The 2026 American Off-Road Racing Championship Season Schedule
Five championship races to define 2026 off-road racing in America
Las Vegas, NV — Best in the Desert (BITD) and Unlimited Off-Road Racing (UNLTD) are proud to announce the official 2026 season schedule for the newly unified American Off-Road Racing Championship. This collaboration between the two premier desert racing organizations represents a historic milestone in American motorsports, designed to unify the sport, streamline competition, and deliver more value to racers, sponsors, and fans.
2026 American Off-Road Racing Championship Schedule:
The Parker 400 - Parker, AZ - January 21–25
The Mint 400 - Las Vegas, NV - March 4–8
Silver State 300 - Tonopah, NV - April 22–26
Vegas to Reno Legends Rally - July 16–19
Vegas to Reno - August 13–16
Laughlin Desert Classic - Laughlin, NV - October 15–19
“In many ways, the 2026 calendar feels like a homecoming - The band is back together,” commented Best in the Desert CEO, Bryan Folks. “The Parker 425, Mint 400, Silver State 300, Vegas to Reno, and Laughlin Desert Classic once stood side by side as the shared backbone of American desert racing. For racers, teams, and fans who remember that era, seeing these legendary events reunited under one banner brings a sense of nostalgia and continuity, a reminder of Best in the Desert’s roots, and a powerful signal that the future will be stronger alongside UNLTD Off-Road Racing.”
The 2026 American Off-Road Racing Championship will kick off with The Parker 400 in Parker, Arizona, January 21–25, a historic season opener known for its challenging terrain along the Colorado River. The season continues with The BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400 in Las Vegas, March 4–8, the “Great American Off-Road Race” celebrated for its deep heritage, massive car counts, and festival-like atmosphere. In the spring, teams will head to Tonopah, Nevada for the Silver State 300, April 22–26. The Silver State 300 venue change will deliver a race course that prioritizes passing, side-by-side battles, and true door-to-door racing across remote Nevada backcountry.
“When putting this schedule together, we put all our chips on the table and focused on building the strongest championship calendar possible,” said Matt Martelli, UNLTD Off-Road Racing CEO. “We believe a five-race format, using your top four results, gives teams a fair and practical path to competing for a championship. These events were chosen carefully to provide the American Off-Road Racing Championship with key pillars to build the most solid foundation for long-term success.”
The summer begins with the Vegas to Reno Legends Rally, July 16–19, a special fun-run event that gives racers and fans alike the opportunity to experience sections of the storied course in a unique, community-driven format. The Legends Rally will give racers a rare opportunity to see the course, build their own course notes, and fine-tune race files, ensuring the highest level of preparation and the best possible racing on race day.
That momentum leads directly into the legendary Vegas to Reno, August 13–16, the most prestigious point-to-point off-road race in the United States. Next year marks the 30th anniversary of this iconic race, conceived by Best in the Desert visionary and off-road racing lumineer, Casey Folks. This milestone will be celebrated with exciting new features and experiences for racers and fans alike.
The championship season will then close at the Laughlin Desert Classic in Laughlin, October 15–19, a fan-favorite loop race known for its intense, door-to-door competition and high-energy atmosphere.
“In just a short time, we’ve made incredible progress — and that’s because this is true collaboration,” said Kilian Hamlin, Event Director of UNLTD Off-Road Racing. “We’re combining strengths, wiping the slate clean, and moving forward together. With the schedule now set, our focus shifts to logistics — building the strongest teams, establishing continuity in processes and procedures, and delivering world-class events that will define the American Off-Road Racing Championship for years to come.”
So What’s Next?
The American Off-Road Racing Championship rulebook is 80% complete. Components of Best in the Desert’s rulebook will be used and components of UNLTD Off-Road Racing’s rulebook will be used. Class structure and a definite numbering system has been finalized, and the remaining rules are being fine-tuned. The 2026 rulebook will be released in the coming weeks.
About the American Off-Road Racing Championship
The American Off-Road Racing Championship (AORRC) is the premier desert off-road racing league in North America, created through the unification of Best in the Desert (BITD) and Unlimited Off-Road Racing (UNLTD).
Best in the Desert, founded in 1984 by legendary racer Casey Folks, is the longest-running and most respected off-road racing series in the U.S., with a legacy that includes iconic events like Vegas to Reno, the Silver State 300, the Parker 425, and the Laughlin Desert Classic.
Unlimited Off-Road Racing, established by the Martelli Brothers in 2023, produces world-class events such as The Mint 400, The California 300, and The Parker 400. UNLTD is recognized for its focus on innovation, storytelling, and large-scale racer participation, with events known for high car counts, challenging courses, pre-running, and family-friendly fan experiences near major markets.
Together under the AORRC banner, BITD and UNLTD preserve the heritage of desert racing while building its future—offering racers, sponsors, and fans a unified championship built on clarity, consistency, and world-class competition.