King of the Hammers Rookie Program
Information coming soon about the 2025 King of the Hammers Rookie Program!
About 2024:
Welcome to the 2024 King of the Hammers Rookie Program!
The program that seized the off-road industry's attention last year is back, but BIGGER, BETTER, LONGER, with MORE opportunities, engagement with athletes, former rookies, staff, AND we’re including a DESERT program! If you’ve never been Driver of Record during King of the Hammers before and you’re racing any Ultra4 or Desert class, this is YOUR time! The road to Hammers is here 2024 Rookies!
What is a King of the Hammers Rookie?
A competitor that has never driven a vehicle during a King of the Hammers event. KOH driver. Newbie, newb, beginner, novice, freshman, apprentice. Ultra4 Regional Series driver of record accepted as KOH rookie.
If you have been the driver of record at any King of the Hammers competition, you are not eligible. If you have been the driver of record at an Ultra4, Ultra4 Europe, or Ultra4 USA race, you are eligible for the Rookie Program.
To be part of the KOH 2024 Rookie Program, some important details:
- Read all the information here, it is important.
- Those racing KOH 2024 as Driver of Record for the first time filled out an application for the Rookie Program.
- To remain in the program, individuals must participate in five Zoom or in-person meetings. If the requirements are not met, they will be removed from the program (remember, the program is to teach and help guide you to the Hammers, we want you to be successful. For that to happen, you need to show up).
Deadline for Program Participation:
To maximize program benefits, the 2024 Rookie Program deadline was October 6, 2023 (this is separate from race registration). The Rookie Program is geared toward education, guidance, mentorship with accomplished competitors, and direct access to KOH staff for support along the road to KOH. This is accomplished by having rookies in the program to take advantage of all the program has to offer.
Although applications for the 2024 King of the Hammers Rookie Program are closed, we welcome you to join us for the 2024 King of the Hammers Powered by OPTIMA Batteries! Click here to learn how to get registered, or register now by clicking here!
2024 King of the Hammers Rookie Program Schedule
- Forging Hammers 1 – Rookie Driving
Johnson Valley, CA | July 21-23 - Forging Hammers 2 – Rookie Driving
Johnson Valley, CA | August 4-6 - Off-Road Expo Pomona - Sponsors and Competitor Talks
Pomona, CA | September 29 – October 1 - Road to Hammers – Education, Camaraderie and Trails | All Rookie Weekend
Johnson Valley, CA | October 20-22 - Forging Hammers 3 – Rookie Driving
Johnson Valley, CA | October 23-24 - Performance Racing Industry Network Show - Sponsors and Competitor Talks
Indianapolis, IN | December 7-9
- Zoom Sessions will be held in addition to the in-person opportunities, including but not limited to: Ready, Set, Pit!, Evenings with Athletes, Hear it from the Sponsors, and Learn the Basics from Staff.Forging Hammers events are by RSVP only. Additional event details as available. One Forging Hammer event per Rookie.
New Highlights for 2024, Just to Name a Few!
- The Rookie Refuge at Hammers - a centralized location for rookies to stay when arriving on the lakebed near each other!
- Multiple opportunities to learn from partners and athletes in different geographical locations.
- Weekends designed to focus on learning the trails, desert and allowing valuable seat-time.
- The acclaimed Rookie Weekend in Johnson Valley brought everyone together but bigger than last year - more information and details competitors need! We heard from past rookies, industry professionals, and legendary competitors from Ultra4 and Desert!
- Many Rookies and veteran competitors competing in Ultra4 USA Nationals joined the Road to Hammers weekend before heading Havasu.
Details To Know:
- Rookie Program Participants must be registered no later than October 6, 2023 to be eligible for the program. This is separate from race registration.
- Rookies must participate in five Zoom or in-person meetings. If the requirements are not met, they will be removed from the program.
- Only officially registered rookies of the program are allowed to run red car numbers.
- All race entries must meet safety and tech requirements for their respective class. 2024 Rookies will run red letters with a white outline on the appropriate class color background per the rulebook. (See Rulebook).
- Participants will sign all liability and responsibility waivers. USAC Competition license must be purchased before participation.
- Race entry and all associated fees are the responsibility of the participant.
- Must never have previously raced a King of the Hammers race in the past as DOR.
- Rules subject to change without notice.
- Rookie 2024 class begins June 2023 and ends at the completion of King of the Hammers 2024.
- Hammerking Productions reserves the right to change, cancel or modify the contest at any time.
- Participation in the Rookie Program is voluntary and participants may withdraw from the program at any time.
- This contest is not affiliated with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or other third parties.
- Hereby agrees that photographs, video and audio productions and telecasts may be made of the undersigned either alone or together with others, during the race event or at such times or places as Hammerking Productions and/or affiliate shall designate. The applicants/winner agrees that all rights in such photographs, video and audio productions and telecasts including but not limited to rights of sale, reproduction, use and distribution, shall belong to Hammerking Productions, or affiliates which may make whatever use of such photographs, video productions and telecasts as it or they may desire. The applicants grant Hammerking Productions or its affiliates and assign the non-exclusive right to use the applicants name or likeness for any and all commercial benefit and purpose, without limitation in perpetuity, throughout the universe, in all media, whether known or unknown.
- By submitting a video or photographs, the contestant is allowing Hammerking Productions the right to use the content in any promotional use, the applicant understanding they will receive no compensation for the outside the stated prize package.
- The contestant is agreeing that upon winning, they will be allowing Hammerking Productions to use their image, likeness, photographs, and video with no monetary compensation now or in the future.
- Contest administrator: Courtney@KingoftheHammers.com on behalf of HKP.
Congratulations to our Inaugural 2023 King of the Hammers Rookie Program Finishers and Award Recipients:
Watch the season unfold on our YouTube, as Quest to the Crown chronicles the story of the 2023 King of the Hammers Rookie Program here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZYAvHjC-c1yj-F2QjAFpxwLkwHOCvv2H
Can-Am UTV Hammers Championship Official Race Finishers
Robert Parker – Highest Rookie Finisher 4900 Overall (9th) and Highest Rookie Finisher Pro-Mod
Ben Cahill – Highest Rookie Finisher 4900 Pro Stock Turbo
Jake Godfrey
Payton Isbell
Michael Adams
4WP Every Man Challenge Official Race Finishers
Troy Digby – Highest Rookie Finisher 4500 and 2nd place overall 4500 Class
Jay Schwab – Highest Rookie Finisher 4800 and 11th place overall EMC
Peter Doolan 3rd place overall 4500 Class
Jeff Watson
Nitto Race of Kings Official Race Finisher
Aaron Smith – Highest Rookie Finisher 4400
Nitto Race of Kings Qualifying Course Rookie Finishers
John Webster
Brent Moffett
Christian Basse
Aaron Smith
William McGibbon
BJ Carter
Mike Spindler
Randy Burke
Go Getter Awards (Voted by Peers)
4400 - Brent Moffett
EMC - Russell Raven
4900 - Martin Duffy
Rookie of the Year
As the Rookie Program developed through the year, sportsmanship, willingness to help others, participation in the Rookie group and overall attitudes were shown from many. Rookie of the Year for this initial program was not just performance on the track, but the overall person. Keeping the program goals of camaraderie and forging achievements in mind, when discussing awarding Rookie of the Year one name was reoccurring among competitors, staff, production, and fans. Building his car from the ground up into a racecar, helping others for years before putting work into his own, humbled upon presentation, Hammerking Productions is proud to award the Inaugural 2023 King of the Hammers Rookie of the Year to Randy Burke.
Although applications for the 2024 King of the Hammers Rookie Program are closed, we welcome you to join us for the 2024 King of the Hammers Powered by OPTIMA Batteries! Click here to learn how to get registered, or register now by clicking here!