Monday, May 25, 2026

Racing, Sneaker, Media Legend Ken Block Dies

  • Ken Block founded sneaker brand DC Shoes and Hoonigan Racing Division.
  • He passed away on Monday in a snowmobile accident.
Ken-Block-Hoonigan-Racing
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The sports world lost a unique figure on Monday in Ken Block, who died at age 55 in a snowmobile accident.

Block made a mark in both rally car racing and the sneaker world.

  • He co-founded DC Shoes in 1994, bringing designs inspired by athletic shoes to the skateboarding world.
  • The company was sold to Quiksilver in 2004 for a reported $88 million.
  • Block then pivoted to rally car racing, where he became a legend, winning 16 national titles from 2005 to 2014 and founding the Hoonigan Racing Division rally team in 2010.
  • He won five X-Games medals and was one of only four Americans to earn points in the World Rally Championship, a global competition run by the FIA.

Block had a net worth of around $230 million as of June 2022. 

His daughter Lia, 16, has raced with Hoonigan since she was 11, and his wife Lucy made her all-wheel-drive racing debut last March.

The Women’s Basketball Shoe Company Taking on Nike, Adidas, and UA

Why Moolah Kicks CEO Natalie White isn’t concerned with the high-profile competition.
October 24, 2022

Extreme Media

Block grew his presence in racing and extreme sports through his YouTube channels.

His “Gymkhana” series on driving performance cars in urban environments amassed more than 550 million views and inspired an Amazon docuseries.

Block’s YouTube channel has just shy of 2 million subscribers — and Hoonigan’s has more than 5 million.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Dec 31, 2025; Orlando, FL, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) runs with the ball against the Michigan Wolverines during the first half at Camping World Stadium.

Sankey: No Decision on CFP Expansion Expected This Week

Sankey said the meeting was the most-anticipated of any in recent memory.
May 25, 2026; Paris, France; Elina Svitolina of Ukraine at a change of ends with ice and an ice towel during her first round match against Anna Bondar of Hungary on day two at Stade Roland Garros.

French Open Heat Wave Expected to Continue for Rest of Week

Forecasts for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are heating up.
May 24, 2026; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Kristian Gkolomeev (GRE) poses with Enhanced co-founder Max Martin after setting a world record in the 50m freestyle of 21.81 during the Enhanced Games at Resorts World Las Vegas.

Clean Athletes Stole the Show at the Enhanced Games

Three clean athletes won events against performance-enhancing peers.
Sponsored

The Hidden Economy of Race Weekend

Learn more about the Vintage Flying Museum and how Spectrum Business is helping them achieve their business goals while fueling their dreams.

Featured Today

Big Money on the Line on Premier League’s Final Day

Arsenal has won the title, but millions are still at stake.
Texas State mascot
May 22, 2026

Mascot-Reveal Videos Are the Newest College Sports Tradition

Student mascot unmasking videos are going mega-viral.
Charlie Pliner and Nikolas Rohrmann
May 22, 2026

How 2 Brown Undergrads Became Sports Dealmakers

An experimental project turned into a permanent course and business deal network.
May 14, 2026

NFL Rivalries Are Made on the Field, Mocked in Schedule Release Videos

Every year, teams find new ways to one-up themselves (and their rivals).

Sabalenka, Sinner Lead Coordinated Media Protest at French Open

The players are seeking increased revenue and improved benefits from Grand Slams.
Sponsored

Volpe Brings Style to the Bronx

With the New York Yankees & Anthony Volpe, Charles Tyrwhitt is bringing its decades-long playbook to one of sports’ biggest stages.
May 22, 2026

Stafford Signs $55 Million Extension With Rams

The 2025 NFL Most Valuable Player receives a sizable pay increase.
Sponsored

The Hidden Economy of Race Weekend

Learn more about the Vintage Flying Museum and how Spectrum Business is helping them achieve their business goals while fueling their dreams.
May 15, 2026; Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA; Bryson DeChambeau plays his shot on the seventh tee during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament.
May 15, 2026

Bryson DeChambeau Misses Second Major Cut Amid LIV Turmoil

DeChambeau also missed the cut at this year’s Masters.
Bart Swings/Falyn Fonoimoana/Avery Poppinga
May 14, 2026

OnlyFans Is Paying Pro Athletes What Their Sports Won’t

The adult-content platform is a reliable income source for niche athletes.
May 12, 2026

NBA Player Brandon Clarke Dies at 29

Clarke died on Monday in Southern California, authorities say.
May 12, 2026

Another Summer of LeBron Is Here

James is not under contract for next season.