Kyle Chaney Makes History at 2025 King of the Hammers

Kyle Chaney came in to the 2025 King of the Hammers feeling the sting from last year. In an epic finish to last year’s King of the Hammers, Chaney lost his front suspension after taking the lead just before the finish. Limping across the finish line physically first, Chaney and co-driver Terry Madden were eventually docked back to eighth place after a series of time penalties evaporated what would have been his first Race of Kings Crown.

An uphill battle

Going into King of the Hammers week, Chaney was looking for a five-peat in the Can-Am UTV Hammers Championship, a race he has dominated for the past four years. Qualifying second, Chaney was not even one lap in when he and co-driver Cash Lecroy pulled over for what they thought was a flat tire. Chaney was itching to get back in the rocks where he excels, but he ultimately had to pull out of the race.

Taking notes from the UTV race, Chaney set his sites on redemption. Dubbed a “4/5ths race car,” this year UTVs had to beef up their roll cage and run on 37-inch tires for Saturday’s Race of Kings.

Unchartered territory

For this year’s Race of Kings, race promoter Dave Cole mapped out a third lap through untraveled trails that was not announced until a day before the race. Qualifying fourth, Chaney maintained a top-five position throughout the race, changing a flat and winching once or twice.

With former kings like Loren Healy and Cameron Steele dropping off before the last lap, the doors continued to open for Chaney and Madden. Chaney entered the third lap in third place, shortly behind former kings JP Gomez and Josh Blyler.

The third lap proved to be a challenge for driver and navigator alike. It spanned 75 miles, much of it traversing treacherous rock trails, and proved an advantage for single-axel full-size vehicles. With Gomez and Blyler both having issues on one of the last rocky ascents, Chaney was eventually able to climb his way around them to overtake the lead and power to the checkered flag.

Chaney becomes the first UTV driver in history to earn the Race of Kings crown. Fighting back tears, Chaney thanked his crew for perfecting his car for race day.

We are the Kings.

Chaney wasn’t the only member of Team AMSOIL to have a successful week.

• Brad Lovell and his son Adam started the King of the Hammers race week taking the Stock OEM class win in the Limited Desert Challenge in their Ford Raptor.
• The Lovells hit the start line again in the 4600 class of the Every Man Challenge. The father-son duo went 2-2 on the week with another victory.
• Newly signed Camburg racing took the T2 class win and second overall in the Limited Desert race.