The signature clouds of dust that once put a halt to Hunter Thompson’s coverage of the Mint 400 could spell doom for the race’s future just outside of Las Vegas if a plan to expand the city limits south moves forward without input from desert racers and off-highway vehicle enthusiasts, the organizers of the race warn.

“What’s frustrating to the desert racing community is that a lot of this information has come out willy nilly and we weren’t asked to participate or considered in the process,” said Josh Martelli, who with his brother Matt bought the Mint 400 in 2011 and has operated it since. “Though, to be honest, I don’t know that our one race event can go toe to toe with commercial growth and activity.”

The Mint 400 once again faces an uncertain future.