Off-Road Racer Podcast

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, Matt Martelli sits down with one of the fastest and most innovative minds in off-road racing—Dale Dondel of Racer Engineering. Known for his blistering qualifying runs and relentless drive for performance, Dondel has carved a unique path in the sport as both a racer and elite vehicle builder. We dive into Dale’s roots in dirt bikes and short course, h...

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, Matt Martelli sits down with Chris Cyr — rally driver, business strategist, and managing partner of the legendary Team O’Neil Rally School. Chris shares his journey from discovering rally as a teenager to helping save one of the most important rally institutions in North America. We dive into how he transitioned from a fan to a leader in the sport, th...

In this episode of The Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with off-road entrepreneurs and vehicle builders Jordan and Johnathan Brenthel. Founders of Brenthel Industries, the Brenthel Brothers run the largest Trophy Truck and Spec Trophy Truck manufacturing facility in the sport. In addition to this, the Brenthel's operate Baja Kits, an off-road suspension kit company, and the Brenthel Trophy Truc...

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with class 10 and class 1 racer Tom Coons. Tom Coons recently won class 10 and got 3rd overall at the 2024 California 300. Tom and I go on a deep dive into the art and skill of racecraft. We talk about Tom’s evolution through various suspension setups, transitioning from manual to sequential gearboxes, and how Tom plans and preps for a race...

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with 2x California 300 Champion Brayden Baker. Despite his young age, Brayden has been making a name for himself in off-road racing, grabbing wins at the 2021 UTV World Championship, the 2022 Laughlin Desert Classic, and the 2023 and 2024 California 300. Brayden’s family started out as casual enthusiasts, having a few play cars. When Brayde...

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with vintage off-road racer Eric Pond. Back in 2017, Eric pitted for a friend at the Mint 400, and has been hooked ever since. Now, Eric races a 1969 Bronco called ‘Iron Casket’, with Vigilante Racing and Queen City Off-Road. Eric has been competing in off-road races as a passion, and also as an opportunity to raise funds for the Cancer Res...

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with Off-Road Champion Ryan Arciero. The Arciero family has been involved in motorsports for over 60 years, starting with Ryan’s grandfather in pavement racing. Ryan has been competing in off-road racing since 1991, starting out with the great Jimmie Johnson. Throughout his entire career, Ryan has been rubbing elbows with the greatest in ou...

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with off-road racer, tour guide, and Hollywood stuntman Rich Minga. Rich had an unsuspecting start in off-roading, going on camping trips with his family in Baja. After getting hooked on Hot VWs Magazine, Rich started sweeping the floors at a buggy prep shop in El Cajon, and built his own Baja Bug at the young age of 15. Taking what he lear...

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with recent Crandon winner Cole Mamer. At only 25 years old, Cole is running a top tier short course race program, running trucks in Pro Lite, Pro 2, and Pro 4. Cole grew up in Imperial County, a region that has spawned many successful racers, including Justin Lofton and Brock Heger. Cole grew up racing, starting in motocross and circle tra...

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with off-road racing legend and Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee, as well as Chairman of the Board Mark McMillin. Few families have been as successful in off-road racing for as long as the McMillin’s. Off-roading with his father Corky McMillin in buggies since the 60’s, and racing since the 70’s, Mark has seen and done it all. Mar...

This is an old episode pulled out of the Mad Media Archives, recorded back in 2019. Jim Beaver and Josh Martelli sit down with Motocross, X-Games, and Short Course legend Brian Deegan. The three of them discuss Brian’s history, touching on the key moments in his life, talking about his accomplishments in Motocross and X-Games, the start of Metal Mulisha, and more. Moving closer to the present, the...

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with Polaris Factory Team racer Brock Heger. Brock is part of the next generation of off-road racers, starting at 7 years old in Trophy Kart. Now, only in his early twenties, Brock has over a hundred wins and over a dozen championship wins under his belt, both in short course and desert racing. Now, Brock races for the Polaris Factory Racin...

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with off-road racing legend Ricky Johnson. With 2 Supercross Championships, 5 Motocross Championships, and 4 Shout course championships Ricky is the definition of an off-road champion. Ricky has dedicated his life to off-road, riding mini-bikes at three years old, and racing them at 7. From very early on, Ricky was a dominant force in any f...

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with sponsorship guru Alex Striler. Alex literally wrote the book on Motorsports marketing ”Motorsports Marketing and Sponsorships: How to Raise Money to Race and Give Sponsors What They Really Want”. Alex has been in action sports and motorsports sales and marketing for 30 years, working for major brands and leagues alike. Now host of the...

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with off-road racer Patrick Gailey. Patrick lives and breathes off-road, building, prepping, and racing off-road vehicles. An off-roader his entire life, Patrick started building an Alumicraft 4-seater with his dad at just 13 years old. Since then, Patrick has taken every single chance he has had to go racing and learn about off-road vehicl...

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with racer Danny Thompson, son of the late motorsports entrepreneur Mickey Thompson. Danny and I talk about the history of the Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group (MTEG), and Danny gives a unique perspective on his father, the race series he ran, and the culture he ultimately created. We then talk about Danny’s extensive racing history, rac...

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with Off-Road Hall of Famer Russ Wernimont. Russ is among the most talented engineers/fabricators motorsports have ever seen. Despite never getting a traditional engineering education and never using CAD programs, Russ has had a hand in building some of the most game-changing vehicles in desert and short-course racing. His career started wi...

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with racer Tavo Vildosola. Primarily a Baja racer, Tavo and his father became the first Mexican racers to win the Baja 1000 in 2010. Since then, Tavo has been a significant player in the Baja scene, winning many more races and championships. We talk about his career leading up to his most recent placements in his Mason AWD Trophy Truck. We...

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with vehicle fabricator and Trophykart founder Nestor Beradi. We start the episode talking about Trophykart and its origins, how the first karts were built, and how they opened the door for youth racing. We then talk about Nestor’s introduction to off-road vehicle building, originally starting with aircraft and RC car fabrication. Coming to...

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with Dave Clark, an incredible fabricator and vehicle builder. Dave Clark has a lengthy history working with the best in our sport. Early on, he worked for the legendary Nye Frank, who together built some of the most dominant cars in our sport, such as Rob Mac’s air suspension Pro 4, a car so dominant it was eventually banned. Dave would th...

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with legendary fabricator Craig Stewart. Craig Stewart, son of the legendary Ivan “Ironman” Stewart, had a very early introduction into the world of off-road. From a very early age Craig was building cars with his father and worked for the great Johnny Johnson building and maintaining off-road race vehicles. Craig did incredible work there,...

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with my business partner and cousin Kilian Hamlin. We start the episode talking about Kilian’s accidental start in off-road. Kilian planned on visiting California for a concert, and ended up staying for the next 15 years, pursuing a career in off-road media and event promotion. Moving up to the present, we talk about the current state of th...

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, My Brother and partner Josh Martelli returns to the podcast to talk about his recent appointment to the California BLM Desert District Advisory Council (DAC). This council advises and gives recommendations to the BLM office, on issues such as fire management, land use planning, and what we are obviously interested in, off-highway vehicle use. This app...

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with off-road vehicle fabricator and designer Morgan Clark. Morgan stands out in the fabrication scene because of his dedication to a supercar level of design finish work in his vehicles, stemming from his ‘form follows function’ philosophy. We talk about how he came to embody this philosophy, originally studying design, working through the...

In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, I sit down with Greg Cotrell, founder and CEO of Rugged Radios. We start the episode talking about Greg’s start in the communications business, and how he carved out a whole new industry in the off-road world. We talk about the significant effects Rugged Radios’ products have had on how people race and recreate off-road. Talking more about Greg himsel...