Ontario, CA (2/14/2014) -
Team ITP racers took part in the side-by-side
portion of the annual King Of The Hammers desert
endurance race held at the Johnson Valley OHV
Area In Southern California, with two pilots
earning a spot on the UTV Pro class podium.
Bush Racing / ITP driver Branden Sims finished
second overall and was joined on box by third-place
finisher Casey Currie of Currie Racing / ITP.
"We had an outstanding showing in the
King Of The Hammers UTV Pro class, on one of
the world's toughest off-road endurance race
courses," said Pat McGuire, Public Relations
/ Race Support. "Despite the rocky, desert
conditions, drivers Casey Currie and Branden
Sims overcame the elements and earned a spot
on the podium with our durable and dependable
30-inch Ultracross tires."
The 2014 King Of The Hammers event featured
a rugged 115-mile course that cut through the
Johnson Valley OHV Area, which is nestled between
the Mojave Desert and the San Bernardino Mountains.
The Hammers course forced racers through technical,
slow-speed rock sections, whoops, sand and runs
with unforgettable names like Chocolate Thunder,
Clawhammer, Aftershock and Fissure Mountain
to name a few. The 2014 UTV portion of the KOH,
which had both Pro and Sportsman classes, had
qualifying on Tuesday and the start of the official
race Wednesday morning.
Sims earned the top qualifying spot and put
his ITP Ultracross tires to the dirt and into
the lead ahead of 23 other Pros. Lap one of
the race was mild compared to last year and
the lead racers took full advantage of the course,
conquering its open desert and whoops rather
quickly. Sims held the lead at least twice during
lap one and he also held the class lead on the
second lap all the way to the Clawhammer trail.
Even after losing the lead to the eventual class
champion, Sims drove smart and stayed on the
gas to record one of his best performances ever,
and, in the process, secure a very solid second
place overall on the UTV Pro podium.
"The tire-and-wheel combination worked
phenomenal," said Sims. "I'm extremely
hard on my equipment and this is my first race
without a tire failure and it's also my first
race on ITP tires. The ITP Ultracross worked
great in the desert and really shined in the
rocks. They are the perfect all-terrain tire."
Currie, competing in the event for the sixth
straight year, pushed his SxS all the way to
finish line, earning a spot on the UTV Pro class
box as well. Along with Sims, Currie was one
of only seven UTV Pro class competitors to finish
the race. Only 10 of more than 30 total side-by-side
vehicles completed the King Of The Hammers course.
Currie used an ITP Ultracross tire / SD Series
Dual Beadlock wheel combination to overcome
the challenging terrain.
"The KOH UTV race was intense. At the
drop of the green flag, we had one thing in
mind this year and that was to finish,"
said Currie. "We made it through the first
lap in around seventh place and crossed the
finish line in third overall. We chose to run
ITP tires and wheels this year and, once again,
they proved to be an excellent choice. We did
not have a flat and the rims were perfect at
the end of the day."
About ITP:
In business for more than 30 years, ITP has become the world's #1 ATV/UTV aftermarket tire and wheel source. ITP utilizes its experienced staff of engineers, designers and technicians at its two American tire facilities in Clinton, Tenn., and Jackson, Tenn., to develop award-winning tire-and-wheel designs for virtually all ATVs and side-by-side vehicles. Numerous outlets distribute ITP tires across the United States and in more than 25 countries worldwide. For ITP's full-color catalog, call toll-free: 1-800-859-4740. www.itptires.com