This is the off-road racing championship the guest’s organization runs. The conversation is about bringing a rally-raid truck style into this U.S. series.
Car
Raptor T1
The Raptor T1 is Ford’s special off-road race truck. It’s built for long, bumpy races where the goal is to finish strong, not just go fast for a few minutes.
Rally-raid cars are race trucks designed for long off-road events broken into stages. They’re built to keep working over days of rough terrain, not just one short race.
“Limited travel” means the suspension doesn’t move as far as it could. On very rough tracks, that can make the truck hit the bump stops more often and ride less smoothly.
Multi-stage events are races split into multiple sections. Each section is like its own mini-race, and the overall event is made up of all those sections.
Dakar is a legendary off-road race that’s famous for being extremely tough. It’s a rally-raid style event, so it’s a good reference point for the kind of endurance these trucks are designed for.
“Baja” is shorthand for the Baja California desert racing scene in Mexico. It’s known for rough off-road terrain, and the host is using it as a comparison for race difficulty.
The Mint 400 is a famous desert off-road race. The host says it’s especially rough, which is why their trucks are set up with bigger tires and stronger suspension.
“More suspension” means the truck’s suspension is set up to handle bigger hits. That helps it stay controlled and avoid getting bounced around too much on rough desert roads.
Term
unlimited
“Unlimited” means the rules are less restrictive—teams can build whatever kind of race vehicle they can manage. The host is saying this series is one of the few where you’re not boxed in by strict limits.
Mickey Thompson was a well-known motorsports promoter and off-road racing figure. The hosts are saying he helped popularize desert-style short-course racing, which influenced modern off-road vehicles.
Car
Ford Raptor
The Ford Raptor is a special off-road version of a pickup truck. It’s built to handle rough terrain, and the host is saying off-road racing helped lead to trucks like this.
Crandon is a famous dirt-racing location in northern Wisconsin. It’s known for big, intense races where the track surface and corners make things really challenging.
Off-camber means the track surface is tilted in a way that makes the tires feel like they’re not “flat” on the ground. On dirt, that can make the car harder to control through the turn.
Suspension work is adjusting the parts that help the truck absorb bumps and stay planted. On rough off-road terrain, the suspension setup can make a huge difference in how controllable the truck feels.
UTV means “utility off-road vehicle.” It’s a rugged side-by-side you can drive on trails and rough terrain, usually with a roll cage and multiple seats.
“Reno to Vegas” is an off-road race route across Nevada. The host is saying they’re running it in reverse this year, which changes the heat and elevation the vehicles deal with.
Cooling fans are electric fans that help pull heat away from the engine and other components. When it’s hot outside, they often have to run harder to keep everything from overheating.
In this off-road context, “electrical” refers to the vehicle’s electrical load—things like the fan motors, pumps, and other powered systems. When the host says it will run at full clip, they mean the electrical systems will be working continuously under heavy demand.
Starlink is a satellite-based internet service from SpaceX. If it’s installed on the vehicles, it helps them stay connected so the race can be streamed live to viewers.
Knock sensors are sensors that listen for signs of the engine burning fuel the wrong way. If they detect a problem, the car’s computer changes settings to prevent damage.
Engine knock is when the fuel ignites too early or unevenly inside the engine. It can hurt the engine, so premium fuel is sometimes recommended to prevent it.
Raptor T1 takes center stage as the hosts talk with Matt Martelli about the Ford truck’s debut at the Casey Folks Vegas Torino Run and why rally-raid racing is built around multi-stage desert work. The conversation compares “unlimited” American truck rules to Dakar-style design, with concrete setup details like tire size and wheel travel. They also dig into desert short-course history, suspension tuning, and how Starlink plus a YouTube livestream will bring the Reno-to-Vegas race to viewers in real time.
A Dakar-designed Ford Raptor T1 is about to find out what American desert racing feels like, and we’re here for every gritty detail. We sit down with Matt Martelli, CEO of Unlimited Off-Road Racing, to talk about why Ford chose the Casey Folks Vegas to Reno run for the Raptor T1’s American debut and what makes this run so different from the rough-and-tumble world of Baja-style courses. Think long distance, high speed, and a 550-mile day that stresses cooling, electrical systems, and durability in a way most racing formats never touch.
We also get into the fun rabbit holes only off-road racing can create: what “unlimited” really means when trucks push 1,000-plus horsepower, 40-inch tires, and suspension travel measured in feet, not inches. Matt shares why the sport still leaves room for the garage-built crowd alongside multi-million-dollar teams, and we revisit the roots of short course and stadium racing through the legacy of Mickey Thompson. If you love motorsports history, fabrication culture, and the way racing tech shapes production vehicles like the Raptor and Bronco, this one hits hard.
Then we pivot to the headlines: a Ford worker fired over a $1.95 cookie, and the growing trend of drivers downgrading from premium gas to regular to save money. We break down what modern ECUs and knock sensors actually do, when premium is required versus recommended, and why the real tradeoff is often performance, not instant damage.
Listen now, subscribe so you don’t miss the next drop, and if you enjoyed the show, share it with a fellow car nerd and leave us a quick review. What would you want to watch most: the Raptor T1’s pace or the in-car Starlink view?
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
---- ----- Want more In Wheel Time car talk any time?
In Wheel Time is now available on Audacy!
Just go to Audacy.com/InWheelTime where ever you are. ----- ----- Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast provider for the next episode of In Wheel Time Podcast and check out our live multiplatform broadcast every Saturday, 10a - 12nCT simulcasting on Audacy, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch and InWheelTime.com.
In Wheel Time Podcast can be heard on you mobile device from providers such as:
Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music Podcast, Spotify, SiriusXM Podcast, iHeartRadio podcast, TuneIn + Alexa, Podcast Addict, Castro, Castbox, YouTube Podcast and more on your mobile device.
Follow InWheelTime.com for the latest updates!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/InWheelTime
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inwheeltime/
https://www.youtube.com/inwheeltime
https://www.Facebook.com/InWheelTime
For more information about In Wheel Time Podcast, email us at
