English articles · 04. February 2021

Jp Juan Rail Gomez will start Saturday's OPTIMA Batteries King of the Hammers Presented by Lasernut first

On Wednesday, February 3, the roar of the powerful engines of the 4400 class thundered in Hammertown to decide who would be fastest in qualifying for the King of the Hammers. This year the fastest was JP Juan Rail Gomez (1: 36.459) followed by Jason Scherer (1: 36.529) and Bryan Crofts (1: 36.689).

KOH Media

Rather than determining starting order at random, a shortened course near Hammertown is used to establish the fastest vehicles in the front when the green flag drops on race day. The route contains all of the elements of KOH, just in a bite-sized package.

KOH Last Chance Qualifier. There are a variety of ways to pre-qualify for KOH, including past performance at the event and sanctioned Ultra4 races throughout the season. These drivers qualify for starting position on race day, but there are others for whom the stakes are much higher. The Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) provides an opportunity for entry to the top 25% of the LCQ field. Sounds impossible? Both Loren Healy and Randy Slawson have won KOH in the past after earning their spot in the big show through the LCQ.

Jp Juan Rail Gomez will start Saturday's OPTIMA Batteries King of the Hammers Presented by Lasernut first

This year the fastest was JP Juan Rail Gomez (1: 36.459) followed by Jason Scherer (1: 36.529) and Bryan Crofts (1: 36.689).

Best twenty qualifying times

1. JP Gomez - 1:36.459

2. Jason Scherer - 1:36.529

3. Bryan Crofts - 1:36.689

4. Cameron Steele - 1:37.152

5. Brian Caprara - 1:37.630

6. Wayland Campbell - 1:38.076

7. Loren Healy - 1:38.228

8. Paul Horschel - 1:38.482

9. Raul Gomez - 1:40.205

10. Tom Wayes - 1:40.400

11. Cody Miller - 1:40.710

12. Levi Shirley - 1:41.327

13. Shannon Campbell - 1:41.430

14. Jordan Pellegrino - 1:41.964

15. Darian Gomez - 1:42.178

16. Hunter Miller - 1:42.488 0

17. Josh Blyler - 1:42.636

18. Bailey Cole - 1:42.904

19. Chayse Caprara - 1:43.234

20. Erik Miller - 1:43.348

2021 OPTIMA Batteries KOH Qualifying Results

The 2021 OPTIMA Batteries King of the Hammers Presented by Lasernut will take place on Saturday 6th February

This year the big show has been moved to Saturday to make room for even more racing action. For twelve years the same five drivers won King of the Hammers, but Josh Blyler ended their winning streak last year. Can he repeat as King this year? Expect a more challenging course than ever, with the addition last year’s Hell to Pay and a new trail ominously named King’s Graveyard. The course also goes up Jackhammer, Sledgehammer, Outer Limits, Backdoor, Wrecking Ball, and Bender Alley for 2021. Going up these Hammer trails makes them far more challenging with gravity working against you instead of with you, favoring solid axle cars such as those used by Blyler, Erik Miller, and Randy Slawson. Before they get to the rocks though, these competitors will have to survive over 100 miles of desert terrain that has been whooped out by a week of racing, working to the advantage of cars with independent front suspension favored by drivers such as Jason Scherer, Shannon Campbell, and Paul Horschel.

The prize purse? $125,001 with $65,000 going to first and $1 going for the last finisher.

Past winners-

2020- Josh Blyler and Jared Erdman

2019- Jason Scherer and Jason Berger

2018- Jason Scherer and Jason Berger

2017- Shannon Campbell

2016- Erik Miller and Robert Ruggiero

2015- Randy Slawson and Michael Slawson

2014- Loren Healy and Casey Trujillo

2013- Randy Slawson and Michael Slawson

2012- Erik Miller and Robert Ruggiero

2011- Shannon Campbell