Ford Performance hoping to earn multiple wins at King of the Hammers off-road event.
Lovell scores first win of the week for Ford Bronco Raptor in opening event.
King of the Hammers serves as a testbed of current Ford technology to improve future products.
JOHNSON VALLEY, Calif. Feb. 4, 2025 — Ford Performance and Bronco are returning to the Mojave Desert in search of the off-road SUV’s fourth straight King of the Hammers stock class win, and more.
The 2025 edition of the OPTIMA King of the Hammers presented by Ford Performance runs February 1 – 8 in the desert of Johnson Valley, California, where Bronco was developed.
Billed as the toughest one-day off-road racing series in America, King of the Hammers is an opportunity to highlight Bronco’s state-of-the-art off-road technologies while giving Ford Performance engineers an opportunity to learn and help raise the off-road capabilities of future Broncos.
“There’s nothing like the thrill of racing at Hammers. The competition, the terrain, the stakes – it all drives us to bring our best,” said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Performance. “It’s a reminder of why we build what we build: to take on the toughest challenges and come out stronger."
Brad Lovell has already secured the first win of the 2025 edition of King of the Hammers. The veteran racer won the Desert Stock OEM class behind the wheel of a Bronco Raptor during the Desert Challenge on February 1. Bronco Raptor is the first high performance off-road SUV inspired by King of the Hammers’ Ultra4 off-road racing that combines high-speed desert racing with grueling rock crawling.
Bailey Cole, the 2024 winner of the Class 4600 Every Man Stock Class Challenge will race alongside other Ford Performance off-road veterans, including two-time King of the Hammers champion Loren Healy, along with Vaughn Gittin Jr., and Brad Lovell. All take the wheel for the stock class race on February 7.
Broncos will also compete in the final 4400 Unlimited Class, piloted by Jason Scherer, Loren Healy, and Vaughn Gittin Jr.
Unlimited race rigs push the limits of capability and endurance in the culminating event, the Race of Kings for the outright title of King of the Hammers.
In addition to witnessing the competition, Ford fans will also have the opportunity to visit the Ford Performance area to get up close with a range of vehicles. Included in the display is the Raptor T1+ which finished third overall at this year’s Dakar Rally. The Raptor T1+ embodies Ford’s cutting-edge off-road technology. Bronco Nation, the dedicated community of Bronco enthusiasts, will also be on-site, fostering connections among fans and celebrating the Bronco legacy.
