A flat tire in qualifying may have put Eric Hardin at the back of the Unlimited Truck 2WD field, but 505 miles later, he was standing at the top of the overall results.
Hardin claimed the overall victory at the 2026 Casey Folks Vegas to Reno “The Other Way” presented by Camburg/Magnaflow, completing the grueling Nevada desert race in 7 hours, 37 minutes and 55.986 seconds.
The victory capped a wild edition of Vegas to Reno that saw racers tackle one of desert racing’s most iconic courses in reverse for the first time in the event’s 30-year history.
Hardin Goes From the Back to the Front
Hardin’s path to victory didn’t start according to plan.
A flat tire during qualifying put the No. 79 Unlimited Truck 2WD at the back of its class for the start. With more than 500 miles of Nevada desert ahead, Hardin had plenty of ground to make up.
And that’s exactly what he did.
While Hardin charged through the field, the reversed Vegas to Reno course created problems for some of the biggest names in off-road racing.
Robby and Max Gordon encountered issues that resulted in extended repair time, while Unlimited Truck SPEC racer Kyle Jergensen also spent significant time down for repairs. Bryce Menzies saw his race come to an early end due to transmission problems.
Up front, RJ Anderson and Tracy Graf led the physical race in Unlimited Truck 4WD, while Nic Whetstone and Dave Mason Jr. were among the leaders in Unlimited Truck 2WD.
But Vegas to Reno isn’t always won by the first truck across the line.
Corrected time would ultimately determine who came out on top.
The Battle for the Overall Win Takes Shape
As times began coming in, Hardin found himself in the hunt alongside Brent Fox and Mitch Guthrie.
Guthrie’s appearance was particularly notable as the Ford Raptor T1+ made its North American debut and became the first Rally Raid 4WD vehicle to attempt Vegas to Reno.
Guthrie wasn’t the only Dakar-spec machinery in Nevada. Brian Baragwanath also brought over the same type of equipment used to compete in the Dakar Rally, entering the Rally Raid 2WD category.
Both vehicles proved they could handle the demands of American desert racing.
Meanwhile, the race continued taking its toll.
Fox’s run ended before reaching the Amargosa Valley pit, while multiple flat tires cost Anderson valuable time.
Graf and Whetstone eventually reached the finish in quick succession, with Whetstone initially holding the quickest overall corrected time.
Then Hardin arrived.
Hardin Sets the Time to Beat
Hardin’s charge through the Nevada desert put him across the finish line more than seven minutes faster than Whetstone on corrected time, immediately moving the No. 79 truck to the top of the leaderboard.
The question became whether anyone still on course could knock him off.
Guthrie came closest.
The Ford Raptor T1+ crossed the finish to claim second overall, but its corrected time of 7:43:49.379 left Guthrie just under six minutes behind Hardin.
Dave Mason Jr. and Cameron Steele eventually moved into third overall following time credits and penalties. Steele had stopped during the race to assist an injured motorcycle racer.
When the results were settled, Hardin had completed one of the most impressive drives of the weekend.
From a qualifying flat and a starting position at the back of the Unlimited Truck 2WD field to the overall Vegas to Reno victory, Hardin turned what could have been a frustrating weekend into a statement win.
A Big Weekend for the Hardin Family
Eric wasn’t the only Hardin celebrating in Nevada.
His nephew, Cole Hardin, earned his first victory in the Unlimited Truck SPEC class.
Cole edged Conner McMullen by just over a minute to secure the long-awaited class win. RJ Stidham completed the SPEC podium with his third podium finish of the season, setting up a championship fight with Kyle Jergensen heading into the finale.
Cole’s performance was also strong enough to put the No. 279 truck ninth overall, giving the Hardin family two trucks inside the overall top 10.
Six Classes Finish Inside the Overall Top 10
One of the more impressive aspects of the 2026 Vegas to Reno results was the variety of machinery represented near the front.
Six different classes placed at least one racer inside the overall top 10.
Hardin’s Unlimited Truck 2WD led the way, but Rally Raid machinery made an immediate impact with Guthrie finishing second overall and Baragwanath taking fifth.
UTVs weren’t far behind.
Brock Heger won the UTV Pro category while posting a time quick enough for seventh overall, with Cody Bradbury putting another UTV Pro entry into 10th.
2026 Vegas to Reno Overall Top 10
- Eric Hardin, Unlimited Truck 2WD – 7:37:55.986
- Mitch Guthrie, Rally Raid 4WD – 7:43:49.379
- Dave Mason Jr., Unlimited Truck 2WD – 7:46:11.606
- Nic Whetstone, Unlimited Truck 2WD – 7:46:23.088
- Brian Baragwanath, Rally Raid 2WD – 7:50:48.274
- Tracy Graf, Unlimited Truck 4WD – 7:51:14.303
- Brock Heger, UTV Pro – 7:51:29.311
- Tracy Poole, Unlimited Truck 2WD – 7:53:14.089
- Cole Hardin, Unlimited Truck SPEC – 7:54:25.112
- Cody Bradbury, UTV Pro – 7:55:26.405
A Different Kind of Vegas to Reno
Running Vegas to Reno backward for the first time added another challenge to an event already known for testing both racers and machines.
The result was a race filled with mechanical failures, flat tires, changing leaders and everything from traditional Unlimited Trucks to Dakar Rally machinery and UTVs fighting for positions near the front.
Through all of it, Hardin emerged with the quickest corrected time.
After starting at the back because of a qualifying flat, Eric Hardin and the No. 79 Unlimited Truck 2WD ended the day exactly where it mattered most: first overall.
