The 2026 Ultra4 USA season ended at the inaugural Ultra4 USA Nationals, held Oct. 14–18 at Leatherwood Off-Road Park in Hazard, Kentucky, on the all-new Thunderdome course. When we wrapped up the Nor Cal Stampede, Nationals were next. Here's who won in Kentucky, who left with national titles, and where the series is headed in 2027, all from Ultra4's official results and announcements. The event is still on our Ultra4 Nationals race page in Find a Race.
A finale run on points and motos
Ultra4 says the Thunderdome threw everything at the field: massive rocks, technical obstacles, high-speed sections and unpredictable weather. Qualifying was canceled because of weather and track conditions, so drivers lined up for Friday's racing based on their national points standings. The two-day, moto-style format meant every finishing position counted. Consistency mattered as much as raw speed.
This was a new kind of ground for a lot of the field. Ultra4's event page pitched it as a chance to see the Appalachian mountains and fall scenery of a part of Kentucky many racers and fans had never visited. Wooded hills and big rocks also mean that when a car needs a pull, the nearest anchor is usually a tree.
A tree saver wraps the trunk so the winch line doesn't, which protects the tree during a recovery. This one also works as a tow strap or winch strap. The rest of our straps are in Tow Straps & Tree Savers.
Nationals race winners
- 4400 Unlimited: Paul Wolff
- 4500 Modified: Todd Miller
- 4600 Stock: Cory Day
- 4800 Legends: Jeff Martin
- 4900 UTV Stock: Kurt Mackie
- 4900 UTV Modified: Nick Anderson
- 4900 UTV Open: Dustin Robbins
- UTV Youth 1000: Peanut Fulcher
- UTV 170 Stock: Kydon Murtey
- UTV 170 Limited and 170 Modified: Tristan Fulcher
The official timing shows how the moto format played out. In 4400, Casey Gilbert won the first moto, but a ninth in the second dropped him to sixth overall. Paul Wolff went second, then first, for the win. Tad Dowker came back from sixth in moto one to second in moto two and finished second overall, with Roger King third. Todd Miller won both 4500 motos. In 4600, Brandt Erwin took the first moto and Cory Day the second, and Day's two-moto total gave him the win.
The 2026 National Champions
- 4400 Unlimited: Tad Dowker
- 4500 Modified: Todd Miller
- 4600 Stock: Cory Day
- 4800 Legends: Jeff Martin
- 4900 UTV Stock: Kurt Mackie
- 4900 UTV Modified: Tommy Thompson
- 4900 UTV Open: Dustin Robbins
- UTV Youth 1000: Peanut Fulcher
- UTV 170 Stock: Jaxon Fernandes
- UTV 170 Limited and 170 Modified: Tristan Fulcher
Back to the trees for a second: a tree saver like the one above still needs something to join its loops to the winch line, and a soft shackle does that job. More sizes are in Soft Shackles.
National titles in Ultra4 are a full-season job. Points come from King of the Hammers, regional races, the Joker events and Nationals. Cory Day capped a six-win season with the 4600 Stock title and also won both the Eastern and Central 4600 Stock regional championships. Dustin Robbins took both the Eastern and Western 4900 UTV Open regional titles on his way to the national crown. Tommy Thompson won 4900 Modified by just three points, and in the youth ranks, Tristan Fulcher won two national championships in the same season.
Ultra4 also singled out Kayden Gamble and Cody Willenborg, the only two racers who made every Ultra4 USA race in 2026. Off the course, Hazard and Perry County hosted a downtown parade and trunk-or-treat on Thursday, and the championship awards wrapped things up Saturday evening.
The 2027 Ultra4 USA schedule
Ultra4 has already posted next year's calendar: nine events, with two regional races each in the West, Central and East, plus King of the Hammers, a Mid-Season National and a return to Kentucky for Nationals.
The first 2027 green flag is still months away, which makes now the time to sort out the car. Tight, wooded courses and long days in a closed helmet make fresh air a big deal.
If you're choosing between systems, our guide How to Spec a Helmet Air System: RaceAir Pro vs Boost vs Lite walks through the options, and the full lineup is in RaceAir.
Here is the full 2027 calendar from Ultra4's release, with KOH's own provisional dates:
- Jan. 21–Feb. 6: King of the Hammers, Johnson Valley, Calif. (KOH's provisional schedule; Ultra4's release lists Jan. 17–Feb. 7)
- April 9–10 (Central): Clash at Crossbar Ranch, Davis, Okla.
- April 30–May 1 (East): Rausch Creek Rumble, Pine Grove, Pa.
- May 21–22 (West): West Region Round 1, location to be announced
- June 25–26 (Mid-Season National): Black Hills National, Sturgis, S.D.
- July 30–31 (East): Southern Mountain Melee, Stevenson, Ala.
- Sept. 3–5 (Central): Crandon World Championships, Crandon, Wis.
- Sept. 17–18 (West): Nor Cal Stampede, Sacramento, Calif.
- Oct. 14–17 (Finale): Ultra4 USA Nationals, Leatherwood, Ky.
Ultra4 says the schedule is subject to change, and event details and registration information will come out as they become available. Check the official Ultra4 announcement for updates.
Congratulations to every 2026 winner and champion, and to every team that made the long haul to Hazard. Find upcoming races on our Find a Race page.
