King of the Hammers brings out the best in man, and the worst in machine. We’ve seen it time and time again – the racer is ready to go on, but his vehicle is not. And few arrive across the finish line, let alone in one piece, when it comes to UTVs.

This year, over 100 teams entered into the Can-Am UTV KOH Race, which took place in Johnson Valley, California on February 7. Over half of them DNF’d. The others that scraped through the dust and dirt were led by Mitch Guthrie Jr., son of six-time KOH champion Mitch Guthrie (who took 3rd place this year).

Mitch’s father, Mitch Guthrie, Sr. (left), is no stranger to the winners’ circle. Over the years, he has racked up multiple wins, both in KOH and in other circuits. Mitch (right) won his first UTV race at KOH this year, followed by Branden Sims (middle) in second place and Mitch Sr. in third place.

Mitch’s way to the win was an incredible story, and one that we wanted to find out for ourselves. We spoke with the young man to get his side of things. Asked to reflect on the major factors that played a role in his victory, Mitch said, “There were a ton of things, but having a vehicle that stayed together and a quick pit crew were definitely the big factors.”

Mitch made a great showing at the KOH UTV race. He finished the race in under six hours, coming in 42 minutes before runner-up Branden Sims, and almost an hour before second runner-up Mitch Sr.

Even before the race, Mitch and his team were on their A-game. “We spent a lot of time getting the UTVs ready,” he said. “We went through every inch of the RZRs. I don’t think many other teams did as much preparation as we did, and that gave us a large advantage. Also, my dad and seeing what it takes to win a race out there was a big help.”

Help also came in the form of J.E. Reel Driveline, who has worked with Guthrie Racing for several years now. “It’s critical to have a drivetrain that’s going to hold up against the abuse,” commented Mitch. “The race puts loads on stress on these parts, and having J.E. Reel there to back me up with chromoly driveshafts was great insurance!”

Mitch is heading to a few more races this year. His next event is none other than the Mint 400, taking place next weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada. He can’t wait to get back in the cockpit, and we can’t wait to see how he does. For more information, check out the Guthrie Racing Facebook page, and be sure to visit the J.E. Reel website and Facebook page, too.