Kyle Chaney Makes History at the 2025 King of the Hammers Race of Kings
Kyle Chaney etched his name in off-road racing history by winning the 2025 King of the Hammers Race of Kings, becoming the first UTV driver ever to claim victory in the brutal 4400 Unlimited Class. Piloting his Can-Am Maverick R, Chaney conquered the grueling 225-mile course, outlasting a field of over 100 competitors in what many are calling one of the toughest KOH races to date. With a calculated strategy, a well-prepared machine, and an unwavering focus, Chaney crossed the finish line in commanding fashion, proving that UTVs are capable of taking on the toughest off-road vehicles in the world.
Kyle Chaney – Photo courtesy of of Raceline Wheels
A New Race Format Raises the Stakes
The 2025 Race of Kings featured a new three-lap format, keeping drivers on their toes by revealing the third lap dubbed the “Mystery Lap” only a day before the race. Each lap increased in difficulty, ensuring that only the best-prepared vehicles and most skilled drivers would make it to the finish:
- Lap 1 (Red Lap) – 65 miles of high-speed desert racing.
- Lap 2 (White Lap) – 85 miles, adding 20 miles of technical rock sections.
- Lap 3 (Blue Lap) – 75 miles of never-before-run rock trails, leaving drivers to navigate entirely new terrain without prior reconnaissance.
This format created one of the most unpredictable KOH races in recent memory, with strategy and adaptability playing a crucial role in the final outcome.
Kyle Chaney – Photo courtesy of Raceline Wheels
Race Highlights – A Battle of Attrition
Chaney started from the second row, with two UTVs in the top ten. Early in the race, Loren Healy took the lead, followed closely by Paul Wolff, Vaughn Gittin Jr., Chaney, and JP Gomez. As the pack charged through the desert, Healy maintained his position until he was forced to winch on Jack Hammer, allowing Wolff to pass. Gomez settled into third, while Josh Blyler and Chaney battled behind him.
Midway through the race, Jason Scherer, who started 88th, impressively moved into eighth place, showcasing an incredible charge through the field.
A pivotal moment came when Healy caught Wolff at an obstacle, only for Wolff’s vehicle to suffer mechanical issues. Healy retook the lead, but his race came to a halt in the desert due to fuel pump and front-drive failures, forcing him out of contention.
With Healy and Wolff out, JP Gomez inherited the lead heading into the third lap, followed by Blyler and Chaney. The battle intensified in the rock sections as Blyler briefly passed Gomez, but their duel proved costly. Blyler’s vehicle broke down, and Gomez was forced to change a tire, opening the door for Chaney to take over the front position.
Kyle Chaney’s Can-Am Maverick R
Kyle Chaney’s Historic Victory
With a massive gap over the remaining field, Chaney powered through the final miles, becoming the first-ever UTV driver to win the King of the Hammers Race of Kings. After eight grueling hours, only one vehicle had crossed the finish line, emphasizing the extreme nature of this year’s race.
The legendary Full of Hate trail lived up to its name, becoming a graveyard for multiple vehicles, including Scherer, who was forced to retire due to radiator issues. At least seven competitors were stranded in the same section.
Despite receiving a 15-minute penalty for a missed RCP, Chaney still secured the win, officially marking a historic moment for both him and Can-Am.
Final Results – 2025 Race of Kings
1st: Kyle Chaney (Can-Am Maverick R)
2nd: JP Gomez
3rd: Brian Caprara
Driver Reactions After the Race of Kings
Kyle Chaney (1st Place, Can-Am Maverick R):
“Man, it is awesome. Really, I have to give it up to my crew, they worked their asses off on this thing. The course was crazy, we didn’t even know where we were going as there was just nothing there. We had to pick where we were going. I don’t know, there is a lot of luck involved in this, but we picked some good lines. Terry was an awesome navigator, and the car stayed together. We just took care of the car all day. Guys were passing us and I just let them go because we had to keep the car together.”
JP Gomez (2nd Place):
“Oh man, this is part of racing, right? You go fast, you get flats. You go slow, you get passed by Josh Blyler. He and I went back and forth. I was kind of cruising on the first lap and I have never had clean air before. That was nice, so I was enjoying it right at 85 mph. The T-case was getting hot but did good. I picked off a couple of cars, and then Paul Wolff winched me on Check Me Out. Hats off to him. I was gaining on Loren, and then he was stopped at the end of the second lap. I knew I was in the lead physically, but I knew Blyler was there because he caught me on Lap Two at Idle Issues. Every corner, he was right there, and he was getting it. I had to step it up, and man, me and him raced from the start right here to Whiskey on the Rocks or whatever the hell that trail is. I now know why they call it Full of Hate. I hate that damn trail. I made it up three waterfalls but had to winch. It was super fun out there. This was great. I got some more flat tires battling with Blyler, and then the Can-Ams got by. The car died on me, and I thought I ran out of fuel. I started tearing this thing apart, throwing parts out the window. I got it going again and brought it home.”
A Historic Win for Can-Am and UTV Racing
Chaney’s victory in a Can-Am UTV marks a turning point for the King of the Hammers 4400 Unlimited Class, proving that lightweight, high-powered UTVs can compete with and beat the traditional big-horsepower Ultra4 race trucks. Can-Am’s Maverick R showcased its durability, performance, and reliability, helping Chaney secure a place in off-road racing history.
With JP Gomez finishing second, it marked back-to-back podium finishes for the Gomez Brothers, who have dominated KOH for the past three years.
As the dust settles on another brutal King of the Hammers, one thing is clear: Kyle Chaney and Can-Am have set a new standard, and the world of off-road racing may never be the same again.
2025 King of the Hammers Race of Kings Results
Driver Name Car # Mfr Laps/Time Fast Lap Avg Lap From Lead Class Top 5 Avg
1 Kyle Chaney 191 3/7:53:45.051 1:10:39.671 2:32:55.017 4400
2 JP Gomez 82 3/8:24:06.709 1:09:00.820 2:43:02.236 30:21.658 4400
3 Brian Caprara 9901 3/10:24:57.416 1:29:48.150 3:28:19.138 2:31:12.365 4400
4 Robby Gordon 77 3/10:46:36.447 1:26:34.116 3:20:32.149 2:52:51.396 4400
5 Cody Addington 888 3/10:58:35.060 1:35:11.013 3:27:51.687 3:04:50.009 4400
6 Chad Hundt 456 3/11:00:19.347 1:24:21.955 3:26:46.449 3:06:34.296 4400
7 Chris Branton 4046 3/11:00:47.733 1:16:08.976 3:40:15.911 3:07:02.682 4400
8 Justin Wicks 792 3/11:27:53.039 1:26:14.456 3:34:17.680 3:34:07.988 4400
9 Joe Gatlin 4570 3/11:38:55.669 1:29:06.830 3:42:58.557 3:45:10.618 4400
10 Jonathan Dawes 4417 3/11:54:43.295 1:33:09.972 3:43:14.432 4:00:58.244 4400
11 Raul Gomez 83 3/11:58:35.227 1:14:08.698 3:44:31.743 4:04:50.176 4400
12 Ryan Blount 248 3/12:01:33.369 1:26:14.494 3:39:24.457 4:07:48.318 4400
13 Chad Owens 60 3/12:02:53.199 1:30:57.051 3:42:37.733 4:09:08.148 4400
14 Pip Justice 78 3/12:02:56.322 1:33:55.863 4:00:58.774 4:09:11.271 4400
15 Josh Blyler 41 3/12:17:45.753 1:13:30.812 3:50:55.251 4:24:00.702 4400
16 Dennis Sterndahl 726 3/12:20:52.157 1:24:51.424 3:50:17.386 4:27:07.106 4400
17 Phillip McGilton 47 3/12:24:52.999 2:05:22.179 3:46:37.667 4:31:07.948 4400
18 Jeremy Brown 50 3/12:42:46.595 1:56:45.356 4:10:55.532 4:49:01.544 4400
19 Dan Fresh 48 3/12:45:12.293 3:56:48.967 4:10:04.098 4:51:27.241 4400
20 Tom Pendergrast 4413 3/13:12:45.316 1:27:46.087 4:24:15.106 5:19:00.265 4400
21 Chip MacLaughlin 4 3/13:30:49.988 1:59:29.325 4:10:16.663 5:37:04.937 4400
22 Mike Slawson 15 3/13:44:38.344 1:30:04.861 4:08:12.782 5:50:53.293 4400
23 Rich Goldman 4333 3/14:14:19.956 1:52:03.536 4:44:46.651 6:20:34.905 4400
24 Harold Fijman 777 3/14:14:51.644 1:32:42.594 4:24:57.215 6:21:06.593 4400
25 Erik Miller 21 3/14:23:51.303 1:31:51.996 4:47:57.101 6:30:06.252 4400
26 Kevin Taylor 911 3/14:30:59.870 3:05:55.221 4:23:39.957 6:37:14.819 4400
27 Brian Reid 416 3/14:31:07.486 1:19:53.084 4:15:22.496 6:37:22.435 4400
