“Most people would never believe that I’m a professional racer,” Steve Barlow says thoughtfully. “I’m not the aggressive type in general.” Then he gets a wicked little gleam in his eye and adds, “But slap a helmet on me and put me behind the wheel, and I’m a different person.” Different is right. Call it pent-up aggression, call it heart, or call it rare talent – racing brings out something special in Steve Barlow that has resulted in a record number of Protruck wins, victories in epic off-road races like the Baja 1000, and coronation as Rookie of the Year in his newest challenge, the Championship Off Road Racing series.
Racing in the Family
Witha career spanning a quarter-century, Steve Barlow is the godfather of modern dirt racing. “We all choose our own paths, and pavement racing has its merits,” says the leader of the Red Bull Off-Road Team. “But, to me, there’s just nothing like dirt.” The three-time winner of the Baja 1000 has a calm demeanor that belies his ferocious appetite for racing—a hunger that has yielded him more first-place finishes than any other Protruck driver.
In 2003, he took on Championship Off-Road Racing and finished his first season on the circuit taking home Pro Class Rookie of the Year. Besides being the captain of the Red Bull Off-Road Team and driver of the Pro-4 truck, Steve is also the owner of Barlow Motorsports. Early in 2008, Barlow Motorsports/Team Red Bull signed Motocross legend Ricky Johnson to drive the Pro-2 truck. The team has more wins than any other group in CORR history, with nearly 20 total podiums and eight first-place finishes.
So, what does the future hold for the godfather of racing? In 2009, Steve has his sights set on the CORR Short Course Championship in the Pro-4 Truck Class. “I’ve been doing this for four years, which isn’t a lot of years in racing terms, but I think it’s time for me.”
