Hammerking has flipped the switch. 2027 King of the Hammers racer registration is open — the 20th anniversary run on the Johnson Valley lakebed.
If you are planning to be Driver of Record, the early window matters. Returning KOH competitors keep discounted entry fees through Monday, September 28, 2026, at 11:59 PM PST (same email as prior KOH registrations). Regular pricing starts Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at 12:00 AM PST. Another fee step hits Tuesday, December 1, 2026, at 12:00 AM PST. Full class pricing lives on the official 2027 entry fees page — check it before you pick a class.
KOH also posted a minimum $250,000 purse for 2027, split evenly between Ultra4 and Desert Challenge ($125,000 each), with more purse and contingency news still to come.
How to get on the entry list
Per KOH’s Get Started guide:
- Secure (or confirm) your race number on Ultra4 USA if you need one.
- Buy a 2027 USAC license before you register — KOH links that purchase from the registration announcement.
- Register as Driver of Record (name must match), pick class/subclass, add medical and car details, pay. Registration includes the Driver of Record wristband package KOH lists on Get Started.
- Upload a fresh W-9 for purse payouts.
Pit crew and co-drivers still need general admission tickets plus USAC licenses. King of the Motos riders follow the AMA path on the same Get Started page. Start the racer flow from KOH’s registration CTA: 2027 King of the Hammers registration.
Provisional week on the lakebed
The published 2027 KOH schedule (provisional, subject to change) runs Thursday, January 21 through Saturday, February 6, 2027:
- King of the Motos: January 21–24
- King of the Hammers week: January 28–February 6 (prerun opens Jan 28; Toyo Tires Desert Challenge, Can-Am UTV Hammers Championship, Yokohama Every Man Challenge, then Race of Kings on Feb 6)
First-time Drivers of Record can also look at the 2027 Rookie Program — mentorship, virtual calls, and onsite prep before race week. Confirm current Rookie dates on that official page; KOH notes the overall race schedule can still move.
Field kit reality check
Johnson Valley is hard on radios, helmets, and anything that keeps chase talking when cell maps go blank. If you are building or refreshing a desert program, start with the lanes you will actually use: hand held radios, helmets, helmet accessories, satcomm, and the broader PCI Race Gear shelf. For stacking other desert dates around KOH week, keep Find a Race bookmarked.
Gear up early, register on the official KOH pages, and we will see you when the lakebed fills up.
