El Gato Racing's Ernie Serfas Wins M.O.R. E. Balls Out 250 Desert Race

The 302 powered four-link Ford Ranger number 1449 is piloted by Shawn Walters and Justin Rhynes.
The 302 powered four-link Ford Ranger number 1449 is piloted by Shawn Walters and Justin Rhynes.
El Gato Racing from Big Bear Lake, California runs two trucks in the 1450 Sportsman Class. Team owner Carl Walters' philosophy is that El Gato is all about the team and he doesn't much go for idle chit-chat, so when he talks it's because there's something to say.
In 2011 it was Ernie Serfas getting the win at the Ball Out 250 in Barstow, driving the 1491 Trophy Truck.
In 2011 it was Ernie Serfas getting the win at the Ball Out 250 in Barstow, driving the 1491 Trophy Truck.


"Ernie took a first in the desert in 1491. We only entered the one truck. We're going to expand our operation a little bit and bring the trucks to Glen Helen for both the short course and Baja Cup Challenge Series," reported Walters to K&N Race News.

The team has expanded their racing program to include Primm, Nevada, and Glen Helen raceways, as this year the expectations are that participation at these two spectator venues will increase sharply.

"It was supposed to be a year for depth and reorganization and that did happen, but the tragic incident in August that claimed so many lives also claimed a competing organization. The resultant governmental knee-jerk reaction has all but brought desert racing in California to its knees," says Walters, referring to the off-road race in southern California's Mojave Desert that claimed eight lives last year.
El Gato Racing's Ernie Serfas is the current class leader.
El Gato Racing's Ernie Serfas is the current class leader.


"Through it all El Gato raced and culminated last season with Ernie Serfas taking the win in the 1491 truck and J.J. Hanson in the 1469 truck backing him up with second place at the Toys for Tots Barstow event," continued Walters. "It was a nice sweep for the El Gato team in the 1450 Sportsman Class. It was also an uneventful race with both trucks completing the 200 mile event without mishap or breakdown."

"This is when and where the K&N products prove themselves time and time again," says Walters. "We stay competitive because we have this K&N support and that gives us the edge. Ernie recently backed up his December win with yet another first place at the March 21 Balls Out 250."

In 2010 El Gato Racing won and took second place in the M.O.R. E. (Mojave Off-Road Racing Enthusiast) Balls Out 250 desert off-road race. "Over the past several years M.O.R.E. has emerged as the premier Southern California desert race scene and we're going to stay with them," Walters said.

This year Serfas is the current class leader, "And he's going for the title," adds Walters. "In the meantime two of our roving pit members, Adam and Cory, are preparing a fresh trophy truck chassis which with any luck will debut later this fall."

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