HammerKing Productions and Pro Desert Racers (PDR) have entered into a three-year agreement to jointly promote, unify and evolve off-road racing. The partnership brings together the world’s most demanding off-road race with desert racing’s elite drivers to do what King of the Hammers has always done best—push limits, celebrate performance and deliver uncompromising competition for racers and fans alike, company officials stated in a press release.
Central to the alliance is a shared focus on advancing timing and tracking technology, leveraging today’s systems while expanding their capabilities for broader use across all off-road racing. The goal is to provide real-time data, up-to-the-second scoring and better racing all round—on course and on screen.
Turning Up the Heat at the 2026 Toyo Tires Desert Challenge
For the first time, elite PDR competitors from the United States and Baja will line up within the existing T1 class. This integration places the fastest desert racing trucks in the world on one course, under one class structure, competing on a course that blends high-speed desert with the punishing terrain that King of the Hammers is known for, noted the release.
Developed in partnership with the Pro Desert Racers, the inclusion in the T1 class elevates the Toyo Tires Desert Challenge by bringing unlimited desert racing talent directly into the King of the Hammers competitive landscape. The race will be presented with cameras, data and storytelling, delivering an unmatched view of the competition for fans, media and partners, race officials said.
To turn the pressure up even further, Ultra4 4400 competitors are being challenged to go head-to-head with the T1 unlimited desert trucks during the Toyo Tires Desert Challenge. As well as the title of Champion of the Toyo Tires Desert Challenge, both Trucks and Ultra4s will be competing for the opportunity to qualify for and lock in top starting grid positions for the following weekend’s Race of Kings.