All-Bronco Podium for 3rd Time at King of the Hammers Every Man Challenge

[NORCALGXP]

By Ford Performance February 9, 2025

https://performance.ford.com/articl...dperfnewsletter-w6_nlr-sub_npr_ns_ns_tp6_1_nt

Johnson Valley, Calif. – Ford Performance continued its success at King of the Hammers as the Bronco 4600 race truck once again swept the podium in the 4600 Stock Class of the Every Man Challenge. This marks Ford’s third podium sweep and extends Bronco’s winning streak to four consecutive years. After years of coming close, off-road legend and Ultra4 Hall of Famer Brad Lovell finally took home the victory. Defending champion Bailey Cole fought hard to secure second place, while John Williams III rounded out the all-Bronco podium in third.

“This win is huge for us,” said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director, Ford Performance. “King of the Hammers is one of the toughest races out there – it pushes everything and everyone to their absolute limits. Every year, we come here knowing we’ll learn something new, and every year, we make Bronco even better because of it. This race is as real as it gets, and today, Bronco showed exactly why it’s built to take on the toughest conditions and come out on top. That’s what ‘Built Wild’ is all about.”

Lovell’s win comes after four years of setting the fastest qualifying times but falling short of the top step. His perseverance paid off as he skillfully navigated Johnson Valley’s brutal terrain, blending high-speed desert runs with technical rock crawling mastery. Lovell, with his son Adam as co-driver, also secured victory in the Desert Stock OEM class during Saturday’s Desert Challenge in the Ford Bronco Raptor.

“This one means everything,” said Lovell. “After years of coming so close, years of number one qualifiers, to finally stand on the top step is surreal. Ford Performance has put their heart and soul into the 4600 program, and built a platform that thrives in the roughest conditions. Today we proved why Bronco continues to be out here at King of the Hammers.”

Bailey Cole, fresh off his 2024 victory, pushed hard to defend his title, keeping the pressure on Lovell throughout the race to secure second place. John Williams III continued his rise in the off-road ranks, completing the podium sweep and making history with Ford’s latest 1-2-3 finish in the Every Man Challenge.

The Bronco 4600 is designed to withstand the punishing conditions of the Mojave, featuring a production-based 2.7-liter EcoBoost® engine, 10-speed automatic transmission, and a high-strength steel chassis. They are further enhanced with race-ready FOX shocks, Dana axles, and 35-inch BFGoodrich tires – key components that create a race-ready, rock-ready off-road vehicle.

The Every Man Challenge is known for breaking both vehicles and drivers with its brutal mix of high-speed desert racing and near-impossible rock crawling. Lovell’s long-awaited victory, Cole’s relentless pursuit, and Williams III’s rising talent embodied Bronco’s enduring spirit and Ford’s commitment to building trucks that can take on anything.

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[GI_Jo_Nathan]

I love it!
But unless I just don't understand how it works, being in the Every Man Challenge feels like beating up on the little guys.

 

[NORCALGXP]

I love it!
But unless I just don't understand how it works, being in the Every Man Challenge feels like beating up on the little guys.

Right "Every Man Challenge" every man has a 4600 Bronco in the garage ready to go racing at a drop of a dime. The class is the entry level for King of the Hammers?

 

[GI_Jo_Nathan]

Right "Every Man Challenge" every man has a 4600 Bronco in the garage ready to go racing at a drop of a dime. The class is the entry level for King of the Hammers?

Exactly. I would think this far in there might be a more advanced class for a factory backed team thats dominating year after year.

 

[ONEBronco]

Bronco's are the only ones that do the race?

 

[NORCALGXP]

Bronco's are the only ones that do the race?

Excellent question. Have been trying to find the entry list for the class. No Luck, last year 157 were signed up.

"Every Man Challenge (EMC) – February 7th The EMC is a proving ground for both amateur and seasoned racers, featuring multiple classes, including the 4600 Stock Class, which showcases production-based 4x4 vehicles. It was named because, in theory, the race is available to "every man" to enter without completely blowing a budget. It is also an extremely challenging event, with most entries unable to finish in the allotted race time. In 2024, 157 vehicles started the EMC but only 56 finished, many time out due to darkness."

 

[GI_Jo_Nathan]

The class made sense to me when they first announced they were entering years ago. But that was before I realized they were going to run portals and tons of other trick stuff.

 

[Oldhippie]

Unless ya make a “claimed” class the big money is gonna dominate…but I just came to say “Go 2 doors”!!!

 

[Twister22]

Is this 3 years in a row? So awesome!

 

[TeocaliMG]

Excellent question. Have been trying to find the entry list for the class. No Luck, last year 157 were signed up.

"Every Man Challenge (EMC) – February 7th The EMC is a proving ground for both amateur and seasoned racers, featuring multiple classes, including the 4600 Stock Class, which showcases production-based 4x4 vehicles. It was named because, in theory, the race is available to "every man" to enter without completely blowing a budget. It is also an extremely challenging event, with most entries unable to finish in the allotted race time. In 2024, 157 vehicles started the EMC but only 56 finished, many time out due to darkness."

i'm not sure either but I think I saw that 4th place was a built JL two door, no? (I saw on Facebook) Pretty happy for Jeep to have a solid performance as well, got little attention, and yes, the Wrangler was about as stock as the Broncos, is what it is to win 4600...

It's hard to have an idealized everyman class. It's easy enough to declare a non-factory backed class, but what constitutes factory? Strickly the auto OEMs? Or key suppliers like Fox or Dana, or even aftermarket leaders like Currie or Yukon? Any Line you draw is too far for some folks, and not far enough for the others.

I wouldn't mind an OEM (or even tier 1 supplier) backed class, if it got proper support. Having a Ford only class would be lame. If Jeep, Toyota and GM or whoever else wanted to throw down, that would be great for that type of class.

If I were to try and make a true EMC class, I would nitpick the rules a bit. Limiting to 35" tires is silly IMO considering how many regular folks wheel with 37's or bigger. Would make way more sense to have rules on sponsorship and backing IMO. I also have minor gripes about keeping the powertrains stock, I would entertain allowing engine swaps if the engines were pulled from another street legal vehicle (not a nascar crate engine lol), again not uncommon among "everyman" wheelers.

 

[gregf1099]

That's because the Jeep guys had to stop and turn off the warranty messages on their infotainment systems. Bwahahaha.

 

[userdude]

i'm not sure either but I think I saw that 4th place was a built JL two door, no? (I saw on Facebook) Pretty happy for Jeep to have a solid performance as well, got little attention, and yes, the Wrangler was about as stock as the Broncos, is what it is to win 4600...

It's hard to have an idealized everyman class. It's easy enough to declare a non-factory backed class, but what constitutes factory? Strickly the auto OEMs? Or key suppliers like Fox or Dana, or even aftermarket leaders like Currie or Yukon? Any Line you draw is too far for some folks, and not far enough for the others.

I wouldn't mind an OEM (or even tier 1 supplier) backed class, if it got proper support. Having a Ford only class would be lame. If Jeep, Toyota and GM or whoever else wanted to throw down, that would be great for that type of class.

If I were to try and make a true EMC class, I would nitpick the rules a bit. Limiting to 35" tires is silly IMO considering how many regular folks wheel with 37's or bigger. Would make way more sense to have rules on sponsorship and backing IMO. I also have minor gripes about keeping the powertrains stock, I would entertain allowing engine swaps if the engines were pulled from another street legal vehicle (not a nascar crate engine lol), again not uncommon among "everyman" wheelers.

Maybe an Every Old Man Challenge, where only stock vehicles > 10yrs qualify. Let's call it the banger/Ol' 76(00)'er class and oil and lubricant changes mid-race are mandatory. I can hear it now: "C'mon ol' man! Get it up! Man, that rock was hard!!" "They haven't started the race."

 

[TeocaliMG]

Maybe an Every Old Man Challenge, where only stock vehicles > 10yrs qualify. Let's call it the banger/Ol' 76'er class and oil and lubricant changes mid-race are mandatory. I can hear it now: "C'mon ol' man! Get it up! Man, that rock was hard!!" "They haven't started the race."

That would be hilarious, a mandatory pit stop to swap a CV axle or something for every racer. Genius.

Reminds me of the "top truck challenge" [edit: it was actually called diesel power challenge] where the guys with the built trucks also had to reverse a trailer through an obstacle course (instead of just doing 1/8th, 1/4 mile pulls)

You can have the same thing but for the new cars, where the pitstop is a dealer tech who has to read the codes and replace a part under warranty

 

[userdude]

That would be hilarious, a mandatory pit stop to swap a CV axle or something for every racer. Genius.

Reminds me of the "top truck challenge" where the guys with the built trucks also had to reverse a trailer through an obstacle course (instead of just doing 1/8th, 1/4 mile pulls)

OH, that would be AWESOME to have to pull a trailer through Turkey Claw, like little mini challenges. You might not have anyone sign up! lol

 

[Bikeric]

I got to see those Bronco's last year when they came through Disney for the Ultra4 Series. They are much smaller looking in person, but still based off a 2-door Bronco. It looks like they're all on Portals now.

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