When the Ford Bronco reappeared on showroom floors in 2021, it was more than the return of a famous off-road vehicle after a quarter-century hiatus. It also marked a new era for one of the most famous racing automobiles. The Bronco has long been a trusted steed in off-road racing circles, and with new Broncos finally being produced, it means a new crop of SUVs that can tackle everything from the Baja 1000 to the Rainforest Challenge.
It’s no surprise, given the Bronco’s popularity and the legacy of Ford Performance—which has won everywhere from NASCAR to drag racing—that this 4×4 SUV would be a player in the motorsports world. As a lifelong racing fan who loves history, I decided to learn more about how the Bronco has taken motorsports by storm in the past and present. Suffice it to say if you go in search of a Ford Bronco for sale, you’re getting a vehicle that is steeped in racing heritage.
A Hard Charger From the Start
Ever since the Ford Bronco debuted in 1966, it has been charging toward the finish lines. One of the first motorsports personalities associated with the new 4×4 was Bill Stroppe, who had spearheaded Ford and Mercury motorsports efforts for decades, working on winning entries for everything from the Pan-American Race to the Pikes Peak hill climb. Ford chose Stroppe to do press programs for the Bronco’s rollout—but Stroppe saw an opportunity to build a team for the relatively new sport of off-road racing.
Stroppe had partnered with NASCAR builder Holman-Moody earlier in the decade for stock car ventures (which led to Holman-Moody buying out Stroppe’s company). Together, the trio dove head-first into off-road competition, relying on Stroppe to turn the Bronco into a high-level racing machine. Before long, Ford Broncos were showing up at every major North American off-road race, including the Baja 1000, Baja 500, and Mint 400. They were being driven by some of the most famous drivers too, including former Indy 500 champions Parnelli Jones, Al Unser Sr., and Bobby Unser, as well as off-road legends Larry Minor and Ray Brock.
Success came swiftly. Stropp unveiled his first Bronco race car in March 1966, and soon after, Ray Harvick used it to score a win at the National Four-Wheel Drive Grand Prix. In 1969, Larry Minor and Rod Hall captured the overall crown at the Baja 1000 in a 1968 Ford Bronco—which is still the only production 4×4 to do so. In the 1970s, Parnelli Jones used a modified Bronco to earn class wins at the Baja 1000, Baja 500, and Mint 400. Ford capitalized on these wins by offering a Baja Package from 1971-1975 that included add-ons like upgraded cooling, extended fenders, a roll bar, and a locking rear differential.
Incidentally, off-roading wasn’t the only venue for the early Bronco. Drag racing icon Doug Nash was well-known for the “Bronco Buster” funny car he built in 1966, which became a draw on the racing circuit thanks to its unique design. However, the vehicle only made it one year in competition before the NHRA added new rules prohibiting aluminum frames and SUV bodies.
Broncos continued to dominate throughout the rest of the 20th century. Even during the 25-year span that street Broncos lay dormant, the Bronco still reigned. From 2002 to 2019, Broncos from the 1978-1995 model years earned 15 Baja 1000 Class 3 wins and nine Baja 500 Class 3 wins.
Ford Bronco Motorsports in the Present Day
Here in the 2020s, the Bronco is again making its mark. Before the sixth-gen Bronco even reached dealers, Ford Performance had already announced plans for Bronco 4400 unlimited class and Bronco 4600 stock class race cars as part of the Built Wild off-road racing and adventure program. Made for the ULTRA4 off-road series and specifically the King of the Hammers, the new Bronco racers made an instant impact. As I write this, the Bronco 4600 has won three consecutive class titles at the King of the Hammers, including sweeping the top three in 2022 and 2023. Both vehicles also have class wins in the El Rey de Las Bajas, the San Felipe 250, and other notable events. In the 2022 season, a Bronco 4600 won every race Ford entered!
As for the Baja 1000, the Ford Bronco is still on top of its game. At the 56th Baja 1000 in 2023, modern off-road great Brad Lovell piloted a Ford Bronco Raptor to victory in the Stock Mid-Size class (a Ford F-150 Raptor R won the Stock Full-Size class for good measure.) It’s not just the new Bronco leading the way, either. The same Baja 1000 saw the privateer Team 1435 win the Sportsman Truck class with a 1972 Bronco they restored after finding it abandoned in a Colorado Springs field. They were the only team in the class to finish, speaking to the brutality of the event and the ruggedness of a vehicle built over 50 years prior.
The Ford Bronco DR: The Ultimate Modern Track Bronco
Ford hasn’t stopped innovating when it comes to off-road racing. The 2024 NORRA Mexican 1000 six-day rally race marked the official competition debut of the Ford Bronco DR. Announced in November 2021, this limited-edition machine is the most powerful production Bronco ever made. Among its highlights are a 5.0L Coyote V8 engine that makes more than 400 hp, a Multimatic HOSS suspension that includes new Positional Selective DSSV Dampers, a 65-gallon fuel tank, and a safety cage. It’s a turn-key race car ready for anything the desert can throw at it.
Only 50 Ford Bronco DRs were made for consumers, and they quickly sold out even at a $295,00 price tag. If you can somehow get your hands on one, though, you’re in for a treat. As for how the Bronco DR did at the Mexican 1000, Brad Lovell drove it to a class win while coming in 15th overall.
The Greatest Racing Broncos
A lot of Broncos have seen competition since that 1966 debut. Which ones have stood the test of time? Here are my picks for the three best Ford Bronco race cars ever made:
#1 – Hall Racing 1968 Bronco
This is the vehicle that made history at the 1969 Baja 1000, and it is still around today. After the vehicle was retired, it sat dormant for decades before being rediscovered. Samco Fabrication restored it, and in 2016, Rod Hall and his granddaughter Shelby drove it at the NORRA Mexican 1000—and they finished second in the Vintage Pioneer 4×4 class.
#2 – Big Oly Bronco
One of Bill Stoppe’s creations, Big Oly is the Bronco that Parnelli Jones used to pick up his Baja 1000 and Mint 400 class victories. The vehicle was restored and sold at auction in 2021 for $1.87 million, making it the most valuable truck in the world at the time. The new owner promptly took Big Oly racing—and flipped it at the 2022 NORRA 1000. Fortunately, it was undamaged and is still running today.
#3 – Moss Brothers Racing 1979 Bronco
Perhaps the most successful racing Bronco of the 21st century, the Moss Brothers of Sacramento, CA, have run this second-generation Bronco since 20002. Highlights of its reign include 12 SCORE Class 3 championships and over 40 Class 3 wins, including multiple Class 3 victories at the Baja 1000.
Bucking Toward Continued Triumph
After six decades of accomplishments in motorsports, the Ford Bronco shows no signs of slowing down. Ford’s stated goal when developing the Ford Bronco DR was to enter it in the Baja 1000, and after it passed the first test at NORRA with flying colors, I’ll be watching closely to see how it fares on the biggest off-road racing stage. With plenty of private, professional, and hobby racing teams alongside the factory efforts, expect to see the Bronco take many more trophies in the coming years.
