King Of The Hammers Announces Optima Batteries As Title Sponsor And Ford Performance As Presenting Sponsor For 2025

The brands will help to host thousands of fans, spectators and competitors in Johnson Valley, California, on Jan. 23 - Feb. 8, 2025.

OPTIMA Batteries, a division of Clarios, continues to underline its dedication to off-road racing and recreation by supporting one of the largest off-road events in the U.S. Since 1972, OPTIMA Batteries has been producing state-of-the-art batteries for racers and drivers from around the world.

“After years of partnership with King of the Hammers, we’re thrilled to become the title sponsor of this world-class event,” said Cam Douglass, director of marketing at OPTIMA Batteries. “King of the Hammers has become the pinnacle of off-road racing and provides our team an adverse and intense testing ground for our products. What we do here trickles down to the technology we provide for daily drivers. We are happy to support an event like King of the Hammers alongside legacy brands like Ford Performance.”

Ford Performance has been a longstanding partner of King of the Hammers, with the Ford Bronco taking home the Ultra4 4600 crown for the past three years. The continued support from Ford Performance shows fans and spectators its commitment to enthusiast culture and the capabilities of its off-road lineup.

“King of the Hammers is a celebration of grit, determination, and innovation, and it’s an honor for Ford Performance to continue supporting this legendary event,” said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “Johnson Valley pushes all of us—racers, engineers, and enthusiasts alike—to do better. The lessons we learn here directly inform the development of our vehicles, ensuring they’re ready for whatever adventure lies ahead.”

KOH is more than just a race—it’s the birthplace of the global Ultra4 Racing series and a showcase for the wildest 4x4 vehicles on the planet. From the unlimited 4400 class, which combines high-speed desert racing and extreme rock crawling, to rapidly growing categories like UTVs, stock-modified vehicles and even electric vehicles, there’s a competition for everyone.

Whether racecars are hand-built by drivers or sponsored by major factory teams, each one embodies the relentless determination that defines the sport. Every year, over 80,000 fans converge on the rugged terrain of Johnson Valley, California, with millions more watching the action online.

What began as 12 teams battling for bragging rights and a case of beer has grown into an iconic and celebrated event, featuring hundreds of teams battling it out for that elusive first-place trophy and title of King.

“I’m delighted to expand our long-standing partnerships with OPTIMA Batteries and Ford,” said Mike Jams, CEO of HammerKing Productions. “Both have been cornerstone supporters for years, and have become synonymous with KOH and its culture and community. We’re proud to represent them, and look forward to continuing to build on our partnership.”

The 2025 King of the Hammers will kick off on Jan. 23 and runs through Feb. 8 in Johnson Valley, California. For tickets, the event schedule, merchandise and more information about King of the Hammers, please visit www.kingofthehammers.com.

About HammerKing Productions and King of the Hammers
King of the Hammers (“KOH”) is a two-week-long off-road racing festival centered at Johnson Valley in the Mojave Desert. It’s the biggest off-road race in the country and one of the toughest and most iconic races in the world. Every year, over 80,000 spectators pack into Hammertown, and millions more tune in online to watch hundreds of racers battle for glory in a series of races culminating in the ultra-extreme Race of Kings. Winning KOH is the ultimate goal for drivers worldwide, cementing it as a cornerstone of off-road culture. 

HammerKing Productions, the team behind KOH, is renowned for its production quality and industry-leading live broadcasts that capture defining moments from the event each year.

About Clarios
Clarios is the global leader in advanced, low-voltage battery technologies for mobility. Our batteries and smart solutions power nearly every type of vehicle and are found in 1 of 3 cars on the road today. With around 18,000 employees in over 100 countries, we bring deep expertise to our aftermarket and OEM partners and reliability, safety and comfort to everyday lives. We answer to the planet with a rigorous sustainability focus – advancing best-in-class sustainability practices and advocating for them across our industry. We work to ensure that 100% of our products sold are recyclable, and we recycle 8,000 batteries an hour in our network. Clarios is a Brookfield portfolio company.

About OPTIMA Batteries
OPTIMA high-performance automotive, marine, heavy-duty AGM and lithium batteries are manufactured by Clarios, LLC, the world’s largest manufacturer of automotive batteries. OPTIMA REDTOP, YELLOWTOP and BLUETOP batteries feature state-of-the-art SPIRALCELL TECHNOLOGY. This patented design allows OPTIMA batteries to deliver superior performance in both starting and deep cycling applications. OPTIMA ORANGETOP batteries are the newest additions to the legendary line of reliable performance batteries with six sizes available that utilize HYPERCORE LITHIUM technology. This new offering allows for more than 95% of the powersports market to experience the power and performance of OPTIMA Batteries. The OPTIMA product family also includes a line of Digital Chargers with advanced multi-stage charging to charge and maintain a variety of 12V vehicle batteries, maximizing battery life and performance. To learn more or to purchase OPTIMA products, please visit www.optimabatteries.com, call 1-888-8OPTIMA (1-888-867-8462) or find @OPTIMABatteries on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

About Ford Performance
Ford Performance is based in Dearborn, Michigan. It is responsible for Ford’s performance vehicle development and major racing operations globally, including NASCAR, IMSA, SRO British GT, FIA World Rally Championship, Supercars Championship, World of Outlaws, Ultra4, SCORE-International, FIA Rally-Raid, Formula Drift, NHRA, Rebelle Rally, Thailand Super Series and its latest commitment in Formula 1 with Red Bull Ford Powertrains. Ford Performance also maintains a constantly evolving fleet of electric performance demonstrators to showcase the limits of electrification technology. In addition, the organization oversees the development of Ford’s racing engines, as well as outreach programs for all Ford clubs and Ford enthusiasts. For more information regarding Ford racing’s activities, please visit Performance.Ford.com or follow @FordPerformance on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, TikTok and YouTube.

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