Tuesday, May 19, 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 25, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is interviewed by Netflix reporter Stacey Dales following a win against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
opinion

NFL ‘Tempting Fate’ With Open-Armed Embrace of Streamers

The NFL’s media rights strategy isn’t without potential risk.
Oct 25, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby walks off the field after defeating the Baylor Bears at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

Texas Tech QB Sorsby Sues NCAA Seeking Eligibility

If deemed ineligible, Sorsby is eyeing the NFL Supplemental Draft.

Nike Under Fire Amid Growing Wave of Tariff Refund Lawsuits

Adidas and Lululemon also face proposed class actions from consumers.
DraftKingsApp

DraftKings Cofounder: Kalshi Is Years Away From Competitive Product

Kalshi responded with a gif from the movie “Mean Girls.”

Featured Today

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).
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 13, 2026

How Sports Graphic Designers Are Grappling With the Rise of AI Art

The release of ChatGPT 2.0 Images sparked a conversation among sports designers.
May 12, 2026

Collectible Cups Are Sending Sports Fans Into a Frenzy

The drink is secondary to the wild vessel it comes in.
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 12, 2026

NBA Player Brandon Clarke Dies at 29

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

Another Summer of LeBron Is Here

James is not under contract for next season.
Aug 2, 2024; Nanterre, France; Benjamin Proud (Great Britain), Cameron McEvoy (Australia) and Florent Manaudou (France) in the men’s 50-meter freestyle medal ceremony during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Paris La Défense Arena.
May 11, 2026

The Enhanced Games Want to Be More Than a Steroid Olympics

“There’s a benefit for anyone to live enhanced.”
Trick Williams Front Office Sports
May 9, 2026

WWE’s Next Big Star Could Be Ex-NFL Hopeful Trick Williams

The former South Carolina wideout is now WWE’s U.S. champion.
May 6, 2026

Napheesa Collier Admits Engelbert Rant Was For CBA Leverage

The WNBA and WNBPA agreed to a new labor deal in March.