Ford Racing Broncos Battle the Desert at the Mint 400

The dust has settled, and boy was there some dust, outside Las Vegas after another grueling running of the legendary Mint 400. Once again Ford Motor Company, and Ford Racing, proved why it continues to put production-based vehicles into one of the toughest desert races in North America.

With brutal terrain, deep silt beds, and relentless desert miles, the nearly 400-mile race lived up to its reputation. Attrition was high this year—especially in the Limited race on Friday, where 50 percent of teams failed to finish. But among the dust clouds and mechanical carnage, Ford Racing teams and Broncos delivered strong results, landing three podium finishes across multiple classes.

The Bronco Raptors Earn Podium Finishes & Wins

Out of five teams backed by Ford Racing, three stood on the podium when the dust cleared after nearly 7 hours of racing.

Bailey Campbell piloted the #4635 Bronco to a gold medal in the Rock600 class, showcasing the capability and durability of the Bronco platform in some of the roughest terrain the desert could throw at it. Bailey finished the fastest among the Ford Racing teams, and after a rough show at the EMC race at King of the Hammers, has seemed to find her groove with her powder blue BRaptor race truck. Her husband Bryan was her co-driver and together they made quick work of the tough racecourse.

Brad Lovell, racing the # 888 Ford F-150 Raptor, captured first place in the Stock Production Truck Full class. Lovell’s performance highlighted the strength of the production-based Raptor platform over nearly 400 miles of punishing Nevada desert. Brad has shown up strong this season, taking a win at the EMC race at King of the Hammers with his son Adam as co-driver.

Loren Healy drove the # 7366 RTR Bronco Raptor to a second-place finish in the Stock Production Mini/Mid class, continuing the Bronco Raptor’s growing reputation as a serious off-road racing platform. Loren had Eric Davis as his co-driver and after some first lap struggles with a shock failure just five miles from the start, finished with the silver.

Together, the results demonstrate that Ford’s off-road Raptor lineup, especially the Bronco family, can not only tackle trails but also survive the demands of professional desert racing.

Why Ford Racing Runs Production Vehicles

For fans of the Ford Bronco and Ford F-150 Raptor, seeing familiar vehicles racing the desert isn’t just exciting, it’s intentional.

Unlike many race programs that rely heavily on purpose-built race machines, Ford Racing often enters vehicles that closely resemble what customers can buy from the dealership. The Mint 400 provides a perfect proving ground for that philosophy.

Here’s why it matters:

1. Real-World Durability Testing
Desert racing pushes vehicles harder than almost any other environment. Long distances, heat, rocks, and silt test suspension, cooling, and drivetrain durability in ways traditional testing cannot replicate.

2. Engineering Feedback
Racing gives Ford engineers valuable data on how production components perform under extreme loads. Lessons learned in competition often influence future vehicle development.

3. Authentic Capability Storytelling
When a Bronco or Raptor stands on a podium at the Mint 400, it reinforces what off-road enthusiasts already know, these vehicles are built with real capability in mind, especially when half the vehicles didn’t even finish.

4. Connection to the Off-Road Community
Events like the Mint 400 are deeply embedded in off-road culture. By competing with recognizable vehicles, Ford shows that the same machines people take to Moab, Baja, and their local trails are capable of much more.

Broncos Showing Their Strength

For Bronco Nation racing fans, the 2026 Mint 400 was another reminder that the platform continues to prove itself in demanding environments. Between the class win for Bailey Campbell and Loren Healy’s podium finish, the Bronco lineup showed speed, endurance, and reliability in a race where many teams simply didn’t make it to the finish line.

In desert racing, finishing is an achievement on its own. Standing on the podium, especially in a year with such high attrition, makes the results even more impressive.