As the dreaded Winter of 2008 ever so slowly fades into yesterday, the promise of spring is now at our doorstep. Everywhere around the country, the guys and gals of the Off-Road Nation are emerging from the relative silence into the sunshine of a brand-new racing season. From California to Wisconsin to Louisiana to New York, the millions of off-road competitors and their fans are licking their chops at the idea of highly tuned engines firing up one more time, filling the spring air with that distinctively sweet smell of high-octane race gas.

Just like last year, the 2008 off-road motorsports calendar is filled with exciting, dynamic events that last from January until December. But the heart of the action begins now, when a vast majority of races around the country take advantage of warm weather and the renewed sense of energy and urgency. There are new teams and driver combinations to enjoy, as well as increased interest in the sport as a whole thanks to an epic 2007 season–a year many now consider one of (if not the) greatest in history.

Indeed, 2007 will be remembered as something very special. With record fields, unprecedented growth in vehicle builds and an ever-expanding audience base, last year lived up to every ounce of pre-season advanced billing. Capped in great style by the 40th anniversary running of the sport's groundbreaking Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, 2007 was a definite turning point in a colorful legacy now four decades old.

But even in the midst of last season, the obvious question on everyone's mind was "What's next?" Well, good. As it turns out in April of 2008, that was a very pertinent question.

In sharp contrast to last spring, in many ways the view looking forward into this season is much less optimistic. While certainly the momentum of 2007 has propelled interest in the sport, such factors as a slowing economy, a downturn in construction and ever-increasing gasoline prices are sure to play a major role in 2008. Most everyone witnessing the past five sparkling years of growth within the Off-Road Nation knew that this day was coming, and now it seems clear that 2008 will stabilize the runaway freight train of the mid-2000s.

So be it. A slowdown doesn't mean turning off the racing spigots altogether. In fact, there is still much to look forward to in 2008. Let's take a look at what lies ahead for all the fans of this still vibrant sport to enjoy. The following pages break it down in terms of desert, short course and rock, complete with major race schedules and tantalizing tidbits that offer behind-the-scenes insight into the fast-breaking developments within the sport. Strap in–it's going to be an interesting ride.

DESERT

(BOYD JAYNES)

For the desert crowd, let us be the first to predict the painfully obvious: In many ways, 2008 will be decidedly different than 2007.

The first races of this season already carry the distinctive look of a shift in confidence, interest and economic reality. At the SCORE Laughlin season opener in January, the field was noticeably diminished while Best In The Desert's Parker 425 a week later offered the largest field of competitors in BITD history. The causes may be attributed to many factors, but certainly one cannot ignore the recent violence and political turmoil in Baja, the rise in gasoline prices making it more expensive to haul equipment long distances (thus forcing teams to choose events closer in proximity) and the fact that many teams who need to cut back will elect to participate in their favorite races as opposed to committing to an entire season in one series.