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Team Falken Returns to King of the Hammers With 2nd Place Finish in Every Man Challenge

JOHNSON VALLEY, CA – After a three-year hiatus, Team Falken returned to the lakebed in Johnson Valley for one of the most highly-anticipated off-road racing events of the year: The King of the Hammers. Seven different competitors put Falken’s Wildpeak tires to the test in some of the toughest off-road conditions on Earth, one of which earned 2nd place in the Every Man Challenge 4500 Class: Shad Kennedy.

Driving on Falken Wildpeak M/T tires, Shad Kennedy stole the show with his Summit 4x4 Company race vehicle, taking second place in the 4500 Class of the Every Man Challenge. “Shad put on a show today,” said Doug Fletcher, Off-Road Motorsports Supervisor. “He competed from start to finish, and really embodied what it means to drive for Team Falken. We congratulate him on an excellent performance in the 4500 Class.” Team Falken veteran driver Jon Schaefer also drove well on Friday, finishing 6th in the 4600 Class.

In addition to supporting the drivers and their teams, Falken’s Motorsports Team was ecstatic to return to King of the Hammers with new products to showcase. One new product was Falken’s Wildpeak R/T tire, which launched in 2023. Team Falken had two drivers – Justin Hall in the 13 Fabrication Falken Livery Suzuki Samurai and Josh Atteberry from Atteberry Motorsports – who competed on this product in the most grueling course designed to test driver and machine. Although Justin Hall had to drop out due to a mechanical failure of the stud shaft, Josh Atteberry would cross the finish line in his Dirty Life Bronco just ten minutes after the close of the race. The Wildpeak R/T held its own in its first appearance at King of the Hammers.

Another First for Falken Tires

After extensive research and development, Falken engineers were thrilled to test out a new 40-inch race compound for the very first time. Competing in the 4400 class, SXOR Motorsports, SEI Racing, and ABD Motorsports all outfitted their vehicles with these Wildpeak M/T test tires. Unfortunately, all three vehicles experienced mechanical issues and were unable to finish the race. Nonetheless, all teams were equipped with Falken Tires' very first 40-inch race compound. Like every other Wildpeak tire that appeared throughout the week, these test tires stood their ground in the notoriously rugged race conditions.

“There's no better place to put a tire to the test than King of the Hammers,” said Fletcher. “We’re proud of the drivers and products that debuted at this event. After three years away from King of the Hammers, walking away with a second-place trophy is an incredible achievement.”