Well, at least I’m not ridding my wardrobe of dust this year, race fans.
Straight off a trip from my in-home office viewing of the 2021 King of the Hammers, here I am to give you a rundown of all things Team AMSOIL. A far cry from the -20°F (-29°C) “feels-like” temperatures we are experiencing in northern Minnesota, the southern California desert was steaming with intense race action during this epic week of racing.
Let me beak down how Team AMSOIL fared below while I huddle next to my space heater.
But, first, check out the video to see what King of the Hammers week is all about.
Twice as nice
The week kicked off with the Toyo Desert Challenge, featuring the largest purse in desert racing to be disbursed among the six classes. Qualifying first on Saturday, Bryce Menzies was first off the line Sunday. First eyes out into the desert on the 300-plus-mile course, Menzies never gave up the lead once.
“This course was so tough it threw everything at us and to come away with back-to-back wins is unbelievable.”
Bryce Menzies
Menzies piloted his Mason 4WD T1 truck to the win in five hours and 38 minutes, finishing ahead of Cameron Steele to become back-to-back champ.
Fellow Team AMSOIL teammate Brad Lovell finished an impressive third place in the T2 class and sixth overall in his first Desert Showdown. Coming across the finish line without a hood was a testament to the poor visibility and rough conditions on this year’s course.
“I mean, it is torn up, so it’s gonna be a different King of the Hammers, quite honestly.”
Brad Lovell
Doing what they do best
Coming off the additional pre-running he got during Sunday’s T2 race, Brad Lovell and his brother Roger prepared themselves for their 14th Every Man Challenge on Friday. Qualifying 14th, the Lovells took to the desert in their 2008 Ford Ranger, a model type no longer made by Ford. Taking lines during this race that they never would have attempted earlier in the week, the Lovells excelled where they usually do, in the rock sections of the course (and with a little additional insight from Brad’s Bronco testing in Cougar Buttes) to come across the finish line in second.
“We have spent a lot of time in Cougar Buttes doing Bronco testing. So I have that place pretty well scoped out and saw a line and skirted by some guys there. And, you know, everybody eats dust and if you can get out in front of them in the rocks, you’re not eating the dust in the desert.”
Brad Lovell
Lovell also announced he will be racing a Ford Bronco 4600 race truck in the Ultra 4 stock class this season.
Be sure to tune into our social channels to stay up to date on all things #TeamAMSOIL. Up next the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series continues its Dakota swing with a trip to Sioux Falls, S.D.
We’ll see you at the races!
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