HAMMERTOWN, Calif. – With the desert racing portion of King of the Hammers completed, the UTV’s hit the full course Thursday for the Can-Am UTV Hammers Championship Presented by Progressive.
The course included rock sections that have boulders larger than some small apartments. The UTV’s face the same challenges as the larger vehicles that were purpose built to run in the rocks. Between the UTV manufacturers and aftermarket manufacturers, along with a very talented group of engineers and fabricators, newer UTV’s are very capable machines that are able to take on a multitude of terrains, including crawling straight up the giant boulders and rock waterfalls King of the Hammers is famous for.
When the green flag waved 122 competitors headed out onto the course, which consisted of 86 miles through the desert and rocks of Johnson Valley, Calif. Competitors wound their way through 18 rock strewn canyons. Notable desert racers such as Red Bull-backed Bryce Menzies and Monster Energy driver and television announcer Cameron Steele, who is attempting to compete in five classes this week, competed in the Can-Am UTV Hammers Championship.
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Also racing was the Monster Energy AMA Supercross legend Jeremy McGrath, as well as X-Games gold medalist and multi-time short course off-road champion Brian Deegan. Many other top drivers from the world of desert and short course racing also competed.
Spectators lined the course, packing the rock sections to watch all of the action. The only way to access these areas is by four-wheel drive. Families dragged coolers, chairs and ez-up tents along the hillside to watch the drivers climb over the giant boulders. Some flipped and rolled and the crowd cheered when those drivers would have success.
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With sections that have names like Chocolate Thunder, Turkey Claw and Sledgehammer, these canyons were just as intimidating as they sound with challenging obstacles.
Last year’s winner, Kyle Chaney, had the target on his back. Chaney started seventh and stayed ahead of his competitors for most of the race, only having to winch through a large boulder section in Sledgehammer. Close behind were fellow Can-Am drivers Hunter Miller and Paul Wolff. Hunter and Wolff also faced some challenges in the rock sections. Chaney continued to advance his lead and won the race by 20 minutes, backing up his win from a year ago.
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Miller ended up second, followed by Wolff in third. Only 27 competitors were able to finish the race.
The top 20 racers that were lucky enough to finish the long race and those that wanted to continue the Hammers punishment on their vehicles would qualify for a $10,000 grudge match race. This race followed a different format where they would race on a 1.3-mile short course normally used for qualifying near the start/finish line. The entire field would be inverted, meaning 20th position would start first and first was starting in the 20th position.
Deegan was lucky enough to take the win and the $10,000, putting his short course skills to good use. Deegan struggled in the main race, running out of gas about a mile from his pit. He sent his co-driver running to the pit for fuel.
For more in-depth coverage of King the Hammers visit www.dirtsportsworld.com and follow along on SPEEDSPORT.com and SPEEDSPORT.TV for more LIVE From presented by Cometic Gasket coverage!
