Kyle Chaney Wins 2025 Race of Kings at King of the Hammers

Posted on February 9, 2025

In an historic feat at the 2025 King of the Hammers “Race of Kings” on February 8, Kyle Chaney piloted his Can-Am Maverick R to a commanding victory, finishing a full half-hour ahead of his closest competitor. This win not only underscores Chaney’s exceptional driving prowess but also marks a significant milestone for Can-Am in the grueling off-road racing arena. This is the first time that a UTV has won the Race of Kings and in doing so, Chaney has forever changed the landscape of this race.

Kyle Chaney’s Can-Am Maverick R

The King of the Hammers, held annually in Johnson Valley, California, is renowned for its punishing combination of high-speed desert stretches and treacherous rock crawling sections, testing both driver endurance and vehicle durability. Chaney’s performance was a testament to meticulous preparation and strategic racing. He emphasized the unpredictable nature of the course, stating, “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.” Despite these challenges, Chaney maintained composure, allowing faster drivers to pass early on to preserve his vehicle for the demanding course ahead.

Kyle Chaney – Image courtesy of Maxxis Tires

Race of King’s Red, White & Blue Laps

The 2025 King of the Hammers “Race of Kings” introduced a revised three-lap format, each with distinct challenges to test the competitors’ skills and endurance. The race commenced with the Red Lap, a 64.9-mile base loop that all classes navigated. Following this, participants tackled the White Lap, an 85-mile circuit incorporating an additional 20 miles of treacherous rock sections, intensifying the technical demands. The final segment, the Blue Lap, spanned approximately 75 miles and was renowned for its heightened difficulty, featuring some of the most arduous rock trails in the course. This structured progression not only escalated the race’s complexity but also ensured a comprehensive evaluation of both driver prowess and vehicle durability across varying terrains.

Kyle’s Maverick R was built by CT Race Worx and features rear FOX bypass shocks and 37-inch Maxxis tires

Ultra4 Racing’s 4400 Unlimited Class

The King of the Hammers (KOH) 4400 Unlimited Class is the premier and most brutal competition at the annual KOH event. This class is the ultimate test of off-road endurance, pushing both drivers and vehicles to their absolute limits across high-speed desert sections, extreme rock crawling trails, and technical obstacles.

What Makes the 4400 Class Unique?

The 4400 Unlimited Class is unique because, as the name suggests, it has minimal restrictions on vehicle design. This allows teams to build fully custom, purpose-built Ultra4 race vehicles designed to handle both desert racing and rock crawling. These machines often feature:

V8 engines producing upwards of 800+ horsepower
40-inch+ tires for extreme rock traction

Kyle’s Maverick R features CT Race Worx arms capable of 37-inch tires.

An OEM Can-Am chassis will not pass tech, so CT Race Worx built a full custom chassis that mimics the factory frame geometry but also meets the rules for the 4400 class. CT Race Worx also worked closely with Can-Am engineers over the last year to create a suspension with a taller front knuckle to allow for 37-inch tires.

Race Day

Chaney started the day on the second row after qualifying in the 4th position and throughout the brutal race course against vehicles with 3x horsepower and weight, he never dropped lower than sixth position physically on the racecourse. Once the race entered the second lap in the rocks, top competitors started to drop out with mechanicals including Loren Healy and Paul Wolff.

Once competitors entered their third or Blue Lap where competitors took on nasty trails like Full of Hate and Kings Veto, Chaney was able to make passes on two former kings, Josh Blyler and JP Gomez and then never looked back.

Kyle Chaney not only won the Race of Kings, he beat the next-closest guy by a full half hour, and the guy after that, off-road and NASCAR racing great Robby Gordon, by over two hours. The attrition rate for this year’s Race of Kings was massive, making it even more impressive for a UTV to land at the top of the podium.

This victory adds to Chaney’s impressive record at the King of the Hammers. In previous years, he secured first place in the UTV Hammers Championship in four consecutive years and delivered strong performances in the 4400 Unlimited class.

Can-Am’s commitment to off-road racing excellence is evident in their continued support and development of high-performance vehicles like the Maverick R. The brand’s dedication has solidified its reputation as a formidable force in the off-road racing community.

Kyle Chaney’s 2025 victory at the King of the Hammers not only highlights his individual talent but also showcases the capabilities of Can-Am’s engineering, reinforcing their position at the pinnacle of off-road motorsport.

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

Can-Am Maverick R

The Can-Am Maverick R is a game-changer in the high-performance UTV market, engineered to dominate both desert dunes and rocky trails with unparalleled power and precision. Featuring a 240-horsepower, turbocharged Rotax inline-three engine, a cutting-edge DSC Smart-Shox suspension, and an industry-leading 77-inch width, the Maverick R delivers an unmatched combination of speed, stability, and control. Designed with input from top off-road racers, this machine is built to push boundaries, whether competing in brutal endurance races like King of the Hammers or tearing up open terrain. With Can-Am’s reputation for innovation and performance backing it, the Maverick R sets a new benchmark for what’s possible in the UTV world.