His consistent driving, proven UFO Fabrication buggy, experienced team and 40-inch Nitto Trail Grappler tires all helped to propel him to the top.
Raul Gomez Wins His Second Straight Nitto Race of Kings at King of the Hammers 2023
At first glance it would be easy to assume that Gomez Brothers Racing has spread themselves too thin, racing two T1 Unlimited Trucks and four 4400 buggies at the 2023 Progressive King of the Hammers Powered by Optima Batteries. All that seat time, and multiple vehicles on the course in an event with no outside assistance permitted, paid off for Raul Gomez though as he proved last year was no fluke by winning the King of the Hammers Nitto Race of Kings for the second year in a row. His consistent driving, proven UFO Fabrication buggy, experienced team and 40-inch Nitto Trail Grappler tires all helped to propel him to the top.
Raul qualified fourth out of 104 entries for the Nitto Race of Kings, putting him on the second row when the green flag dropped. He ran up front for the entire race, chasing past King Jason Scherer through the desert and rocks. “This win really fires everybody up,” exclaimed Raul at the podium. “We’ve learned so much racing the last ten years, and it takes dedication, it takes a full team, it takes everybody. And us as drivers, as well, we have to be mentally dialed in. For the first time in ten years I didn’t come down to the fire pit, I was at home, like a good kid, just hanging out, studying and looking at the race course, and really putting in the time and work, and it paid off today.”
Along with his brothers Marcos and JP and his son Darian, Raul races a single-seat UFO Fabrication buggy on Nitto Trail Grapplers with a center-mounted driver‘s seat and narrow cockpit to maximize visibility on the boulder-strewn canyons found at King of the Hammers. Being in a single-seat vehicle can be a disadvantage since you don’t have someone to navigate for you, amplifying the need for prerunning the course. Seat time was the name of the game for Raul, who in addition to racing in the Desert Challenge in his T1 truck, preran both the desert loop and rock laps of the course a staggering seven times in preparation for race day. Unlike many other competitors, Raul uses a dedicated prerunner, rather than his race vehicle, to memorize the course without any wear to his race car. Fun fact: On race day, Raul let Robbie Gordon drive the UFO prerunner. Gordon made the most of the opportunity, turning in a top ten finish in the borrowed buggy.
Being in a single seat vehicle not only means that Raul didn’t have anyone to navigate for him, he also did not have a co-driver to winch for him either. When he did need to winch, traversing Sledgehammer on the third and final lap, Raul’s son Darian helped his father by pulling winch cable so Raul did not have to get out of his car. This made all the difference, as Raul beat Jason Scherer by less than a minute when the dust settled. Since his own race car had broken, Darian stayed at the crux of Sledgehammer for the next four hours assisting other teams in an incredible show of sportsmanship.
Finishing behind Gomez and Scherer, in third place, was 2020 KOH winner and fellow Nitto driver Josh Blyler, with Josh’s father Rusty finishing in fourth place. “There's not many sports where you can race competitively with a father and son team,” Rusty explained after the race. “We’re more like brothers than father and son, you know. It’s an indescribable feeling to be able to compete with your kid.”
The Blyler’s swapped positions on course throughout the day in their identical Miller Motorsports solid axle vehicles. “Honestly, I wanted my dad to win,” Josh confessed at the finish line. “My goal when we started this was to finish this race one time in my career. I think this is finish number seven for us. We’ve finished this race every time we’ve started it, so I really wanted him to win because I think that would be awesome.”
The win for the Gomez Brothers Racing team is no surprise, they have been fan favorites for years in part due to their no-holds-barred driving style. That go-for-broke driving style often left them short of the win in their early years of racing, with victory slipping between their fingers. In 2021, JP finished second and Raul finished third at King of the Hammers. The year before, Marcos was leading the race with just a few miles to go before breaking an a-arm on his suspension. All four have proven they have what it takes to win, and Marcos finished 14th this year.
Will we see another Gomez on top of the podium next year? Or will Raul join Shannon Campbell as the only three-time Race of Kings winner next year? We can’t wait to find out!
Hancock Pass has a lot to offer off-roaders which is why we were happy to hit the rocks in this edition of On the Trail.
Wheeling Hancock Pass via Wrangler, 4Runner & Bronco: On the Trail
Off-roading in Colorado isn't really gambling, but it does offer a full house of trail options. Beginners and long-time vets alike love wheeling the mountains along the spine of the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains. Hancock Pass has a lot to offer off-roaders which is why we were happy to hit the rocks in this edition of On the Trail. Follow along as we enjoy some truly epic scenery and a day of mild weather up in the Rocky Mountains.
Wheeler's Choice
Way back in the mid- and late-1800s, gold fever was a pretty big deal in the Old West. The California Gold Rush sparked that fever in 1849, Nevada's Comstock Lode stoked it with one of the largest silver rushes in the 1850s and '60s, and the search for riches migrated east into places like South Dakota and Colorado.
Part of that search lead to the Rockies and what is now Hancock Trail. By the 1880s, nearby Chalk Creek saw its own gold rush. Miners flocked in and the usual impromptu boom town arose to accommodate them at what is now the ghost town of St. Elmo. Much like the '80s teen flick that shares its name, its popularity faded when the money dried up. That said, it still makes for a fun place to check out for off-roaders out enjoying the trail system.
As you'll see in the clip, Hancock Pass is a smorgasbord of options to satisfy any wheeler's hunger, from mild to wild. It borders Chaffee and Gunnison counties, between the Gunnison and San Isabel forests. For this trip, you get to see experts navigate a mild boulder field with obstacles. We also take you through tackling tight, off-camber trail along the way.
Shuffle Up and Wheel
Collin Coates of Built2Wander guided the way in his 2022 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 with 37-inch Ridge Grapplers. Matt Thompson of 3D Off-Road brought out a 2021 Ford Bronco Badlands Edition on 35-inch Nitto Trail Grapplers and Chris Hefty from Hefty Fabworks came out in a 5th Gen Toyota 4Runner build on 38-inch Ridge Grapplers.
St. Elmo is one of the best preserved ghost towns in the U.S. That alone makes the trip out to Hancock Pass worth the trip. We chose it as the staging area for the day's adventures. Matt and Chris know the ins and outs of this trail pretty well and we were privileged to have the benefits of their experience in guiding us through it.
Raise the Stakes
Hancock Pass starts as an unassuming dirt trail but as you make your way along from St. Elmo, rocks start to pop up here and there. The stakes can get higher as you move along, depending on where you choose to go. In some spots, the rocks start moving underneath you, too.
We chose a beginner to intermediate trail for the day, to give you some idea of what you too can expect when you come out to Hancock Pass. Regardless of the line you choose, you should keep in mind that Hancock Pass is a remote location in the mountains. Pack for a variety of weather conditions and bring along some friends just in case things go sideways. Because you can vary your day at this trail from beginner to intermediate, a range of tire sizes and builds will work here.
Chris' 4Runner, for example, is a really built-out vehicle with 3 1/2 inches of travel on 38-inch Nitto Ridge Grapplers: "The tires are amazing. They've been grabbing everything that we've been throwing at them. They stick really well to the rocks. They handle great on the road, the gravel road. It's just an amazing tire. It's been doing really well. Everything we've thrown at it it's been able to handle. We've jammed up sidewalls against some jagged rocks and its held up great; no slices, no chunks. It's been a great tire."
Playing the Field
The crew eventually hit an area best described as a big boulder field. They dismounted for a little foot recon to find the best line to take through it. That's a good plan when you come across an obstacle like this.
What may look good at the start may not be so good once you're actually driving over it. You always want to look ahead and not focus just on what's right in front of your hood. Good tires, tools, and a jack are must-haves for a mountain trail like this one.
Betting on the Pass Line
But what was really cool at this point in the day was that the guys were passing over the Continental Divide. For you kids who skipped geography class, think of it as the mountainous spine that separates the east and west halves of the North, Central, and South America.
It goes from all the way up in Alaska, down through the Rockies, and all the way south into the Andes. Hancock Pass takes you over that line at just over 12,140 feet above sea level, with epic scenery you have to see for yourself to truly appreciate.
Snake Eyes
The trail snakes up (and down) in some places, so keep an eye out along the way. You never know what sort of obstacles a winding trail has in store around the next blind corner.
Case in point: the broken down Scout our crew encountered on the way down the other side. Someone left it pretty much dead center in the middle of the path, forcing the guys to work some sharp cornering mojo to get around it. Had the owner gotten it just a little further to the side, that wouldn't have been an issue.
Smooth Call
Smooth sailing followed after that but as often happens in the mountains, the weather took a sharp turn. The day went from blue sky to rain very quickly. That's why you want to have both cold and warm weather gear when wheeling in the mountains.
Being aware of how weather affects terrain is also essential. Fun fact: lightning strikes in the Colorado mountains not only split rocks, they also hit people on peak tops every year. Having those tools also came in handy for us. On the way down, we stopped to check out a clunking noise. Tightening up an errant bolt took care of the problem before it turned into something major. And any time you feel something weird in the steering, it's a good idea to stop, get out, and find out what's going on.
Going All In
The day ended at Sherrod Loop Railroad. In a previous life it served as the lifeline for miners and others setting up shop in the area at towns like St. Elmo. If you think taking on a mountain trail is hard in a 4x4, just imagine how much more difficult those people had it with wagons, sleds, and horses.
The NT555 G2 ultra high-performance summer tire and NT555 RII DOT-compliant rag radial combo give this modified Corvette Z06 the perfect balance of traction and drivability.
Off-Road Essentials: Choosing the Right Upgrades for your Crossover SUV
Modern crossover SUVs have proven that you don’t need a big truck or SUV to explore the great outdoors. While modern technology often makes older gearheads weary, it has brought us some of the most advance terrain control systems we’ve ever seen. From the Subaru Outback to the Ford Bronco Sport, the aftermarket for these vehicles is constantly growing and improving. If you’re looking to get going on your crossover SUV upgrades, you’re in luck.
In this article, we’ll go over the top worthwhile mods that will give any crossover SUV a solid foundation for off-road exploration.
All-Terrain Tires
All-season tires are typically the standard on CUV’s. Unlike an all-terrain tire that’s designed to handle a variety on and off-road conditions, all-season tires are built with the highway in mind. Moving from an all-season to an all-terrain is an easy way to ensure your CUV won’t be spinning in place as soon as the rubber leaves the road. A great upgrade from a standard all-season would be the Nitto Nomad Grappler. It’s an all-terrain tire that’s designed specifically for Crossovers. This means you’ll have the load rating you need without sacrificing performance by going with a tire that’s simply too heavy for the vehicle. The Nomad will still provide all of the on-road benefits as an all-season tire, but give you the more aggressive tread you need off-the-road. As an added bonus, the Nomad’s are 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake rated.
The Right Wheels
We see many CUV’s fit with large 18- and even 20-inch wheels from the factory. The larger wheel sizes are more susceptible to damage and limit the amount of sidewall on the tire, which can make for an unpleasant ride off-road. Going with a smaller ratio wheel (when applicable) will help you on the trail. It will also open up tire options as well. You’ll need to do your research as offset and backspacing are critical. An easy tip to remember is that the lower the backspacing number, the farther outside of the vehicle the wheel will be. (So, 4 inches will poke out from the fender more than 6 inches of backspacing). We recommend cast aluminum for cost and weight savings benefits. Also, look for wheels that protect the valve stem as it’s something that can be easily damaged if it hangs out past the wheel.
Rack It
Many modern CUV’s come with roof-rack options from the factory. If yours did not, don’t fret it as there is a wide variety of aftermarket ones available. What is important here is to find one that will fit your needs now and later. If you think you’ll be swapping between bike racks and a roof-top tent, be sure to get one that can handle both. Thule and Yakima are well known rack companies, but there are a host of vehicle-specific brands making racks specific to crossover platforms.
Get Hitched
CUV’s are hit and miss when it comes to receiver hitches, but companies such as Draw-Tite and CURT make affordable aftermarket options that you can easily install at home. While a receiver hitch will be great for hauling bikes and extra gear for the trail, it also opens you up to a tire carrier. This is important as many CUV’s only allow for a stock-size spare tire. Upsizing your tires will create the need to home your full-size spare. Luckily, companies such as Rigid Armor make tire carriers that use your vehicles receiver to act as a base.
Recovery Points
CUV’s, unlike trucks and larger SUV’s often have their recovery points hidden behind a plastic bumper cover. Before you hit the dirt, but sure to install yours. Most CUV’s only come with one thread-in recovery point, so you’ll need to order a second one for the rear if you do not have a receiver hitch. Make sure you have a shackle that can fit the provided recovery eyelet and a rope that can work with said shackle. If you plan on adventuring solo often, invest in a winch. Companies such as Warn offer winches and mounts suited for CUV’s.
Lifts
In the world of CUV’s, a little goes a long way. A modest spacer lift is often just enough to not only provide room for larger tires but keep the underside of your vehicle out of harm’s way. Like many things automotive, you can drop some serious money in the suspension department, but we recommend starting with the basics and learning what you need from there.
Light It Up
Exploring off-road isn’t always done in the sun. A few smartly placed auxiliary lights will not only allow you to see better but keep you safe. Amber lenes actually helps cut through fog and dust a bit better than a standard clear cover. Adding an amber light to the back of your vehicle will also help those behind you spot you more easily, thus reducing the potential for accidents on the trail. In terms of lightings brands there are many (KC, Baja Designs, Hella, PIAA, Rigid, etc.).
