Polaris signs off-road champion Kyle Chaney to multi-year RZR Factory Racing deal
Kyle Chaney, a four-time UTV King of the Hammers winner, joins Polaris RZR Factory Racing under a multi-year agreement and will race a RZR Pro R Factory at King of the Hammers.
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What Happened
Polaris Off Road and RZR Factory Racing announced a multi-year agreement with championship-winning off-road racer Kyle Chaney, adding one of the sport's most versatile competitors to the team's driver lineup. Chaney will pilot a Polaris RZR Pro R Factory at King of the Hammers and at select premier U.S. off-road races. Polaris said the addition further strengthens an already formidable roster and positions the team to build on its success. Additional details of his race schedule will be announced at a later date.
Chaney adds an overall King of the Hammers Race of Kings victory, becoming the first driver to win the premier 4400 Unlimited race in a UTV-based vehicle
Polaris Off Road and RZR Factory Racing announce a multi-year agreement with Chaney, who will race a RZR Pro R Factory at King of the Hammers and select premier U.S. off-road races
“Kyle is a decorated off-road racer and his relentless desire to win makes him an incredible addition to RZR Factory Racing. Our factory racing program has always been about pushing the limits of what's possible with the RZR Pro R Factory, and Kyle shares the same mentality. This is a long-term commitment that extends beyond adding another great driver. Kyle's experience across so many forms of racing will be invaluable to our team moving forward.”
- Two GNCC championships
- Three short-course championships
- Four consecutive UTV King of the Hammers victories
- Overall King of the Hammers Race of Kings victory in 2025, the first in the premier 4400 Unlimited race by a UTV-based vehicle
- Three consecutive UTV Open championships in the SCORE World Desert Championship in Baja
- Baja 1000
- Baja 500
- Baja 400
- San Felipe 250
- Mint 400, King of the Hammers and Vegas to Reno
“I'm incredibly excited to join Polaris and RZR Factory Racing. I've competed against them for years, so I know the level they operate and the drive they have to compete and win each and every race. When the opportunity presented itself, it was a no-brainer to be a part of the program they're building.”
Polaris framed the signing as the beginning of a new chapter, allowing the company and Chaney to pursue marquee victories across different terrain and racing environments. The team is already described by Polaris as the most dominant in off-road racing, having captured three consecutive UTV Open championships in the SCORE World Desert Championship in Baja. Its victory list includes the Baja 1000, Baja 500, Baja 400, San Felipe 250, Mint 400, King of the Hammers and Vegas to Reno. Beyond the headline numbers, Polaris is positioning Chaney's cross-discipline background as a long-term asset rather than a one-off driver signing.
Previously from Polaris Inc.
Polaris RZR Factory Racing has been stacking up results in desert racing in the months before this signing. In September 2026, Wayne Matlock drove a Polaris RZR Pro R Factory to the UTV Overall win at the 7th SCORE Baja 400 and became the first racer to claim Polaris' $50,000 SCORE Challenge prize. In August 2026, Brock Heger drove the No. T96 RZR Pro R Factory to the UTV Overall win at the Vegas-to-Reno, finishing seventh overall among all four-wheel vehicles — the team's first win in that event.
- Wayne Matlock Wins SCORE Baja 400 UTV Overall in Polaris RZR Pro R Factory, Claims $50,000 Challenge
- Polaris RZR Factory Racing Wins Vegas-to-Reno for the First Time in Team History
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Polaris Inc.'s official releases.
Why this matters
Chaney's signing adds a multi-discipline champion to a Polaris team that has dominated North American desert racing, and the team says his experience across many forms of racing will be valuable going forward. For off-road racing fans, the deal signals Polaris intends to chase marquee victories across different terrain, with his full race schedule still to be announced.
Terms in This Story
- UTV
- A utility task vehicle: a side-by-side off-road machine with a roll cage and seating for one or more occupants.
- King of the Hammers
- An off-road race that combines high-speed desert sections with extreme rock-crawling terrain.
- GNCC
- Grand National Cross Country, an off-road cross-country racing series.
- SCORE World Desert Championship
- A desert racing championship series whose events are run in Baja.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.