Kumho sponsors King of the Hammers Every Man Challenge drivers

Kumho Tire U.S.A. will support three drivers competing in the 4800 Legends Class of the 2026 King of the Hammers Yokohama Every Man Challenge on Friday in Johnson Valley, Calif.

Stephen “Woody” Rose Jr. (#22), Eric Wikle (#406) and Mark Duval (#4810) will put the KUMHO Road Venture MT71 mud-terrain tire’s LT-rated quality to the test as they combat some of the toughest obstacles in the California desert.

“We are thrilled to return to off-road racing in the U.S. and showcase our ‘Performance Without Compromise' brand motto in action,” said Ed Cho, CEO Kumho Tire U.S.A. “This month’s participation in the California desert event marks the beginning of Kumho Tire's growing involvement in off-road motorsports and reinforces our commitment to high-performing light truck products.”

Built for rugged performance, the KUMHO Road Venture MT71 tires are engineered to tackle nature’s toughest obstacles. They deliver better durability, off-road traction and excellent on-road handling, featuring increased block stiffness for enhanced on/off-road handling performance characteristics, a high-void tread pattern with a zig-zag and dual-pitch design to provide maximum off-road traction and mud and stone ejector bars between the shoulder lugs to prevent damage from stone drills and aid self-cleaning.

Wikle has competed in several high-profile events where he’s honed his technical rock crawling and high-speed desert racing skills, with multiple podium finishes. He is set to race at noon on Friday.

Duval is an avid rock crawler and proven winner with years of top results in amateur racing. He is set to race at 1 p.m. on Friday.

Rose is a veteran off-road racer and regular competitor in the annual races in Johnson Valley, including a championship win in 2022. He is set to race at 3 p.m. on Friday, during Power Hour.