Competitors travel from across the world to take on the brutal rocks and lightning-fast desert sections of the toughest off-road races on the planet
JOHNSON VALLEY, Calif. (Feb. 2, 2024) – The 2024 Progressive King of the Hammers Presented by Nitto and Powered by OPTIMA Batteries continues to attract top-tier competitors, and those just hoping to finish the notoriously difficult races, from the farthest reaches of the planet. Multiple teams have traveled thousands of miles from as far away as South America, the Middle East and Australia to compete in the Can-Am UTV Hammers Championship, Every Man Challenge and this Saturday’s Nitto Race of Kings. The action kicked off on the lakebed on Jan. 19 with the Liqui Moly King of the Motos and continues through Feb. 3 with the Nitto Race of Kings.
Jose Luis Fatule Simon made the long journey from Lima, Peru, for a two-wheeled battle on the infamous Johnson Valley rocks during the Liqui Moly King of the Motos. Competing in the Every Man Challenge race on Friday, Feb. 2, are Israel’s Michael Hen (#525) and the United Kingdom’s Jim Marsden (#63). Both will go head-to-head in the 4500 Yukon Gear and Axle Modified Class. On Saturday, Feb. 3., Australia’s Pip Justice (#78) hopes to fight his way to the front and the podium in the grand finale Nitto Race of Kings. Multiple racers from Canada and Mexico have also joined the almost 900 competitors and tens of thousands of fans at the 2024 Progressive King of the Hammers Presented by Nitto and Powered by OPTIMA Batteries.
“King of the Hammers has rapidly grown into a global phenomenon, and the multitude of international competitors taking on this year’s races are proof of that,” said Mike Jams, chief executive officer of Hammerking Productions. “Coming from vast distances adds an extra layer of complexity to already challenging races, and we are glad they rose to the challenge and joined us. We look forward to even more competitors from across the globe in the future.”
The 2024 Progressive King of the Hammers Presented by Nitto and Powered by OPTIMA Batteries is more than just a race; it’s an experience connecting competitors and fans worldwide. King of the Hammers is nearly a dozen days of racing off-road vehicles of every shape and size, bringing together amateur racers with home-built cars and professional teams into one giant festival of speed, catering to individuals tinkering in their garages building their own racecars and professionally-sponsored teams. The camaraderie of King of the Hammers brings competitors and participants to the lakebed equally, with the competition elevating each year.
The multiple one-day races of the 2024 Progressive King of the Hammers Presented by Nitto and Powered by OPTIMA Batteries are happening now and will conclude on Feb. 3, 2024, in Johnson Valley, California. To purchase tickets, view the event schedule, shop for merchandise, watch the livestream and learn more about King of the Hammers, please visit www.kingofthehammers.com.
About Hammerking Productions and King of the Hammers
King of the Hammers (KOH) is the toughest two weeks of one-day off-road races in the world. Held annually in Johnson Valley, California, the race has evolved from a single race to feature over 1,000 competitors, 80,000 on-site fans and almost 3 million online viewers in 2023. King of the Hammers is most notable for its 4400 class unlimited horsepower four-wheel drive vehicles. Spanning two weeks of competition, King of the Hammers includes a diverse range of classes, such as Every Man Challenge, rapidly expanding desert classes, King of the Motos and kids’ classes.
Hammerking Productions, the parent company of King of the Hammers, has produced eight full-length feature films chronicling King of the Hammers races. It has also created an eight-part Rookie Program series titled “Quest” on the King of the Hammers YouTube channel and produces the annual live show, all in-house. These award-winning films and short series have significantly illuminated this racing discipline on a global scale.
