PEAK Squad Steven Olsewski’s Road to the Mint 400

It’s the Mojave. It’s white-knuckling the wheel around a blind curve in the open desert. It’s holding your breath while you fly through a dust cloud and launch over a tire-crushing bump. This is the Mint 400. 

PEAK’s very own Steven Olsewski is knee-deep in preparations for his return to the iconic Mint 400 off-road race, where he’ll race under the BlueDEF flag in hopes of taking home another win. 

Just last year, Steven defied the odds and won his class after overcoming a broken power steering pump mid-race. As the returning champ prepares for the desert, we sat down with him to talk about his outlook for this year’s race and how we can follow his journey from start to finish. 

The Greatest American Race

Steven is making his third appearance in the Mint 400 and aiming for a back-to-back victory in Class 2000. 

The race is so challenging (which is part of the fun for thrill-seekers like Steven) because of the extreme speeds racers need to hit in spite of the unforgiving desert terrain. With only 12 hours to complete 400 miles filled with endless dust clouds, hidden ruts and rugged bumps, it takes both a driver and a vehicle with extreme stamina to finish, let alone win. 

And it’s not a one-man show by any means. Steven’s teammate Matt shares driving responsibilities with each taking turns running a 95-mile lap. Steven will be in the driver’s seat for the first and final laps while Matt will take the wheel for the middle two. 

In the passenger seat, it’s the co-pilot’s job to keep track of notes, warn the driver of any approaching hazards, and advise them on the best line to take. Needless to say, you need a co-pilot you can trust to make it around the course. Steven’s right-hand man is his best friend, Kyle, and when Matt gets behind the wheel, he brings his dad along for the ride of his life. 

It takes a toll, not only physically but mentally. “The hardest part is just playing it smart,” says Steven. “If someone passes you, it’s hard not to push it. The car that passes you may get a flat two miles down the road from pushing too hard. You have to stay comfortable and race your race to bring it home.”

It’s not all stress and speed, though. As they barrel across the wide-open desert, racers are treated to unforgettable vistas dotted with Joshua trees and massive land formations that few people have the opportunity to experience.

This year, Steven is filled with confidence and optimism about his shot at the win. “As a racer, if you don't expect to win anytime you go out, you shouldn't be doing it,” he says.

The Evolution of the Mint 400

For Steven, the legacy and history of the Mint 400 are what make it so special. 

In the 1970s, the brand-new Mint Hotel & Casino sought to lure visitors by hosting a daring off-road race through the desert. Fifty years later, the Mint 400 is one of the most iconic off-road events and has been immortalized in both print and film; Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas recounts reporter Hunter S. Thompson’s unbelievable experience covering the 1971 race.

The race has evolved over the decades. The winners no longer take home collectible bottles of Jim Beam (but you can get a commemorative decanter!), and the Mint Hotel doesn’t exist anymore. After the property was sold in 1988, the race took a 20-year hiatus, returning in even bigger and bolder fashion in 2008. The modern Mint 400 has all the classic features of the original race, plus the excitement of advanced off-road technology and the ever-changing Las Vegas landscape. 

Even as a seasoned veteran of the Mint 400, Steven’s getting a brand new experience in this year’s race. In the past, racers in certain classes could opt for a 73-mile course, but for 2026, the Mint 400 is returning to its roots, with everyone running four laps around the original 95-mile course.

Steven’s Pre-Race Prep Checklist 

Staring down the extended course, Steven has been in preparation mode for months. 

Last year, Steven’s team began work on his truck three weeks prior to the race, leaving them with essentially no time to test it. “We just kind of went in and gave it our all,” says Steven. While last year’s gamble paid off, Steven’s glad to be getting an earlier start this time around. 

First up: getting his 2005 Chevy Colorado back in racing shape. He’s been hard at work checking systems and making improvements to the truck, adding a new exhaust and replacing the entire rear end to make it more resilient to the bumps and bruises that come with off-road racing. Thanks to his early preparation, Steven’s had several weeks to test the truck and make sure it’s at top performance for the race. 

His new-and-improved prep regimens aren’t just for the truck. This year, Steven’s also focusing on the mental side of racing. “Last year, I think we all got about eight hours of sleep the entire week, just because of how much needed to get done,” he says. “We're getting sleep this year. We're not going in tired.” 

Mint 400 racers don’t get the opportunity to pre-run the course, so they rely heavily on course notes from previous years. Leading up to the race, Steven will often reach out to drivers from other classes and compare notes. While most drivers will keep the best lines close to the vest, it’s a sportsmanlike environment where people are willing to help each other. 

And the final point on Steven’s checklist will come just moments before he hops into the driver’s seat. His only pre-race ritual is to give his wife a quick hug and kiss before he blasts off into the desert.

Follow Steven’s Mint 400 Run 

As PEAK’s social media guru, Steven knows his way around content creation. He’ll be sharing the details of all his pre-race preparations for you to follow along, including a closer look at the exhaust rebuild, testing, and shock-tuning. 

His behind-the-scenes content highlights all of the work that goes into the race truck. “Everyone sees these trucks at the starting line looking great, but no one knows the amount of work that goes into them,” says Steven. “There are a lot of hours put in. You put all that work in because you don't really want to find out something isn't tightened or didn't get fixed way out in the middle of the desert.”

If you followed Steven’s journey last year, you know that he likes to bring us all along for the ride. He’s once again setting up a livestream of his run, so you can experience each airborne bump and blind curve with him. Go ahead and bookmark the PEAK YouTube channel so you can join the livestream on race day. 

Join us in wishing Steven luck! We know he’ll make PEAK proud.