMillin and his two desert racers, sons Dan and Luke, took to the torturous desert floor at the 2009 MDR Coyote Wash 200-mile night race racing the McMillin Racing JIMCO Class 1 and the 1600 car.

Dan McMillin was the driver of record in the McMillin Racing Class 1 and his younger brother, Luke McMillin, soloed the 1600 car effort. However, starting the race in the Class 1 was the veteran SCORE Baja 1000 Champion, Mark McMillin.

At 6:30 p.m., the green flag dropped, initiating the barrage of desert racers bounding across the barren desert. McMillin Racing strategy was simple; Mark started the race and would catapult the JIMCO Class 1 to the front in the first 100-miles before handing off the car to Dan for the final 100-miles to the checkered flag.

Mark ran two fast 25-mile laps early in the race before suffering a harrowing two and a half barrel roll on lap three that ripped the light bar from its upper mount. The veteran off road racer rolled at speed as darkness fell over the exquisite desert.

“About the time it got dark, I rolled the car and knocked off the light bar. The car was fine and we limped it back to the pits where the crew went over the car. Daniel got in the car with only the lower two lights working and brought the car across the finish line in 2nd place. Daniel got in the rolled car and really performed well under the circumstances. I’m disappointed that I didn’t get him the car with the top light bar in working order, but he has once again proved that he can overcome obstacles in the heat of the battle,” explained Mark.

In fact, Dan ran the last five laps of the race, 125-miles, just off the winning pace without the upper light bar. Daniel crossed the finish line in 4:21:57 averaging 45.8 miles per hour over the 200-mile racecourse.

“It was a good day of racing and without the mishap we suffered early on, who knows what could have been? Our JIMCO Class 1 is really working well right now. Our BFGoodrich Tires held up to perfection and I’m glad no one was injured in my dad’s rollover,” said the San Diego young gun, Dan McMillin.

The youngest of the McMillin Racing family, Luke McMillin 16-years old, took to the desert in his 1600 car and charged hard from the start. After the first 100-miles of the race, Luke McMillin, had a comfortable 7-minute lead over the competition.

However, nearing the 125-mile mark, he suffered an ignition failure that sidelined him and his co-driver, Chris Cortez for a few minutes. Once fixed, the #1608 was on a mission before suffering a devastating flat tire in the final 25-miles of the race. Luke McMillin rallied his blue McMillin Racing 1600 car to the checkers missing the victory by a mere 27-seconds after 200-miles of incredible racing.

“We had two minor issues that got to us, but it was close. The car ran near flawless and we were pushing it when we got the flat. I knew we were a little down on time after the ignition issue, so we had to push it hard in order for us to be close at the end,” said the smiling Luke McMillin. 

Daniel McMillin returns to the desert on July 18th for the MORE “Freedom 250” where he will share driving duties with Brad Wilson, son of off road desert racing champion, Ronny Wilson, in the Wilson Motorsports Class 12 race car.

America’s legendary off road racing family will race in the BITD Vegas to Reno 3-day rally style event on August 19-23, 2009. This race will cover over 1000-miles throughout the Nevada desert as an international contingent of desert racers descend upon the United States for this challenging experience.
Mark McMillin will debut his 2009 Geiser-built Trophy Truck in the 2009 BITD Vegas to Reno race. Scott McMillin and his son, Andy, will race their #31 McMillin Homes race truck in the BITD Vegas to Reno as well.
Daniel and Luke McMillin will share the 1000-plus miles of desert racing experience together in the McMillin Homes 1600 car.