Rugged Road Joins the 2026 Laughlin Desert Classic as the Official Cooler
Five Custom Laughlin Desert Classic Rugged Road to Be Given Away to Race Fans
LAUGHLIN, NV — UNLTD Off-Road Racing is proud to announce Rugged Road as the Official Cooler of the 2026 Laughlin Desert Classic, taking place October 15–18 in Laughlin, Nevada.
Built for adventure and designed to withstand demanding outdoor environments, Rugged Road are a natural fit for off-road racing, where racers, chase crews, and fans routinely spend long days in some of the harshest conditions in North America.
As part of the new partnership, Rugged Road will produce five custom Laughlin Desert Classic-branded coolers that will be given away to race fans during the event.
“Coolers are part of the DNA of off-road culture. We literally live out of them for days at a time in some of the harshest conditions possible, and Rugged Road makes the lightest, most functional cooler I have ever used,” said UNLTD Off-Road Racing CEO Matt Martelli. “I also love the ability to customize them. I’ve been using a Rugged Road cooler for over a year, and it has been with me at every race, every pre-run, and pretty much every recreational off-road trip I’ve taken. I’m excited to introduce Rugged Road to the broader off-road racing community, starting with the Laughlin Desert Classic.”
Rugged Road was created around the idea that a premium cooler doesn't need to be excessively heavy to be durable and capable. The company's coolers combine lightweight construction, insulation, durability and functional features designed specifically for people who spend their time outdoors.
That philosophy makes Rugged Road an ideal partner for the Laughlin Desert Classic, where thousands of racers, crew members and off-road enthusiasts converge on Laughlin for multiple days of racing, recreation and entertainment.
The 2026 Laughlin Desert Classic will feature the two-day Laughlin Off-Road Festival, October 16–17 in downtown Laughlin, followed by two days of short-course, multi-lap desert racing. The event serves as the season finale for the American Off-Road Racing Championship and brings many of the fastest off-road racers in North America together for one final battle in the Nevada desert.
Fans attending the event will have the opportunity to win one of five limited-edition Rugged Road x Laughlin Desert Classic coolers, featuring custom event graphics and branding.
About Rugged Road
Rugged Road builds lightweight, high-performance coolers designed for people who demand more from their outdoor equipment. Combining durable construction, advanced insulation and innovative features with extensive customization options, Rugged Road are designed for everything from camping and fishing to overlanding, off-roading and racing.
For more information, visit ruggedroadoutdoors.com
About The Laughlin Desert Classic
The Laughlin Desert Classic stands among the most historic events in American off-road racing. Originally launched in 1975 by pioneering promoter Walt Lott, the race helped establish Laughlin, Nevada, as one of the sport's premier destinations. The event returned in 1984 under the leadership of off-road racing legend Sal Fish before being carried forward by the late Casey Folks, whose vision helped shape modern desert racing.
Over five decades, the rugged terrain surrounding Laughlin has hosted legendary battles featuring some of the greatest names in the sport, including Walker Evans, Ivan Stewart, and Rob MacCachren. Today, the Laughlin Desert Classic continues that tradition, bringing together professional and amateur racers from across North America to compete on one of off-road racing's most iconic stages.
The event now serves as a cornerstone of the American Off-Road Racing Championship, the unified effort between Unlimited Off-Road Racing and Best In The Desert to strengthen and grow the future of off-road competition. The Laughlin Desert Classic represents both a celebration of the sport's rich heritage and a bold vision for its future.