Monster Energy Scores Multiple Podiums at the 2026 King of the Hammers

The “Burning Man for Off‑Road Vehicles,” also known as the 20th running of the Griffin Radiator King of the Hammers, powered by Optima and backed by Monster Energy, wrapped up this weekend as vehicles — primarily UTVs — took to the brutal, rocky trails that snake through California’s Mojave Desert in Lucerne Valley. The two‑week event concluded with the Can‑Am UTV Hammers Championship, the Yokohama Every Man Challenge, and the event finale — the iconic Race of Kings.

Leading the way for Monster Energy in the UTV Hammers Championship was Brian Deegan (Can‑Am), who scored a 2nd‑place podium finish in the 4900 Pro Stock Turbo UTV class with a two‑lap time of 7:49:41.343. Rounding out Monster Energy’s top‑ten finishes was Dustin Jones (Can‑Am), who secured 10th place in the 4900 Pro Mod UTV class with an overall time of 10:24:25.523.

“It was a long day. And it always seems like it is for us,” said Jones. “But gosh dang, it was a LOT of fun.”

Other notable Monster Energy athletes competing in the notoriously tough, high‑attrition UTV Hammers Championship included:

• Jeremy “Twitch” Stenberg – 7th, 4900 Sportsman Stock UTV
• CJ Greaves – 11th, 4900 Open UTV
• Cameron Steele – 12th, 4900 Pro Mod UTV

In the Every Man Challenge, Monster Energy was led by Loren Healy (Ford) in the 4600 Stock class, earning a 2nd‑place finish with a two‑lap time of 7:04:14.8. Steele also performed well, placing 8th in the 4800 Legends class with a time of 7:56:30.2.

In the event’s final race — the legendary Race of Kings, held Feb. 7 — Monster Energy was again led by Healy, who finished 4th with a time of 3:44:08.565. Monster Energy’s Casey Currie (Jeep) completed one lap to finish 16th, while Steele placed 28th.

Previous Week Recap

Monster Energy’s Phil Blurton (Can‑Am) and Sara Price (Can‑Am) opened Ultra4 Racing’s 2026 season with major momentum. Blurton, piloting the #944 Can‑Am Maverick X3 Turbo R, posted a winning time of 3:39:45.9 in the UTV Pro Modified class at the Toyo Tires Desert Challenge presented by Monster Energy. His fastest lap came on Lap 1 with a blistering 54:38.318.

Right behind him was Monster Energy’s Dustin Jones, who claimed 2nd place with a time of 3:48:39.7 and a fast lap of 56:01.444 on Lap 2. Monster Energy’s third racer in the class, Matt Burroughs, overcame challenges to finish 13th with a time of 2:03:26.1.

Fresh off a 2nd‑place finish at the Dakar Rally, Sara Price started KOH strong by winning the UTV Pro Stock Turbo division with a four‑lap time of 4:17:53.7, posting her fastest lap on Lap 4 with a time of 1:00:24.414.

Additional Monster Energy podiums included:

• Loren Healy (Ford) – 3rd, T4 Desert Stock OEM class (2:41:31.8)
• Janey Lee & Kylie Marie – 3rd, UTV Pro Stock Turbo (4:52:01.9)
• Ricky Brabec – 3rd, UTV Pro Stock NA (2:20:10.2)

Lee, driving the M‑Claw‑shod #369 Can‑Am, posted her fastest lap on Lap 3 with a time of 1:09:45.405.

How to Watch KOH

Catch all coverage of the 2026 Optima King of the Hammers presented by Ford on the event’s official YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/@kingofthehammers_official