King of the Hammers: Previewing off-road racing's big week
For those making the trek to his barren chunk of raw desert that's punctuated by rocky terrain and endless trails, much of their time will be focused on succumbing to an intoxicating 24-hour energy that KOH spins off in excess. For racers, however, a prestigious week of competition that touches different aspects of the sport is reason enough to make King of the Hammers — and it's legendary 'Hammertown' focal point — a can't-miss exercise.
Class 4400 Factory Bronco of Vaughn Gittin Jr.
While technically the 2025 KOH calendar included a rather insane 'King of the Motos' a week ago, things in Johnson Valley really kick into high gear starting today. This weekend's focus is on traditional desert racing, with wide open sections of desert sprinkled into sections of race course marked by soft sand and undulating, endless bumps.
Prerunning will officially open on Friday, with the limited classes having the opportunity to qualify in the morning as well. Saturday will see those classes take on the event's primary 64.9-mile course –– known as the 'Red Lap' — for two to four laps depending on the category. The driver line-up features an impressive list of racers in the UTV open category including the factory Polaris team and its recent Dakar Rally UTV category-winning rookie Brock Heger. Other top names include veterans Wayne and Kristen Matlock, Cayden MacCachren, Max Eddy and short course off-road specialists CJ Greaves and Doug Mittag.
Desert Challenge Unlimited Truck.
The day will also include Unlimited class qualifying and capped by the Class 11 race for race-prepped by mostly stock vintage VW Beetles.
Sunday, Feb. 2 is all about unlimited desert categories. Four open-wheel Class 1 cars (B1 class) and 24 Trophy-Truck Spec machines (known as the T2 category in KOH nomenclature) will chase 18 Trophy-Truck (T1) racers for overall honors. Top names include former Baja 1000 champions Luke McMillin, Cameron Steele, Ryan Arciero and Adam Householder in T1 and Apdaly Lopez, Kyle Jergensen, Pierce and EJ Herbst and short course champ Trey Gibbs in T2.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week offers up intense qualifying sessions for more specific KOH machines that combine desert and rock racing disciplines. There are even youth classes preparing for racing on Tuesday on Hammertown's short course section.
Desert Challenge Limited Race Class 10 car.
Next Thursday things get serious for a combination of factory and privateer drivers in the Can-Am UTV Hammers Championship race. Comprised of six different classes of Polaris, Can-Am and Kawasaki side-by-sides, most of the top names will run in the 4900 Pro Open and Pro Mod categories. Many of the fastest competitors will have competed in the desert UTV race, but others to watch for the rock racing version include Off-Road Hall of Fame inductee Johnny Greaves, Ronnie Anderson, Cody Miller, Phil Blurton, Mitch Guthrie and Hunter Miller. Special attention wil also be on Kyle Chaney, who came a whisker short of taking his Can-Am to the overall victory in last year's Race of Kings weekend finale.
The King of the Hammer's universal appeal is on full display during Friday's Yokohama Tire Every Man Challenge race. Created to offer off-road and 4×4 enthusiasts a way to build production-based machines into the sport, three classes that include Ford, Jeep, Dodge, Chevy, Suzuki, Volkswagen, Mahindra and Toyota-based race cars make for a true fan favorite.
The Everyman Challenge field lines up.
Saturday, Feb. 8, KOH's Race of Kings wraps up the busy week in grand fashion. Bolstered by a perfect backdrop that showcases the performance and versatility of modern Class 4400 unlimited machines, the Race of Kings has sparked the imagination of adventurous racers around the globe. A truly unlimited class with very few regulations outside of those focused on safety, the almost all the top level 4400 teams and drivers will be on hand.
Last year's King JP Gomez will try to defend his title against a stout field of 85 other competitors, a group that includes his former race winners Raul Gomez, Randy Slawson, Josh Blyler, Jason Scherer, Shannon Campbell and Eric Miller.
Motorsports fans around the world can enjoy live coverage on KOH's YouTube channel, with wrap-up shows airing the next day on the MAVTV network. With this much talent and all those bragging rights on the line, off-road racing's biggest week offers something special for everyone.
KOH official livestream link:
https://www.youtube.com/@kingofthehammers_official
Optima Battery King of the Hammers Schedule (all times Pacific)
Friday, Jan. 31
Desert prerunning (all day)
Limited class Desert qualifying (10:00am)
Saturday, Feb. 1
Unlimited class Desert qualifying (8:00am)
Limited class Desert Race start (10:00am)
Class 11 race (4:00 pm)
Sunday, Feb. 2
Unlimited class Desert Race start (9:00am)
Monday, Feb. 3
XRock Extreme Rock Crawling (10:00am-4:00pm)
UTV Hammers Championship qualifying (10:00am-4:00pm)
Tuesday, Feb. 4
Every Man Challenge class qualifying (10am-4:00pm)
KOH Kids 170 race
Wednesday, Feb. 5
Race of Kings qualifying (10am-4:00pm)
UTV Hammers Championship tech and contingency (10:00am-5:00pm)
Race of Kings Power Hour (2:00pm-3:00pm)
Thursday, Feb. 6
UTV Hammers Championship Race start (8:00am)
Every Man Challenge tech and contingency (10:00am-4:00pm)
Friday, Feb. 7
Every Man Challenge Race start (8:00am)
Race of Kings tech and contingency (10:00am-5:00pm)
Saturday, Feb. 8
Race of Kings race start (8:00am)
Story originally appeared on Racer
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
This Is Your Last Chance to Buy a New Ford GT
The street-legal Ford GT may be long gone at this point, but there's still one last chance to get your hands on the track-only version. The Blue Oval's performance division just announced that its last call for the GT Mk IV. Most of the examples of the supercar's final variant have already been spoken for, but Ford Performance's order book remains open for the last build slots. More from Robb Report This Epic $230 Million Superyacht Is Ready to Make a Splash at Monaco Chuck Lorre Reportedly Bought a Revamped John Elgin Woolf Home in L.A. for $28 Million Four Roses Just Unveiled Its Annual Fan-Favorite Unicorn Bourbon The GT debuted in 2004 as a modern reimagining of Ford's most famous race car, the GT40, which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans four straight times between 1966 and 1969. The first generation was in production until 2006, during which time 4,038 examples were produced, and was followed, a decade later, by the second generation, which was supposed to complete its 1,350-car production run in 2022. But Ford announced plans to release an unexpected final version of the second-gen GT right as production was supposed to an end. That variant was the Mk IV, a track-only model meant to pay tribute to the GT40 Mk IV that won Le Mans in 1967—and remains the only American-built and -operated car to have done so. The automaker and its racing partner, Canada-based Multimatic, announced plans to build just 67 examples of the vehicle by hand. Ford also said it expected deliveries to be completed by next year, but, as this latest announcement makes clear, at least a few are still up for grabs. The GT Mk IV may not have been an immediate sell-out, but that doesn't make it any less impressive. The two-seater is one of the most hardcore GTs, first- or second-gen, to see release. Its carbon-fiber 'longtail' body is longer than that of its peers and features a giant fixed wing coming off the back. It's powered by a 3.8-liter EcoBoost V-6 mated to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The naturally mill makes 820 hp, which is 160 more than the standard road-going model. It also features an upgraded adaptive suspension. Intrigued by this last chance at the second-gen GT? You have until October 15 to place your order for the supercar. Pricing for the exclusive track beast starts at $1.7 million. Best of Robb Report The 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine Beast The World's Best Superyacht Shipyards The ABCs of Chartering a Yacht Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
POLARIS RZR PRO R FACTORY REIGNS SUPREME AT 2025 VEGAS TO RENO
Polaris-Supported Racer Mitch Guthrie Jr. and his RZR Pro R Factory Win UTV Overall MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a stunning display of skill, stamina, and precision, Polaris-supported racer, Mitch Guthrie Jr. raced his way to victory in the RZR Pro R Factory at the legendary 2025 Las Vegas to Reno, taking home the overall UTV win and finishing second overall among all four-wheeled vehicles. Temperatures soared above 100°F as racers pushed speeds well over 110 mph across hundreds of miles of graded gravel roads, dry lake beds, and rugged mountain terrain. His total time of 8:19:14 edged out Can-Am®'s Cody Bradbury by a 9-second margin, capping off one of the closest and most dramatic finishes in recent history. "The Vegas to Reno course is one of the toughest in the world where our drivers are battling extreme heat, high speeds, brutal terrain, but the RZR Pro R Factory handled it all with incredible confidence and durability," said Alex Scheuerell, Director of Off-Road Motorsports, Polaris. "Mitch's impressive ability to navigate such a demanding course was key to the win and a huge validation of the performance and resilience we've built into this machine. The grit our entire team and Polaris-supported racers consistently demonstrate never ceases to impress. It's a clear reflection of the Polaris spirit." By mile 100, Guthrie was locked in a three-vehicle dogfight while Cayden MacCachren played a longer strategy, hanging back outside the top 10. By race mile 300, MacCachren's game of cat and mouse started to take shape. Heading into the mountains, he started flexing the power and nimbleness of the RZR Pro R Factory. By mile 450, only 18 seconds separated Bradbury, Guthrie, and MacCachren on corrected time. MacCachren would then physically pass the field and build a 14-second corrected lead with just 25 miles to go. Two miles from the finish, MacCachren overcame a challenge with rapid repairs, crossing the line and exemplifying the true grit of the Polaris team. Guthrie pushed his RZR Pro R Factory to the limit over the final miles with the vehicle ultimately proving its superiority, overtaking the Can-Am® and defeating Bradbury to take the overall UTV win by just nine seconds. The win marks a significant moment for Polaris as the RZR Pro R Factory machine once again proved its elite performance and durability, tackling the unforgiving terrain of the 2025 Vegas to Reno race with unmatched composure and capability. From deep silt beds to jagged rock gardens and long stretches of high-speed desert, the machine absorbed punishing impacts while maintaining precise control. The RZR Pro R Factory gave Mitch Guthrie Jr. the confidence to charge through technical sections that forced many competitors to back off. "We took the win in the RZR Factory Pro R, and it was a great race with tight battles up front dicing it up, with just seconds separating us at times," said Mitch Guthrie Jr. "The RZR Pro R Factory performed flawlessly with zero issues, which gave me the confidence to keep pushing from start to finish." Next, the Polaris RZR Factory Racing team will trade the rugged terrain of the Sierra Nevadas going back to the deserts of Baja as they will set their eyes on the trophy for the Baja 400, strategically placing for a spot in the prestigious Baja 1000. To learn more, please visit or join the conversation and follow on Facebook sm, Instagram sm, YouTube sm and Xsm. About PolarisAs the global leader in powersports, Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII) pioneers product breakthroughs and enriching experiences and services that have invited people to discover the joy of being outdoors since our founding in 1954. Polaris' high-quality product line-up includes the RANGER, RZR and Polaris XPEDITION and GENERAL side-by-side off-road vehicles; Sportsman all-terrain off-road vehicles; military and commercial off-road vehicles; snowmobiles; Indian Motorcycle mid-size and heavyweight motorcycles; Slingshot moto-roadsters; Aixam quadricycles; Goupil electric vehicles; and pontoon and deck boats, including industry-leading Bennington pontoons. Polaris enhances the riding experience with a robust portfolio of parts, garments, and accessories. Headquartered in Minnesota, Polaris serves nearly 100 countries across the globe. Can-Am® is a registered trademark of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Polaris Inc.
Motor 1
5 days ago
- Motor 1
It's Your Last Chance to Buy a Ford GT
Did you know that the Ford GT was technically still in production? It's true—Ford never completely halted manufacturing of the limited-run GT Mk IV track model, which debuted in 2023. But now, the iconic sports car's impressive eight-year run is officially coming to a close. Today, Ford announced the final production wave of the GT Mk IV . With most of the planned 67 units already spoken for, the company will open order books for the remaining few examples over the next few weeks. For what it's worth, Ford doesn't say exactly how many are left. Photo by: Ford Each GT Mk IV is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine, producing over 820 horsepower—enough to launch it from 0 to 60 mph in about 3.0 seconds. For comparison, the standard road-going GT used a smaller 3.5-liter V-6 making 660 hp. Built on a custom carbon-fiber chassis from Multimatic, the Mk IV features an array of aerodynamic upgrades that help it generate more than 2,400 pounds of downforce at 150 mph. It's also capable of cornering at over 3 Gs. Multimatic's Adaptive Spool Valve dampers, adjustable from the cockpit, further enhance on-track performance. Of course, this level of engineering doesn't come cheap. Each GT Mk IV carries a price tag of around $1.7 million. And once these final units are gone, production of the Ford GT will end for good. 11 Source: Ford More From Ford Ford Isn't Giving Up on Regular Cars: 'You'll Be Pleasantly Surprised' Ford Is Changing the Way It Builds Cars Forever: '40 Percent Faster' Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
