Carrying his momentum straight from another victorious Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, RZR Factory Racing's Brock Heger opened the 2026 UTV season in dominant fashion by once again conquering the King of the Hammers (KOH) Desert Challenge. At the 7th annual Desert Challenge this past Saturday in Johnson Valley, Heger delivered a flawless performance behind the wheel of his Polaris RZR Pro R Factory to secure the overall UTV Open class victory during the Limited Race. The win marked Heger's third consecutive Desert Challenge victory, continuing his unmatched run of success at one of off-road racing's toughest proving grounds.
In addition to Heger's victory, Polaris racers in the RZR Pro R delivered a standout performance, earning two podium finishes and six top-ten results. Chaden Minder secured a third-place podium behind Heger, followed closely by Sebastian Marques in fourth and RZR Factory Racing teammate Ethan Groom in fifth in his first full-time appearance behind the wheel of the RZR Pro R Factory. Branden Sims added a ninth-place finish, with Sierra Romo rounding out the top ten.
Following an intense qualifying session, Heger lined up second, with Ethan Groom starting sixth and Joe Terrana in the orange car qualifying eighth. The four-lap race unfolded as planned, with Heger quickly charging into the lead and never looking back. He went on to deliver a dominant wire-to-wire performance, with the RZR Pro R Factory showcasing its speed and reliability over the 250-mile event to finish more than nine minutes ahead of the second overall UTV.
Behind Heger, Polaris drivers maintained a strong pace through the opening half of the race as the evolving dynamics of the event reshaped the running order in the closing stages. With his grassroots program, Chaden Minder delivered a breakthrough performance, charging to an impressive third-place UTV overall finish after qualifying 22nd. The RZR Pro R Factory proved to be a formidable competitor, its capabilities on full display as Heger took home his third consecutive Desert Challenge victory.
Brock Heger's dominant win at the King of the Hammers Desert Challenge showcases the exceptional performance capabilities of the Polaris RZR Pro R Factory. With his unmatched run of success at this event, Heger solidifies his position as a top contender in UTV racing.
