The Cybertruck’s Mint 400 debut didn’t go as Chewy Barrientos and his team hoped, but they plan to return in 2027.

One of two EVs entered in Friday’s Limited Race, the Cybertruck was taken out when a spindle bolt in the lift kit snapped. This caused a chain reaction in which the upper control arm swung forward and smashed the air suspension and surrounding wiring. Barrientos and navigator Anthony Rodriguez tied the suspension back together with zip ties and ratchet straps before bringing the truck back to Pit 3, though this in turn immediately classified them as a retirement.

With help from other teams, they spent the next hours getting as much of the damage repaired as possible until the truck could operate again. No longer in contention, the race then became a glorified test session for the Tesla, during which the team recorded speeds as high as 128 mph on the dry lakebeds.

“We did not come here to disrupt anything,” explained the team. “We came here to learn, to challenge ourselves, and to do something different. This weekend reminded us that off-road racing is not just about results, it is about grit, respect, and the people who show up when things go wrong. To everyone who helped us, thank you. We will never forget it.”

Matt Martelli, co-owner of the Mint, commended the crew “for even trying”. In turn, Barrientos told him the team will “be making upgrades entering a few more races but will be back next year”.

The Cybertruck was built by Barrientos’ company Kilowatt Customs and The Baja Shop, both of which specialize in converting and modifying EVs for off-road use. After turning a Cybertruck into a dune basher, they decided to try making one for the Mint.

The exterior is mostly stock, as are certain parts like the air shocks. Otherwise, everything else like the A-arms and bushings were souped up while Unplugged Performance pitched in a 2.5-inch lift kit.

It “competed” against the Chevrolet Silverado EV ZR2 from Chevy and Hall Racing in the EV Open Production class. EVs were only required to do just two laps due to the charging range.

Featured image credit: Unplugged Performance