M3 Factory Racing Opens 2026 Season Strong at Parker 400

M3 Factory Racing launched the 2026 season at the Parker 400, and the desert delivered the full Parker experience — fast, brutal, and zero mercy. The team showed up prepared, and the weekend produced a headline Pro Open charge, a youth podium, and multiple major results to cap off a huge start to the year.

Pro Open | “Return of the Jedi”

Jedi Jack Mamelli and Clayton Winiecki lined up in one of the toughest classes in desert racing: Pro Open, a field stacked with proven talent.

Starting 19th, the duo carved through the field on 35" MRT Desert Storm tires to finish 5th Overall — a major benchmark against elite competition.

Even more impressive:

• 2nd Polaris to cross the finish line

• Finished behind only Ronnie & RJ Anderson among Polaris entries

• Crossed ahead of several top-tier competitors

After stepping away from racing during high school, Mamelli’s return was emphatic. Within the team, it’s being called exactly what it looked like:

The Return of the Jedi.

Youth 1000 | Kevin “Special K” Braun Earns Podium in First Season

The future of the sport showed up in a big way.

Fifteen-year-old Kevin “Special K” Braun delivered a breakout performance in his first year racing, securing 3rd Place in the Youth 1000 class on 29" MRT Dual Threat tires.

Race Details:

• Qualifying: 7th

• Finish: 🥉 3rd

• Car Number: Y1003

• Laps/Time: 1 / 44:26.787

A Parker podium in year one is a major accomplishment and a strong signal from M3’s youth development program.

Class 1 Unlimited | Mammal on a Mission

Mike “Mammal” Mamelli Jr. delivered one of the biggest statements of the weekend:

🏆 1st Place – Class 1 Unlimited
🛞 Running 37” MRT Rocky RX Tires
❌ NO FLATS

At Parker, durability is everything. Finishing on top without a single flat in terrain known for destroying equipment is the kind of performance that speaks for itself.

UTV Program Notes

Lane Henning and Kody Winiecki battled brutally demanding conditions in UTV Pro Turbo, completing two laps and gaining valuable race miles before a tough DNF. Parker is earned, not given, and every mile out there builds a stronger program.

The momentum continued Sunday at Shorty’s Sports Park, where “Lighting Lane” Henning placed 2nd in Pro Am in the Outlaw Series on 33" MRT Sonora DS tires — another strong finish to close out a packed race weekend.

MRT Tires + Muscle Race Wheels

Parker constantly tests:

• Traction in loose desert terrain

• Impact resistance through rocks and chop

• Stability at sustained high speeds

Through whoops, rock sections, and high-speed punishment, MRT Tires and Muscle Race Wheels helped keep the M3 Factory Racing program planted and moving forward when it mattered most. The desert doesn’t lie — and performance here has to be real.

What’s Next

Next stop: King of the Hammers. The team will compete in the Class 11 car running MRT Viking or Rally Snake 27.5” tires, followed immediately by The Mint 400.

KOH will also feature a fun, fan-focused moment as the next generation of racers steps into the spotlight — a filmed, lighthearted “next-gen takeover” segment featuring Jedi Jack and Max Gordon as part of the team’s introduction of future talent in the sport.

The season is just getting started.

Built for the Races That Break Things

From a Pro Open charge and youth podium to a Class 1 win with zero flats, Parker proved one thing: when the course is at its worst, equipment matters most.

MRT Tires deliver the traction, strength, and durability racers rely on in the harshest desert conditions. Paired with the performance and resilience of Muscle Race Wheels, it’s a race-proven combination built to finish.

👉 Shop MRT Tires
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