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Tag: KOH2019

  • Nexen Tire USA Earns Podium Finish in First-Ever Appearance At King of the Hammers!

    Nexen Tire USA Earns Podium Finish in First-Ever Appearance At King of the Hammers!

    — True North Racing – Supplied with Roadian MTX Extreme Off-Road Tires – Earns Second-Place Podium Finish in Grueling Off-Road Race —

    DIAMOND BAR, Calif. (Feb. 19, 2019) – Nexen Tire America, Inc., a worldwide leader in high-performance, passenger, SUV/light truck and winter tire technology, took its premier Roadian MTX Extreme Off-Road tires to the 2019 King of the Hammers off-road racing event and earned a second-place podium finish in the 4WP Every Man Challenge with racing partner True North Racing.Nexen Tire made its first-ever appearance at the event by partnering with True North Racing and its driver, Alex McNeil, who pilots the #4675 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Alex finished second-place in the Spidertrax 4600 Stock Class with an elapsed time of 8:48:13. The well-established Canadian racing team set out to showcase how well Nexen Tire’s Roadian MTX Extreme Off-Road Tires perform under demanding off-road conditions. True North Racing competed in the 4WP Every Man Challenge, a race consisting of a two-lap course designed to test the limits of its competitors and their equipment. The race dictates each competitor must use the vehicle’s factory frame, engine and transmission, as well as 35-inch DOT approved tires, single 2.5-inch diameter shocks on all four corners and mechanical-type steering.

    “It’s a challenge just to even finish the course, so Alex’s second place was a pretty amazing accomplishment. We were confident in the MTX’s ability to tackle these conditions, and it was great to be able to back that up with a podium finish,” said Paul Jho, motorsport senior manager for Nexen Tire. “The Roadian MTX is designed for both casual off-roaders and tough competitive conditions and that is exactly what Alex and the True North Racing Team needed to finish one of the most demanding off-road races on the planet.”

    Nexen Tire’s Roadian MTX Extreme Off-Road Tire was an early front-runner at this year’s King of the Hammers. Many teams who enter the race do not finish within the allotted time frame — let alone finish at all — due to mechanical failures, rollover risks and especially tire failures. With confidence in Nexen Tire’s Roadian MTX, McNeil and the team completed the race with a podium finish on the exact same set of 35×12.5×17-inch tires they started with. This illustrates the tough-as-nails reputation the Roadian MTX Extreme Off-Road Tire has earned in the competitive-racing sector and overall off-road community.

    The Roadian MTX Extreme Off-Road Tire sports top features such as:

    • Available in more than 35 different sizes including 33-, 35- and 37-inch
    • Roadian MTX’s aggressive design embraces on- and off-road versatility
    • Distinctively designed dual sidewalls – Beast and Machine – giving the customer the freedom to choose the look that best represents their lifestyle and vehicle
    • Standard 3-ply construction and F-Load rating- weight rating makes the Roadian MTX perfect for towing and heavy loads
    • Max 80 PSI to support high-load conditions
    • Tread-block design helps to eliminate noise, harshness and vibration transferred into the cabin
    • Exceptional low-air qualities for maximum performance in off-road and mud terrain environments

    “These tires surpassed all of our expectations in terms of performance and durability,” said McNeil, driver of the Nexen Tire Sponsored #4675 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee. “We are beyond impressed with the Roadian MTX’s ability to handle the most tortuous conditions that a tire can be subjected to with ease and we are very excited about our continuing partnership with Nexen Tire.”

    For more information, please contact nexen@godriven360.com or call 310-374-6177.

    About Nexen Tire:

    Inspired by Nexen’s global family of drivers to engineer superior performing tires – from championship-winning Formula DRIFT drivers, rock-climbing off-road enthusiasts to everyday commuters – Nexen Tire utilizes proprietary technology and the highest quality standards in the industry to guarantee world-class products backed by unrivaled customer support for the life of each tire. As a worldwide leader in high-performance, passenger, SUV / light truck and winter offerings, the company is second-to-none in research, development and state-of-the-art manufacturing. And as part of a select group of tire manufacturers worldwide that are specified as standard fitment on original equipment vehicles, Nexen delivers premium products at a sensible price. Find out more about how Nexen has your back at nexentireusa.com – and join us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. #WeGotYou #NexenTire #NexenRacing

  • BFGoodrich Racers Reign at King of the Hammers

    BFGoodrich Racers Reign at King of the Hammers

    BFGoodrich wins overall for the ninth time in 13 years

    GREENVILLE, S.C., Feb. 15, 2019 — BFGoodrich racers dominated the notoriously tough King of the Hammers in Johnson Valley, Calif., handily winning three of the four major events.

    The 235-mile King of the Hammers race takes Ultra4 cars through extreme rock crawling for one of the most grueling events in off-road racing. BFGoodrich racer Jason Scherer earned his third Ultra4 crown at King of the Hammers, and second in a row. No other racer has won back to back. The win earned him a $10,000 contingency prize from BFGoodrich and $65,000 from the race purse.

    Racing on custom BFGoodrich® Baja T/A® KR3-SR tires made specifically to win King of the Hammers, Scherer completed the race in six hours and 32 minutes – five minutes ahead of the next driver. 

    “I’m amazed we’ve started two King of the Hammers races in a row and have won back-to-back races on the same set of tires we started with. That is probably one of the most amazing feats that occurs in this brutal race,” Scherer said. “I appreciate everything BFGoodrich has done for our team to develop the best tires to conquer the harshest terrain imaginable.”

    In the King of the Hammers Desert Invitational, T1 desert trucks raced for a large prize pot of $125,000. In the end, the top five racers were all on BFGoodrich tires. The top three split the entire prize.

    Luke McMillin took first place in the T1 race, winning on 40-inch BFGoodrich® Baja T/A® KR3 tires and taking home $100,000. Justin Lofton, also a BFGoodrich racer, came in second place, winning $15,000. BFGoodrich racer Apdaly Lopez claimed third place and $10,000.

    In the King of the Hammers UTV competition, Mitch Guthrie Jr. won for the second time, competing on BFGoodrich® Baja T/A®KR2 UTV tires.

    “For this race, tire choice is the most important thing, and that’s why I run with BFGoodrich,” Guthrie said. “Not only did I have zero flats, but the tires helped guide me up some of the nastiest rock sections on the planet. Whether it was fast desert lakebed or slow rock sections, my tires helped me win.”

    BFGoodrich Motorsports Manager Peter Calhoun said the weekend wins were a significant milestone as the 2019 racing season gets underway. 

    “The 2019 season is off to a very strong start for us,” Calhoun said. “We’ve seen overall wins in the Dakar Rally, the Best in the Desert Parker 425 and now King of the Hammers. We’re thankful to all the racers who trust us to get them their wins.”

    About BFGoodrich® Tires

    With more than 100 years of heritage, BFGoodrich® Tires is dedicated to providing high performance tires for those who have a passion for driving in virtually any environment. Combining technical expertise with 45 years of motorsports experience, BFGoodrich Tires delivers tires for a full range of driving experiences, from ultra-high performance street to off-road terrain, with one common theme — extreme performance. Upgrade your performance with BFGoodrich and see where our tires can take you at www.BFGoodrichTires.com, www.BFGoodrichracing.com, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/BFGoodrichTires or on Instagram or Twitter at @BFGoodrichTires.

  • Youngest 4400 Ultra4 Driver Qualifies in Top 10 for KOH2019 in New FIS Car

    Youngest 4400 Ultra4 Driver Qualifies in Top 10 for KOH2019 in New FIS Car

    Jordan Pellegrino Qualifies 9th out of 107 Entries 

    Determination and commitment to succeed has driven Ultra4’s youngest 4400 driver, Jordan Pellegrino, to focus on a brand new Full Independent Suspension Ultra4 car to race at the 2019 Nitto King of the Hammers powered by Optima Batteries. The Rockstar Energy – Mickey Thompson Tires – KMC Wheels – GenRight Off Road FIS car features a Triton Engineering Chassis, 74 Weld portals, a few T1 truck parts, and is racing on Mickey Thompson Baja Boss tires. This is one of two FIS cars entered into the 4400 class for the 2019 King of the Hammers race.

    During Tuesday’s qualifying, 20 year old Jordan Pellegrino’s goal was to go fast and keep the car together on the almost 2-mile qualifying track that consisted of short course, jumps, desert whoops, rocks, sand washes, rock trails going up and down Short Bus, and back into Hammertown short course. 

    In a blistering time for the first race the new FIS car has seen, Jordan qualified 9th in a field of 107 with a time of 2:26.7, which is only 8.4 seconds off the pole position time from Nick Nelson which was 2:18.3. 

    “I had a few bobbles in qualifying that cost a couple of seconds, but overall I am happy with where I qualified in the new car. It is wicked fast. Now to focus on keeping it together for the duration of the 4400 race on Friday.” Said an ecstatic Jordan Pellegrino after his run.

    The Full video replay of Jordan’s qualifying run is available on GenRight Off Road’s social media pages and King of the Hammers recorded Live Feed.

    GenRight Off Road Racing number 98 of Jordan Pellegrino is excided to have multiple partners involved for 2019 including Rockstar Energy, Mickey Thompson Tires, KMC Wheels, Rockstar Garage, K&N Filters, Triton Engineering, 74 Weld, JE Reel, R1 Concepts, FOX, WARN, Sparco, Simpson Racing, PRP Seats, Fuelsafe, Torco USA, Aeromotive, FKRodEnds, Rugged Radios, RCV Performance, Eaton Detroit Locker, Scosche, Red Peak Off Road,  Bullet Liner, Griffin Radiator, Factor55, Odyssey Batteries, HPS Performance, ARP Fasteners, CPCarillo, Scat Crankshafts, RCI Injectors, Heatshield Products, Heatwave Visual, Advanced Adapters and GenRight Off Road.

  • 4WP Brings Support and Stacked Teams to 2019 King of the Hammers™ Off-Road Race

    4WP Brings Support and Stacked Teams to 2019 King of the Hammers™ Off-Road Race

    4 Wheel Parts, the global leader in off-road performance product sales, is returning to the 2019 Ultra4 King of the Hammers™ for the 10th consecutive year with defending champions in the Ultra4 and UTV classes and title sponsorship of the 4WP Every Man Challenge Race.

    Compton, CA (February 1, 2019) – 4 Wheel Parts (4WP) is proud to announce its participation and official partnership with the toughest one-day off-road race on the planet: King of The Hammers. Dubbed the “Ultimate Desert Race,” the 2019 Nitto King of the Hammers Powered by OPTIMA Batteries combines breakneck racing speeds with extreme rock crawling and will be held February 1-8 in Johnson Valley, California.

    “King Of The Hammers is a truly unique opportunity to spectate and participate in one of the world’s most challenging off-road events,” said Joey DiGiovanni, 4WP Director of Creative Marketing & Partnerships. “This year is especially exciting as we have built up the best roster of 4WP athletes to ever represent us in competition, as well as being the title sponsor the always-exciting Every Man Challenge race.”

    At the beginning of each February, a pop-up city called “Hammertown” rises from the desert as tens of thousands of off-road enthusiasts descend on the area, an off-road shopping market emerges and hundreds of professional teams arrive to vie for qualifying positions. In a little more than a decade the race has evolved from 12 teams racing for bragging rights to more than 300 sponsored teams competing in front of 35,000 fans in person and nearly 500,000 watching online. The UTV Race, the 4WP Every Man Challenge (EMC) and the Toyo Desert Invitational (truck race) all lead up to the Ultra4 Championship Race held on Sunday, February 8. The vehicles in the Ultra4 class reach speeds in excess of 100 MPH and sport gear ratios as low as 100:1 for technical rock crawling, while the drivers’ endurance is tested to beat the grueling 14-hour cutoff time.

    4WP will lead off with their UTV team, featuring Mitch Guthrie Sr., Mitch Guthrie Jr., Sara Price and Craig Scanlon. Guthrie Jr. won the UTV race last year on a Polaris RZR, defeating teammate and father Guthrie Sr., a UTV legend and six-time King of the Hammers UTV champion. Jason Scherer, Raul Gomez, Tom Wayes and Brent Goegebuer will represent 4WP in the signature King of the Hammers Ultra4 race. Scherer is among the most decorated drivers in KOH history, winning in 2009 and 2018 and reaching the podium on three other occasions.

    In 2012, the 4WP Every Man Challenge (EMC) was established in an effort to bring core fans back into the race. King of the Hammers was created by grassroots enthusiasts but the event’s rapid ascent in popularity brought with it formidable professional teams backed by cutting edge technology and hefty bankrolls, leaving many of its original supporters in the dust. The race is a testament to DIYers and diehard fans, who come in droves from around the country with their garage-built rigs and volunteer chase crews to populate Hammertown and seek glory on the podium.

    4 Wheel Parts will once again have a significant retail presence in the Hammertown marketplace as they roll in with their “Showroom on Wheels” and $100,000.00 worth of off-road inventory. In addition to supplying parts and services for racing teams, 4WP representatives will be offering products at substantial discounts to the countless fans in attendance and giving away free Illumicraze phone accessories. Customers who stop by can also find out how to enter to win a brand new Polaris SXS UTV with a retail value of over $18,000.

    “We encourage fans, racers and enthusiasts alike to come visit our massive Showroom on Wheels booth located directly next to the Tribe 16 firepit inside Hammertown,” added DiGiovanni. “They can take advantage of our massive on-site inventory with exclusive KOH specials or pick up some of our newly released 4WP merchandise, such as t-shirts, hoodies, hats and beanies.”

  • Rule Changes Regarding Qualifying for KOH: Effective Immediately.

    Rule Changes Regarding Qualifying for KOH: Effective Immediately.

    This email is being sent out to all ULTRA4 drivers and teams. The following rule changes regarding qualifying are effective immediately. 

    A. The intent of this rule is to recognize and reward competence and loyalty with regards to transitioning from UTV or an EMC Class to the 4400 Class.  If you have finished top 10 in National Points in your class you are eligible for a guaranteed entry to the following years King of the Hammers. Cannot be combined with part B of this rule. 

    B. Effective immediately and retroactive to 2018, a qualified driver may have a one time deferment of their qualified status for King of the Hammers.  If you have qualified but not used that qualified spot in the past, you may use that qualified spot at a KOH of your choosing.  This is a one time opportunity per driver of record.  For example if you qualified in 2013 and didn’t race 2014 KOH, you may use that spot in a future race.

    C. If you sell your car, you may transfer your qualified spot to the new owner of the car.  This forfeits your spot and can not be combined with parts A or B of this rule (Class performance/deferment of qualification).  The intent of this rule is to help drivers maintain value in their vehicles while supporting consistency in the series.  This is a one time opportunity for the driver of record.  You may not use this opportunity and the deferment rule in the same year.

    Also as a reminder, if you plan to race during KOH Week 2019, and you have not yet registered. You must register by December 15th to have your information included in the driver handout given to spectators. 

    See you on the lake bed.