As tens of thousands of people start to descend on ‘Hammertown’ in Johnson Valley, California, for the two-week long spectacle that is King of the Hammers, Polaris Off Road unveils its full driver lineup, featuring some legendary names in off-road racing, for both the Desert Challenge and UTV Championship Rock Race.
Joining the Polaris Factory Racing trio of Brock Heger, Cayden MacCachren and Max Eddy Jr. on the starting line of the Desert Challenge will be fellow Polaris-supported racer Branden Sims, who looks to defend his 2023 victory at the event behind the wheel of a race-modified RZR Pro R. Contesting the race alongside him will be the husband-wife duo of Wayne and Kristen Matlock, as well as Brayden Baker, Ryan Piplic, Sierra Romo and Justin Lambert. With its proven race-winning combination of power, agility and handling, the RZR Pro R is the vehicle of choice for all these competitors as they look to tackle the rugged terrain of the Mojave desert.
As the event shifts to the infamous rock race where competitors will crawl up boulder-strewn obstacles like the famous Chocolate Thunder, multi-time off-road champion Bryce Menzies will also trade his trophy truck for a RZR Pro R because of its incredible durability and strength to withstand the dynamic demands of the event. The competition will be stiff though, with a deep field of other Polaris racers all vying for that top spot, including ambassador Casey Currie, CJ and Johnny Greaves, Ronnie Anderson, Mitch Guthrie Jr. and Cole Clark, who finished an impressive third in the rock event last year. Following the Desert Challenge, Heger will also put his skills to the test during the famed rock portion, driving a mostly stock RZR Turbo R due to its responsiveness in both high-speed and slow crawling scenarios, plus its precision, agility and strength.
“As the 2024 race season gets underway this weekend at King of the Hammers, we’re excited to have representation at both the desert and rock races by a long and impressive list of Polaris Racing drivers, in addition to our Polaris Factory Racing team,” said Alex Scheuerell, Polaris Factory Racing technical director. “With a lineup like Branden, Wayne and Kristen, plus Bryce, Casey and Mitch, Polaris is coming in full force to establish our dominance right at the start of the year. This event, especially the rock portion, is a true testament of a driver’s abilities and the durability of their machine. With that, it’s no surprise that nearly the entire lineup of Polaris racers will be competing in a RZR Pro R, which is the ultimate combination of power, strength and control.”
