The Build for Off Road Adventure Ride just got a whole lot more legendary with the addition of multi-time King of the Hammers champion, Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Famer and #TeamAMSOIL racer Brad Lovell.
A Lifelong Passion
Brad’s lifelong love of all things off-road started early, with family adventures in a pop-up camper pulled by his dad’s Bronco in the Colorado Rockies. “We’d go camping and really enjoyed exploring new places and seeing new things,” says Brad. This early exposure to exploration and seeking out increasingly tough trails with his brother in their own vehicles fueled a competitive spirit.
But it was witnessing his first Supercrawl rock crawling competition in Farmington, New Mexico, that truly sealed the deal, he adds, “It blew my mind. I fell in absolute love with it.” That pivotal moment sparked a desire to not just participate, but to push boundaries. “My whole challenge is just to see how far we can take this,” says Brad. “What different challenges can we find? That’s what’s kept me motivated the whole time.”
That spirit of adventure and desire to push limits is what inspired Brad to join the Build for Off Road Adventure Ride.
“Watching what [show host Ian Johnson] is doing, he’s always cooking up new crazy ideas and fun, adventurous things,” Brad shared. “AMSOIL has supported our team for many years and is the fabric of who we are. Partnering with AMSOIL and Ian is pretty exciting, and I was thrilled when it came together.”
Adding an extra layer of excitement to this adventure is the fact that Brad won’t be the only member of his team tackling these trails – keep reading to find out who’s joining him.
A Seasoned Warrior
Brad will be bringing his beastly 2007 Ranger Rock Racer on the Adventure Ride. This machine comes with a serious pedigree, having made its debut at the legendary King of the Hammers. As Brad explains, “This vehicle helped us establish our team. It’s won 44 races, including competition rock crawls, rock races, hill climbs, and we even won a desert race down in Texas. It’s been an extremely versatile and iconic vehicle for us.”
This celebrated rig has been battle-tested across a spectrum of off-road disciplines, making it the perfect choice for the Adventure Ride, which will include some intense wheeling in Johnson Valley, the very heart of King of the Hammers.
“King of the Hammers is a big challenge,” says Brad, explaining that the event can be as heartbreaking as it as alluring. It’s been a few years since the Rock Racer last competed at KOH, with an impressive second-place finish. However, except for an occasional weekend outing, the legendary vehicle has been idle since. Thankfully, this iconic machine is being dusted off and prepped for new adventures.
Brad’s approach to recreational off-roading isn’t much different from high-stakes racing. “It’s always competitive,” he says with a laugh. While competitive spirit is ingrained in Brad’s DNA, he emphasizes the key differentiator is balance between challenge and camaraderie.
“Enjoying trails can sometimes be hard, because we go to the trails to challenge ourselves and try new things,” says Brad. While he firmly believes off-roading is fundamentally about facing and conquering obstacles, he also stresses the importance of being patient with fellow adventurers, staying open to advice and maintaining a positive attitude. “I encourage my sons and other people I go wheeling with to push their limits. If you’re not growing, you’re not excelling,” Brad says, “But it has to be at a measured rate.”
A Growing Legacy
Adding an extra dimension to the Adventure Ride, Brad won’t be the only Lovell on this journey. His son Adam will also be joining the crew, creating a unique father-son off-road experience. Adam is a seasoned off-roader in his own right, having co-driven to a remarkable victory alongside his dad at the 2025 King of the Hammers Every Man Challenge. Having conquered King of the Hammers together, Brad and Adam bring a unique dynamic to the upcoming Adventure Ride. “Your co-driver is like your mechanic and your confidante—able to help you fix things,” says Brad. “I’m sure he’ll do a great job on the Adventure Ride.”
Adam will be bringing his own solid-axle, big-tired Ranger creation on the Adventure Ride. “It’s a really cool vehicle. I had a Ranger when I was his age,” Brad shared proudly. “It’s pretty neat to see him following in my footsteps.”
“What I absolutely love about off-road is the sense of adventure,” Brad says in closing. “That’s why I’m so excited to go on this ride. I’m really looking forward to enjoying time with my son and making new friends along the way.” Their shared experience in navigating challenging terrain and working as a team will undoubtedly be a valuable asset to the entire group. We can’t wait to see father and son side-by-side on the trails.
Be sure to save the dates for upcoming episodes with the Lovells and keep up with additional AMSOIL off-road build and ride content leading up to the Adventure Ride:
- 7/13/25 — AMSOIL on Two Guys Garage — Jeep build and ride.
- 8/31/25 — AMSOIL on Truck U — Buggy build and ride.
- 12/20/25 — AMSOIL on Build for Off Road — Build premiere.
- 1/17/26 — AMSOIL on Build for Off Road — Lovell Adventure Ride.
- 1/31/26 — AMSOIL on Build for Off Road — Lovell Adventure Ride.
Story: Brenton Productions. Images: Brad Lovell, Paolo Baraldi, Nicolas Mailfait Stevenin
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