HomeEvent News2026 King of the Mountain Invite List

2026 King of the Mountain Invite List

2026 King of the Mountain Official Invite List

For the eighth year, UMI Motorsports Park will invite autocross drivers from all over the nation to compete in UMI’s King of the Mountain event, once again presented by Summit Racing Equipment. Drivers will battle for two days for their spot in the 48 car-shootout under the lights. Champions from the four classes compete for a $25,000 purse and the chance to be crowned King of the Mountain!

The King of the Mountain invitation is a highly sought-after prize and can only be obtained by being in the top 20 of each class in the prior year’s KOTM, racing & winning in another UMIMP-hosted race and, through application. 

2026 KOTM Official Invite List

Past Kings

Past KOTM winners from prior years.

Jeremy Swenson

2019 King of the Mountain

Andy Smedegard

2020 King of the Mountain

Robert Thorne

2021 King of the Mountain

Sam Strano 

2023 King of the Mountain

John Vitamvas

2024 King of the Mountain

Shawn Krebsbach

2022 & 2025 King of the Mountain

DRIVER APPLICATIONS

Not invited, but think you have what it takes to compete in this event?
Driver invite applications are now open! Apply now below.

King of the Mountain Driver Application

King of the Mountain Application

Notice: KOTM co-driver rules

 

Beginning event year 2025 we will no longer be allowing co-drivers in the shootout. Co-drivers may still compete in qualifying, but due to the fairness of run distribution, one co-driver MUST be pre-selected as shootout eligible. The non-eligible driver will be able to compete in qualifying only. The co-driver eligibility status may be selected at registration, or before the event. Once the event starts, co-driver eligibility cannot be changed.

The shootout eligible driver will run qualifying with the class the car is classed in. The non-eligible driver will run in a different class.

Complete and updated event rules can be seen here

DRIVER INFORMATION

Watch the 2025 KOTM Shootout Recap

2025 KOTM Qualifiers

Bob Bertelsen
2024 KOTM Early Model Class King

2024 KOTM Parade Lap

Chris Jensen
2024 KOTM Mid Model Class King

Aaron Oberle
Adam Schoonmaker
Alan Schoonmaker
Alex Tziortzis
Andrew Cordeiro
Andrew Ziolo
Andy Urbanski
Angela Payne
Anthony Garrett
Austin Barnes
Bernie Duplan
Blake Woolam
Bob Armstrong
Bob Bertelsen
Brandon Mihal
Brian Harvey
Brian Johns
Brian Peters
Chris Big Smitty
Chris Dressler
Chris Jensen
Chris Mulberry
Christopher Howell
Christopher Wheatcraft
Cody Hunt
Dan Bullis
Dave Schotz
David Marcus
David Redden
Denis Bucher
Derek Kiefer
Devon Whitman
Doug Rowse
Duke Langley
Eric Peachey
Garry Walsh
Ian Stewart
Jamie Elliott
Jansen Fischer
Jason Smitty
Jeff Scott II
Jeremiah Thomas
Jinx Jordan
JJ Mallrich
John Vitamvas
Jon Nwanagu
Josh Lipman
Justin Nall
Justin Peachey
Karen Thomas
Ken Houseal
Kyle Gottschalk
Kyle Nett
Mathew Radman
Mike Casino
Mike Owen
Mike Snyder
Mike Wolf
Mikey Albacete
Nathan Johnson
Nick Barnett
Pat Duncan
Peter Bruschi
Rick Goshert
Rob Tarrien
Ron Scott
Ryan Mathews
Sam Strano
Scott Baker
Sean Aldinger
Sean Brinkley
Shawn Krebsbach
Stephen Riner
Steve Anstey
Steve Eich
Tony Grace
Travis Patterson
Troy Spackman
Wes Schaefer
Zach Sawyer

Accepted Applicants

COMING SOON

Adam Schoonmaker
Adam Ulrich
Alan Schoonmaker
Alex Peitz
Austin Barnes
Benny Gordon
Beth Conaway
Bob Armstrong
Brad Dodd
Chris Rhinehart
Christian Patrick
Cody Smith

Dallas Reed
Dan Bullis
Daniel Cook
Evan Mulberry
Ian Stewart
Jason Rollison
Jason Zapol
JB Boyer
Jeremy McCauley
Jinx Jordan
Joe Brennan
John Fink

Karen Thomas
Keith Woolam
Ken Houseal
Kyle Dresher
Lane Farka
Micah “Mo” Dakin
Michael Phelps
Michael Valentich
Michael Young
Mike Cunningham
Patrick Duncan
Robert Beck

Ryan Gordon
Ryan Lower
Shane Irving
Steve Rodgers
Steven Marshall
Steven Wilson
Tara Johns
Terrance Pearson
Will Murphy
William Smith

Want to join the list of KOTM Invitees? 

King of the Mountain is a prestigious event that can be entered by invitation only. This invitation can be obtained by qualifying in the prior year’s shootout, racing & winning in another UMIMP-hosted race and now for a limited time only through application!

Invite applications will open on February 3, 2025.

sam strano mazda rx8 king of the mountain winner

EARNED INVITATIONS

COMING SOON

These invitations are earned by placing in the following 2026 events

First place winners of each class win an invitation.

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First place winners of each class win an invitation.

Congratulations on being invited to race at UMI’s King of the Mountain, presented by Summit Racing. You’ll join last year’s top 20 in class along with a number of other champions from other events. We encourage those not on the list to race hard all season for a chance to win your way into the event. The competition is getting tighter every year and 2026’s King of the Mountain is shaping up to be the most exciting year yet!

NOTE: Getting an invitation does not guarantee your spot in the Race. You still have to register in a timely fashion to be included. Registration for the 2025 King of the Mountain event will open Friday, February 3, and close on Friday, April 4th, 2025. To guarantee your spot in this year’s King of the Mountain event, you must register by Friday, April 4th, 2025. After Friday, April 4th, if open spots still remain, we will move our invite process onto round two.