Big Wins in 2022 for Team Nitto in Ultra4 Unlimited Off-Road Racing

February 2, 2023
Story By
Matt Holt
Photos By Dylan Patton, Tim Sutton

It was an awesome year of off-road racing—2022 saw new owners, new tracks, and new drivers. The year’s racing took on a whole new look when Jason Robinett from MidAmerica Outdoors purchased the United States Ultra4 Endurance Racing Series with King of the Hammers week now acting as a stand-alone race.

With the series under new ownership there were changes and growing pains all around, but the Robinett family and all the MidAmerica and Ultra4 USA staff worked hard to create the best experience for the fans and racers throughout the season. One thing that is unusual with this series is that each race location is a new custom set-up just for that specific event, so it can be challenging to get into a rhythm, but by the end of the year the races were flowing smoothly.

Last year saw a new track at Disney, Oklahoma added to the race schedule for finals. It's not an easy thing to pick a new park, because not just any track will do for an Ultra4 race. The park that made the cut this year was in a quiet little town that was taken over by Ultra4 and the National Rock Racing Association for both of their finals. The rock laden course had steep rock ledges and was a tough race for all—with especially high attrition in the UTV class.

One of the highlights of the weekend was the crowds of regular people who showed up for the trick-r-treat night on the main drag amidst rows of Ultra4 rigs. Parents and children poured into the street collecting candy while parents asked all sorts of questions about the cars, totally unaware that of the big races throughout the weekend. It was similar to the parade at the Crandon Motor Speedway, which are both great examples of the family-oriented nature of the Ultra4 series.

Speaking of family, the time racers spend on the track is far surpassed by the race team “families” working in the pits and in between races. Often there are several teams working together all at the same camp such as the Rufus Racing, Team Indiana, the Campbells, and the Ford Fun Haver Race Team.

There is an extraordinary camaraderie within the series where everyone is willing to help their competitors cross the finish line. And seeing the crews perform their duties during a race is almost as impressive as the race itself— for instance, watching Paul Horschel’s monster truck-like rig roar into the pits and a fury of men leap into action to get a fresh set of Nitto Trail Grapplers on the car is a sight to behold.

The year of action-packed 4400-class off-road racing saw more than one Ultra4 Nitto podium sweep. And when the dust finally settled on the points races, Josh Blyler clinched the number one spot, Vaughn Gittin Jr. took second, and Bailey Campbell was third—finishing the season with another Nitto driver championship sweep.