By SEMA News Editors
American Off-Road Racing Championship Announces 2027 Race Schedule
The American Off-Road Racing Championship has officially announced its 2027 race schedule.
The 2027 season will take competitors across the deserts of Arizona and Nevada, organizers said, beginning with The Parker 400 in January and concluding with the UTV World Championship in December.
The 2027 American Off-Road Racing Championship calendar features seven major events across Arizona and Nevada. The season begins with The Parker 400, January 13–17, in Parker, Arizona, followed by The Mint 400, March 3–7, in Las Vegas. Racing returns to Las Vegas for the Silver State 300, April 21–25, before the Vegas to Reno Legends Rally brings competitors together in Reno, July 28–31. Just two weeks later, the Casey Folks Vegas to Reno "The Other Way" returns August 11–14, followed by the Laughlin Desert Classic, October 13–17, in Laughlin, Nevada. The 2027 UTV championship season will conclude with the UTV World Championship, December 1–5, with the location to be announced.
"This partnership was never about simply combining two organizations," said Matt Martelli, co-founder of UNLTD Off-Road Racing. "It was about bringing together the right people, races, resources and experience to build the championship this sport deserves. After a tremendously successful first year, we're excited about what's ahead for the American Off-Road Racing Championship. Next year, we'll build on the momentum of the first-ever Vegas to Reno 'The Other Way,' relocate the Silver State 300 to the heart of Las Vegas and bring back the UTV World Championship, the event that helped launch and define a generation of UTV racing."
In 2026, the American Off-Road Racing Championship (AORC) took a major step toward unifying and strengthening American desert racing by bringing UNLTD Off-Road Racing and Best in the Desert together under a single championship platform. The inaugural season established a unified points championship, rulebook, class structure, race numbering system, manufacturer competition and new opportunities for racers, teams, sponsors and fans.
"Casey built Best In The Desert around a simple promise: give racers the toughest, best-run events possible and create races they would spend a lifetime chasing," said Bryan Folks, CEO of Best In The Desert. "Today, this championship brings together decades of history and credibility with the production, media, marketing, technology and resources needed to take the sport to the next level. What we've built together in just one year is the solid foundation for greater things coming. I believe my father would be proud of where this is headed."
The 2026 American Off-Road Racing Championship concludes with the Laughlin Desert Classic, October 15–18, in Laughlin, Nevada.
For more information, visit AmericanOffRoadRacingChampionship.com.
Image courtesy of American Off-Road Racing Championship
Elsinore Ring Planned as Private 3.2-Mi. Road Course
A private motorsports facility planned for Southern California is expected to feature a 3.2-mi. road course, multiple configurations and a dedicated race shop focused on vehicle preparation and competition.
In the AutoWeek story, Said said the planned circuit will be built along the shores of Lake Elsinore, California, near Lake Elsinore Raceway and Skydive Elsinore. He also noted the facility would be approximately 15 minutes up Interstate 15 from BMW of Murrieta, where he is a co-owner.
According to the Elsinore Ring website, the planned circuit is expected to follow FIA Grade 2 specifications and feature 22 turns. Three configurations are planned, allowing portions of the circuit to operate independently for multiple groups.
The track is being designed with technical corners, fast straights, sweeping sections and passing opportunities. According to elsinorering.com, sessions are expected to be organized by driver experience and vehicle category.
Boris Said, the project's founder and visionary, recently spoke with AutoWeek about the project, saying the track is to be called "Elsinorering," a nod to the famed Nürburgring. The project's website currently uses the name Elsinore Ring.
A dedicated race shop is planned to support members' vehicles, with services expected to include maintenance, tire mounting and changes, track preparation and race setup, diagnostics, fabrication and major mechanical repairs. A retail store is also expected to carry racing and safety equipment.
The planned development would also include garage residences and a clubhouse with a restaurant and event center.
The project appears to have support from the city of Lake Elsinore. AutoWeek reported that Gina Gonzalez, the city's director of economic development legislative affairs, said the city appreciates the partnership and the opportunity to showcase Lake Elsinore as the action sports capital of the world.
Finnish architect and motorsports competitor Seppo Mäntylä is listed as architect, while Joseph DeJesus is identified as partner and master developer.
According to the Elsinore Ring website, the project remains in development and is currently building its founding membership list.
For more information, visit elsinorering.com.
Image courtesy of Elsinore Ring
IMSA, Collegiate Racing Series Jointly Establish National Advisory Board for Motorsports Education
IMSA and the Collegiate Racing Series (CRS) today announced the joint establishment of the National Advisory Board for Motorsports Education (NABME), a collaborative effort designed to strengthen the connection between higher education and the evolving needs of the motorsports industry.
As part of the program, IMSA will provide internship opportunities in engineering and partnership marketing for qualified students, subject to IMSA business needs and applicable policies. The inaugural internship recipients will be announced during IMSA's annual State of the Sport presentation on October 1 ahead of the season-ending Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
CRS, the "National Championship for Collegiate Motorsports," is a platform that provides students with practical experience through the design, preparation, operation and management of race programs. Other notable colleges and universities participating in CRS include UCLA, University of Florida, North Carolina State University, Purdue University, Rutgers University, University of South Carolina and Texas A&M, among many others.
Together, IMSA and CRS have jointly established NABME to help ensure academic programs more closely reflect the skills, experiences and professional expectations required throughout today's motorsports industry.
"Motorsports continues to evolve at an incredible pace, and developing the next generation of industry professionals is vital to sustaining that growth," said IMSA President John Doonan. "Through NABME, we can help bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world experience while providing students greater visibility into the diverse career opportunities available throughout our sport."
NABME brings together leaders from across motorsports, including engineering, race operations, manufacturing, safety, marketing and business disciplines, to help guide the development of future industry talent. The effort reinforces IMSA's longstanding commitment to education, experiential learning and workforce development while creating additional pathways for students to gain exposure to the professional motorsports environment.
"Creating meaningful pathways between education and industry has never been more important," said CRS President Jack Hobbs. "By bringing together educators and leaders from across the motorsports industry, NABME will help students gain practical experience, professional awareness and valuable industry connections that can support successful careers throughout the sport."
As universities across the United States continue expanding motorsports-focused academic programs, industry leaders have identified a growing need to better align educational experiences with workforce expectations. NABME was established to address that challenge by fostering collaboration between educators and industry stakeholders while supporting curriculum development, experiential learning opportunities and workforce readiness initiatives.
Central to the effort is the belief that successful preparation for careers in motorsports requires more than technical knowledge. Students benefit from exposure to real-world systems, team environments, regulatory frameworks and the fast-paced decision-making processes that are critical to modern racing operations.
IMSA and CRS leadership will participate in a joint NABME steering committee focused on workforce development, student engagement and long-term program growth. The organizations will conduct quarterly reviews and annual planning sessions to assess progress and identify future opportunities.
NABME's broader objectives include supporting accreditation guidance, curriculum alignment, skills-gap assessments, experiential learning best practices and workforce pathway development. The initiative is guided by principles that include industry relevance, hands-on experience, safety, leadership, collaboration, accessibility and continuous improvement.
Additional updates regarding student participation opportunities and future NABME programs are expected later this year.
For more information, visit imsa.com.
Image courtesy of IMSA
