As the biggest off-road race in the United States and located just outside Las Vegas, it’s no surprise that the Mint 400 occasionally features some special names in the field. Stone Cold Steve Austin technically fits that bill, but make no mistake: he’s coming as a full-fledged off-road racer.

Austin plans to race a Kawasaki Teryx KRX 1000 in the UTV Pro Normally Aspirated class for GFI Racing. The team is co-run by Austin and his friend Zach Kisman.

While he is obviously known as one of the greatest pro wrestlers of all time, Austin has been dabbling in desert racing since 2023, particularly competing in Valley Off Road Racing Association. At his debut in the 2023 Prospector 250, he finished seventh in Sportsman UTV with Kisman’s father Shane as his co-driver.

He committed to the full VORRA season in 2024, returning to Sportsman UTV with the appropriately numbered #316 Kawasaki. Austin won his class in the season-opening Prospecter 250 and Dog Fight 250, placed second at The Stomping Grounds, then notched another win in the Gold Rush 250 to close out the year.

In August, he made his Best In The Desert debut at the Vegas to Reno. Competing in UTV Pro NA, he failed to finish while the younger Kisman won the category.

“I don’t want to sound morbid, but I’ll race ’til I die,” he told Fox News later that month.

Austin had been sidelined for much of the winter following a total knee replacement in December; he explained his “left knee was on its last leg, and I have been putting this surgery off for years.” After doing physical training to get his leg back in shape, he resumed to his Kawasaki last weekend to “knock the rust off and get back to driving.

“I am thankful to have found the challenge of Desert Off Road Racing. I love competition and the harsh conditions that come with it.”

He will compete in the Mint’s Limited Race, which will take place on March 7.

Featured image credit: Kawasaki