A few Spiders we found around the track of the 2016 MetalCloak Stampede in sunny Rancho Cordova, CA. Photos by Thom Kingston licensed under Creating Commons Attribution. Congrats to Shannon Campbell, Jason Scherer, and Erik Miller for taking the top 4400 spots, as well as Jeren Gunter of 4800, Justin Hall of 4500, and Brian Behrend of 4600 for taking those top honored spots. Read more…

Spidertrax | Thom Kingston | CC BY 3.0

Next up for the 2016 Ultra4 season is the MetalCloak Stampede. The event that initially broke records for largest Ultra4 driver turnout outside King of the Hammers is back with a vengeance. This year is slated to be the most competitive yet, with the return of some driver favorites like Jason Scherer as well as the addition of MetalCloak newbies like Erik Miller. Add to that the over 90+ driver list of racers who know this course better than ever before, and we are in store for one incredible weekend.

The 2016 MetalCloak Stampede takes place April 8th-9th in Prairie City SVRA (Rancho Cordova, CA). A complete schedule of events can be downloaded HERE, courtesy of Ultra4Racing.com. With that, back to work we go.

DrivingLine | Kyle Wells | © All rights reserved

Great race recap from Kristin & Kyle over at DrivingLine.com of the 2015 MetalCloak Stampede. As you likely already know [spoiler alert] Loren Healy pulled off the win. This is 3 years in a row now that Spider 9 IFS has won the MetalCloak Stampede. First with Jason Scherer, running the 1st ever Spider 9 IFS prototype, followed by Tom Wayes in the same car. This year, Loren gets the top honor and bragging rights having won the largest off-road race to hit Prairie City. Congrats Loren!

Spidertrax | Thom Kingston | CC BY 3.0

In a nice repeat from last year, the 2015 MetalCloak Stampede (slated for May 8th – 9th) is shaping up to be one massive race. Over 100 of the top Ultra4 racers are already registered, with rigs now all nice and shiny after the carnage that was #koh2015, so there is no question how intense the level competition will be. Tom Wayes took last year’s win, in the same car that won this same race the previous year by Jason Scherer. So many great rigs and drivers this year, it will be anyone’s race to win and a close race to the very end.

Full disclosure this go around… I (Thom) will be unable to make this year’s race in person. It’s a tough one for me, having not missed a single Ultra4 race domestic & international for well over a year now, but I’m going to be a Dad (for the 4th time now) so duty calls in the most important place, home with the family. Haven’t gotten word on official live coverage from Ultra4, so if you’re going to be at the race and enjoy taking selfies & pictures of food, be sure to hashtag #ncs2015 so I may be selfish and see what all is happening.

Best of luck to all drivers & teams, and PLEASE be safe out there. Courtesy of Ultra4Racing.com, here’s that list of registered drivers for the 2015 MetalCloak Stampede.