An Underdog That Took the Crown: How This Custom Can-Am Maverick R Dominated the 4400 Class at KOH

When most people think about King of the Hammers, they picture massive 4400 unlimited cars tearing through the desert and crawling over rocks. But Kyle Chaney just flipped that script completely. He didn’t just compete in the unlimited class - he dominated it, wheeling his custom-built Can-Am Maverick R to victory against full-size buggies that cost twice as much and pack V8 power.

This wasn’t some stock side-by-side with a few bolt-ons. CT Race Worx built Chaney’s 4400 machine from the ground up, creating what’s essentially a small buggy that happens to use Maverick R components. The chassis is full chromoly tubing with custom lower A-arm mounts and completely redesigned suspension geometry. They didn’t just slap bigger tires on a UTV and call it good - they engineered a purpose-built race car.

The suspension setup alone shows how serious this build is. GFORCE by Nost shocks with Fox bodies run custom internals, while the front diff gets AMSOIL Severe Gear 75W-90 to handle the abuse. Chaney runs a smart lock diff system, and the whole package sits on Raceline wheels wrapped in serious rubber. The chassis is boat-sided for strength, with custom skid plates protecting the vitals underneath.

Safety wasn’t an afterthought either. The cage uses extra wall thickness chromoly tubing, aluminum firewalls front and rear, and a Pyrotect bladder fuel cell. As Chaney puts it, they build these cars to wreck really hard. When you’re mixing it up with unlimited buggies that can hit triple digits in the desert, you better have your safety game dialed.

One of the coolest details is how they mounted the Warn winch inside the cab instead of hanging it off the front bumper. The RC 9 winch weighs over 50 lb, and CT Race Worx figured out that mounting it internally would improve weight distribution and handling. Chaney can operate the winch from inside the cab, which saves precious time when his co-driver is out hooking to a line or rock.

The real game-changer is CT Race Worx’s tall knuckle design. This massive chunk of aluminum allows the car to run 37" tires without destroying suspension geometry. Most UTV modifications are compromises, but this setup actually maintains proper geometry while providing the ground clearance needed to hang with the big boys. The car can hit 110-115 mph with the tires fully expanded without any rubbing issues.

What makes this even more impressive is how the Maverick R platform translated to unlimited racing. The DCT transmission puts power down differently than a traditional clutch setup, and the car weighs 500 lb more than an X3. Instead of fighting these characteristics, CT Race Worx designed around them, creating a chassis that works with the Maverick R’s strengths.

Chaney’s racing background helped too. He’s been desert racing in class one unlimited cars with his buddy Bill Baack, so he knows how to handle serious HP and high speeds. That experience translated perfectly when it came time to push the 4400 UTV against traditional buggies.

The results speak for themselves. Chaney didn’t just finish the race - he won it outright. This wasn’t about UTV class victory or some feel-good story about the little guy hanging tough. This was a purpose-built machine that beat every unlimited buggy on the course, fair and square.

CT Race Worx is already building more 4400 chassis for other racers who want to follow Chaney’s lead. They’ve developed both the full-tilt 4400 spec with external bypass shocks and a more streetable 4900 version that still runs the tall knuckle setup. The fact that these chassis can accept stock Maverick R components means they’re not just one-off race cars - they’re potentially the future of UTV racing.

The win has already lit a fire under other builders and racers. When a UTV can outrun purpose-built unlimited buggies, it forces everyone to rethink what’s possible. The golf cart jokes are officially dead. These machines are legitimate race cars now, and Chaney just proved they can run with anything on four wheels.