Hoping to encourage driver participation, Championship Off-Road announced Tuesday that membership and entry fees for the 2025 season have been waived for drivers new to the series.

Every class—Pro and Sportsman—is eligible so long that the driver has no prior experience with Champ.

“We believe the future of off-road starts by making the sport more accessible,” commented series director Carl Schubitzke. “This initiative is about opening the door for new talent, new families, and ambassadors of off-road racing.”

Rising costs have long been a concern in off-road racing, and short course is no exception. Many current sportsman series, which are for amateurs and those who do not race as a job, often tout lower entry fees as a means to attract drivers to them as a result, including the second iteration of SODA and its rival IODA.

Likewise, Champ stated the fee waivers was done for three reasons:

• Reduces financial pressure for new racers
• Encourages growth at the grassroots level
• Strengthens the racing community by welcoming fresh faces to the paddock

22 drivers across nine classes made their Champ debuts at Wheatland this past weekend.