By PETER DAY
Senior Reporter
JOHNSON VALLEY • As numerous drivers were stopped cold on a notorious deathbed of rocks aptly named the Jackhammer, Randy Slawson was breezing to his second victory in three years at the ninth annual King of the Hammers.
Friday’s seemingly easy ending for the newly crowned king belied Slawson’s own tortuous journey, a nine-hour gutsy race of skill, determination, luck — and drama.
“The most dramatic thing today was we ran out of gas just about a mile out of the pits,” Slawson said during an interview in front of spectators immediately following his finish.
Slawson’s brother Michael Slawson, who serves as co-driver, jumped out of the vehicle and ran back to the pit stop to get gas, he said.
The green flag waved for competitors at 8 a.m. Slawson got the checkered flag at 5 p.m.
Slawson joined Shannon Campbell and Loren Healy as the only drivers in KOH history to win two championships. Slawson served as co-driver for JR Reynolds’ inaugural victory in 2007.
The day was not as lucky for Healy and Campbell, however. Campbell fell back from the leaders, and Healy dropped out several hours into the 215-mile race.
Around noon, about 10 cars became stuck at the Jackhammer during the second lap. An hour later the number had increased to more than 20. When the leaders came in there were even more drivers still trying to crawl up the monstrous boulders.
Race organizers made a decision to divert the riders away from the Jackhammer during the third and final lap of the race.
Erik Miller, who led for part of the race, overcame a bad situation to take second place.
“The car just dropped on the right back corner,” Miller said.
When the drivers got out of the car they realized most of the wheel studs on the back right were “sheared off.” When they got back to the pit, Miller’s crew repaired the damage.
“We got in kill mode,” Miller said. “I gave it every ounce this car had.”
Nineteen-year-old phenom Levi Shirley came in third, just 25 seconds back of Miller.
“I don’t think I can walk,” Shirley said after he finished. “I’m beat. The car’s beat. I had a great time.”
For more information and results as they are available, go to http://ultra4racing.com/.