Conner McMullen, Kyle Jergensen, Ronnie Anderson Top Qualifying for 2026 Laughlin Desert Classic
Conner McMullen, Kyle Jergensen, and Ronnie Anderson will start the 2026 Laughlin Desert Classic, this weekend’s American Off-Road Racing Championship season finale, from the top spot in their respective classes after topping the charts in qualifying on Thursday. With all three drivers playing key roles in some of AORC’s top championship battles, the stage is now set for two intense days of racing on Saturday and Sunday to determine who takes home this year’s titles.
The high stakes of this weekend’s points battles were apparent from the first moments of qualifying, as Group 1’s UTV Pro and Class 10 racers kicked things off. Emily Gonzalez would post the fastest time in Class 10 as the very first qualifier, while Brian Hoar, Cade Martin, and Ayden Ford—separated by just two points between them—would qualify second, third, and fifth in class.
Things got even more dramatic in UTV Pro. After seeing points leader Phil Blurton go to second on the board, Anderson—Blurton’s closest competition at seven points back—would drop a 3:00.524 to wrestle the lead away from Cody Bradbury. In the end, Blurton would fall to fifth in class, dropping him out of Anderson’s group in Saturday’s four-wide start.
Group 1 Qualifying results from the 2026 Laughlin Desert Classic are as follows:
- #T52 Ronnie Anderson, 3:00.524
- #T23 Cody Bradbury, 3:01.142
- #T74 Ethan Groom, 3:05.243
- #T81 Deegan Gonzalez, 3:05.627
- #T44 Phil Blurton, 3:06.097
Unlimited Truck SPEC would be the second group to qualify in Laughlin, but the fastest qualifier would be decided immediately for that class as well. After a disappointing Vegas to Reno, Kyle Jergensen sailed to a 3:04.448 mark that held up through all 25 qualifiers. Only Conner McMullen would come within a second of Jergensen; his closest title rivals, Vegas to Reno winner Cole Hardin and three-time 2026 podium finisher RJ Stidham, would qualify third and fifth, respectively.
Group 2 Qualifying results from the 2026 Laughlin Desert Classic are as follows:
- #222 Kyle Jergensen, 3:04.448
- #240 Conner McMullen, 3:04.955
- #279 Cole Hardin, 3:08.366
- #205 Neal Drickey, 3:08.839
- #280 RJ Stidham, 3:10.958
The full-power Unlimited Trucks would take to the 3.1-mile qualifying course last, and with both classes’ points leaders currently decided by three points or less, the stakes of posting the faster time were high. Two-time 2026 winner Robby Gordon would draw first blood on 4WD points leader and Vegas to Reno winner Tracy Graf by posting the faster time and qualifying second in the group. But Conner McMullen would top the group while substituting for defending Laughlin winner Nic Whetstone, who has a three-point advantage over Steve Olliges and Tracy Poole coming into the weekend. Poole would qualify third in class and fourth in the group, while Olliges would place fourth in class and sixth in the group.
Group 3 Qualifying results from the 2026 Laughlin Desert Classic are as follows:
- #18 Conner McMullen, Unlimited Truck 2WD, 2:52.460
- #5 Robby Gordon, Unlimited Truck 4WD, 2:55.852
- #65 Dave Mason Jr., Unlimited Truck 2WD, 2:59.984
- #78 Tracy Poole, Unlimited Truck 2WD, 3:00.970
- #58 Tracy Graf, Unlimited Truck 2WD, 3:06.384
The 2026 Laughlin Desert Classic continues Friday with the all-new Laughlin Off-Road Festival, taking place in front of the Colorado Belle in downtown Laughlin. As always, the festivities include tech and contingency for the hundreds of racers taking part in this weekend’s event. Racing will also kick off with a pair of Youth races starting at 1:30PM. For live timing and tracking all week long, visit BITD.com.
The complete schedule, entry list, racer information, spectator parking, Road Jump tickets, and racer camping details are available at BITD.com.
About The Laughlin Desert Classic:
The Laughlin Desert Classic stands among the most historic events in American off-road racing. Originally launched in 1975 by pioneering promoter Walt Lott, the race helped establish Laughlin, Nevada, as one of the sport's premier destinations. The event returned in 1984 under the leadership of off-road racing legend Sal Fish before being carried forward by the late Casey Folks, whose vision helped shape modern desert racing.
Over five decades, the rugged terrain surrounding Laughlin has hosted legendary battles featuring some of the greatest names in the sport, including Walker Evans, Ivan Stewart, and Rob MacCachren. Today, the Laughlin Desert Classic continues that tradition, bringing together professional and amateur racers from across North America to compete on one of off-road racing's most iconic stages.
The event now serves as a cornerstone of the American Off-Road Racing Championship, the unified effort between Unlimited Off-Road Racing and Best In The Desert to strengthen and grow the future of off-road competition. The Laughlin Desert Classic represents both a celebration of the sport's rich heritage and a bold vision for its future.
About the American Off-Road Racing Championship:
The American Off-Road Racing Championship (AORC) is the premier desert off-road racing league in North America, created through the unification of Best in the Desert (BITD) and Unlimited Off-Road Racing (UNLTD). Best in the Desert, founded in 1984 by legendary racer Casey Folks, is the longest-running and most respected off-road racing series in the U.S., with a legacy that includes iconic events like Vegas to Reno, the Silver State 300, the Parker 425, and the Laughlin Desert Classic. Unlimited Off-Road Racing, established by the Martelli Brothers in 2023, produces world-class events such as The Mint 400, The California 300, and The Parker 400. UNLTD is recognized for its focus on innovation, storytelling, and large-scale racer participation, with events known for high car counts, challenging courses, pre-running, and family-friendly fan experiences near major markets.
Together under the AORC banner, BITD and UNLTD preserve the heritage of desert racing while building its future—offering racers, sponsors, and fans a unified championship built on clarity, consistency, and world-class competition.