The 2023 Progressive King of the Hammers Powered by OPTIMA Batteries is ready for action this year, and there is a full schedule of events. From its humble beginnings as a wager between a small group of friends in 2007, it has grown into the largest off-road motorsports event in the world and one of the largest to take place on public lands in the United States.
With nearly a dozen days of racing for off-road vehicles of every shape and size, and 897 teams entered from 37 states across the U.S. and multiple countries, the Progressive King of the Hammers (KOH) is bigger than ever before. In addition to all the racing on the lakebed, there are plenty of other things to do.
Some must-dos while on the lake bed is the Holley EFI Shootout taking place Tuesday, February 7th, and the Baja Jerky Class 11 Showdown Presented by EMPI for near-stock VW bugs, also known as Class 11, which takes place Sunday, February 5th. This year concerts are going on almost every day on the stage inside Hammertown. Check out the schedule below for all the happenings during the 2023 edition of King of the Hammers.
You're in luck if you can’t make it to the lakebed for this year’s event. King of the Hammers has the best live coverage and tracking of any off-road race. Feel like you are on the lakebed with all the action streamed on the King of the Hammers website or YouTube channel.
2023 Progressive King of the Hammers Powered by OPTIMA Batteries Schedule:
Thursday, January 26, 2023
12 pm Gates Open
Friday, January 27, 2023
12 - 5 pm SRT King of the Motos Tech Inspection
6 pm SRT King of the Motos Riders Dinner, WARN VIP Tent
7 pm SRT King of the Motos Riders Meeting, WARN VIP Tent
8 pm Live Music at Hammertown Firepit
Saturday, January 28, 2023
7 am SRT King of the Motos Tech Inspection
8 - 11 am SRT King of the Motos Prologue
12 pm SRT King of the Motos Race One Riders Staging
1 - 4 pm SRT King of the Motos Race One
7 pm Live Music at Hammertown Firepit
Sunday, January 29, 2023
8 am SRT King of the Motos Race One Rider Staging, Chocolate Thunder
9 am - 3 pm SRT King of the Motos Race Two (ends at Chocolate Thunder)
5 pm SRT King of the Motos Awards in Hammertown
Thursday, February 2, 2023
12 pm Pre-running opens and course map released to registered competitors (desert loop clockwise)
12 pm KOH Outpost Featuring Sonora Brewing Company, Big Bear Lake Brewing Company, and Tiny Pony Tavern Opens
6:30 pm Caiden Brewer performing live at the Monster Energy Stage
8:30 pm Hollywood Yates live at the Monster Energy Stage
10:30 pm Matt Farris live at the Monster Energy Stage
Friday, February 3, 2023
Pre-running full course open (desert loop clockwise)
7 pm Toyo Tires Desert Challenge Presented by Monster Energy Drivers Meeting, WARN VIP Tent
8 pm Live Music at the Hammertown Firepit
Saturday, February 4, 2023
Short course and desert closed to pre-running
7 am Toyo Tires Desert Challenge Presented by Monster Energy Tech and Contingency, Gate 3
8 am Toyo Tires Desert Challenge Presented by Monster Energy Prologue (all Desert classes: T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, B1, B2, B3 and B4)
8 am Terra Crew 1400/1450 Rush (following Prologue)
8 am Baja Jerky Class 11 Showdown Presented by EMPI – Land rush start on Melville Dry Lakebed (following Prologue and Terra Crew Rush)
6 pm Toyo Tires Desert Challenge Presented by Monster Energy Awards
6:30 pm TBA live at the Monster Energy Stage
8:30 pm A.D.D. live at the Monster Energy Stage
10:30 pm Guttermouth live at the Monster Energy Stage
Sunday, February 5, 2023
Short course and desert closed to pre-running
8 am -12 pm Toyo Tires Desert Challenge Presented by Monster Energy for Limited Trucks and Buggies Race One (B2, B3, B4, T3, T4, Terra Crew 1400 and 1450) and all classes associated with the Triple Crown, or any applicable partnering series)
12:30 pm Toyo Tires Desert Challenge Presented by Monster Energy for Unlimited Trucks and Buggies Race Two (T1, T2, B1)
5 – 6 pm Registered KOH Rookie Program Mandatory Meeting, WIFI Tent in Hammertown
6 pm Toyo Tires Desert Challenge Presented by Monster Energy Awards
7 pm UTV/EMC/4400/GAS Drivers Mandatory Meeting, WARN VIP Tent/broadcast over jumbotron
8 – 11 pm Great American Shortcourse Powered by OPTIMA Batteries Practice
Monday, February 6, 2023
7:30 - 10 am Great American Shortcourse Powered by OPTIMA Batteries Qualifying
8 am - 2 pm Can-Am UTV Hammers Championship Qualifying at Chocolate Thunder
2 - 3 pm Can-Am UTV Hammers Championship Power Hour at Chocolate Thunder
11 am - 5 pm Great American Shortcourse Powered by OPTIMA Batteries Main Events
6 pm: Pit Crew Challenge Presented by Pro Eagle & Buggy Whip at Pro Eagle Booth
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
8 am - 2 pm 4WP Every Man Challenge Qualifying at Chocolate Thunder
2 - 3 pm 4WP Every Man Challenge Power Hour at Chocolate Thunder
6 pm Holley EFI Shootout Presented by Action Sports Canopies & King Shocks
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
10 am Can-Am UTV Hammers Championship Tech & Contingency
8 am – 2 pm Nitto Race of Kings Qualifying at Chocolate Thunder
2 - 3 pm Nitto Race of Kings Power Hour at Chocolate Thunder
6 pm KOH Kids 170 Race on the short course
7 pm UTV/EMC/4400 Mandatory Drivers Meeting, WARN VIP Tent
Thursday, February 9, 2023
Pre-running closed, hot racecourse
8 am Can-Am UTV Hammers Championship Race Start
9 am King of the Hammers Overland Experience Presented by Shiftpod Opens
10 am - 4pm 4WP Every Man Challenge Tech & Contingency, Gate 3
6 pm Can-Am UTV Hammers Championship Race End
6:30 pm Local Anthology live at the Monster Energy Stage
8:30 pm Spray Allen live at the Monster Energy Stage
10:30 pm Sublime with Rome live at the Monster Energy Stage
Friday, February 10, 2023
Pre-running closed, hot racecourse
8 am 4WP Every Man Challenge Race Start
10 am – 4 pm Nitto Race of Kings Tech & Contingency, Gate 3
6 pm 4WP Every Man Challenge Race End
Saturday, February 11, 2023
Pre-running closed, hot racecourse
8 am Nitto Race of Kings Race Start
6:30 pm Mama Foxxy & The Whiskey Gypsy Rebels live at the Monster Energy Stage
8:30 pm Matt Farris with Jared Blake live at the Monster Energy Stage
10 pm Nitto Race of Kings Race End
10:30 pm Chayce Beckham live at the Monster Energy Stage
