Past Gas #216: Mint 400: The Chaotic Race Across the Las Vegas Desert

“In some circles, the Mint 400 is a far, far better thing than the Super Bowl, the Kentucky Derby and the Lower Oakland Roller Derby Finals all rolled into one. This race attracts a special breed,” wrote Hunter S. Thompson in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. But how did a bunch of hospitality industry employees with little-to-no knowledge of motorsports turn a publicity stunt into The Great American Off-Road Race? Why did the Mint 400 go dark after twenty successful years? And what about this uniquely Vegas race ensured its eventual comeback? Buy the ticket, take the ride. Today on Past Gas: the story of The Mint 400.  Thanks to our sponsors: Start hiring NOW with a $75 SPONSORED JOB CREDIT to upgrade your job post at https://Indeed.com/PASTGAS . Offer good for a limited time. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/PASTGAS and get on your way to being your best self. More about Show: Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes.   Follow Joe on IG and Twitter @joegweber. Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels!   Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or using this link: http://bit.ly/PastGas. If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: http://bit.ly/PastGas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices