Most RallyCross enthusiasts have dreamt of racing wheel-to-wheel at least once in their lives.
The really bold ones may even dream about owning a track.
Now, in Blackfoot, Idaho, two friends are actually building one.
What started as a joke after dinner has turned into a full-blown grassroots racing championship, set to launch this summer.
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The URX is an affordable way for people to race
Meet Preston Howell and his brother-in-law Clayton Mortensen, the duo behind United RallyCross Championship (URX).
While you may have seen some of their Instagram stunts, which involve things like dragging a flaming piano across a muddy field while playing it, this is a more serious project.
“We’ve been to the fairground races, the bump and rub stuff,” Howell told Yahoo.
“But we wanted something cleaner, safer, and honestly just more fun. Something where you could show up with an affordable car and really go wheel-to-wheel.”
Their dream took a serious turn when Mortensen stumbled on a property that used to host motocross events.
While it was rough around the edges, it was perfect for their needs.
It only took them a few days to convince the owner, who also dreamed of building a drag strip, to hand over the keys.
Almost 30 drivers signed up for the first RallyCross event
Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. For one, the championship couldn’t start without an actual track.
Luckily, the duo knew their way around heavy machinery.
They rented what they needed and got to work, digging, grading, and shaping corners.
The URX layout was inspired by a mix of European rallycross, American short-course off-roading racing and Nitrocross.
United RallyCross Championship (URX)
It has flowing, sweeping technical corners, that still provide enough room for speed.
There’s camping facilities and a big hill for spectating, although not much else, which is exactly how they want it.
Their dream caused quite a bit of social media buzz: enough to help them find nearly 30 drivers for the first event in July.
There will be vehicle classes in the URX: 2WD, 4WD and Baja Bugs, with a focus on controlled horsepower and safety.
In a world where motorsport can feel exclusive and expensive, what the duo is doing is refreshingly down-to-earth.
“Our goal is to make racing accessible,” Howell said.
“If you’ve got a car and the itch to race, you should be able to show up and do it.”
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