6100 class crowns a New King of Baja as Brent Fox claims historic NORRA win and $70,000 cash prize
San Jose del Cabo, B.C.S, Mexico
May 9, 2026
The 6100 class delivered one of the biggest stories of NORRA’s Baja 6-Day Rally, with Brent Fox charging to the finish as the 6100 class winner, overall rally winner, and newly crowned King of Baja.
Fox’s victory came with more than a title. He also claimed a massive $70,000 cash prize, believed to be the largest 6100 class payout in off-road racing history.
Over six days and roughly 1,400 miles of Baja racing, Fox and his team managed the highs, lows, pressure, and punishment that define NORRA’s rally format.
“You try not to get too high or too low during a six-day rally like this,” said Fox. “Every day brings something different – flat tires, mechanical issues, good stages, bad stages – so it really becomes about managing your emotions, trusting your team, and making sure the truck is strong enough to survive 1,400 miles of Baja.”
Heading into the final day, Fox held only a narrow lead over Ryan Arciero, who had been charging back after early rally issues.
“Going into the final day was definitely nerve-racking,” Fox said. “Ryan Arciero had been creeping back, and I think we only had about a four or five-minute lead starting the day. In Baja, anything can happen. One mechanical problem or one flat tire in the wrong spot can change everything instantly. So our mindset was simple, stay focused, do our job, and bring the truck home clean.”
For Fox, NORRA’s format adds a different kind of intensity than a traditional point-to-point desert race.
“The stages are shorter, but you’re sprinting every single day,” Fox said. “It’s like a series of all-out sprints stacked together over six days. You race hard, prep the truck, get a little sleep, and do it all over again the next morning. That’s what makes NORRA so special.”
Ryan Arciero finished second after another strong rally effort in the 1Nine Industries truck.
“Brent Fox and those guys did a phenomenal job all rally long,” said Arciero. “I don’t know if we really had anything for them today. They started the final stage with over a four-minute lead, and that’s hard to make up against a team running that clean.”
Arciero’s final day was not without drama. Early in the stage, a misread note nearly ended their rally.
“We came in just a little too fast and nearly put the truck into a washout,” Arciero said. “I clipped a rock pretty hard and ended up damaging the right side badly. We tore up the bodywork, bent the hood, and ripped off part of the passenger side.”
The team patched the truck together and pushed on to the finish.
“That’s Baja, sometimes it’s just survival and teamwork,” Arciero said. “Overall though, it was a great rally. The 1Nine Industries trucks were strong all week.”
The Craig McCarthy/Kevin Murphy entry rounded out the 6100 podium in third, capping off a strong six-day run.
“Six days goes by fast out here,” said Murphy. “Waking up this morning in La Paz and realizing we were heading straight into Cabo for the finish… it almost felt surreal. The first couple days you’re just settling into the rhythm of the rally, then suddenly you realize it’s Day 6 and it’s already over.”
Murphy credited the team effort behind the podium finish.
“I can’t say enough about this team and everything they’ve done,” Murphy said. “For me, just getting the opportunity to step into the seat and drive has been a real blessing. I wouldn’t be able to do it without these guys.”
NORRA principal owner Robby Gordon praised both the racing and the continued growth of the event, calling this year’s rally the strongest yet.
“I think the first thing to talk about is the rally itself because that’s the most important part of all this,” Gordon said. “Honestly, I believe this was the best NORRA rally we’ve put on since I’ve been involved. Every year we learn more, improve more, and Eliseo Garcia and his entire team did an incredible job putting this event together.”
Gordon also highlighted the significance of the record-setting 6100 purse and his vision for growing the class even further.
“Brent Fox is taking home $70,000, which is probably the biggest payout the class has ever seen,” Gordon said. “Now the goal is to get that number to $100,000 for the winner next year. To make that happen, we need more trucks, more sponsors, and continued growth in the class.”
He also pointed toward expanded manufacturer involvement and the continued evolution of NORRA’s live television coverage as major priorities moving forward.
“The other huge step forward this year was television coverage,” Gordon said. “Between Hugo and his team on the ground in Baja, plus the studio production in Los Angeles with James Masters, Dave Cole, and everyone involved, I really think we’ve built a recipe for success.”
With Fox taking the win, Arciero finishing second, and Murphy completing the podium, the 6100 class proved to be one of the premier battles of the rally.
For Fox, the title and prize money were the reward, but the experience was the real reason to keep coming back.
“You really get to experience the entire Baja peninsula instead of just blasting through sections at night,” Fox said. “You get to take it all in, the scenery, the towns, the people, the terrain. If you don’t race off-road, it’s probably hard to understand why we love this so much. Most people probably think we’re crazy, and honestly, we probably are. But it’s a special kind of crazy. This is what we love, and this is our passion.”
Photography by TracksidePhoto and MotoChido
