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This story was told to me in person by Ford’s Mike Levine and I thought it was too good not to share. While the Ford Bronco won the King of Hammers, it didn’t cross the finish line without missing a few parts, like the passenger door for example.

The Ford Bronco Raptor wins King of Hammers while missing a door

Say congratulations to the Ford Bronco for coming in first place in the stock category of the King of Hammers. Despite losing a door, the Bronco displayed its rugged aptitude.

The King of Hammers an extremely difficult off-roading race that takes place in Joshson Valley, California across the desert.. The race is 165 miles long and must be completed in under 14 hours.

Mike Levine described the course as having constant bumps and harsh impacts. The terrain covers vast sections of sand, rocks, and silt. Often the visibility is pretty low, so teamwork is important for safely navigating the unforgiving terrain.

The two-door Bronco was climbing over rocks when it slipped to the side and dented the front passenger door. Then it would no longer close, making it unsafe for the passenger to use the seat.

Mike Levine laughed and explained with astonishment that the team decided to keep on going until the door fell off. After it fell off, they put it in the back and kept on going.

The 2023 Ford Bronco with a missing door
2023 Ford Bronco | Allison Barfield, MotorBiscuit

Then the Bronco model was taken straight from the race course and put on display at the Chicago Auto Show, and you know I went and drooled over it.

Mike saw the irony in losing a door because you can take the top and doors off of the Bronco, but this time the team didn’t get a choice!

This is the third year in a row that a Bronco SUV has won first place in the stock class. So, I have my eyes on you, Jeep. The pressure is on.

While the Bronco was mostly stock, it did have a few performance upgrades. The two-door model is equipped with the turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine with 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

Stay tuned to see if the Bronco can keep its winning tradition alive. Until then, feel free to take your Bronco doors off!

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Staff Writer

Allison Barfield

Allison Barfield joined MotorBiscuit in 2020 and covers all things trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Having grown up on a farm in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she’s no stranger to the “Best in Class” truck and SUV debates; people in her hometown were always gathering to help work on vehicles together, and deliberation would naturally arise.

Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She has helped bring awareness to issues Women In Trucking face and has promoted Truckers Against Trafficking, an anti-trafficking NGO.

A fan of creatively dark literature, Allison appreciates the works of Shirley Jackson and Emily Dickenson. She lives in a mountainous area of the country and enjoys off-roading and camping. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her in testing trucks and SUVs for our site.