Off-Road Racer Podcast

JB15 Network
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Automotive
  • Updated weekly

The Off-Road Racer Podcast covers the world of off-road racing including it's events, personalities, and history. Brought to you by OffRoadRacer.com

  1. 11 Jun

    Episode 96: Steve Barlow

    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.

    1hr 11min

  2. 14 May

    Episode 94: Corbin Leaverton

    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.

    1hr 7min

  3. 29 Jan

    Episode 90: Bryan Folks

    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.

    1hr 33min

  4. 18/12/2025

    Episode 89: Justin Von Metal

    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.

    1hr 8min

  5. 04/12/2025

    Episode 88: Jim Beaver

    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.

    1hr 26min

  6. 20/11/2025

    Episode 87: Kevin McGillivray

    This week on the Off-Road Racer Podcast, we sit down with one of the true originals of our sport: Kevin McGillivray. Kevin might not be the loudest guy in the room or the one chasing cameras, but he’s been shaping off-road racing for nearly five decades—quietly, consistently, and with an authenticity you don’t often see anymore. From growing up exploring the San Bernardino mountains, to hand-fabricating dune buggies, to racing and winning in Class 10, ProTruck, and Trophy Truck, Kevin’s life is the definition of earned experience. But what really stands out is the way his path was shaped by mentors—people like Arnie Gustin, Scott McKenzie, Casey Folks, and countless others who saw something in him, shared their knowledge, and changed the course of his life. Kevin carries those lessons forward today, paying it back by mentoring young racers, building opportunities for the next generation, and reminding us what genuine sportsmanship looks like. We dig into the early days of Class 10, the wild evolution of ProTruck, the rise of modern suspension and shock technology, and how Kevin found himself building machines for the semiconductor industry while helping pioneer ideas still used in race shocks today. We also get into the heart of the culture—why the people matter more than the results, how off-road racing builds character, and why Kevin continues to lead by example through service, humility, and a deep love for the desert. This episode isn’t just a look at Kevin’s career… it’s a masterclass in what off-road racing is supposed to be: community, mentorship, innovation, grit, and the belief that the sport gets better when you help others rise with you.

    1hr 37min

  7. 06/11/2025

    Episode 86: Rick Geiser

    In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, Matt Martelli sits down with one of the most influential builders in off-road racing history — Rick Geiser, co-founder of Geiser Bros Design and Development. From humble beginnings wrenching in his backyard to producing nearly 100 of the most dominant Trophy Trucks ever built, Rick shares the full story of how the Geiser name became synonymous with off-road racing excellence. Rick and Matt dive deep into the origins of the Geiser platform, how they changed the sport by making top-level trucks accessible to privateers, and the hands-on innovation that fueled decades of race wins. They also talk about the evolution of the sport — from paper maps and pit radios to GPS tracking, CAD design, and modern all-wheel-drive platforms — and what it takes to stay on top in today’s rapidly advancing field. It’s a rare look behind the curtain at one of the most successful and respected operations in desert racing — from two brothers with a bold vision and determination to match.

    1hr 36min

  8. 09/10/2025

    Episode 85: Kyle Jergensen

    In this episode of the Off-Road Racer Podcast, Matt Martelli sits down with one of the fastest drivers in desert racing — Kyle Jergensen. From humble beginnings wrenching and learning his craft, to now piloting some of the most advanced trucks in the sport with Camburg Racing’s Kinetik program, Kyle has carved out a name for himself as one of the most precise and composed drivers in the game. Matt and Kyle dig into the details of what makes modern race trucks so capable — from the mid-fuel design of the Kinetik truck to how vehicle balance and setup affect performance at high speeds. Kyle also shares his thoughts on why he prefers the Spec Truck class over Unlimited, and how the challenge of managing traction, weight, and control brings out the best in his driving. But more than anything, this episode is about the mindset behind success in modern off-road racing — staying calm at 120 mph, learning from every race, and evolving with the sport as technology and competition keep pushing the limits.

    1hr 14min
See All (108)

About

The Off-Road Racer Podcast covers the world of off-road racing including it's events, personalities, and history. Brought to you by OffRoadRacer.com

Information

  • Creator
    JB15 Network
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    108
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © OffRoadRacer.com
  • Show Website
    Off-Road Racer Podcast

You Might Also Like