Desert Challenge Win Headlines Strong Runs at King of the Hammers for Team Vision Wheel
No matter the event, Vision Wheel athletes were no strangers to the front of the field throughout the 2024 edition of King of the Hammers. From a victory in the Desert Challenge with Christopher Polvoorde to multiple class podiums in UTV Hammers and more, Vision athletes brought home plenty of hardware in the annual pilgrimage to Johnson Valley.
Polvoorde’s debut race in a T1 unlimited truck saw him dominate both days of the Desert Challenge, starting with the top time in Saturday’s Prologue. He led for most of Sunday’s full race as well, changing only a single tire on the course and quickly reclaiming the lead after a showdown in the pits. On the second lap, he extended his lead to more than two minutes to take the checkered flag.
In UTV Hammers, Pro Mod UTV racer Phil Blurton and CJ and Johnny Greaves in Open UTV set the pace by qualifying near the front of the field. Blurton and CJ Greaves remained in the mix up front all day, eventually settling into second place in their respective divisions. Blurton’s 4:05:57 on corrected time was good for third overall, while the younger Greaves’ 4:15:16 placed him fifth.
In the premier Race of Kings, Cade Rodd earned the top starting spot and was in the mix all day long. Entering the final lap in the top five and fighting for a podium, he overcame a last-lap issue in Outer Limits to score a top 10 finish at race’s end. When all was said and done, Rodd’s 7:37:01 on corrected time made him one of just 40 racers out of more than 100 starters to complete three grueling laps of this year’s course.