It isn’t uncommon to find families enjoying weekends in the desert with their UTVs, and King of the Hammers (KOH) is no exception. Just as the recreational market for these machines has exploded, so has UTV racing. Now the largest class during the week-long series of races, multiple generations of the Guthrie, Greaves, Campbell, Gomez, and Currie families showed up to battle it out in the Can-Am UTV King of the Hammers presented by HCR. UTVs have become markedly more capable each year, and their drivers have become equally as capable. Additionally, a huge number of crossover drivers have tossed their hats into the ring for the UTV race, including past KOH winners Shannon Campbell, Erik Miller, and Loren Healy. As a result, Hammerking promoter Dave Cole promised to make the 2018 Can-Am KOH UTV Race presented by HCR the toughest in history.
Short course racers dominated qualifying, with Johnny Greaves, C.J. Greaves, and Casey Currie starting at the front of the 118-vehicle field. C.J. Greaves jumped out to an early lead for the first 89 miles of the 134-mile race. “It came down to being rookies,” Greaves confessed. “We made a couple of big mistakes like when we rolled on Sledge. We are just happy to be out here. And hopefully we can do it again. We didn’t pre-run all of it. It takes a lot of knowledge and the rocks are crazy. I don’t even want to see the bottom of this car!”
2018 Can-Am KOH UTV Race Presented by HCR Highlights
116 vehicles took on 134 miles of rocks and desert, and only 12 finished. Watch the highlights and story of the 2018 Can-Am Off-Road KOH UTV Race Presented by HCR Racing.Keep watching all of the action from this week at ultra4racing.com/live. #KOH2018
Posted by Ultra4 Racing on Thursday, February 8, 2018
Greaves relinquished the lead to Mitch Guthrie Jr. after Greaves rolled coming down the brutally rocky Sledgehammer Trail. “I don’t know what to say, it has been a long road getting here. I’ve been riding with my dad and we had a few wins but I really wanted to do it myself. I was so nervous though, I have never driven in rocks like this before.” Longtime rockcrawling competitor Mitch Guthrie Sr. was an early adopter of the UTV platform, having won KOH race six times in the UTV class, making him the winningest driver in King of the Hammers history. But Guthrie Sr. suggested that his domination might be coming to an end after finishing third this year. “It’s going to be a question about returning. I would like to, but I don’t know if I’m a top guy anymore with the young guns coming up. This was the worst one ever so far this year physically.”
Champion desert racer Branden Sims came in second place, the third time he has been a bridesmaid in the KOH UTV Race. “We qualified 19th so not the best place to start, but we got out in the desert and were catching people. I typically run desert races, and this is the only ULTRA4 event I do each year. My father was a rockcrawler though, so I grew up with this.” The 134-mile course was the longest and most difficult in the history of the race, with only twelve of the 118 competitors reaching the checkered flag within the eight-hour time limit.
On both laps the course went down Backdoor, a ten-foot-tall rock ledge that put most competitors onto their lids. “In short course we go all out for 20 minutes. In this thing, I had to talk myself out of being in race mode and to relax,” Johnny Greaves shared. Every once in a while, I would see someone in my mirror and I’d want to take off and my co-driver would have to reign me in. It’s not a race against other competitors, it’s a race to bring the machine to the finish.”
PLACE | NAME | CAR | START | LAP1 | LAP2 | PENALTY | FINAL |
1 | MITCH GUTHRIE JR | 9 | 8:01:00 | 1:53:45 | 4:00:58 | 0:00:00 | 5:54:43 |
2 | BRANDEN SIMS | 913 | 8:04:30 | 1:50:10 | 4:31:48 | 0:15:00 | 6:36:58 |
3 | MITCH GUTHRIE SR | 6 | 8:06:30 | 2:06:03 | 4:47:04 | 0:00:00 | 6:53:07 |
4 | CASEY CURRIE | 2 | 8:00:30 | 1:49:45 | 5:04:36 | 0:00:00 | 6:54:21 |
5 | CJ GREAVES | 33 | 8:00:00 | 1:47:08 | 4:55:56 | 0:15:00 | 6:58:04 |
6 | MARC BURNETT | 905 | 8:06:00 | 1:59:19 | 5:09:29 | 0:00:00 | 7:08:48 |
7 | JOHNNY GREAVES | 122 | 8:00:00 | 1:48:56 | 5:24:45 | 0:00:00 | 7:13:41 |
8 | PHIL BLURTON | 944 | 8:04:00 | 2:05:26 | 5:15:13 | 0:00:00 | 7:20:39 |
9 | KYLE ANDERSON | 1930 | 8:10:30 | 2:04:15 | 5:28:22 | 0:00:00 | 7:32:37 |
10 | ROSS PILGREEN | 111 | 8:07:00 | 2:02:20 | 5:42:58 | 0:03:00 | 7:48:18 |
11 | JACOB VERSEY | 4931 | 8:09:30 | 2:05:52 | 5:42:53 | 0:00:00 | 7:48:45 |
12 | RICKY FARMER | 4959 | 8:13:00 | 2:08:00 | 5:44:16 | 0:00:00 | 7:52:16 |
DNF | LOREN HEALY | 67 | 8:02:30 | 2:02:57 | 5:59:49 | DNF | OOT |
DNF | BAILEY CAMPBELL | 35 | 8:05:30 | 2:31:42 | 5:38:26 | DNF | OOT |
DNF | CODY CURRIE | 22 | 8:08:00 | 1:53:21 | 6:20:55 | DNF | OOT |
DNF | CASEY SCHERER | 79 | 8:20:00 | 1:55:02 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | CASEY PEOPLES | 1128 | 8:11:00 | 1:56:35 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | ROBERT VANBEEKUM | 1964 | 8:01:30 | 2:01:48 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | JOHN CURRIE | 202 | 8:03:00 | 2:03:28 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | JEFF PALHEGYI | 1931 | 8:14:00 | 2:03:47 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | CODY NYGREN | 1916 | 8:11:30 | 2:05:47 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | DEAN BULLOCH | 93 | 8:16:00 | 2:06:32 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | JT WALTON | 1970 | 8:05:00 | 2:10:40 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | BAILEY COLE | 4954 | 8:22:30 | 2:12:52 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | BRENT ZIMMERMAN | 31 | 8:14:00 | 2:13:24 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | GARISON CALLAWAY | 1914 | 8:21:30 | 2:14:24 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | KEVIN HART | 773 | 8:06:30 | 2:14:52 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | JOSH CHAPMAN | 4907 | 8:27:00 | 2:17:06 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | WAYLAND CAMPBELL | 3 | 8:10:00 | 2:18:56 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | SARA PRICE | 78 | 8:03:30 | 2:19:19 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | LOGAN GOODALL | 1950 | 8:26:00 | 2:19:43 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | AARON WEDEKING | 1808 | 8:14:30 | 2:20:19 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | JASON ONEAL | 101 | 8:17:00 | 2:22:21 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | JOHN DUCKWORTH | 1920 | 8:12:30 | 2:25:08 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | SHANE REDLINE | 4912 | 8:24:00 | 2:25:50 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | GEORGE HEFFINGTON | 1973 | 8:21:00 | 2:26:05 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | JAMES CANTRELL | 502 | 8:11:00 | 2:28:10 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | ERIK JOKINEN | 901 | 8:26:00 | 2:29:56 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | MICHAEL SAWYER | 4905 | 8:15:00 | 2:30:20 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | MATT CHAPMAN | 52 | 8:16:00 | 2:30:27 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | GREG UFFENS | 1944 | 8:15:30 | 2:34:36 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | KNOX GRIFFIN | 278 | 8:03:00 | 2:34:57 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | DUSTIN ROBBINS | 311 | 8:09:30 | 2:36:00 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | CONNOR FULTS | 4906 | 8:12:00 | 2:37:20 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | PAT OKEEFE | 4923 | 8:19:30 | 2:39:52 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | EVAN ENGELHARDT | 1991 | 8:02:00 | 2:42:52 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | TRAVIS ZOLLINGER | 220 | 8:12:00 | 2:43:21 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | BILL BAIRD | 5252 | 8:07:30 | 2:47:57 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | AARON QUESADA | 3124 | 8:10:00 | 2:49:42 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | AARON HENRY | 209 | 8:14:30 | 2:50:36 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | JAMI PELLEGRINO | 485 | 8:23:00 | 2:51:36 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | SHANNON CAMPBELL | 5 | 8:01:30 | 2:57:56 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | JEROD BIRZER | 425 | 8:19:00 | 2:58:12 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | ALAN CLARK | 4975 | 8:04:30 | 2:58:44 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | MATT MYRICK | 2116 | 8:26:30 | 3:02:23 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | PHIL CAGLIERO | 21 | 8:03:30 | 3:02:32 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | HUBERT ROWLAND | 615 | 8:15:30 | 3:03:41 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | CHRIS ARMSTRONG | 706 | 8:15:00 | 3:06:42 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | NATHAN OWEN | 1776 | 8:28:00 | 3:08:45 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | DREW SCHULTS | 1932 | 8:19:30 | 3:09:16 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | JUSTIN BARTH | 2700 | 8:20:00 | 3:10:53 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | JUSTIN COCHRAN | 4972 | 8:25:30 | 3:11:24 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | TOMAS LLAMAS | 726 | 8:20:30 | 3:14:05 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | CRAIG HONNOLL | 1908 | 8:18:30 | 3:15:46 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | MATTHEW WILSON | 1903 | 8:09:00 | 3:17:53 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | CHACE RODD | 4970 | 8:22:00 | 3:19:26 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | JOSHUA SMITH | 1948 | 8:23:30 | 3:21:12 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | JIM HENLE | 411 | 8:17:30 | 3:21:26 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | ROBERT FORREST SMITH | 965 | 8:18:00 | 3:21:31 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | BLAKE VAN DE LOO | 1945 | 8:02:00 | 3:37:54 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | JASON WELLER | 1910 | 8:05:00 | 3:44:27 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | SEAN STROUD | 1028 | 8:00:30 | 3:45:41 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | BEN COLLIER | 713 | 8:25:30 | 3:46:03 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | RYAN BERGAMINI | 1933 | 8:24:00 | 3:46:04 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | MARK MACDONALD | 4910 | 8:24:30 | 3:46:39 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | BRIAN FULKERSON | 208 | 8:24:00 | 3:49:12 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | MICHAEL LEE | 211 | 8:23:00 | 3:53:31 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | AUSTIN WEILAND | 4927 | 8:04:00 | 4:00:22 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | ERIK MILLER | 921 | 8:05:30 | 4:05:25 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | BILL HILLIARD | 89 | 8:13:00 | 4:12:03 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | TYSON SMITH | 4944 | 8:18:30 | 4:18:36 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | SCOTT MUCHOW | 4916 | 8:07:30 | 4:20:26 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | BRIAN CAPRARA | 991 | 8:08:30 | 4:28:28 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | CHRIS BARNETT | 1961 | 8:07:00 | 4:48:22 | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | DARIAN GOMEZ | 90 | 8:01:00 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | JESSE JOHNSON | 1947 | 8:02:30 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | RON SCHAEFER | 4911 | 8:06:00 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | DUSTIN NELSON | 994 | 8:08:00 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | AUSTIN PENNINGTON | 259 | 8:08:30 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | SEAN HALUCH | 1905 | 8:09:00 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | GEORGE LISENBERY | 1966 | 8:10:30 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | KIERAN COX | 142 | 8:11:30 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | JP GOMEZ | 82 | 8:12:30 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | WILL HARRIS | 4903 | 8:13:30 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | RAUL GOMEZ | 83 | 8:13:30 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | AARON CLARK | 1002 | 8:16:30 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | COLE CLARK | 24 | 8:16:30 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | DAVID MIZE | 5585 | 8:17:00 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | PATRICK MURRAY | 902 | 8:17:30 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | BRAYDON EDDY | 4985 | 8:18:00 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | RANDY JELLEFF | 4902 | 8:19:00 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | DAN WALLER | 261 | 8:20:30 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | ROB FRYREAR | 1999 | 8:21:00 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | MARCOS GOMEZ | 86 | 8:21:30 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | BROC SMITH | 1941 | 8:22:00 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | DANIEL MARKLEY | 777 | 8:22:30 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | PAUL KROUT | 4915 | 8:23:30 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | JEFFREY DONDA | 4908 | 8:24:30 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | CHASE BRIDGMON | 1975 | 8:25:00 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | TODD COOK | 1110 | 8:26:30 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | TANNER STEPHENS | 6851 | 8:27:00 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | RANDY SOUTHALL | 4988 | 8:27:30 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNF | LUIS GALLARDO | 492 | 8:27:30 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF |
DNS | OCEAN RODD | 4913 | 8:24:00 | DNS | DNF | DNF | DNS |
DNS | ROBBY GORDON | 4977 | 8:25:00 | DNS | DNF | DNF | DNS |
Past Winners
2017- Shannon Campbell
2016- Blake Van De Loo
2015- Mitch Guthrie Sr.
2014- Mitch Guthrie Sr.
2013- Mitch Guthrie Sr.
2012- Mitch Guthrie Sr.
2011- Brandon Schueler
2010- Mitch Guthrie Sr.
2009- Mitch Guthrie Sr.