Polaris Dominates 2024 Desert Challenge at King of the Hammers

Ross Ballot
by Ross Ballot

The 2024 UTV racing season kicked off at King of the Hammers (KOH) with the 5th annual Desert Challenge, and Polaris Factory Racing continued its success from the dominant 2023 season. Brock Heger and Max Eddy Jr. showcased their dominance, securing first and second overall UTV in the B3 UTV Open class at the event.

Heger, the 2023 SCORE UTV Pro Open Champion, piloted his RZR Pro R Factory flawlessly throughout the weekend. He dominated the prologue race, took an early lead in the final challenge, and led wire-to-wire, securing the checkered flag. Eddy Jr., in his debut as an official Polaris Factory Racing driver, delivered an impressive performance, finishing second overall in his RZR Pro R Factory.


The podium sweep in the B3 UTV Open class was completed by Wayne Matlock, another Polaris racer, driving his race-modified RZR Pro R. Heger's RZR Pro R Factory demonstrated outstanding power, strength, and reliability, securing its fifth consecutive victory and fourth consecutive UTV Overall win. Eddy Jr., a five-time Baja 1000 motorcycle champion, showcased his skills by overcoming a challenging prologue race and finishing second overall.


Alex Scheuerell, Polaris Factory Racing Technical Director, expressed satisfaction with the RZR Pro R Factory's dominance and praised the factory racing drivers for their remarkable performance. The team is thrilled to continue improving, despite already achieving significant success.


Looking ahead, Heger will take on the UTV Championship Rock Race later in the week at Johnson Valley, navigating a nearly stock RZR Turbo R. Polaris Factory Racing remains dedicated to pushing the limits and maintaining their position at the forefront of UTV racing excellence.

Ross Ballot
Ross Ballot

Ross hosts The Off the Road Again Podcast. He has been in the off-road world since he was a kid riding in the back of his dad’s YJ Wrangler. He works in marketing by day and in his free time contributes to Hooniverse, AutoGuide, and ATV.com, and in the past has contributed to UTV Driver, ATV Rider, and Everyday Driver. Ross drives a 2018 Lexus GX460 that is an ongoing build project featured on multiple websites and the podcast and spends his free time working on and riding ATVs.

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