Story by Staff of 4 Low Magazine
Pictures provided by Hammerking Productions from the following photographers: Paolo Baraldi, Heather Lewis, Regine Trias, Larry Chen, Tom Slik, Jeff Proctor, Robert Kranz, GETSOME Photo, High Rev Photography, and Bink Designs
For those that have been attending King of the Hammers for years, the current version is hardly recognizable. In the early years, it was an intimate gathering of friends; it is a movement now. A world-class event known by millions around the world. Each year is a building block on the next. The number of competitors has stayed roughly the same, but the event itself looks so much different. 
Kicking off Hammers week was two days of the Toyo Tires Desert Challenge presented by Monster Energy. Saturday saw the limited cars run, including a night run on the short course for the Class 11 – VW Bugs. Sunday was reserved for the unlimited desert trucks. Multiple classes took to the course, seeing speeds generally reserved for Baja. Fans of desert racing flocked to Johnson Valley for the opportunity to see their favorite drivers compete in California. What used to be a slow trickle down Boone Road was a flood, Hammertown was full before the four-wheel drive enthusiasts even arrived.
But arrive, they did. Hammerking Productions has been breaking attendance records for years as the popularity of the sport increases. Add a pandemic that has kept people home for too long, and Johnson Valley became the place to be for one week in February.
The first rocks were seen at the Holley EFI Shootout – the traditional thrashfest pitting rockcrawlers against rockbouncers. It’s a throttle vs. technique challenge as the cars are designed so differently. In 2022, the rockcrawlers came out on top, with winner Jeff McKinlay climbing the obstacle fastest.
The rest of the weekdays played out as they should, with qualifying and pre-running for most of the competitors. Rebuilds and parts chasing is part of the program for many as they chase down the problems that crop up during the pre-run. It’s a time for merriment and anticipation. The big races are coming.
The start of the four-wheel-drive races came with the Can-Am UTV Hammers Championship. UTVs of all brands took the brutal course beat up by the desert trucks on the previous weekend. Traditionally, this was the only 4WD drive class that had factory-built vehicles; although highly modified to handle the terrain, you still begin on the showroom floor. That’s unusual for this caliber of race vehicle. There are now four classes of UTVs – from Stock to Pro Modified; the Unlimited class races with the 4400 class. Kyle Chaney was the overall winner in the top class, back-to-back wins for Kyle.
On Friday, the 4WP Every Man Challenge ran. The EMC is made up of three classes. The 4800 Legends class was designed as the tired 4400 class, you know, the rigs that couldn’t keep up with the new builds. Over time, the 4800 class has been a class all its own. One that is built for, not just relegated to. It’s a broad mix of IFS and Drag Axle cars, new cars and much older cars, new drivers, and matured drivers. Always fun to watch what they can do. Dan Fresh found himself on the top of the podium again. Dan has won the 4500 class race for three of the last four years, moving up a class agreed with him, as he took the top spot.
With Dan out of the running in 4500, that left an opening for John Mathews to claim the championship. Rounding out the podium was Joe Gatlin and Kenneth Goodall, but the story that made the headlines was the 4600 class.
Three Broncos entered, driven by some of the best drivers in the sport. Three Broncos finished. It was a podium sweep for the new Ford Bronco. The Broncos came from the factory to Geiser Brothers for a refresh; 74Weld portal knuckles in the front and the Dynatrac Dana 60 in the rear.
Vaughn Gittin, Jr. and his co-driver/King Loren Healy, took top honors in the class, followed by Brad Lovell and Roger Lovell, brothers used to being on the podium in Ford vehicles. Claiming third place was Bailey Cole with co-driver/King Jason Scherer. Ford has really pushed their program for the new Bronco over the last two years; in Baja with the Bronco R, on the rocks with new owners all over the US, and now here at KOH. The technology is proving itself!
The final day of the competition is a culmination of years-long dream for many, but also the start of a new season. The Nitto Race of Kings has all the big dogs in the fight. 45 Rock trails over the 227 mile course in three laps. There have only been seven Kings in 15 years, and in 2022, all of them were in the field except for the OG JR Reynolds.
It’s always a question if there will be a returning King, or someone new, so it’s extra special when a new King is crowned. Congratulations to Raul Gomez, one of four of the Gomez family competing in the Big Race, although they were sprinkled around the other races all week long, too. Raul was campaigning a Joe Thomspon car that arrived on the lakebed on Tuesday. “We got about an hour with it, yet here we are!”
Like most Hammers races, they are neck and neck until the finish or a break. Jason Scherer, a former King, finished in second place behind Raul, “We were going 100 miles an hour through the desert, switching lanes to get out of each other’s dust. I just got to say, Raul Gomez did a great job getting through the rocks. We got him in the desert, but he got us in the rocks. It was an epic race.”
The other Kings that finished placed 3rd, Josh Blyler – 5th, Erik Miller – 7th Shannon Campbell. Not bad, 4 of 7 in the Top 10 – it’s why attaining King status seems so out of reach for most.
Logos can be pulled from here https://soulside-network.foleon.com/king-of-the-hammers-media/2022-koh-media-portal/home/ if you need any.
