BY MICHAEL MAHER PHOTOS BY RNR PHOTOS
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housands of off-road racing enthusiasts made their annual trek out to Johnson Valley on Friday, February 7th for the Main Event of the 2020 Hammers Week, the week long salute to off-road racing and offroad sports in general, with the Nitto King of the Hammers Powered by OPTIMA Batteries combining two of the most popular off-road activities: open desert racing and rock climbing. This year's event would crown a brand new King, as Josh Blyler, despite an embarrassing roll-over on the final lap, was first across the finish line. But given the nature of off-road racing, where the winner is decided on time rather than who crosses the finish line first, he had to wait to find out if he was truly the winner as a few other competitors
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were still capable of taking the victory away if they could make it to the finish line in time. For what seemed like an eternity, Blyler, his co-driver, and the fans waited and waited as the clock ticked down until no one else on the course could beat his time. Finally, the clock ran down and Blyler was officially the winner. Blyler is the defending champion in Ultra 4, but this was his first Hammers win. “We knew we were leading, we knew we were doing good, and we drove it in there too hot, too hard, like a bunch of idiots, and just like that, we were on the roof,” Blyler said at the finish line. “Jared was scrambling, he couldn’t get out. We finally got out, and as he was Story continued on page 79
S&S OFF ROAD MAGAZINE - MAY 2020 - www.ssorm.com S&S OFF ROAD MAGAZINE - MAY 2020 - www.ssorm.com
