Conner McMullen emerged as a top performer on Saturday during the first day of racing at the Laughlin Desert Classic, the final round of the 2026 American Off-Road Racing Championship season. McMullen, driving the Rubik Racing Unlimited Truck for Nic Whetstone in addition to his usual SPEC truck, recorded the fastest times in both classes, positioning himself at the front for Sunday's championship-deciding races.
The day began with the motorcycles and quads heat. Ciaran Naran and Cody Simpson collaborated to secure top honors, finishing just under 28 seconds ahead of Shane Logan’s team. Their intense battle meant that only 12 out of all competitors managed to complete all five scheduled laps under the grand prix finish format. Both teams completed the course in under an hour.
Following the bikes, the Limited car and truck classes took to the course. John Bowers posted the fastest time in this group, recording 53:44.976 in Open Sportsman B. The variety of competition was notable, with seven different classes represented in the top 10 overall, and three classes making it into the top five. Other class leaders included Ian Miller in Class 12, Alex Gabler in Class 1450, Chad Hall in Stock Production Truck Mini/Mid, Chris Woo in Stock Production Truck Full, William Hunter in Vintage, and Gary Lunsford in Open Sportsman.
Many of the pro UTV classes then competed, with Dexon Despot leading the group. Racers in the UTV Pro Turbo class secured the top three spots. However, the top 10 overall demonstrated diverse representation, including Wyatt Cotter from UTV Pro NA in fourth, Caysen Weaver from UTV Pro Stock Modified in seventh, and Code St. Peter from UTV Pro Stock in tenth. The entire overall top 10 in this heat was separated by just under five minutes.
Nearly 30 Unlimited Truck SPEC entries followed. This class featured a tight title fight involving Kyle Jergensen, Cole Hardin, and RJ Stidham. Stidham had the cleanest run, placing fourth in class, while Hardin faced a DNF despite showing strong pace early on. Jergensen, who had traded the lead with Conner McMullen earlier, finished 12th after falling out of the top 10 on the fourth lap. McMullen maintained his lead in a close contest, beating Neal Drickey by just over 10 seconds and Justin “Bean” Smith by almost a minute.
The next heat saw the UTV Pro and Class 10 vehicles. Deegan Gonzalez, starting from the outside of the first row, secured top honors overall. While UTVs occupied most of the top 10 spots, Carib Potts (fourth overall) and title contender Cade Martin (eighth overall) represented the buggies. UTV Pro championship contenders Ronnie Anderson and Phil Blurton finished 11th and 13th, respectively, ensuring their championship decision would extend to the final day of the season.
The day concluded with the full-power Unlimited Trucks. Championship battles were highlighted in the 4WD class between Tracy Graf and Robby Gordon, and in the 2WD class among Nic Whetstone, Steve Olliges, and Tracy Poole. The outcome of the event in these classes will determine their respective championships. All five trucks involved in these title fights were among the overall top six finishers. Conner McMullen, driving for Whetstone's team, shattered the one-hour barrier over five laps, providing the #18 team with a significant advantage for Championship Sunday. Robby Gordon finished nearly 50 seconds ahead of Tracy Graf in the 4WD competition.
These results set the stage for crucial Sunday races. The tight title fights in Unlimited Truck SPEC, UTV Pro, and both 4WD and 2WD Unlimited Trucks will culminate in championship decisions on the final day.
The competition continues on Sunday with an identical race program. The pre-runner heat is scheduled for 8 AM, with motorcycles and quads beginning the main race program at 9 AM.
The Laughlin Desert Classic is recognized as one of the most historic events in American off-road racing. It originated in 1975 under promoter Walt Lott, establishing Laughlin, Nevada, as a premier destination for the sport. The event was revived in 1984 by Sal Fish and later carried forward by Casey Folks. Over five decades, the rugged terrain around Laughlin has hosted notable battles featuring racers such as Walker Evans, Ivan Stewart, and Rob MacCachren. Today, the Laughlin Desert Classic is a cornerstone of the American Off-Road Racing Championship, bridging the sport's heritage with its future by bringing together professional and amateur racers.
The American Off-Road Racing Championship (AORC) is North America's premier desert off-road racing league, formed by the unification of Best in the Desert (BITD) and Unlimited Off-Road Racing (UNLTD). Best in the Desert, founded in 1984 by Casey Folks, is known for being the longest-running series with iconic events like Vegas to Reno and the Parker 425. Unlimited Off-Road Racing, established by the Martelli Brothers in 2023, produces world-class events such as The Mint 400 and is recognized for innovation and large-scale racer participation. Under the AORC, both organizations aim to preserve desert racing's heritage while developing its future through a unified championship that offers clarity and world-class competition.
