Alumicraft Race Cars Capture Class 10 Victory at the 2026 Mint 400
The 2026 Mint 400, widely known as “The Great American Off-Road Race,” once again pushed drivers and equipment to their limits across the rugged Nevada desert outside Las Vegas. When the dust settled in the highly competitive Class 10 division, Alumicraft Race Cars stood atop the podium with a class victory and a strong presence throughout the field.
Driver Eliott Watson piloted the #1030 Alumicraft buggy to a first-place Class 10 finish after completing four laps in a total time of 7 hours, 17 minutes, and 11.297 seconds. Watson’s fastest lap of the race came in 1 hour, 46 minutes, and 55.374 seconds, helping secure the class win and placing the team fifth overall in the Limited Race field.
The victory came after an intense battle within the class. Brody Aikins finished second, crossing the line just 2.162 seconds behind Watson after more than seven hours of racing, one of the closest finishes of the day.
Watson’s performance was further recognized following the race with a $5,000 performance award from FOX Factory.
STRONG QUALIFYING SETS THE STAGE
Early pace from Alumicraft teams was evident during Class 10 qualifying earlier in the week. Several Alumicraft drivers secured top starting positions during the Group 1 qualifying session.
Class 10 qualifying results for Alumicraft Race Cars included:
1st – #1025 Mat Bellefontaine
2nd – #1077 Brody Aikins
3rd – #1030 Eliott Watson
5th – #1061 Carib Potts
With four Alumicraft cars inside the top five starting positions, the team entered race day with strong track position on a course where passing opportunities can be limited by rocky terrain and long desert straights.
STRATEGY & DURABILITY KEY TO RACE SUCCESS
The Mint 400 racecourse placed a premium on reliability and patience. Competitors navigated a demanding mix of rock fields, high-speed desert sections, and technical terrain across the four-lap race format.
A total of 27 Class 10 teams started the race, but only 17 reached the finish line. Among those finishers, eight were Alumicraft race cars, underscoring the durability required to complete the grueling event.
Watson and co-driver Edgar focused on maintaining a disciplined pace early in the race.
“We qualified third. Everyone was stacked and tight,” Watson said. “We just put our heads down knowing it is such a long race with a lot of rocks and a lot of ways to get taken out. Aaron and I ran a conservative pace in the first half of the race.”
“We hammered down the last half and made up a lot of ground,” Watson added. “The Alumicraft held up and everything worked out great and we are here standing on top of the box. Scotty Prill put in another great prep on the car. We are very grateful to him, Yokohama Tires and FOX.”
TIGHT COMPETITION AMONG ALUMICRAFT DRIVERS
Second-place finisher Brody Aikins maintained pressure on the leaders throughout the race. The podium finish follows Aikins’ recent win at the Parker 400 and strengthens the team’s position in the American Off-Road Racing Championship standings.
The AORC championship was created through the unification of Best in the Desert and Unlimited Off-Road Racing, forming a single national desert racing series.
CONTINUING MOMENTUM FOR ALUMICRAFT
The 2026 victory builds on recent success for the Alumicraft program at the Mint 400. Carib Potts captured the Class 10 win in 2025, while Watson finished second in that race.
Back-to-back seasons with Alumicraft cars at the top of the class further reinforce the platform’s competitiveness among elite Class 10 teams.
With multiple podium finishes already recorded early in the season, several Alumicraft drivers remain in strong contention for the 2026 AORC Class 10 championship as the desert racing calendar continues.
For teams, partners, and fans following the development of competitive desert racing platforms, the results at the 2026 Mint 400 once again demonstrated the importance of preparation, reliability, and disciplined race strategy across one of the sport’s most demanding events.
For more information on Alumicraft Race Cars and their winning performances, visit Alumicraft's official website, DriveAlumicraft.com, to learn more about our race products and services.
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