Larry Ragland Brings 'Arnold' Out of Retirement for 2024 NORRA Mexican 1000, Announces His Retirement

May 4, 2024 -- Cabo San Lucas, Baja Sur

Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee and 5-time SCORE International Baja 1000 Trophy Truck overall winner "Lightning" Larry Ragland capped a remarkable career in off-road racing by bringing his winning Nelson & Nelson truck, known as "Arnold", out of retirement for one last race down the Baja Peninsula at the 2024 NORRA Mexican 1000. 

Larry Ragland and co-driver Preston Schmid airing out the legendary Nelson & Nelson truck "Arnold" during Day 1 of the NORRA 2024 Mexican 1000, eighteen years after it last raced in 2006.  Photo credit: NORRA/STEEL-IT.

Larry and co-driver Preston Schmid won the Historic Truck and Truggy Class, and Larry was presented with the ORMHOF "Leyenda de la Baja" (Legend of Baja) award. Photo credit: Eric Cornwell

Photo credit: Kelly Ragland

Photo credit: Erik Cornwell

While accepting the ORMHOF Leyenda de la Baja award, Larry announced his retirement from off-road racing.  "My goal was to do one more race with it (Arnold) on my 80th birthday," Larry said, "and that was last year. Now I'm 81. I love this truck. It's really made all my memories down here. We've both had our last race."

Larry Ragland receives a standing ovation from the crowd as he announces his retirement from off-road racing. Thank you to ORMHOF supporter Erik Cornwell for this video.

Larry Ragland was inducted into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2016. The ORMHOF Class of 2024 will be announced this summer and celebrated at Off-Road's Biggest Night of the Year, the ORMHOF 2024 Induction & Awards Gala on Sunday, November 3 at the South Point in Las Vegas.  Tickets go on sale in June.  Information on the 2024 Gala, including sponsorship details, are available here. 

A look back at a remarkable off-road career. Larry Ragland, thanks for the memories!

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