[{"id":16680,"permalink":"https:\/\/dirtsportsworld.com\/2026\/11\/06\/baja-lite-race-trucks-set-to-make-a-comeback-in-desert-racing\/","title":"Baja Lite Race Trucks Set to Make a Comeback in Desert Racing","content":"Baja Lite race trucks are making a return to desert racing, bringing back a style of competition designed to give racers another opportunity to compete in some of the sport's biggest events without stepping into the expensive world of Trophy Truck racing. The revival is being spearheaded by Desert Race Experience (DRX), which is developing a new racing program centered around a mid-size truck platform. The effort is aimed at creating a professional, competitive class that offers a more accessible entry point into desert racing while still delivering the experience of competing in major off-road events.\r\n\r\nThe program will compete under the name Spec Lite at American Off-Road Racing Championship (AORC) events, with plans to also participate in select SCORE International races in Baja, Mexico. The return of BajaLite also carries a significant connection to the sport's history. The class was originally championed by the late Pete \u201cPistol\u201d Sohren, who developed the concept around building a reliable, competitive desert race truck that working-class racers could afford to own, maintain and race. Following Sohren's death in 2019, the future of the BajaLite program became uncertain. Now, DRX operators Ron Stobaugh and John Slavic have taken ownership of the class with the blessing of Sohren's family, giving the program a chance to begin a new chapter.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_16687\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"640\"]\"\" An original Baja Lite sits in front of \"Pistol\" Pete's race shop in Arizona.[\/caption]\r\n\r\nThe BajaLite trucks feature a mid-size platform with a shiftable transmission, GM Ecotec engine and 35-inch tires. The design is intended to provide a traditional desert racing experience while incorporating modern safety features and chassis development.DRX is also planning to offer an arrive-and-drive program, driver training, race preparation and team management services. The goal is to help newcomers experience desert racing without having to independently purchase, build and manage an entire race program.\r\n\r\nFor AORC competition, the class will be known as Spec Lite, carrying vehicle numbers 201L through 299L. SCORE has also indicated plans to accommodate the returning trucks in its 2027 events, although the class name and numbering have not yet been announced.","excerpt":"

Baja Lite race trucks are making a return to desert racing, bringing back a style of competition designed to give …<\/p>","date":"November 6, 2026 09:45","categories":[{"id":25047610,"title":"Desert Racing","slug":"desert-racing"},{"id":25047612,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"tags":[{"id":25049999,"title":"AORC","slug":"aorc"},{"id":25050013,"title":"Baja Lite","slug":"baja-lite"},{"id":25050014,"title":"Desert Race Experience","slug":"desert-race-experience"},{"id":25047659,"title":"desert racing","slug":"desert-racing"},{"id":25047736,"title":"off-road racing","slug":"off-road-racing"},{"id":25049721,"title":"pistol pete","slug":"pistol-pete"}]},{"id":10936,"permalink":"https:\/\/dirtsportsworld.com\/2024\/11\/04\/off-road-motorsports-hall-of-fame-inducts-class-of-2024\/","title":"Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Inducts Class of 2024","content":"Over 800 people attended this year\u2019s Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The event was held at the Southpoint Casino in Las Vegas. A silent auction to raise money for the organization as well as a walk of fame of off-road memorabilia was on display. This year\u2019s class of 2024 included 12 inductees who have helped shape, influence and change the off-road industry.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_10938\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"640\"]\"\" Shortcourse legend Johnny Greaves was inducted in into the 2024 Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.[\/caption]\r\n\r\nInductees included short-course legend Johnny Greaves. \u201cPistol\u201d Pete Sohren who was killed in a non-racing accident in San Felipe in 2019 also made his way into the Hall of Fame. Ken Block who also passed away got his honors at the ORMHOF ceremony. Marlin Czajowski also known as the Marlin Crawler received an induction into ORMHOF for always helping people out on the trail.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_10940\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"640\"]\"\" Mike Pearlman joins his dad Ed Pearlman in the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame. Chairman Mark McMillin is pictured to the left of Pearlman.[\/caption]\r\n\r\nMike Pearlman joins his dad in ORMHOF as does Scott Steinberger from PCI Race Radios. Evelyn Tallman-Duchesi, Rod Millen, Jon Nelson, Jimmy Smith, John Rettie along with Jimmy Lewis also were part of the Class of 2024.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_10942\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"640\"]\"\" Scott Steinberger celebrates his induction into the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.[\/caption]","excerpt":"

Over 800 people attended this year\u2019s Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The event was held at the Southpoint …<\/p>","date":"November 4, 2024 23:52","categories":[{"id":25047612,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"tags":[{"id":25049722,"title":"Evelyn Tallman-Duchesi","slug":"evelyn-tallman-duchesi"},{"id":25049542,"title":"Jimmy Lewis","slug":"jimmy-lewis"},{"id":25049620,"title":"Jimmy Smith","slug":"jimmy-smith"},{"id":25049619,"title":"John Rettie","slug":"john-rettie"},{"id":25047920,"title":"johnny greaves","slug":"johnny-greaves"},{"id":25049618,"title":"Jon Nelson","slug":"jon-nelson"},{"id":25048232,"title":"Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame","slug":"off-road-motorsports-hall-of-fame"},{"id":25048053,"title":"ormhof","slug":"ormhof"},{"id":25049721,"title":"pistol pete","slug":"pistol-pete"},{"id":25049617,"title":"Rod Millen","slug":"rod-millen"},{"id":25048355,"title":"Scott Steinberger","slug":"scott-steinberger"}]}]{ "version": "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1.1", "user_comment": "This feed allows you to read the posts from this site in any feed reader that supports the JSON Feed format. To add this feed to your reader, copy the following URL -- https://dirtsportsworld.com/tag/pistol-pete/feed/json/ -- and add it your reader.", "home_page_url": "https://dirtsportsworld.com/tag/pistol-pete/", "feed_url": "https://dirtsportsworld.com/tag/pistol-pete/feed/json/", "language": "en-US", "title": "pistol pete Archives - DirtSportsWorld", "description": "The Voice of Off-Road Motorsports", "icon": "https://i0.wp.com/dirtsportsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/cropped-DSW-Web-Icon.png?fit=59%2C59&ssl=1", "items": [ { "id": "https://dirtsportsworld.com/?p=16680", "url": "https://dirtsportsworld.com/2026/11/06/baja-lite-race-trucks-set-to-make-a-comeback-in-desert-racing/", "title": "Baja Lite Race Trucks Set to Make a Comeback in Desert Racing", "content_html": "

Baja Lite race trucks are making a return to desert racing, bringing back a style of competition designed to give …

The post Baja Lite Race Trucks Set to Make a Comeback in Desert Racing appeared first on DirtSportsWorld.

\n", "content_text": "Baja Lite race trucks are making a return to desert racing, bringing back a style of competition designed to give …The post Baja Lite Race Trucks Set to Make a Comeback in Desert Racing appeared first on DirtSportsWorld.", "date_published": "2026-11-06T09:45:46-08:00", "date_modified": "2026-11-06T09:45:46-08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "DirtSportsWorld Staff", "url": "https://dirtsportsworld.com/author/dirtsportsworld/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4817be88e351e2814fd215f4b782a136e8119efccfc1eafde273c56619cf08f5?s=512&d=identicon&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "DirtSportsWorld Staff", "url": "https://dirtsportsworld.com/author/dirtsportsworld/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4817be88e351e2814fd215f4b782a136e8119efccfc1eafde273c56619cf08f5?s=512&d=identicon&r=g" }, "tags": [ "AORC", "Baja Lite", "Desert Race Experience", "Desert Racing", "off-road racing", "pistol pete", "News" ] }, { "id": "https://dirtsportsworld.com/?p=10936", "url": "https://dirtsportsworld.com/2024/11/04/off-road-motorsports-hall-of-fame-inducts-class-of-2024/", "title": "Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Inducts Class of 2024", "content_html": "

Over 800 people attended this year\u2019s Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The event was held at the Southpoint …

The post Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Inducts Class of 2024 appeared first on DirtSportsWorld.

\n", "content_text": "Over 800 people attended this year\u2019s Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The event was held at the Southpoint …The post Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Inducts Class of 2024 appeared first on DirtSportsWorld.", "date_published": "2024-11-04T23:52:36-08:00", "date_modified": "2024-11-04T23:52:56-08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "DirtSportsWorld Staff", "url": "https://dirtsportsworld.com/author/dirtsportsworld/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4817be88e351e2814fd215f4b782a136e8119efccfc1eafde273c56619cf08f5?s=512&d=identicon&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "DirtSportsWorld Staff", "url": "https://dirtsportsworld.com/author/dirtsportsworld/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4817be88e351e2814fd215f4b782a136e8119efccfc1eafde273c56619cf08f5?s=512&d=identicon&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Evelyn Tallman-Duchesi", "Jimmy Lewis", "Jimmy Smith", "John Rettie", "johnny greaves", "Jon Nelson", "Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame", "ormhof", "pistol pete", "Rod Millen", "Scott Steinberger", "News" ] } ] }