The battery manufacturer announces its return as presenting sponsor of the 2026 King of the Hammers event, unveiling a week-long schedule of exclusive rallies, celebrations, and activities at the OPTIMA Oasis powered by Clarios—a private hub for industry leaders, racers, and off-road enthusiasts on the Johnson Valley lakebed.
OPTIMA Batteries has been announced as the presenting sponsor of the 2026 King of the Hammers event and is now unveiling an itinerary of high-energy events for its popular OPTIMA Oasis powered by Clarios on the lakebed in Johnson Valley.
The OPTIMA Oasis powered by Clarios serves as a private sanctuary for industry leaders, racers, creators and off-road brands to reconnect at the annual desert get-together and recharge from the races and off-road activities.
Clarios has tapped into OPTIMA Batteries’ enthusiast roots to create a unique base camp that serves as an opportunity to partner with and empower OEMs and partners to champion Clarios’ continued pursuit of innovation.
The lineup of exciting events during the King of the Hammers race week includes:
Raptor Off-Road Experience Powered by OPTIMA – Jan. 31 – Feb. 1
Led by Ford Racing and in partnership with OPTIMA Batteries, this two-day rally, exclusive to Ford F-150 Raptors, Ranger Raptors and Bronco Raptors, includes thrilling trail riding, iconic landmarks and stops at scenic viewpoints to catch a glimpse of the KOH Desert Challenge. VIP access to finish line celebrations is also part of the rally.
Military Monday – Feb. 2
OPTIMA Batteries plans to honor veterans with a celebratory parade that will start in the OPTIMA Oasis and end in Hammertown, led by some incredible military vehicles. The afternoon’s event will also include renowned guest speakers and a viewing of the mass enlistment ceremony within Hammertown.
OPTIMA Unplugged – Feb. 4
OPTIMA Unplugged is a poker-run-style rally, led by Rivian Clubs of America in which EV and alternative energy vehicles tour the iconic King of the Hammers and Johnson Valley off-road trails. Industry icons, influencers and off-road enthusiasts will attend the rally.
OPTIMA Rally by Jeep Jamboree – Feb. 5
OPTIMA Batteries will host the Jeep Jamboree USA team as they take Jeep enthusiasts on a behind-the-scenes tour of one of the most challenging off-road races in history. This special VIP trip will be limited to only 25 Jeep vehicles and will feature rock crawling and desert trail riding.
OPTIMA Trailer Park Drift Invitational – Feb. 5
OPTIMA Batteries will host a group of ambassadors, professional racers and celebrities at the OPTIMA Oasis for this high-energy Crazy Cart tournament, benefitting the Little Warrior Foundation and the fight against childhood cancer.
In addition to these exclusive events, the OPTIMA Batteries team will support a variety of its athletes as they tackle the King of the Hammers Desert Challenge, the UTV Hammers Championship, the Every Man Challenge and the Race of Kings.
Coming off wins at the King of the Hammers Desert Challenge and the Baja 1000 in 2025, OPTIMA Batteries’ Christopher Polvoorde is a fan-favorite to win at this year’s Desert Challenge.
He, along with other OPTIMA Batteries athletes, will be running their race operations out of the OPTIMA Oasis as they tackle one of off-road’s most grueling events.
“King of the Hammers is one of our favorite events of the year,” said Cam Douglass, marketing director of OPTIMA Batteries. “Not only is it a proving ground for our products, but it also provides the perfect backdrop to connect with off-road enthusiasts of all types, from beginners to professional racers, and from two-wheels all the way to the future tech of the evolving premiere race classes.”
King of the Hammers spectators can stop by the OPTIMA Batteries booth in Hammertown to talk to the OPTIMA tech team and pick up exclusive merchandise. For those who cannot make it to the event, stay up to date on the action by following OPTIMA Batteries on social media.
For more information on OPTIMA Batteries, visit the website.
About OPTIMA Batteries
OPTIMA high-performance automotive, marine, heavy-duty AGM and lithium batteries are manufactured by Clarios, LLC, the world’s largest manufacturer of automotive batteries. OPTIMA REDTOP, YELLOWTOP and BLUETOP batteries feature state-of-the-art SPIRALCELL TECHNOLOGY. This patented design allows OPTIMA batteries to deliver superior performance in both starting and deep cycling applications. OPTIMA ORANGETOP batteries are the newest additions to the legendary line of reliable performance batteries with six sizes available that utilize HYPERCORE LITHIUM technology. This new offering allows for more than 95% of the powersports market to experience the power and performance of OPTIMA Batteries. The OPTIMA product family also includes a line of Digital Chargers, with advanced multi-stage charging to charge and maintain a variety of 12V vehicle batteries, maximizing battery life and performance. To learn more or to purchase OPTIMA products, please visit www.OPTIMAbatteries.com, call 1-888-8OPTIMA (1-888-867-8462) or find @OPTIMABatteries on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
About Clarios
Clarios is the global leader in advanced, low-voltage battery technologies for mobility. Our batteries and smart solutions power nearly every type of vehicle and are found in 1 of 3 cars on the road today. With around 18,000 employees in over 100 countries, we bring deep expertise to our Aftermarket and OEM partners, and reliability, safety and comfort to everyday lives. We answer to the planet with a rigorous sustainability focus – advancing best-in-class sustainability practices and advocating for them across our industry. We work to ensure 100% of our products sold are recyclable, and we recycle 8,000 batteries an hour in our network. Clarios is a Brookfield portfolio company.
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