Jagged X Wins King of the Hammers with Nearly-Stock RANGER RZR XP 900

[JoeyD23]

Jagged X Wins King of the Hammers with
Nearly-Stock RANGER RZR XP 900​

Minneapolis, Feb 15, 2011– After three years of racing “King of the Hammersâ€, the Jagged X team won the side-by-side class with the new and nearly-stock RANGER RZR XP 900!

Since its original debut in 2008, the "King of the Hammers" race has been deemed the toughest off-road race in the world. The course is a 42-mile combination of open desert racing, narrow goat trails and huge rock trails. For the last two years, the Jagged X team raced their desert race car and while they were in the hunt, the heavier full-blown race car came up just short of the win. This year, the team took a little different approach and raced the new and nearly-stock RANGER RZR XP 900. The unit was modified only to comply with the safety requirements and equipped with a set of Elka Elite series shocks.

With the temperature hovering in the low 20s, the Jagged X team lined up in the tenth starting position with seventeen other side-by-sides. When the flag dropped, Brandon Schueler and co-driver Mike West charged off into the California desert with a group of very-well equipped competitors. The RANGER RZR XP 900 did an amazing job of reeling in the rest of the field and by the first rock trail, the team was running in third position. Shortly after, the only car between the No. 1919 and the finish line was the two-time winner Mitch Guthrie, also driving an almost-stock, very nimble and quick RANGER RZR 800. The two were separated by only a few feet for the next 15 miles but then in the last major rock section, known as Aftershock, Schueler was able to squeeze by and capture the lead. The two swapped the lead again in the bottom of the canyon but when the dust cleared, Jagged X came out ahead by nearly five minutes ahead of Guthrie, and the rest of the field was nearly an hour back.

“The new RANGER RZR XP 900 proved once again that Polaris is the only manufacturer to build a car that offers the power, suspension and agility to win one of the toughest races in the world,†said Brandon Schueler. “Jagged X would like to thank everyone who helped us to take the crown and become the KING of the HAMMERS!â€

Special thanks go out to Polaris Industries, Elka Suspension, Pro Armor, Simpson safety equipment, CR Designs, OMF Performance and Renegade Seats.


About Jagged X
Jagged X is a family owned business located in Phoenix Arizona . Formed in 2003 from a passion for off road vehicles, Jagged X quickly became a pioneer in the custom side by side segment and is known for bringing their customers quality and innovation with their own brand of style. In 2007 Jagged X formed an aftermarket partnership with Polaris industries with the introduction of the exciting new RZR. They continue to lead the pack in the development of exciting products for the RZR such as long travel suspension, billet and tubular accessories.

About Polaris
With annual 2010 sales of $1.99 billion, Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets off-road vehicles (ORVs), including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and the Polaris RANGERâ„¢, snowmobiles and Victory motorcycles for recreational and utility use and has recently introduced a new on-road electric powered neighborhood vehicle.
Polaris is a recognized leader in the snowmobile industry; and one of the largest manufacturers of ORVs in the world. Victory motorcycles established in 1998 and representing the first all-new American-made motorcycle from a major company in nearly 60 years, are rapidly making impressive in-roads into the cruiser and touring motorcycle marketplace. Polaris also enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Pure Polaris apparel, accessories and parts, available at Polaris dealerships.
Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PII,†and the Company is included in the S&P MidCap 400 stock price index.
Information about the complete line of Polaris products, apparel and vehicle accessories are available from authorized Polaris dealers or anytime from the Polaris homepage at Official Global Website For Polaris ATVs, RANGER Vehicles, Snowmobiles, & Victory Motorcycles.

 

[RHINOdan]

Congrats Jagged X!

 

[JoeyD23]

Great work to the ENTIRE Jagged X team! Also big props to Polaris for creating the XP! This machine is proving to be a force for both play and race!

 

[brevndeb]

Polaris has been doing there Homework fore sure!

 

[JoeyD23]

From the Jagged X website...............


Jagged X Wins 2011 Pit Bull Tires King of the Hammers!!!!

After chasing the title for three years the Jagged X / Polaris Racing team has finally earned the right to be called King of The Hammers. KOH has been coined "the toughest off road race in the world" and for good reason. This race combines the grueling aspect of long distance desert racing with the sheer punishment of rock racing in one of the most unforgiving places ever, Johnson Valley, CA. This is home to some of the most difficult rock crawling trails in the world and miles of the most rutted and rocky trails you have ever seen. Many would not think of driving on these trails let alone racing on them. 2009 marked the first year that UTV's were added to the schedule and it has been a growing event since. The UTV course is shorter than the main event but still probably the most challenging UTV race known to man.

Race morning welcomed us with sunny skies and temperatures in the low 20's (just one more reason for double layer fire suits). The UTV field was a who's who of UTV racing with nearly every brand of UTV being represented. 18 racers lined up for a chance at the "King" title this year. The Jagged X boys were cursed in the draw once again starting in the tenth spot. Two time KOH champ Mitch Guthrie was lined up just two spots ahead of us also driving a Polaris. Other racers included Jon Crowley of UTVGuide.com, Casey Currie and his Monster Kawasaki, and a well rounded crew from HCR. All in all one of the best equipped group of UTV's we have ever seen all ready to take on the rock and the ruts.

For the last two years Jagged X has showed up in full desert race trim and while we have fared well finishing both years on the podium, the heavier platform of the BITD race car proved to be a disadvantage in the rocky and tight terrain that makes up the KOH course. This years introduction of the new RZR XP 900 proved to be the perfect fit for this grueling race. We decided to race the XP completely stock with the exception of the required safety compliance items and a new set of Elka Elite series replacement shocks. We also decided to equip the car with the proven durable tire / wheel package used on our desert racer. This package consists of three piece billet center beadlock wheels from OMF Performance, Maxxis bighorn tires and flat prevention from Tireballs. The safety package consisted of full suspension seats from Renegade here in Phoenix, 5 point harnesses from Simpson Safety, full doors from Pro Armor, and custom window nets again from Renegade.

After a short tuning session the day before the race, we had our brand new fully adjustable Elka Shocks performing perfectly. These shocks soaked up the huge whoops better than we could have imagined. The best part is that these are bolt on units that require no suspension upgrades or geometry changes. With only one pre-run of the course under our belt the sun set with race day just few short hours away.

It was not long after the green flag dropped on Thursday morning that Brandon Schueler and co-driver Mike West began to make their way to the front of the field. The first major rock section found the 1919 car already battling in the top three, and once out of the canyon only reigning champion Mitch Guthrie was between the 900 XP and the checkered flag. This battle went on for nearly 15 miles as Guthrie's driving skills proved his "King" status. As the two entered the last and most difficult rock section known as "Aftershock", Brandon zigged while Mitch zagged and the result was an exciting pass made in the middle of the toughest rock section of the course. However, it was too soon to declare victory because just a few rocks down the canyon Guthrie took back the lead and the chase was on again. After the rock section the course smoothes out some and the XP 900 was able to out motor the 800 to the finish, but not without a fight. This was an exciting race for us and we want to congratulate all of the finishers and thank everyone who came out to race and those who supported the entire event.

As for the stock RZR XP 900! What a great machine. Aside from some scrapes and bruises she's no worse for the wear. This race is harder on a vehicle than any amount of normal driving conditions and we believe that Polaris is correct when they say that these are the hardest working, smoothest riding and, for us, the hardest racing off road vehicles in the world!
THANKS POLARIS for making Brandon Schueler, Jagged X and Polaris Racing the 2011 King of The Hammers!

Special thanks go out to Elka Suspension, Pro Armor, Simpson, Renegade Seats, OMF performance, C.R. Designs, and Mountain States Contracting.

If you have any questions about KOH, UTV racing or about any of the products used on this car please contact [email protected] or call us at 623-780-5984

 

[Mitch G]

Congratulations to the whole Jagged X Team and to Brandon and Mike for a great race and WIN !!!! . That was awesome racing with you guys ! Mitch

 

[Crowdog]

Congrats to the 1919 crew! Wish I could have battled with you in the rocks and Mitch in the rocks. Would have been big fun.

 

[rupert14]

Good job once again. Jagged is becoming the team to beat. Any chance we could talk you guys into moving up a class? See you at the silverstate.

 

[tatum]

Congrats to Jagged,wish I was there to see the race.