King of Hammers Preview

2023 Progressive King of the Hammers Powered by OPTIMA Batteries

Racing Preview
 

January 27, 2023 (Johnson Valley, CA) – The 2023 Progressive King of the Hammers Powered by OPTIMA Batteries kicks off today. From its humble beginnings as a wager between a small group of friends in 2007, it has grown into the largest off-road motorsports event in the world and one of the largest to take place on public lands in the United States. It’s a must-attend event for any off-road enthusiast, but if you can’t be there, don’t worry. It’s easy to be part of the King of the Hammers action by joining the millions of fans watching the live event coverage online all week long.

With nearly a dozen days of racing for off-road vehicles of every shape and size, and 897 teams entered from 37 states across the U.S. and multiple countries, the Progressive King of the Hammers (KOH) is bigger than ever before. The massive off-road motorsports event also brings tens of thousands of spectators to Johnson Valley in the Southern California desert for a week of exciting racing on and around the treacherous and challenging boulder-filled trails known collectively as “The Hammers.” Described using names such as Jackhammer, Wrecking Ball, and Sledgehammer, these obstacle-filled sections of the Hammers racecourse create intense action and fierce competition as teams battle to get through them in one piece and cross the finish line.

At the center of all this action is Hammertown, the temporary city in the desert built on Means Dry Lake. It’s the beating heart of the 2023 Progressive King of the Hammers which includes race pits and over 150 vendors for parts, gear, food, and beverage. There are Jumbotrons for spectators to view the live race broadcasts, and Hammertown offers a festival-like atmosphere all day long, live music at night and many interactive experiences. The 2023 King of the Hammers is a celebration of racing and off-road culture, and Hammertown has become the place to be for off-road enthusiasts who come to enjoy the races and drive their own vehicles in Johnson Valley’s wide-open spaces.

Live coverage and tracking of the 2023 Progressive King of the Hammers Powered by OPTIMA Batteries can be viewed at www.kingofthehammers.com/live. Or, subscribe to the new King of the Hammers YouTube channel to receive notifications. Upgrading to a premium membership gives access to even more features including multi-view, in-car cameras, bonus feeds, and more. Subscribe now at www.youtube.com/@kingofthehammers_official. To see who’s racing and find event information, check out www.kingofthehammers.com.

2023 Progressive King of the Hammers Powered by OPTIMA Batteries Schedule

Friday, January 27, 2023
12 – 5 pm SRT King of the Motos Tech Inspection
6 pm SRT King of the Motos Riders Dinner, WARN VIP Tent
7 pm SRT King of the Motos Riders Meeting, WARN VIP Tent
8 pm Live Music at Hammertown Firepit

Saturday, January 28, 2023

7 am SRT King of the Motos Tech Inspection
8 – 11 am SRT King of the Motos Prologue
12 pm SRT King of the Motos Race One Riders Staging
1 – 4 pm SRT King of the Motos Race One
7 pm Live Music at Hammertown Firepit

Sunday, January 29, 2023

8 am SRT King of the Motos Race One Rider Staging, Chocolate Thunder
9 am – 3 pm SRT King of the Motos Race Two (ends at Chocolate Thunder)
5 pm SRT King of the Motos Awards in Hammertown
 

Thursday, February 2, 2023

12 pm Pre-running opens and the course map is released to registered competitors (desert loop clockwise)
12 pm KOH Outpost Featuring Sonora Brewing Company, Big Bear Lake Brewing Company, and Tiny Pony Tavern Opens
6:30 pm Caiden Brewer performing live at the Monster Energy Stage
8:30 pm Hollywood Yates live at the Monster Energy Stage
10:30 pm Matt Farris live at the Monster Energy Stage

Friday, February 3, 2023
Pre-running full course open (desert loop clockwise)
7 pm Toyo Tires Desert Challenge Presented by Monster Energy Drivers Meeting, WARN VIP Tent
8 pm Live Music at the Hammertown Firepit

Saturday, February 4, 2023
Short course and desert closed to pre-running
7 am Toyo Tires Desert Challenge Presented by Monster Energy Tech and Contingency, Gate 3
8 am Toyo Tires Desert Challenge Presented by Monster Energy Prologue (all Desert classes: T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, B1, B2, B3, and B4)
8 am Terra Crew 1400/1450 Rush (following Prologue)
8 am Baja Jerky Class 11 Showdown Presented by EMPI – Land rush start on Melville Dry Lakebed (following Prologue and Terra Crew Rush)
6 pm Toyo Tires Desert Challenge Presented by Monster Energy Awards
6:30 pm TBA live at the Monster Energy Stage
8:30 pm A.D.D. live at the Monster Energy Stage
10:30 pm Guttermouth live at the Monster Energy Stage

Sunday, February 5, 2023
Short course and desert closed to pre-running
8 am -12 pm Toyo Tires Desert Challenge Presented by Monster Energy for Limited Trucks and Buggies Race One (B2, B3, B4, T3, T4, Terra Crew 1400 and 1450) and all classes associated with the Triple Crown, or any applicable partnering series) 
12:30 pm Toyo Tires Desert Challenge Presented by Monster Energy for Unlimited Trucks and Buggies Race Two (T1, T2, B1) 
5 – 6 pm Registered KOH Rookie Program Mandatory Meeting, WIFI Tent in Hammertown
6 pm Toyo Tires Desert Challenge Presented by Monster Energy Awards
7 pm UTV/EMC/4400/GAS Drivers Mandatory Meeting, WARN VIP Tent/broadcast over the jumbotron
8 – 11 pm Great American Shortcourse Powered by OPTIMA Batteries Practice

Monday, February 6, 2023
7:30 – 10 am Great American Shortcourse Powered by OPTIMA Batteries Qualifying
8 am – 2 pm Can-Am UTV Hammers Championship Qualifying at Chocolate Thunder
2 – 3 pm Can-Am UTV Hammers Championship Power Hour at Chocolate Thunder
11 am – 5 pm Great American Shortcourse Powered by OPTIMA Batteries Main Events
6 pm: Pit Crew Challenge Presented by Pro Eagle & Buggy Whip at Pro Eagle Booth

Tuesday, February 7, 2023
8 am – 2 pm 4WP Every Man Challenge Qualifying at Chocolate Thunder
2 – 3 pm 4WP Every Man Challenge Power Hour at Chocolate Thunder
6 pm Holley EFI Shootout Presented by Action Sports Canopies & King Shocks

Thursday, February 9, 2023
Pre-running closed, hot racecourse
8 am Can-Am UTV Hammers Championship Race Start
9 am King of the Hammers Overland Experience Presented by Shiftpod Opens
10 am – 4pm 4WP Every Man Challenge Tech & Contingency, Gate 3
6 pm Can-Am UTV Hammers Championship Race End
6:30 pm Local Anthology live at the Monster Energy Stage
8:30 pm Spray Allen live at the Monster Energy Stage
10:30 pm Sublime with Rome live at the Monster Energy Stage

SRT King of the Motos
King of the Motos returns to the 2023 schedule and this year’s race will again begin with its dramatic land rush, then take riders through a total of 40 miles of some of the most rugged terrain found in the rocky landscape of Johnson Valley. This year also begins a significant partnership with The AMA US Hard Enduro Series. The SRT King of the Motos will be the first stop on the 2023 US Hard Enduro schedule. The two-day competition takes place Saturday, January 28th, and Sunday, 29th. Featuring top riders, the 2023 SRT King of the Motos race is known for its no-miss land rush starts. Get ready for a wild show.

Baja Jerky Class 11 Showdown Presented by EMPI
The Baja Jerky Class 11 Showdown Presented by EMPI has become one of the most popular and exciting events of the Progressive King of the Hammers Powered by Optima Batteries. There’s nothing like watching these near-stock VW Bugs – one of the original off-road race car types – go at it like Roman gladiators. The Baja Jerky Class 11 Showdown Presented by EMPI was held on the infield track in Hammertown last year. For 2023, the Class 11 race will begin with a land rush start on Melville Dry Lake and compete on a 40-mile-long desert course with no pit stops.

Toyo Tires Desert Challenge Presented by Monster Energy
The Toyo Desert Challenge Presented by Monster Energy is in its fourth year as one of the feature events of the 2023 Progressive King of the Hammers Powered by Optima Batteries. New for 2023 are expanded vehicle classes to now include even more buggy types and truck builds. Everything from three build levels of UTVs and basically any VW-based tube-chassis car to stock mini-trucks and 1000-horsepower unlimited race trucks that literally fly across the desert will be included for a total of 11 vehicle classes. The single-day 2023 Toyo Tires Desert Challenge Presented by Monster Energy features two races starting hours apart that include Limited Trucks/Buggies (B2, B3, T3, T4, Terra Crew 1400/1450 trucks, and all classes associated with The Triple Crown) and Unlimited Trucks/Buggies (T1, T2, and B1).

If you’re a fan of short-course off-road racing, then the Great American Shortcourse Powered by Optima Batteries (GAS) will be your favorite race of the 2023 Progressive King of the Hammers Powered by Optima Batteries. This is a points race for the Great American Shortcourse Series, and a special track will be built just for this event. The fast and furious fender-banging and door-slamming action will be a sight to see as the drivers go full blast over the jumps and around the corners in Hammertown.

Holley EFI Shootout Presented by Action Sports Canopies and King Shocks

The 2023 Holley EFI Backdoor Shootout Presented by Action Sports Canopies and King Shocks is a fan favorite event, taking place this year at Chocolate Thunder. This is where a “gentlemanly” challenge between southern rock bouncers and western rock crawlers competing for the fastest time up an infamous rock ledge turned into one of the most popular events of the week. The night event held under lights is a spectacle not to be missed.

The Can-Am UTV Hammers Championship Presented by Progressive
The 2023 Can-Am UTV Hammers Championship Presented by Progressive is a testament to the astonishing rise in UTV popularity. Today’s UTVs are powerful and fast, with superbly designed suspensions and excellent handling capabilities that have grabbed the attention of recreational users as well as racers. As a matter of fact, some of the hottest drivers from other vehicle classes (buggies and trucks) also compete in the Can-Am UTV Hammers Championship. This is a race to keep your eyes on.

4WP Every Man Challenge
The 2023 4WP Every Man Challenge (EMC) will feature four different classes of Ultra4 race vehicles. These include the 4500 Yukon Gear and Axle Modified Class, 4600 Currie Enterprises Stock Class, 4800 Branik Motorsports Legends Class, and the Ultra4 EV Class Presented by Hypercraft and Dana Spicer. The Every Man Challenge was created to offer both upcoming and experienced talent a less-expensive pathway into Ultra4 racing through these limited-build classes. EMC classes run an abbreviated Unlimited 4400 racecourse and are defined by varying levels of the build. The 4500 class has a factory-style body, partial frame, mechanical steering, two shocks per corner, and a maximum 37-inch tire. The 4600 class has a factory engine, stock frame, single shock per corner, and a 35-inch maximum tire. The 4800 class must be a front engine, two-seater, with solid axles, single shock per corner, and a 37-inch maximum tire. Ultra4 EV is a spec class made up of complete crate packages from Hypercraft and Dana Incorporated. Don’t let the Limited tag fool you, some of the best racing action comes from these 4WP Every Man Challenge teams.

Nitto Race of the Kings
The 2023 Nitto Race of the Kings is where this massive desert-racing event all began. It is the “OG” Ultra4 race. It’s populated with an anything-goes, whatever-you-can dream and build, limitless group of rock-racing vehicles now referred to as the 4400 Class. These unlimited Ultra4 race cars stretch the boundaries of what an off-road race car can be. The Nitto Race of the Kings tests the performance and strength of the 4400 cars, as well as the talent and perseverance of their drivers, against a racecourse that is widely considered to be the toughest in the world. To win the Nitto Race of the Kings, a team must possess a rock-solid race car, excellent drivers and support team members, cool heads to deal with a range of situations that may occur, and a dose of  good luck. Many will try, a few will finish, but only one will be crowned “King of the Hammers.”