What is Chocolate Thunder?

• February 7, 2014
• / Story By
  Kyle Jackson

With obstacles nicknamed Aftershock, Jackhammer, Wrecking Ball and Clawhammer, it's no wonder why the King of the Hammers is such a brutal event on drivers and cars alike. While each of these technical, rock crawling sections deserve plenty of notoriety, there is nothing quite like Chocolate Thunder. Shortly after the start of the race, trucks and jeeps file out of Hammertown and drive across the lake bed where they are greeted by rocky terrain and a dry creek bed that runs down the length of the mountain which has come to be known as Chocolate Thunder. Thousands of spectators set up their lawn chairs overlooking the terrain that has destroyed the hopes and dreams of so many drivers. What makes this obstacle so treacherous are the lines that a driver must take in order to make it up the mountain. In years past, all chaos has broken out here as a driver will roll over their vehicle forcing a major back up and in some cases, cars running over other cars to get through. The earlier you get to Chocolate Thunder, the less likely you are to have to deal with the traffic. This was the case for lap one leaders Loren Healy and Derek West. Hit one boulder the wrong way and drivers are forced to back their cars down the mountain in order to make another run at it. Some are lucky and the second time is the charm. For others, they may spend hours here trying to figure it out. There is one thing for certain...while making it past Chocolate Thunder won't necessarily win you the race, it can definitely cost you the race. See more rock crawling action in the Back Door Shootout Gallery.