The Martelli Brothers, organizers of the BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400 in Las Vegas and the California 300, have acquired the historic Parker 400 off-road racing series. As part of the acquisition, officials announced the structuring of a brand-new desert off-road racing organization called Unlimited Off-Road Racing, which will include the Mint 400, the California 300, and now the Parker 400.
Spanning across classes including youth, UTV, motorcycles, cars, and trucks, Unlimited Off-Road Racing will allow teams to compete for cash, prizes and a points championship across some of the most challenging and distinguished desert races in the sport.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to be announcing this new league and championship points series,” said Unlimited Off-Road Racing CEO and Co-Owner Matt Martelli. “The Parker 400 is one of the oldest and most historic races in our sport, and we’re excited to have that become part of our calendar as we take yet another massive step forward in our league’s development.”
The Parker 400 was formed in 1971 as the Dam 500. In 2003, Las Vegas-based Best In The Desert Racing Association took over operations of the iconic race. The event was canceled in 2023, however, after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) failed to issue permits for the race over “spectator management concerns,” according to reports.
“We’re excited to work with the BLM, the city officials, and the people of Parker and La Paz county to restore this race and transform it into a massive event for the entire industry to rally around,” said Josh Martelli, COO of Unlimited Off-Road Racing.
The Parker 400 will take place in January 2024, followed by the Mint 400 in March and the California 300 in October. More details are expected at a later date.
In related news, BLM has two off-road racing permits available in Parker and has issued the second permit to Legacy Racing of Las Vegas. The date for the Legacy Racing edition of the off-road race is slated for February 24, 2024.
For more information: themint400.com and thecalifornia300.com.