Three Nitrocross racing cars on a dirt track, one airborne in a jump

Get ready, adrenaline junkies! Nitrocross is right around the corner, ready to tear up the world of motorsport racing. Held annually, Nitrocross is the new frontier of motorsports. The action isn’t just heart-pounding — it’s all-consuming. The action won’t have you on the edge of your seat. It’ll have you jumping to your feet, cheering without holding back.

Sound like something you’d be into? We thought so.

Whether you’re new to Nitrocross or an avid follower, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know. This guide covers the competition’s ins and outs, key players, top moments of the 2023-24 season, and what to expect from this year’s edition, running from September 2024 to March 2025.

Get ready for heart-stopping moments, epic crashes, and unforgettable moments that only Nitrocross can deliver.

What is Nitrocross?

Hailed as the ultimate motorsport showdown, Nitrocross is an annual competition uniting fearless drivers worldwide on unique tracks. It was founded by motorsports legend, Travis Pastrana. A longtime Nitro Circus competitor, Travis took inspiration from the extreme sports brand and created a series solely focused on rally racing.

Forget the traditional confines of pavement or gravel. Nitrocross races can happen anywhere, from sand to snow. This groundbreaking approach delivers electrifying action, unlike anything spectators have seen before.

Nitrocross 2023-24 Recap: The Biggest and Best Moments

Before we look ahead to the upcoming action of Nitrocross 2024-25, let’s go back in time and explore some of the top moments from last year’s event, and the Nitrocross series format, which operates in four distinct driver categories:

  • Group E
  • Next
  • SXS
  • Baja Bugs
Four close-up images ofrNitrocross race car drivers in their helmets, labeled Group E, Next, SXS, and Baja Bugs

In Round #7 at Glen Helen Raceway, Fraser McConnell overtook Robin Larsson on the final corner after trailing him most of the race. It was a jaw-dropping moment and a true photo finish.

Then there was the epic moment between Kevin Eriksson and Norwegian driver Andreas Bakkerud. In Round #4, Bakkerud rammed into Eriksson while taking a corner, forcing Eriksson onto the outside wall for a wall ride. The incident shocked spectators but no more so than Eriksson himself. Once the race was over, Eriksson flew into a frenzy of rage, giving Bakkerud the double bird. During the post-race interview, Eriksson had some pretty choice words for Bakkerud, saying that stunts like these are why “he’s not respected by the top drivers in Europe and [in America].”

His biggest competition comes from runner-ups, Jamaica’s Fraser McConnell and Sweden’s Kevin Eriksson. McConnell has achieved some pretty impressive feats in his career recently. In July 2024, he and his teammate Laia Sainz landed a podium finish during the European leg of the Extreme E season in Scotland. Eriksson, on the other hand, is known for his bold driving style and “full-sends”. This fearlessness could pose a threat to Larsson and make Eriksson the underdog of the season.

In the Next category, standout performances last year came from Swede Casper Jansson as well as American drivers Lance Vacala and Jimmy Henderson. With all three completing the competition with over 500 points, we wouldn’t be surprised to see equally exceptional displays from this trio again.

Kainan Baker is the one to watch in the SXS category. Having already gone pro at just 16 years old, Baker is one of Nitrocross’ youngest participants. But don’t let the baby face fool you — he’s a fierce, take-no-prisoners competitor who had a whopping 557 points in last year’s final standings.

Another particularly notable participant in SXS, is The Team Ignition Show host herself, Leticia Bufoni.

Robin Larsson from Sweden has been dominant in the sport, delivering consistently strong seasons for the past few years. Larsson is one of the highest ranking drivers in the Nitrocross series, finishing at the top of the Group E in both 2022-23 and 2023-24.

Nitrocross 2024-25 Season

Nitrocross 2024-25 is bound to be an exciting season, in no small part because Team Ignition is a proud sponsor.

The season starts on September 7th in Richmond, Virginia, and wraps in Las Vegas, Nevada in March.

Here’s the full schedule:

  • Rounds 1 & 2: Richmond, VA — September 7 & 8, 2024
  • Rounds 3 & 4: Salt Lake City, UT — October 5 & 6, 2024
  • Rounds 5 & 6: Phoenix, AZ — November 15 & 16, 2024
  • Rounds 7 & 8: Miami, FL — January 11 & 12, 2025
  • Rounds 9 & 10: Las Vegas, NV — March 1 & 2, 2025

Across these 10 rounds of rallycross racing, you can expect the exact same level of exhilaration, entertainment, and joy as years past (if not more). More underdog stories, more clashes and crashes, more of the action you can’t get enough of.

Nitrocross 2024-25 will be broadcast via Rumble Sports and ESPN.

Tickets are available for purchase via Nitrocross.