BARSTOW, Calif. — The third annual return of the California 300 to Barstow Oct. 2-6 will be broadcast worldwide via a dedicated livestream.
This event, growing in prestige and popularity, continues to offer an exhilarating desert racing experience, now accessible globally through a complimentary livestream on platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.
Produced by the acclaimed Mad Media team, known for its first-class production of The Mint 400 and as a titan in off-road content creation, this year’s livestream promises to enhance the viewing experience with multiple ground cameras, drone footage and live in-car coverage via Starlink from several vehicles.
The broadcast will also feature insightful commentary from well-known off-road personalities such as Jim Beaver, Tiffany Stone, and Jim Marsden, along with special guests.
Matt Martelli, CEO and co-owner of Unlimited Off-Road Racing, stated, “With two years of exceptional social media coverage under our belt for The California 300, our sponsors’ support has enabled us to broaden our reach and livestream the event globally at no cost. Our viewers can enjoy the full-throttle coverage they expect from our Mad Media team without a paywall. We’re committed to showcasing the thrilling door-to-door off-road racing action to an international audience and applying our extensive livestreaming experience from The Mint 400 to enhance all our future events.”
The race is expected to draw hundreds of competitors and thousands of spectators, alongside numerous high-profile brands. Attendees can anticipate a weekend filled with dynamic off-road racing, camping and diverse entertainment offerings.
The Off-Road Festival at the Start/Finish Midway will continue to be a hub of activity, featuring racing action and exhibits from leading off-road companies. The main stage will highlight race finishers and deliver ongoing updates about the event. For adventure-seekers, the newly introduced “Camp Overland” will offer a unique remote spectating experience.
Located conveniently near the entrance to the Stoddard Valley OHV area, just off the I-15 freeway, the Start/Finish Midway can be accessed by taking the Outlet Center Drive exit, heading east and looking to the right.
Racers will be pre-running the course on Tuesday before fan festivities kick off on Thursday morning with the California 300 Poker Run, where the public can take on a single lap of the race course in off-road cars, trucks and UTVs. Also taking place on Thursday from noon to 6 p.m. is the California 300 Off-Road Festival at the Start-Finish Midway, which will serve as both a showcase of top off-road engineering and innovation and the race’s tech and contingency.
Racing itself kicks off on Friday at 7 a.m. with the inaugural California 300 Motorcycle Race, featuring a 60-mile course designed by Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Famer and racing legend Johnny Campbell.
Also competing on Friday will be the Youth 1000 race, followed by UTV Qualifying and Car and Truck Qualifying. The Youth classes will wrap up on Saturday morning beginning at 8 a.m. before the UTV and Limited Race kicks off at 10 a.m., while the feature Unlimited Race will kick off at 8 a.m. on Sunday to wrap up the weekend.
This year’s entry list features many top names in the sport, led by three-time Mint 400 winner Justin Lofton, 2023 Mint 400 champion Eric Hardin and current UNLTD Off-Road Racing points leader Adam Householder in the Unlimited Truck class.
Other top names competing in Sunday’s Unlimited Race include defending California 300 Unlimited Race champion Dustin Grabowski, Cameron Steele, and the debut of Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in Unlimited Truck Spec, Barstow, California has a rich tradition of off-road racing dating back to 1971 with the first “Fireworks 250” race which ran for 51 years. It has always been a vital and important location for testing, recreation, and racing. After promoting the Mint 400 successfully for more than a decade, The Martelli brothers brought a major desert off-road race back to Southern California, the mecca of off-road racing, for the first time in 22 years last year, and are thrilled to be back once again in 2023.