Jason Scherer, back, and Nick Nelson are the first

Jason Scherer, back, and Nick Nelson are the first two drivers out of the gate as the 2019 Nitto King of the Hammers race gets under way during the 12th annual King of the Hammers racing and rock-crawling event Feb. 8, 2019. Scherer, a three-time Nitto KOH winner from Dublin, Calif., became the race’s first-ever back-to-back winner, crossing the finish line at 6:32:39. Nelson fell out at 1:29:08 and did not finish. KOH is a nine-day event held on public lands in Johnson Valley, Calif., adjacent to the Combat Center. It draws more than 50,000 competitors and spectators from around the world to Johnson Valley each year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Kelly O’Sullivan)