The 2025 King of the Hammers: A Thrilling Display of Grit and Determination
The 2025 King of the Hammers (KOH) event, one of the most iconic and grueling off-road races in the world, took place in Johnson Valley, California. The 17 day event starts with King of the Motos in Late January and ends with the Race of Kings in early February. This year’s race was packed with excitement, drama, and a few surprises, as racers from around the globe faced one of the toughest challenges in motorsports.
Brock Heger Dominates the Can-Am UTV Hammers Championship
The massive field of 137 UTV racers lead to tons of action during the UTV Chamionship. Brock Heger's continues to show how he is the one to beat in the world of UTV racing. Hot off his 2025 Dakar UTV win, Heger crossed the finish line after a grueling 4 hours and 21 minutes. 13 minutes later Cody Miller Crossed the line in second place. Nathan Parker rounded out the top 3.
The Yokohama Every Man Challenge: Brad Lovell Triumphs
The Yokohama Every Man Challenge, a race that provides a platform for both seasoned professionals and amateurs alike, was another exciting chapter in the 2025 KOH. Brad Lovell emerged victorious with an impressive time of 5 hours and 39 minutes. While physically crossing the finish line first, Amber Slawson was forced to accept the time penalties for missing several checkpoints (dropping her to 3rd overall) , preventing her from making history as the first woman to win an overall at KOH.
Slawson’s drive was remarkable, but the penalties served as a harsh reminder of the importance of precision in this demanding race. Even though she didn’t secure the win, her performance remains a significant milestone in the event’s history.
Cody Young had a solid run and finished 2nd overall after corrected time.
Kyle Chaney's Incredible Comeback in the Race of Kings
Arguably the most dramatic and unpredictable race of the day was the Race of Kings, the crown jewel of the KOH. This year, it was Kyle Chaney in his Can-Am UTV who shocked the off-road world by taking the overall win with a time of 7 hours and 53 minutes. What made this victory even more remarkable was the mystery 3rd lap, a portion of the race that no competitor had the chance to pre-run and which they received GPS files for just before the race.
That third lap proved to be a game-changer for Chaney, who started the lap in third place and managed to leapfrog the top two competitors during the lap. With a bit of luck and some mechanical misfortune affecting his rivals, Chaney seized the opportunity and powered his way to the front.
Josh Blyler, saw his lead disappear when he broke his car while trying to get unstuck in a treacherous rock section. Similarly, JP Gomez, another contender, faced a major setback when he had to change a flat tire, costing him valuable time. JP riding in a single seater was tasked with doing the flat tire change all on his own. These issues paved the way for Chaney’s ascension to the top, and with only 27 of the 100 racers finishing the Race of Kings, it was a testament to the extreme nature of the event.
Cody Miller jumped to 2nd place over Gomez and Blyler while they were working on their car issues. A short time later the front of Miller’s Can-am broke off from the rest of the UTV. Creating some entertaining content for the camera crews live streaming the event. Miller and his codriver used the winch to pull the pieces back together and at least get his car back down into Hammertown.
JP Gomez was able to get a new tire on his car and finish out the race 30 minutes behind Chaney. Brian Caprara rounded out the top 3 with a time of 10 hours and 24 minutes.
A Race Like No Other
The 2025 King of the Hammers will go down in history as one of the most intense and unpredictable events in off-road racing. With the elements of surprise, mechanical failures, and sheer skill and determination coming into play, it was a race that showcased everything that makes KOH so legendary. This is why 100k plus fans show up throughout the week to watch and have a good time in Hammertown.
From Brock Heger’s consistency in the Can-Am UTV Hammers Championship to Brad Lovell’s hard-fought victory in the Stock class, in the Yokohama Every Man Challenge, and Kyle Chaney’s shocking victory in the Race of Kings, this year’s event had it all.
KOH is more than just a race; it’s a proving ground for off-road racers, and in 2025, it was a display of resilience, strategy, and nerve under pressure. With only 27 finishers in the Race of Kings, the race served as a stark reminder of the difficulty and unpredictability of this grueling event. As the dust settles and racers reflect on this year’s race, all eyes will inevitably turn to next year’s King of the Hammers to see if anyone can dethrone the reigning champions of this wild, unforgiving sport.
