Episode 58: Russ Wernimont

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 Brayden turned 16, Brayden started racing in the WORCS series, eventually grabbing the series’ Pro Stock Championship. Since then, Brayden has transitioned to desert racing, and is building and prepping his own cars at Rivershore Motorsports. Brayden and I talk about his rapid progression through the sport, and the work ethic and attitude it takes to get the results Brayden has seen. I’m your host Matt Martelli, and this IS the Off-Road Racer Podcast.

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 Research Institute (CRI), as Eric has been battling cancer for the last 3 years. His battle with cancer has given off-road racing a new dimension, serving as a passion and goal when working through treatment, and always something to look forward to. So far, Eric has raised over $14,000 for CRI through racing. Today, Eric has been racing as much as he can, making unforgettable memories and friendships, and leaving cancer in the dust one mile at a time. I’m your host Matt Martelli, and this IS the Off-Road Racer Podcast.Please consider donating to fund cancer research:https://fundraise.cancerresearch.org/fundraiser/5084673

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 our sport, getting mentoring from “Baja” Bob Gordon, and Ivan Stewart, and racing alongside Larry Ragland, Brian Stewart, Mark Miller, and Ricky Johnson in the Vortec Factory Racing Program. Now, Ryan is leading the recently rebranded 1 Nine Industries, and using his extensive knowledge base in off-road racing and high level factory race programs to elevate the accomplished fabrication and racing program to even greater heights. At 1 Nine Industries, Ryan is working alongside the legendary Herbst family and Team, fabricating and prepping dozens of winning chassis for customers in our sport. Ryan and I talk about his accomplished history, and what he has left to accomplish in off-road racing. I’m your host Matt Martelli, and this IS the Off-Road Racer Podcast.

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 learned from How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive, Rich would go on to help prep cars for Mark Stahl, Jim Guthrie, and Dan Gurney. After many years of prepping, and getting the occasional chance to drive, Rich would start his own race program, racing Baja in class 9 in 1986. Just one year later, Rich took the overall points championship. Because of his performance in racing, and all of the people he met in off-road, Rich got the opportunity to perform vehicle stunts in an episode of Baywatch. This led into a career as a stuntman in Hollywood, where Rich would use his experience in racing to perform stunts in dozens of films. Now, Rich is a guide and driving coach for Wide Open Baja, while still operating as a stuntman. Rich and I sit down to talk about his lifelong history in off-road, and more. I’m your host Matt Martelli, and this IS the Off-Road Racer Podcast.

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 track, and eventually moving over to Trophy Karts. Due to a limited budget, Cole learned how to work on his own vehicles, which gave him the knowledge base to build and prep cars for racers like Trey Gibbs and Troy Cox. Now, Cole is racing in Pro 4, and just got his first victory in Pro 4 at the 2024 Crandon World Cup. Cole and I talk about his career’s progression up to this point, and the amount of knowledge and work it takes to run a race program at such a high level. I’m your host Matt Martelli, and this IS the Off-Road Racer Podcast.

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. Mark has had a dominant career in the SCORE series, grabbing multiple San Felipe 250, Baja 500, and 1000 wins, and winning the Mint 400 in 1988. Now, Mark operates as the chairman for the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame, while Mark’s sons, Dan and Luke McMillin, are currently racing Trophy Trucks in the SCORE series. Mark and I talk about his and his family’s extensive history, and more. I’m your host Matt Martelli, and this IS the Off-Road Racer Podcast.

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, they talk about Brian’s transition into fatherhood, and his children starting their own careers in motorsports. At the time, Hailie Deegan was starting her career racing in NASCAR, and Haiden and Hudson were just getting into Motocross. Brian talks about the balance of supporting his kids while still advancing his career. This is the Off-Road Racer Podcast.

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 Racing Team in the desert, picking up the SCORE Championship the first year he raced with them in 2023. We talk about Brock’s history in short-course racing, and how that has translated into his desert racing. We also discuss the Dakar Rally, as Brock will be racing next year. I’m your host Matt Martelli, and this IS the Off-Road Racer Podcast.

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 form of racing he competed in, from the 250 and 500 classes of Motocross, to Pro 2 and Pro 4 classes in short course, and now the Legends class in desert off-road racing. Ricky has also been a skilled off-road instructor, training clients for years, including military training. We talk about his extensive off-road career and more. I’m your host Matt Martelli, and this IS the Off-Road Racer Podcast.

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 Motorsports Sponsorship Summit Alex continues to help major brands connect with appropriate marketing opportunities in motosports. Alex and I talk about the current state of marketing in Off-Road Racing, and how that relates to the relationship between sponsors and their racers. We talk about the current roles events and social media have in these relationships. We also talk about how to develop relationships with potential sponsors, and convert that relationship into a proposal and a deal. We talk about all this and more. I’m your host Matt Martelli, and this IS the Off-Road Racer Podcast.