Death Race owner Weyland has been forced to sell the rights to Niles York, a British billionaire who acquired the rights by hostile takeover. York reveals he intends to relocate Death Race to the deserts of Africa. Before leaving, Weyland arranges Lucas to have surgery to heal the infected and deadly scars on his face sustained from the previous film Death Race 2. With Carl Lucas, aka Frankenstein, one win away from gaining his freedom, York coaches Lucas to lose his races and threatens his life if he fails to comply.
Before his first race, Lucas engages in a fist fight with other racers and his mask is knocked off in the middle of the fight, revealing to his crew he actually didn't die in the previous film. Before the first race, all of the female navigators had to participate in a Death Match "Navigator Wars" now hosted and produced by Satana. Contestants to be chosen are the top 10 survivors, with Katrina among those who survived. Before the first race, all racers receive shots with GPS locators so the producer will know where all the racers are at all times and so they can be killed if they attempt to escape. During the first race, it is revealed that racing in the deserts of Africa has different variables than racing in prison. Racers can't go as fast and more focus should be spent on handling, in addition to the hostile locals. 11 racers are supposed to take the start, but one jumps the start and is chased by the missile tracker. Two die in the first sector (the racer who jumped at the start, and then Joker). Frankenstein ends up losing his first race by a hair to "Razor".
After the race, Katrina tells Lucas they can't have a relationship as they previously had. Another fight ensues after the first race and Goldberg is cut in the scuffle. The show's surgeon makes advances to Goldberg and the two establish a relationship. In order to make Katrina jealous, the producer Satana orders Psycho's navigator to have sex with Lucas, who seems to refuse the offer. Satana and York grow suspicious that Lucas is "up to something" due to his non-rebellious attitude to being forced to lose. Lucas then explains to his team mates his deal with York to lose and says instead he made a "new deal".
