n this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, Matt Martelli sits down with Justin Bean Smith, one of the most versatile drivers in off road racing today. Whether it's Trophy Truck Spec, Unlimited Truck, or jumping into someone else's program, Justin has built a reputation for being ready when the opportunity comes. Justin shares how his career has evolved from getting early opportunities behind the wheel to becoming one of the sport's most sought after fill in and development drivers. Along the way, he talks about racing for established teams, adapting to different vehicles, and earning the trust of owners who expect results every time he straps in. Matt and Justin also dive into the technical side of modern desert racing. They discuss the differences between Trophy Truck Spec and Unlimited, how today's trucks continue to evolve, and what drivers can learn by experiencing different chassis, suspension packages, and setups. Justin explains how driving Camburg's Kinetik truck gave him firsthand insight into how incremental changes in technology translate into performance on race day. The conversation also covers race strategy, qualifying, managing pace over long races, and the mindset required to compete for wins in increasingly competitive fields. Justin shares the story behind some of his biggest victories, the pressure of delivering for the teams that put their trust in him, and why consistency is often more important than outright speed. More than anything, this episode is about making the most of every opportunity. Justin's career is proof that talent gets you noticed, but preparation, adaptability, and delivering when it matters are what keep the phone ringing.

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, Matt Martelli sits down with Steve Barlow, an influential figure in off road racing and a key player in the growth of short course racing during its most successful era. Over the course of his career, Steve has worn just about every hat imaginable. Racer, team owner, promoter, executive, and industry leader. From his early days in off road racing to helping build some of the sport's most recognizable teams and series, Steve has had a front row seat to decades of change across the industry. Matt and Steve dive into the rise of short course racing, the factors that made series like CORR so successful, and why the format proved to be such a natural fit for television, manufacturers, sponsors, and fans. They discuss the business side of racing, how factory involvement transformed the sport, and the challenges that come with growing a racing series while maintaining what made it special in the first place. The conversation also explores the evolution of off road technology, from vehicle development and suspension systems to the way teams prepare, test, and gather information. Steve shares stories from working alongside some of the biggest names in racing and offers a unique perspective on how the sport has changed over the years. More than anything, this episode is about understanding how off road racing grew from a grassroots motorsport into a professional industry. Through Steve's experiences, listeners get a rare look at the people, decisions, and ideas that helped shape the sport we know today.

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, Matt Martelli sits down with Andy McMillin, one of the most accomplished drivers of the modern desert racing era. Coming from one of the sport’s most well known families, Andy grew up around off road racing from the beginning, but building his own career meant living up to a name that already carried major expectations. Over the years, he has done exactly that, becoming one of the most consistent and technically skilled drivers in Trophy Truck competition. Matt and Andy get into the evolution of modern desert racing, how the level of competition has changed, and what it takes to stay competitive at the front of the field today. From vehicle setup and race strategy to adapting to changing terrain and conditions, Andy shares the details behind what separates winning programs from everyone else. They also talk about the mental side of racing at the highest level. Managing pressure, staying disciplined over long races, and learning how to balance aggression with consistency when the margins are smaller than ever. More than anything, this episode is about experience. Years of racing at the top level, learning through wins and setbacks, and continuing to evolve in a sport that never stops getting faster.

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, Matt Martelli sits down with Corbin Leaverton, one of the younger drivers making his way through the off road world and building experience across multiple forms of racing. Corbin talks about growing up around the sport, developing as a driver, and the process of learning how to compete at a higher level as the competition keeps getting deeper. From desert racing to short course influences, he shares how different disciplines shape the way he approaches driving and racecraft. Matt and Corbin also get into the modern side of off road racing. The level of preparation now required, how important seat time has become, and the challenge of adapting to different vehicles, terrain, and race formats. There is a lot more expected of drivers today than just raw speed. More than anything, this episode is about progression. Learning from experienced racers, taking opportunities when they come, and putting in the work to keep improving in one of the toughest forms of motorsports there is.

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.

In this episode, Jim Beaver sits down with Matt Martelli for a deep dive into one of the most unconventional careers in modern motorsports. From growing up in Parker surrounded by legends, to grinding his way into trophy trucks, to accidentally becoming one of off-road’s most influential broadcasters and marketers, Jim’s story is a masterclass in hustle, timing, and staying connected to the culture that raised you. Jim talks about building his first trucks from scratch, learning the media game before anyone else was paying attention, launching his own radio show out of thin air, and turning it into a nationally syndicated platform that’s connected off-road to NASCAR, NHRA, IndyCar, Hollywood, and beyond. He breaks down his first big break with Red Bull Global Rallycross, the rise of Star Car, his relationships with icons like Ken Block and Travis Pastrana, and the B2B backbone that actually keeps motorsports alive. This is a wide-open conversation about racing, media, culture, sponsorship, eSports, and the future of off-road — told by someone who’s been in every corner of it. If you care about where the sport is headed, or how to build something from nothing, this episode is required listening.