Bragging rights and beer?
Every year, tens of thousands of hardcore spectators and nearly 1,000 competitors flood Johnson Valley, California, to create the city affectionately known as “Hammertown.” Its off-grid location emulates the postapocalyptic “Mad Max” films, setting the stage for pure chaos, with some racing sprinkled in.
King of the Hammers includes an entire week of racing, with the mack daddy Race of Kings, taking place Saturday, Feb. 7. A race known for carnage and chaos, only about 15% of racers who take the start ever finish the race.
The event was conceived by a pair of racers in search of bragging rights and a case of beer. It combines desert racing and rock crawling through 200 miles of grueling trails. It’s no wonder almost 80,000 people flood this otherwise deserted valley to witness the havoc.
Win and earn the title of King. Lose and the walk of shame could be your vehicle lifted out of the desert by helicopter (it happens).
Let’s take a look at where Team AMSOIL is competing this year.
Precision in the rocks
Kyle Chaney has been called a “surgeon” when it comes to navigating the rocks. The four-time King of the Hammers UTV champ showed us just that in 2025, when he became the first driver to win the Race of Kings in a UTV. Unfortunately, Chaney did not finish the King of the Hammers race in 2025 due to a breakdown, but he plans to race Desert, UTV and Race of Kings again in 2026.
A full stable
Brad Lovell kept his legendary streak alive in 2025 by winning both the Desert Championship and Every Man Challenge. Having won the Every Man crown four times, and the 4800 class four times, 2026 marks Lovell’s 21st trip to the lakebed. He is currently planning to race both the Desert and Every Man again this year, aiming to add more trophies to his collection.
King of the Hammers 2026 Event Schedule
Here’s where you’ll find Team AMSOIL action at KOH 2026:
- Friday, Jan. 30 — Pre-Running
- Saturday, Jan. 31 — Desert Challenge: Limited
- Sunday, Feb. 1 — Desert Challenge: Unlimited
- Thursday, Feb. 5 — UTV Hammers
- Friday, Feb. 6 — Every Man Challenge
- Saturday, Feb. 7 — The Race of Kings
Be sure to follow AMSOIL for daily updates and behind-the-scenes action from the lakebed, and don’t forget to tune in to the livestream on race day.
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