Every year in California, the first week of February is dedicated to the King of the Hammers: the toughest off-road race in the world. Check out the KOH week schedule.
Pictures Paolo Baraldi
The 13th annual KOH week will commence with Hammertown opening to the public on Friday, February 1st, 2019 and will continue through Saturday, February 9th, 2019. The actual King of The Hammers race will take place on Friday, February 8th, 2019. Most races from 2018 are expected to return for 2019 including: The Every Man Challenge, KOH UTV Race, and the Shootout. New for 2019 is the Toyo Tires Desert Invitational Presented by Monster Energy, this will be a Trophy Truck Race held on Thursday February 7th, 2019.
2019 KOH week schedule:
Friday 1/2 - Hammertown opening
Saturday 2/2 - UTV Qualifying
Sunday 3 / 2- UTV race
Monday 4/2 - 4500/4600/4800 Qualifying & Shootout (evening)
Tuesday 5/2 - 4400 Qualifying
Wednesday 6/2 - Every Man Challenge race (EMC)
Thursday 7/2 - Toyo Desert Invitational Presented by Monster Energy
Friday 8/2 - Nitto King of the Hammers race powered by Optima Batteries (KOH)
Saturday 9/2 - Awards Ceremony UTV – KOH – EMC - Genright KOH The Experience
HERE more about KOH week
The KOH week program in detail
Friday February 1, 2019
- 8:00 AM Pre-Running Opens – Must be Registered
- 9:00 AM Tech Opens - All new cars need to be teched by close of tech on Monday
Saturday February 2, 2019
- Pre Running Full Course
- 10:00 AM Mandatory Can AM UTV Drivers Meeting
- 11:00 AM – 4:00PM Can AM UTV Qualifying on short course
Sunday February 3, 2019
- 8:00 AM – Can Am UTV Race Presented by HCR Starts
- 4:00 PM – Can Am UTV Race Presented by HCR Ends
- 6:00PM Event Kickoff/Party
- 7:00PM – 8:00 PM Amsoil After Dark Live Show
Monday February 4, 2019
- Pre Running Day
- 9AM Qualifying Driver Meeting for 4WP EMC
- 10 AM – 4PM – 4500/4800 Qualifying on short course
- 12:00 PM Vendor Show opens
- 4:30 PM Mandatory Drivers meeting for 4400 Qualifying
- 5:00 PM Mandatory Drivers meeting for Shootout
- 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Holley EFi Shootout Presented by KMC, King & ASC
Tuesday February 5, 2019
- 8:00 AM Start of 4400 Qualifying on short course
- 12:00 - 6:00 PM 4WP EMC Tech and Contingency
- 12:00 - 8:00 PM Vendor Hours in Hammertown
- 3:45 PM Awards Ceremony for Shootout Participants before Power Hour
- 5:00 PM Close of Qualifying
- 5:30 PM Pit Crew Challenge Sponsored by Pro Eagle, Buggy Whips, Raceline, and Boxo Tools
- 7:00 PM Mandatory drivers meeting for all EMC racers
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM Amsoil After Dark Live Show
Wednesday February 6, 2019
- 8:00 AM Start of 4WP EMC Race
- 12:00 - 2:00 PM Toyo Desert Invitational Race Tech and Contingency
- 12:00 - 8:00 PM Vendor Hours in Hammertown
- 6:00 PM End of 4WP EMC Race
- 7:00 PM Mandatory Drivers meeting for Toyo Desert Invitational
- 8:00 PM Volunteer Meeting
- 8:00 PM King Shocks Party
- 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM Amsoil After Dark Live Show
Thursday February 7, 2019
- 8:00 AM Prologue Toyo Desert Invitational Presented by Monster Energy
- 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Toyo Desert Invitational Presented by Monster Energy
- 12:00 - 7:00 PM KOH Tech and Contingency in Hammertown
- 12:00 - 8:00 PM Vendor Hours in Hammertown
- 6:00 PM Volunteer Dinner
- 7:00 PM Mandatory Drivers meeting for King of the Hammers Race
- 7:00 PM Rigid Poker Run
- 8:00 PM Volunteer Staffing meeting
- 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM Amsoil After Dark Live Show
Friday February 8, 2019
- 6:00 AM Driver Line Up Nitto King of the Hammers Powered by Optima Batteries Race
- 8:00 AM Start of the Nitto King of the Hammers Powered by Optima Batteries Race
- 10:00 PM Close of the King of the Hammers Race
Saturday February 9, 2019
- 9:30 AM Awards Ceremony UTV – KOH – EMC
- 10:30 AM Genright KOH The Experience
NEW: Unlimited Desert Truck Race Added to King of The Hammers Week
Top Drivers to Compete for Biggest Prize Purse in History of Sport
A new desert race is coming to the 2019 King of The Hammers (KOH) Week lineup. The Toyo Tires Desert Invitational Presented by Monster Energy will feature 30 elite off-road desert racers in an invitation-only, traditional open-desert, off-road truck race in Johnson Valley, CA. This marks the return of unlimited off-road racing to the sports birthplace: Southern California. It is also the first time that 4 wheel-drive will not be required of trucks to compete during KOH Week. The invited teams will vie for $125,000 prize purse making it the richest off-road race in the history of the sport. Drivers will qualify and race on the same day; Thursday, February 7th, 2019.
The winner of the Toyo Tires Desert Invitational Presented by Monster Energy will take home $100,000, 2nd place earns $15,000, and 3rd place $10,000. The driver with the fastest lap time of the day earns an additional $3,750. With increases in prize money to the Ultra4 class to match, the payout for KOH week will exceed $300,000.
“When some of the top names in desert racing said they’d like to come to California and take part in KOH Week, of course we wanted to find a way to not only include them but showcase their trucks and their talent.” Said King of the Hammers founder, Dave Cole, when asked about the new race. He continued by saying. “We’ve partnered with Toyo Tires and Monster Energy to create a race and purse unlike anything else in off-road currently or in the sports history. Our goal is to give both the drivers and fans an exciting new experience. We look forward to expanding the KOH model of engaged and accessible onsite spectator opportunities as well as world class LIVE race coverage.”
With the Desert Invitational taking place on Thursday, The Every Man Challenge featuring the 4800 Legends, 4500 Modified and 4600 Stock ULTRA4 classes will move to Wednesday, February 6th, 2019. The UTV race moves to Sunday, February 3rd.
About ULTRA4 RACING and King of The Hammers
ULTRA4 is a vehicle type, class and series. The vehicles are unlimited four-wheel drive, capable of competing in multiple racing disciplines – extreme rock crawling, high-speed desert racing and short course. In 12 years, the sport has grown significantly from the inaugural King of the Hammers to an eight race national series including a national championship. ULTRA4 Racing is managed by Hammerking Productions located in Temecula, CA. To learn more, please visit www.ultra4racing.com.
