The 30th annual Casey Folks Vegas to Reno will start in Reno for the first time in the event’s history, reversing the traditional course and placing Northern Nevada at the center of a weekend of off-road racing and team activity.
Route reversal shifts strategic focus to Reno
Organizers announced that the 2026 edition of the Best in the Desert event will run from Reno to Las Vegas, inverting the long-established northbound route. The change in direction is expected to alter how competitors approach terrain, navigation and pit strategy over the roughly 500-mile course.
With the starting line moved to Reno, teams and sponsors are staging a heightened presence around the city. Segway Powersports, whose Segway Factory Racing team will field a Super Villain SX20T, has partnered with the Grand Sierra Resort to promote the event and welcome racers, crews and fans arriving in Northern Nevada. Digital displays featuring the team and vehicle are installed throughout the resort.
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Driver Jacob Zuccone and co-driver Samantha Rode will pilot the Segway Super Villain SX20T, a 235-horsepower machine entered in the endurance race. The duo previously competed in last year’s Reno-bound running, overcoming a mechanical setback around race mile 296 — a broken tie rod — before returning to the course and finishing in the early morning hours.
That experience, race officials and team members say, should help as Zuccone and Rode tackle the reversed route beginning Friday, Aug. 14. Free live coverage of the race will be available through Best in the Desert and several streaming platforms.
What the reversal means for competitors and Reno
Racers traditionally approach the course with specific expectations about where the most demanding sections and navigational challenges lie. Running the event in the opposite direction changes the sequence in which competitors encounter those features, which can affect:
- Speed and handling as direction-related slope and terrain play out differently;
- Navigation since waypoints and landmarks present altered sightlines;
- Pit strategy because timing for service stops and crew support shifts along the course.
For Reno, the change gives the city greater prominence during race week. Teams, sponsors and fans arriving for the start will create increased hotel occupancy and activity at local hospitality venues, especially at the Grand Sierra Resort, which is serving as a visible hub for Segway's promotion.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Start city | Reno |
| Finish area | Near Las Vegas |
| Approximate distance | 500 miles |
| Segway vehicle | Super Villain SX20T, 235 hp |
| Drivers | Jacob Zuccone and Samantha Rode |
| Race start | Friday, Aug. 14 |
Segway’s promotional displays at the Grand Sierra and the team’s presence in Reno are intended to draw attention to the starting city during pre-race activities. For local businesses, the influx of racers and supporters could deliver a short-term economic boost tied to lodging, dining and event hospitality.
For competitors, reversing the course adds an extra layer of tactical planning. The Super Villain team’s 2025 run — which included hours of roadside repair before rejoining and finishing the race — illustrates the endurance nature of the event and the unpredictable demands of long-distance desert racing.
As race week unfolds, Reno will host a mix of promotional and operational activity connected to the Vegas to Reno field. The city’s role as the event’s new starting point marks a significant moment in the three-decade history of the Best in the Desert race, giving Northern Nevada a front-row seat to one of the country’s most demanding off-road competitions.
