Desert Steel

The world of 4x4 off-road racing pile-drives across your screen in this dimwit drama. The action in Desert Steel mostly consists of souped-up vehicles with oversize tires kicking up dust in the desert, accompanied by a godawful rock soundtrack. But that's easier to take than what happens off the track, where a hotshot underdog (Naughton) readies for the Big Race while making pit stops with pretty reporter Wyss. ''I was sent out here to do a documentary on Americana,'' she says. ''I figured off-road racing fit the bill.'' Guess again. F