Every tire brand claims durability. Every race team talks about confidence. But at King of the
Hammers, the rocks don’t care about marketing — they expose weaknesses fast.
In 2026, OBOR Racing showed up not just to participate — but to prove something.
Johnson Valley’s brutal granite ledges, sharp-edge climbs, and endless desert
transitions are widely regarded as the ultimate proving ground for off-road tire
technology. This year, OBOR arrived with more teams, deeper engineering, and a bold
move into uncharted territory: the debut of the All-New 35” Competition Kevlar
RocScraper Spec.
Engineering Confidence
The new 35” Kevlar RocScraper Competition Spec wasn’t a cosmetic update. It was
purpose-built for King of the Hammers. Featuring reinforced Kevlar sidewall
construction, the tire was designed to address one of the race’s most common failure
points — sidewall punctures and cuts under extreme load.
Drivers running the new competition spec immediately noticed the difference. The
reinforced sidewall structure allowed teams to confidently run lower pressures for
traction without sacrificing stability. In technical rock sections, where one bad line can
end a race, that confidence matters.
For Dustin Robbins, the difference was immediate and measurable.
“King of the Hammers is all about trust — trust in your car, your equipment, and your
tires,” said Dustin Robbins of AllThingz UTV. “With the Kevlar RocScraper, I could drive
more aggressively in the rocks without worrying about sidewall damage. That changes
how you approach obstacles. Instead of hesitating, you commit — and that makes a
huge difference in a race like this.”
The feedback across teams was consistent: the Kevlar spec wasn’t just surviving the
rocks — it was allowing drivers to attack them.
A Historic Step Into the 4400 Race of Kings
While the UTV classes remain a major focus for OBOR, 2026 marked a defining
milestone for the brand: its first-ever participation in the legendary 4400 Unlimited Race
of Kings.
Elite competitors Dustin Robbins (AllThingz UTV) and Robert Liebel lined up in the
premier class on the 37x10R15 RocScraper Competition Spec, bringing OBOR into
one of the most demanding motorsports environments on the planet.
The 4400 class represents the absolute pinnacle of rock racing — massive horsepower,
unlimited suspension, and terrain that destroys equipment without hesitation. By
stepping into this arena, OBOR signaled a new level of confidence in its product
platform.
For Robert Liebel, the move into the 4400 class was both a challenge and a validation
of the tire’s capability.
“The 4400 cars put unbelievable stress on everything — especially tires,” said Robert
Liebel. “The RocScraper competition spec handled sharp rock hits, side loads, and long
race distances without giving us problems. When you’re running this level of terrain and
horsepower, durability isn’t optional — it’s everything.”
It wasn’t just participation. It was proof of performance under the most extreme racing conditions
in off-road motorsports.
Depth Across the Field
Beyond the historic 4400 entry, OBOR Racing delivered one of its strongest UTV
campaigns to date.
2026 King of the Hammers Results Highlights:
4th Overall — Dustin Robbins (Can-Am UTV Championship)
1st Place Pro Stock Turbo — Kurt Mackie
4th Place Pro Mod — Shabs Piercy
15 total teams competing on RocScraper UTV tires
With 15 teams competing on RocScraper UTV tires, OBOR demonstrated not only top-
tier results, but depth — a key indicator of a growing and trusted race program.
From high-speed desert stretches to vertical rock ledges like Chocolate Thunder, the
RocScraper platform proved adaptable, predictable, and durable under pressure.
From Challenger to Contender
King of the Hammers has always been a proving ground — not just for drivers, but for
brands. Success here doesn’t happen overnight. It’s built through testing, refinement,
and real-world punishment.
For OBOR, 2026 marked a turning point.
The introduction of the Kevlar-reinforced 35” competition spec, the expansion into the
4400 Unlimited class, and the strong overall UTV results signal a brand evolving from
challenger to serious contender.
In a sport where equipment failure often determines outcome, reliability becomes
reputation. And reputation is earned in the rocks.
As the dust settles on Johnson Valley, one thing is clear: OBOR Racing isn’t just
growing — it’s climbing.
Photo Credits : Kurt Summers, Michael Shearer, Harlen Foley
The post OBOR Racing’s Breakthrough Moment at King of the Hammers appeared first on UTV Action Magazine.
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