What is a Trophy Truck?

Got a love for the desert and a need for speed? Built to resemble the modern pickup, trophy trucks leave the competition in the dust.
Written by Elaine Duvet
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Trophy
trucks
, also known as Baja trucks, are the ultimate off-roaders and unstoppable machines. The unlimited off-road class was established in 1994, providing us with legendary suspensions, tons of torque, and endless entertainment.
Jerry
, the
car ownership super app
, gives the 411 on the trophy racing scene. 

A trophy truck is a pickup gone rogue

If you’re looking for a new fascinating sport, try trophy truck racing. Built to withstand the grueling heat of the desert and insanely rough terrain, these heavy hitters can cost up to $1 million each. 
“We are pretty sure unofficial desert races have been taking place as long as there have been cars and trucks tough enough to tackle the terrain; however, desert racing has been quasi-organized since the early 60s,”
Autowise
tells us.
Most racers house a 4130 chromoly steel tube-frame chassis with a steel tube roll cage. The alloy is lightweight, durable, and the truck can be powered by a diesel or naturally aspirated gasoline engine. It’s common to see
Ford
and Chevy V8s gas powertrains with anywhere from 850-900 hp and 900 lb-ft of torque. 
According to Autowise, “Diesel engines can be equipped with twin turbochargers. Diesel powerplants need to have a minimum displacement of 5.0L, but no more than 6.6L and are required to have an air restrictor.” And either a three-speed automatic or six-speed sequential transmission will work.
These desert trucks sit on 39 inches of rubber and 17-inch wheels. Plus, they have to weigh at least 3500 lbs. 
While most teams build their own, for enthusiasts looking for turn-key models, shops like Gieser Bros, Brenthel Industries, ID designs, Jimco, and Racer Engineering can make it happen. They also produce CAD-engineered Baja kits.
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Trophy truck fun facts

Did you know Paul Newman raced motorbikes before he became a Hollywood stuntman and acclaimed actor? He continued to race throughout his career in entertainment and his last race was in 2004 at the SCORE Baja 100. 
At the age of 14, Jerry Whelchel started racing Class 1. In 1984, he jumped into the Mickey Thompson series and won a record-breaking four series championships. According to Autowise, He also drove a Mark Post-sponsored car to wins in the Laughlin Challenge and San Felipe 250. After making the switch to trucks, Jerry won multiple races. 
Whelchel also dominated seven podiums and the Pro2WD championship. All in all, he’s enjoyed 250 wins in off-road races.  
You may recall that Bryce Menzies broke the world record for the longest jump in a truck, but it actually happened on a closed track. The real jump record is held by Larry Roeseler, who impressed the competition during an on-track Big Air competition. We’re talking 163 feet off the ground!
MORE: What is the Biggest Monster Truck in the World?

Top desert beasts

Fedor is owned by four-time off-road racing champion BJ Baldwin. The truck gets its power from a Kroyer 7.5L naturally aspirated V8 engine with 800 hp and 690 lb-ft of torque. It can even hit sand dunes and hills during a race at over 100 mph. 
When it comes to Bryce Menzies’ Flying World Record Truck, we’re impressed. According to Autowise, “Bryce Menzies teamed up with Red Bull and Pennzoil to bring the world this badass Pro2 truck.” The trophy truck broke a world record after flying 379 feet over a ghost town in Nevada. 
We have to talk about Ivan ”Ironman” Stewart and his Toyota Racing Development (TRD) Trophy Racer. Stewart won countless racers with the truck including the Baja 500 seventeen times, the Baja 1000 three times, the Mint 400 four times, and the Parker 400 four times to name a few. Oh, and he also won four SCORE World Championship titles.
Evan Evans, the Son of Off-road Motorsports Hall of Fame driver ”The Legend” Walker Evans, “was involved in a motorcycle accident that left him a paraplegic. Instead of letting the accident destroy his career, Evans built a hand-controlled truck,” Autowise reports.
Using his hand-controlled truck, he won the 1996 Class 13 Championship title in the SODA series and seven class victories as well. He’s won 30 races so far and still races from time to time to this day.
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