The King of Hammers: A Gritty Test of Endurance
Josh DescalopoulisShare
Welcome to our deep dive into the heart-pounding world of the King of the Hammers Race of Kings 4400 Unlimited Class, where courage meets the crunch of metal, and the desert's unforgiving terrain becomes the ultimate battleground for off-road supremacy. This event isn't just a race, it's a testament to human tenacity, mechanical prowess, and the indomitable spirit of adventure that defines the off-roading community. From the electrifying anticipation of pre-race preparations to the exhilarating climax of the final lap, we're here to bring you the inside scoop on what makes this event a highlight in the extreme sports calendar. Join us as we recount the moments of triumph, the hurdles that tested the mettle of participants, and the unforgettable atmosphere that makes the King of Hammers a must-experience phenomenon.
With the King of the Hammers wrapped up after an impressive two weeks of meets, qualifying rounds, events for attendees, and plenty of racing, we saw everything from the King of the Motos to the Toyo Tires Desert Challenge, Everyman Challenge. A new event that everyone was eagerly anticipating was the KOH Kids 170 race.
With qualifying out of the way, we were left with a massive list of impressive qualifiers to start on Saturday morning. Off the line were Cade Rodd, Paul Wolff, Loren Healy, Levi Shirley, Jason Scherer, and Raul Gomez.
Early on we saw Driver 25, Vaughn Gittin Jr stuck or broken down in Turkey Claw, causing a huge bottleneck and showing a potential for an early exit. In a true King of the Hammers start we had Paul Wolf & Bailey Campbell out due to technical issues, along with many other heavy hitters by lap 1. Right away we see a rollover by Driver 4333, Rich Goldman on the first corner of the start. Driver 67, Loren Healy, was leading with Jason Scherer closely following into the pits on lap one.
On Lap 2, Loren Healy lost his lead due to a flat tire and steering pump issues, this was a significant setback as Casey Curry took the physical lead, moving up from 15th place earlier in the morning.
Lap 3 we got to see a classic rivalry between Jason Scherer and Raul Gomez. Unfortunately, Jason Scherer had a run-in with Cade Rodd during an attempted pass, following Raul Gomez taking the lead. This incident caused a huge change in pole position, with Kyle Chaney making an amazing pass, and Loren Healy catching up quickly due to his almost flawless driving. Despite leading on the first lap, Healy had dropped down to 25th due to several mechanical issues, but his exceptional driving skills gave him the opportunity to pressure the leaderboard.
Near the end of Lap 3 everyone was on the edge of there seat with Jason Scherer finally overtaking Cade Rodd. After a quick trip to the pits, he was back in the race, pushing hard to make up for lost time. Unfortunately, aggressive driving led to a crash, and with a broken thumb and vehicle, he was out of the race. Raul Gomez, on the final lap, rolled over in a relatively easier section, forfeiting the lead and allowing for an epic sprint to the finish from drivers behind, regaining hope to win the crown of the Race of Kings.
In the end, Loren Healy found himself chasing down Cade Rodd, knowing from communications on the radio that he was the physical leader. As the Bronco approached quickly, it was evident Healy was in tune with his new vehicle for the year as he makes the pass and regains the lead. Pushing forward it was unquestionable that Lorean Healy was pushing for the crown with no one in his way. However, less than 5 miles from the finish line, Loren Healy blew a transmission and came to a stop. With Hammer Town in sight, Kyle Chaney took the lead once again. Despite major damage to the front end of his Can-Am, including what appeared to be a torn front shock mount, and later on learning he was driving on what sounded like a blown shock the entire day, Kyle managed to cross the finish line first physically and later officially placed 8th due to time adjustments and penalties. As drivers came in one by one, the top three officially on the podium were JP Gomez in first, Brett Harrell in second, and John Webb in third.
With all the excitement wrapped up, we've got you covered with the KOH event highlights. Dive into the adrenaline-pumping KOH live event recording from Saturday, along with all the qualifying and race results. But remember, this is just the tip of the iceberg of a marathon 13+ hour event. We'd love to hear from you—drop your favorite moments and your top picks for the win in the comments below! As we gear up for next year's KOH, stay locked here for all things 4400 throughout 2024. Keep it real and keep it dirty, and let's keep the off-road spirit alive together!