The opening phase of King of the Hammers 2026 delivered what the event is known for: long laps, high speeds, penalties, and rapid separation between cars able to sustain pace and those that cannot. Desert Challenge timing data places Polaris entries at the front of the field based on lap times and averages, not isolated results.
Results at the Front
In the B3 UTV Open class, Brock Heger finished 1st Overall UTV. The result was supported by underlying performance data rather than a late-race swing or attrition alone.
- Total race time: 4:30:21.582
- Fastest lap: 49:42.161
- Average lap: 52:53.396
At King of the Hammers, average lap time often matters more than peak speed. A sub-50-minute fast lap paired with an average under 53 minutes across the race indicates controlled pace and limited time loss to penalties, pit cycles, or recovery laps.
Multiple Cars, Comparable Pace
Polaris performance extended beyond the lead car. Several entries finished inside the top 20 with competitive average lap times, reinforcing that pace was not limited to a single driver or setup.
- Ethan Groom (P5): 52:34.364 fast lap, 55:41.585 average
- Cayden Macc (P11): 54:52.377 average lap
- Joe Terrana (P17): Clean finish with no major penalties or mechanical issues
Across the results sheet, Polaris cars consistently show tight fast-lap-to-average spreads, a strong indicator of clean execution in Desert Challenge conditions.
What the Time Sheet Shows
Looking beyond finishing order, the timing data highlights several recurring patterns:
- Time gaps expand quickly outside the top positions, reflecting how costly penalties and pit delays become on long desert laps.
- Several competitors recorded strong fast laps but lost significant time overall, indicating inconsistencies rather than lack of speed.
- Leading Polaris entries combined competitive fast laps with stable averages, suggesting fewer penalties and less late-race degradation.
This reflects the Desert Challenge dynamic, where sustained pace outweighs isolated bursts of speed.
Platform Context and Program Structure
The Desert Challenge also served as a proving environment for the Pro R Factory platform.
Under the direction of Adam Arsenault, Team Director for Polaris RZR Factory Racing and SCI Motorsports, Polaris fielded six race cars with five drivers, spanning both factory-backed and privately owned customer entries.
Those customer cars were built by SCI Motorsports to the same Pro R Factory specification as the factory race entries, not detuned variants. In parallel with the race program, Polaris confirmed that the RZR Pro R Factory platform is now available for customer purchase, with a demo car displayed in Hammertown during the event.
Timing data from multiple drivers shows comparable lap profiles across entries, reinforcing that performance was tied to platform consistency rather than a single isolated effort.
Privateer Pro R Performance
The Desert Challenge results were not limited to factory-backed entries. Privately owned and modified Polaris RZR Pro R cars also featured prominently throughout the field, reinforcing that the outcome reflected platform depth rather than a single front-running effort.
Independent Pro R entries driven by Doug Mittag, Dallas Gonzalez, Wayne and Kristin Matlock, Mikey Kelly, and CJ Greaves maintained competitive lap averages across long desert laps, with limited variance between fast laps and overall pace. Their timing profiles closely mirrored the factory entries, indicating consistency rather than isolated speed.
In total, Polaris RZR Pro R entries accounted for nine of the top ten finishing positions, spanning both factory-backed teams and independently run privateer efforts.
DoubleZero Powersports Support
From an industry perspective, events like King of the Hammers also highlight the support infrastructure surrounding modern UTV race programs.
As teams cycle equipment through development, competition, and mid-season updates, platforms such as the Polaris RZR Pro R and Pro R Factory generate low-hour take-off and race-derived components as part of normal operations. DoubleZero Powersports supports this ecosystem by sourcing and supplying used Pro R and Pro R Factory components originating from race programs, testing cycles, and competition support vehicles.
These components are curated by DoubleZero and typically retain substantial service life, making them suitable for privateer teams and non-professional owners.
Looking Ahead to UTV Rock
With the Desert Challenge complete, attention now shifts to UTV Rock Qualifying and the UTV Rock Race, where Polaris will field modified RZR Pro R Factory entries prepared for Johnson Valley’s rock courses.
Polaris RZR Factory Racing drivers Brock Heger and Bryce Menzies are confirmed to compete in the UTV Rock event, bringing high-speed desert pace into the technical phase of the week.
noWhile rock racing presents a different set of demands, desert results still matter. Cars that exit the Desert Challenge with minimal penalties, stable temperatures, and no late-race degradation typically enter the rock phase with an advantage in reliability and baseline setup.
Lap times, averages, and finishing margins from the Desert Challenge place Polaris entries at the front of the field as the event transitions into the rock races.