Brandon Currie earned the win at today's Smittybilt Everyman Challenge. Photo: Josh Burns
Brandon Currie earned the win at today’s Smittybilt Everyman Challenge. Photo: Josh Burns

Maybe it’s the genes. Maybe it’s the car. Whatever the ingredients are in the Currie family’s formula for success, Brandon Currie found it again today by winning the Smittybilt Everyman Challenge at the Johnson Valley OHV Park during Nitto King of the Hammers Week. After winning it three consecutive years, father John decided to step back this year and let his son Brandon drive, and Brandon made dad proud, besting the field of 92 racers in the event that serves as the penultimate race of King of the Hammers Week.

An emotional Currie thanked his entire family on the podium after the win, especially his father.

“My dad got me into motorcycle racing when I was young. I raced pro for five or six years with Yamaha,” Currie told us after his win. “The championship that I was racing [AMA Supermoto Championship] died and I started doing a normal day job, I made a family, and now my dad and Gerald gave me the opportunity to drive this thing. I was super nervous with the background and my dad winning the last three EMC races overall. It put a lot of pressure on me. My dad himself didn’t put the pressure on me; I put it on myself. I knew that the car was capable of doing it.”

After nearly six hours of racing, Hammertown was a welcome sight for EMC winner Brandon Currie. Photo: Josh Burns
After nearly six hours of racing, Hammertown was a welcome sight for EMC winner Brandon Currie. Photo: Josh Burns

Regardless of the vehicle’s previous success or how much racing knowledge his father or cousins Casey and Cody can provide, Brandon still had to drive the #88 the entire 120 miles of brutal racecourse in Johnson Valley. He drove it like a veteran, completing the race distance in 5 hours, 57 minutes and 43 seconds to preserve the family’s legacy of success in the race.

“Obviously there’s a rich racing history in our family, a company name that’s well known in our industry, and it’s just awesome to be out here representing Falken, Currie and Savvy,” Currie said.

Ben Napier won the Legends Class today.
Ben Napier won the Legends Class today.

Finishing behind Currie was Australian Ben Napier, who crossed the finish line in Hammertown with a time of 6 hours, 11 minutes and 46 seconds to win the 4800 Legends Class.

Lance Clifford was running out front halfway through the race, but mechanical issues slowed the team down. Still, Clifford was able to make it back to Hammertown to earn the Spec-Class victory.
Lance Clifford was running out front halfway through the race, but mechanical issues slowed the team down. Still, Clifford was able to make it back to Hammertown to earn the Spec-Class victory.

Lance Clifford, who actually led the race at one point, ran into some mechanical troubles and lost the physical lead, but he still managed to earn the victory in the 4700 Ultra4 Spec Class. The class consists of identically prepped racecars powered by Mopar HEMI 5.7-liter V8s and featuring parts that include Fox Racing Shox, a Dynomax exhaust, Spidertrax axles and housings, Yukon dropouts and lockers, Odyssey batteries and Falken tires.

Be sure to check back for more coverage of the action from Johnson Valley OHV area for the 2015 King of the Hammers.

MORE 2015 KOH COVERAGE
Live: 2015 King of the Hammers Coverage

Sweet Six: Mitch Guthrie Wins Sixth UTV King of the Hammers

2015 King of the Hammers Day 1 Qualifying

Unofficial Finishers*
1. Brandon Currie – 5:57:43
2. Ben Napier – 6:11:46
*Finishing times are still pending Ultra4 official review.