Off-Road Racer Podcast

This week on the Off-Road Racer Podcast, we sit down with Steve Olliges—longtime racer, Ford off-road program staple, and someone who’s been around the sport through multiple eras. Steve’s career spans everything from Stock Production Full and Class 8 to competing at the highest level in Unlimited Truck. He’s seen the sport evolve firsthand—different vehicles, different rules, and a completely different level of competition than when he first got started. We get into those transitions—what it was like coming up through the more production-based classes, how things changed as trucks got faster and more specialized, and what it takes to stay competitive as the sport keeps pushing forward. There’s also insight into the OEM side of racing, working with Ford, and how manufacturer involvement has shaped the top levels of off-road racing over the years. This episode is a look at a racer who’s been through it all—different classes, different eras, and a front row seat to how off-road racing got to where it is today.

This week on the Off-Road Racer Podcast, we sit down with Josh Daniel—one of the guys who’s built a reputation on being able to get in just about anything and be competitive. Josh has carved out his place in the sport driving for different teams, adapting to different cars, and making the most of every opportunity he gets. It’s a different path than most—less about owning the program, more about proving you can show up, figure it out quickly, and deliver results. We get into what that actually looks like—limited seat time, jumping between platforms, and learning how to be fast in equipment that isn’t always familiar. It’s not just about speed, it’s about adaptability, communication, and making the most of every mile you get. They also talk about how competitive the sport has become. Deeper fields, tighter racing, and fewer easy opportunities. If you want to stay in the mix, you have to be ready when the call comes. Josh is part of that group of drivers who can do exactly that. This episode is a look at what it means to be a hired gun in off-road racing—and what it takes to make it work.

Matt Martelli sits down with Jamie Campbell—fabricator, racer, and the guy behind Raceco USA. From coming up in the Penhall shop days to building dozens of Class 1 cars, Jamie’s path runs through some of the best eras of off-road racing. He gets into working with legends, starting his own program, and what it actually takes to build cars at that level. They also dive into Dakar Rally—from wrenching on Robbie Gordon’s program to racing a hydrogen-powered vehicle in the Mission 1000 class. Plenty in here on fabrication, racing different platforms, and how the sport has evolved—from open wheel cars to trucks to UTVs.

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, Matt Martelli sits down with Bryan Folks, one of the most influential figures behind the scenes in modern off-road racing. From his early involvement in desert racing to helping shape major race organizations, Bryan shares a candid look at how off-road events are actually built, operated, and sustained. Bryan breaks down the realities of running large-scale races, including course design, permitting, safety, logistics, and the constant balance between racer expectations and land-use restrictions. He discusses the evolution of desert racing formats, why certain decisions are misunderstood from the outside, and how promoters are forced to adapt as the sport grows and scrutiny increases. The conversation also dives into the future of off-road racing — what racers want versus what’s feasible, how technology and vehicle performance are changing race operations, and why collaboration between racers, promoters, and land managers is more critical than ever. Bryan offers rare perspective on what it takes to keep desert racing alive in today’s environment, and what the sport must do to survive long term. This is an essential episode for anyone who wants to understand the business, politics, and decision-making that shape off-road racing beyond the start line.

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, Matt Martelli sits down with Justin Von Metal — racer, builder, and one of the most outspoken minds in modern UTV racing. From his roots in motocross and factory race teams to building championship-winning Pro Stock UTV programs, Justin breaks down what it actually takes to win at the highest level without unlimited budgets. The conversation dives deep into race course design, class structure, affordability, and the realities of racing rough events like the Mint 400, Barstow, Parker, Laughlin, and Vegas to Reno. Justin explains why preparation, testing, and discipline matter more than hype parts, why Pro Stock is one of the most demanding driver classes in off-road, and how racing experience — not checkbooks — separates contenders from casualties. Justin also shares hard-earned insight on suspension development, the transfer of knowledge from motocross to desert racing, working with partners like King Shocks, SuperATV, BFG, and Diode Dynamics, and why simplicity and reliability still win races in an era obsessed with technology. The episode closes with a candid look at the evolution of UTV racing, factory involvement, safety concerns, and where the sport is headed as competition continues to escalate. This is an unfiltered, technical, and brutally honest conversation about what it really takes to finish, compete, and win in modern off-road racing.