Only 2 Drivers Finish Grueling King of the Hammers Race

Randy Slawson becomes first four-time winner, Josh Blyler takes second place

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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The 2026 King of the Hammers off-road race in California's Mojave Desert proved to be an incredibly challenging course, with only two drivers out of 86 starters able to complete the race. Randy Slawson became the first four-time winner of the event, finishing the course in over 13 hours, while Josh Blyler took second place after also battling the treacherous terrain for more than 13 hours.

Why it matters

The King of the Hammers is known as one of the toughest off-road races in the world, testing the limits of both drivers and their custom-built vehicles. This year's exceptionally difficult course, with many new and unfamiliar canyon runs, pushed the competitors to their limits and highlighted the extreme challenges of this annual event.

The details

The 2026 King of the Hammers course featured numerous new and demanding canyon runs that even seasoned Hammer veterans had never encountered before, including Slip-N-Slide, Saltine, and others. Randy Slawson and Josh Blyler were the only two drivers able to complete the grueling race, with both taking over 13 hours to reach the finish line. The event was also marked by unruly behavior from some attendees, including drunken brawls, drunk driving arrests, and illegal fireworks, prompting organizers to issue warnings about the need for better behavior to ensure the event's future.

  • The King of the Hammers race took place on February 8, 2026.
  • Randy Slawson became the first four-time winner of the event.
  • Josh Blyler finished in second place after also completing the course in over 13 hours.

The players

Randy Slawson

The winner of the 2026 King of the Hammers race, becoming the first four-time champion of the event.

Josh Blyler

The second-place finisher in the 2026 King of the Hammers race, also completing the grueling course in over 13 hours.

Dave Cole

The CEO of King of the Hammers, who was criticized by some competitors for the extreme difficulty of this year's course.

Ben Napier

The event director of King of the Hammers, who issued warnings about unacceptable behavior from some attendees, including drunken brawls, drunk driving, and illegal fireworks.

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What they’re saying

“Man, that was the best we've had in a long time.”

— Randy Slawson (autoweek.com)

“I don't know what (Hammers ceo) Dave (Cole) was thinking but that was a nasty, nasty course. That was insane.”

— Josh Blyler, Second-place finisher (autoweek.com)

“This is what King of the Hammers is supposed to be about. If they're gonna brag that this is the hardest race in the world, then make sure this is the hardest race in the world. Finishing by nap time after lunch? Come on guys. Finishing after 13 hours, that's it.”

— Randy Slawson (autoweek.com)

“I'd never seen several of them. Never wheeled up Slip-N-Slide, Saltine, or several I never knew existed. We went up and had to winch it several times.”

— Randy Slawson (autoweek.com)

“I need to get this message out loud and clear to everyone. Fighting, drunk driving, and fireworks are not acceptable at our event. Behavior like this puts our ability to run this event at risk. We cannot have them continue.”

— Ben Napier, Event director (autoweek.com)

What’s next

The organizers of King of the Hammers will likely review the course design and safety protocols to address the extreme challenges faced by competitors in 2026, while also working to curb the unruly behavior of some attendees to ensure the future of the event.

The takeaway

The 2026 King of the Hammers race pushed the limits of off-road racing, with only the most skilled and determined drivers able to complete the grueling course. This event highlights the extreme challenges and risks inherent in this type of motorsport, as well as the need for organizers to balance the desire for an exceptionally difficult race with the safety and security of both competitors and spectators.