Safecraft’s All-Star Line-Up for 2017 Vegas to Reno

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Safecraft’s All-Star Line-Up for 2017 Vegas to Reno

Larry Roeseler, Pat O’keefe/Jason Scherer, ‘Diesel Brothers’ Dave Sparks/Dave Kiley And Josh Cobb/Jason Cobb Sign On To Beat The Heat!

Pittsburgh, Calif.—Safecraft’s elite racing team—Larry Roeseler, Pat O’Keefe/Jason Scherer and Josh/Jason Cobb— now adding ‘Heavy D’ (Dave Sparks) and ‘Diesel Dave’ (Dave Kiley) of Discovery Channel’s hit TV show “Diesel Brothers”– will take on the competition in multiple classes in the toughest and longest race in the U.S.– the Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno, August 16-20. Larry Roeseler (ProTurbo UTV class, UTV #976), Pat O’Keefe/Jason Scherer (Trophy Truck 6100 class, truck #6120) tag teaming with Heavy D/Diesel Dave and Josh/Jason Cobb (Trophy Lite class 6000, truck #6066) will tackle 535 miles that will take over 320 racers through some of the toughest desert and extreme conditions.

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The ‘Legend’ in the Pro Turbo UTV Class

Larry “LR – The Legend” Roeseler, who won this year’s Baja 500 Trophy Truck Legends class – his 17th class win at the Baja 500 – will enter the Pro Turbo UTV class at Vegas to Reno racing the Safecraft-sponsored 1000 cc Turbo Polaris built by Holz Racing, equipped with new BF Goodrich 32” UTV tires.

“I’m super excited and really looking forward to the challenge,” said LR. “This class has increased in popularity with 50-70 entries and has become really competitive with a lot of factory support. I love ‘Vegas to Reno’ and achieved many overall wins on a motorcycle and in a truck, including class wins—this is going to be super competitive and a really good race.”  – Larry Roeseler

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Dual Duos in the 6100 Trophy Truck Class

Safecraft’s Pat O’Keefe and Jason Scherer will tag team with ‘Heavy D’ Dave Sparks and ‘Diesel Dave’ Dave Kiley of the hit TV show “Diesel Brothers” in the 6100 Trophy Truck class.

“I’m stoked to learn more about desert racing,” said Jason Scherer, who won the Holley LS Fest West Off-Road Challenge earlier this year. “It’s going to be a wild ride.” – Jason S.

“I’m looking forward to racing the Vegas to Reno along with my good friend and King of the Hammer’s/Ultra4 champion Jason Scherer, as well as the Diesel Brothers,” said Pat O’Keefe, “Dave Sparks and Dave Kiley are good guys and I can’t wait for them to experience Vegas to Reno. It will be a tough race due to the extreme heat and silt, but I am confident that we have the team and vehicle to win the 6100 class.” – Pat O’K.

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“Desert racing is still very much the ‘Wild, Wild West’,” said Heavy D (Dave Sparks). “That’s why I have chosen to head deep into the dust bowl with the one and only Pat O’Keefe and his world class race team. Safecraft racing holds nothing back when it comes to setting up the finest race programs in the world. We can’t wait to go out and battle for that podium finish with the best team out there!” – Heavy D.

- Larry Roeseler

“I’m honored and flattered to be riding in a truck owned by Pat O’Keefe and joining the Safecraft team,” said Diesel Dave (Dave Kiley). “I couldn’t be more pumped to race the V2R race in the Safecraft truck with Heavy D as the driver—there’s not another vehicle out there that’s going to have more fun and be more safe. Without a doubt, Heavy D and I will be on the podium– You can count on that! No team has more passion more spirit and more determination to win the V2R race– OR has the most good looking co-pilot in the world…” – Diesel Dave.

- Larry Roeseler
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Like Father Like Son: 6000 TrophyLite Class

Next in the Safecraft line up is father and son team Jason and Josh Cobb (18), the youngest Vegas to Reno winner in the TrophyLite class, racing Safecraft’s #6066 (TrophyLite class 6000). Josh is sitting 3rd in points for the 2017 TrophyLite Championship and is in a good position to challenge for the title. After last year’s solo trek and win, Josh will be sharing driving duties with dad, Jason Cobb, veteran racer and coach.

“The #6066 Safecraft truck has never been better and we are going to run this race harder than we did last year,” said Josh Cobb. “We will leave nothing on the table to bring home another win.” – Josh C.

“I have a lot of pressure on me this year,” said Jason Cobb. “The kid did it all alone last year when I was battling cancer and brought home the win. I need to make sure I don’t hold him back.” – Jason C.


Follow the Safecraft team during the race by visiting www.racingtrax.com, click on the Vegas to Reno race and select #976, #6120 or #6066 during this exciting event. (Rates may apply).


About Larry Roeseler

Larry Roeseler is an American professional off-road racer in motorcycle and Trophy Truck classes. He is a 13-time overall winner of SCORE’s Baja 1000, and has also won numerous times in the Best in the Desert Series. Roeseler is 2-time overall winner of the Vegas to Reno and has numerous American Motorcycle Association off-road titles including National Hare and Hound and National Enduro championships. Larry Roeseler is a Hall of Fame Inductee of the American Motorcycle Association and an Off Road Motorsport Hall of Famer “…the greatest multi-discipline SCORE desert racer in history.”

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About Pat O'Keefe

Pat’s successful corporate career as President and CEO of NeXgen Fuel and Safecraft Safety Equipment, Vice President of Golden Gate Petroleum and CEO and President of CLP Motorsports had its humble beginning as a successful racer in his youth. His passion for automobiles and motorsports lead to an impressive racing career starting at the age of 12 where he has since raced anything with an engine including jet skis, boats, motorcycles, karts and cars with NASCAR, SCCA, NASA, IMCA and others. Pat started CLP Motorsports after realizing the need for a world class customer-focused motorsports shop. He started NeXgen Fuel by recognizing the need to meet customer’s demands for a high quality, clean-burning, high performance premium renewable diesel.  Pat is continually driven to find innovative ways to champion clean alternative fuels like NEXDIESEL Renewable Diesel for use in the automotive industry.


About Jason Scherer

Jason Scherer has been racing for over 18 years and has stood on the podium at many events winning one of the most prestigious events: The 2009 King of the Hammers. He also has a top 25 finish in 7 King of the Hammers races since 2008 and won the 2012 and 2013 Ultra4 Nitto National Championship Race, 2013 Metalcloak Stampede and 2016 Fallon 250. His consistency and race car set-up is proven winning the 2017 Holley LS Fest West Off-Road Challenge, the 2016 Ultra4 National Points and Pro-Rock Championship in 2006, repeating in 2007. Jason’s growing list of high profile finishes have earned him the honor of being nominated for Dirt Sports “Driver of the Year” award two years in a row. Scherer embraces his racing career with a very supportive wife and children who join him on the trails of Northern California.


About Heavy D (Dave Sparks)

Dave Sparks is an American entrepreneur, custom vehicle builder and social media personality from Salt Lake City, Utah. He goes by the name Heavy D. Since he was little, Dave has been fascinated by anything with an engine or wheels. From his first motorcycle, a 1976 Yamaha YZ80 to his most famous creation, the Mega Ram Runner, he has always pushed the mechanical limits of vehicles.

Dave spent the majority of his time in high school studying auto mechanics, welding, and fabrication. After high school he managed an ATV and motorcycle rental business for his close friend and mentor, Rich Eggett. This allowed him to obtain countless hours of hands-on experience. At age 21, Dave enrolled in college at Weber State University; but after one semester he determined he could learn better on his own with real-world experience than in a classroom. Dave began operating heavy equipment for his uncle’s construction business, which soon turned into Dave running his own small excavation business building rock walls, waterfalls, and other types of landscaping. In 2008, he hired his first employee, his best friend “Diesel Dave” Kiley, to help him run the equipment.

In 2009, Dave met the girl of his dreams at church and married her one year later. Once married, he picked up his dealers license, opened a small used car lot, and started working to build his dream company, DieselSellerz.com. His business has grown and so has his family — he has two adorable kids.


About Diesel Dave (Dave Kiley)

The first time Diesel Dave met Heavy D, they were at a church event for young singles and Heavy D invited Diesel to the lake with friends in his pickup.  Knowing that diesel trucks, boats and lakes are the perfect recipe for wooing single ladies, Diesel accepted the invitation; but, little did he know that this would lead to a successful career in selling and building diesel trucks.  After Heavy D accidentally put gasoline in his new pickup truck, Diesel Dave came to the rescue and helped siphon the cylinder.  It was over the siphoning of gasoline at a fuel station that the Daves bonded over their love of diesel trucks and where they decided to start up DieselSellerz.

DieselSellerz is a haven for diesel fanatics everywhere.  Building and selling diesel trucks at DieselSellerz, diesel passion runs rich in Diesel Dave’s blood.  He wants nothing more than to put the hammer down and spread torque, horsepower and diesel joy to all people through the land—letting Diesel freedom ring!


About Jason Cobb

Jason Cobb began his career in 1988 racing quads in the southwestern desert. He raced ATV’s because at the age of 18, he couldn’t afford to participate in the coveted and expensive car and truck classes he dreamed of driving as a youth growing up in Parker, AZ. He quickly enjoyed victory on the ATV’s but yearned for a greater challenge. He exchanged 4 wheels for 2 and began his motorcycle racing career. Jason’s success was immediate; in less than 2 years, he won the Arizona Triple Crown by holding the #1 plate in Whiplash’s Desert, GP and Stadium Warz series. Jason revered in his accomplishments racing motorcycles, but continued to covet the off road race cars and trucks.

Late in 1993, Jason’s dreams came to fruition when he was invited to drive a Class 7S truck in the SCORE series. He was asked to drive in the Parker 400, his hometown race that provided the inspiration for his racing dreams. Jason won his class by more than 30 minutes, which launched a very successful career in off road racing. He went on to his second win in San Felipe, Mexico by more than an hour ahead of second place. Jason now enjoys racing with his son and teaching him how to be a champion. The two have become quite a dynamic duo.


About Josh Cobb

Starting his racing career at 5 years old on a 50cc quad, Josh quickly moved on to motorcycles and ended up winning his first race ever at the BooKoo Arena cross series. He was invited to the KTM Jr. Supercross at 7 years old at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ and in 2014, at 14, he made the switch to four wheels full time and has not looked back. Josh has accomplished some amazing things in just a couple of years of racing.

  • The youngest Silver State 300 winner (Class 2000)
  • The youngest Vegas to Reno winner (TrophyLite)
  • Youngest TrophyLite winner
  • The youngest championship podium finisher (2nd Place TrophyLite)
  • Youngest Terracross Invitee
  • The Fastest Growing Name in Off Road Racing

For 2017, Josh will race in the WORCS Series, Best in the Desert, SCORE International, SNORE Series and Terracross.  Expect great results and an extremely bright future in racing.


About Safecraft Safety Equipment

Safecraft Safety Equipment is the leading provider of fire suppression systems and is used by most of the top professionals in a wide range of industries including Motorsports, Automotive, Aviation and Marine.  For over 20 years, Safecraft is known for its innovative design and use of the highest quality components available.

Safecraft extinguishers are used by more NASCAR, NHRA, NASA and SCCA teams than any other brand and is the only manufacturer to offer several models of extinguishers and extinguishing agents approved to SFI 17.1

Visit safecraft.com for more information.


About Discovery Channel’s “Diesel Brothers”

In the world of diesel vehicles, no one has more fun or builds bigger, badder trucks than Heavy D, Diesel Dave and their crew at DieselSellerz.  Their mega builds and awesome truck giveaways are the stuff of diesel legend.  “Diesel Brothers” follows the team at DieselSellerz as they trick out trucks, work hard and play harder in the process.  Starting off their business by buying used, or broken down trucks and tricking them out for sales… Heavy D and Diesel Dave use the internet/social media as marketing tool to share their best pranks and stunt driving.  Millions of hits later, DieselSellerz has become the destination for diesel lovers looking for tricked out trucks, crazy stunts, pranks and hilarious antics  Follow the team at DieselSellerz as they dream and execute unbelievable builds, pull elaborate and hilarious pranks and push the limits with new stunts.

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