Toyo’s team of off-road drivers posted victories this past weekend in both the hot California desert and in short course racing in Michigan.
The KC HiLites Midnight Special in Ridgecrest, Calif. was won by Ron Whitton and co-driver Chas Dana in their Toyo Tires/Whitton Companies/G&R Racing Ford F-150. Competing on 39X13.50R17 Open Country M/T-R tires, the duo conquered the grueling 220-mile night race in 4 hours and 53 minutes.
A part of the Southern Nevada Off-Road Enthusiasts (SNORE) series, the event consisted of five 44-mile laps, resulting in a course that became more punishing with every lap.
“The course was very rocky and dusty with no wind to clear it…this made the first lap and a half a challenge to get to the front,” says Whitton. “These are the best tires we have ever had. Toyo has done a great job developing this product.”
Early in the race, Whitton and co-pilot Dana, who is the 65-year-old Whitton’s 22-year-old grandson, stopped to replace a rim broken on a rock when trying to pass in the blinding dust. That bump in the road cost them about seven minutes, but the pair was able to make up for the lost time, take over the lead and claim the checkered flag.
At the 1.5-mile Bark River International Raceway in Bark River, Mich., Team LeDuc scored victories in both Pro 2WD and Pro 4X4 during the weekend. Kyle LeDuc won back-to-back victories in Pro 4X4 during Rounds 9 and 10 of The Off-Road Championship (TORC) series.
Driving his No. 99 Rockstar/Makita/Ford Trucks/Toyo Tires F-150 running on 35X12.50R17 Open Country M/T-R tires, he also won two “Oakley Bomb Run” awards for the fastest lap times in each race. Also finishing on the podium in second on both days was Rick Huseman, championship points leader and driver of the No. 36 Monster Energy/Traxxas/Toyota/Toyo Tires Tundra.
While driving his No. 3 Rockstar/Makita/Ford Trucks/Toyo Tires F-150, Todd LeDuc had similar success as his younger brother at Bark River by finishing in second during Saturday’s race, then winning overall in the Pro 2WD class on Sunday. Although both LeDuc brothers swept the recent Lucas Oil Off Road Race Series in Lake Elsinore, Calif., this was the first win for Todd LeDuc in TORC, although he has finished on the podium five other times this season.
“This (Sunday) was one of the hardest 20-minute races I have ever done, and I am sure the hardest ever on my tires,” says Todd LeDuc. “My Toyo tires held up really well, finding grip in both soft loam and on dry, slick surfaces.”
Todd LeDuc is third overall in the Pro 2WD championship points, while Kyle has moved into second in Pro 4X4.
For more information, visit www.toyotires.com.
