Cypress, Calif. – March 12, 2007 Nitto Tire claimed its first class win in the SCORE off-road series at the Baja 250 on March 9-11, 2007. Nitto’s sponsored driver, Dylan Evans of Team Donahoe, performed exceptionally well, finishing first in his class. The team campaigned its new FJ Cruiser in Class 3 equipped with Nitto’s Terra Grappler™ All-Terrain tires. Both Nitto® and Team Donahoe see this win as an indication of what the season holds. 

The team competed in SCORE’s Class 3, designed for short wheelbase 4x4 vehicles, through 216.2 miles of treacherous desert terrain. The Baja terrain included loose sand and gravel as well as narrow stretches that made passing difficult. Despite the rugged terrain, driver Dylan Evans completed the event in 6:14:38, running at an average speed of 34.63 mph. His course time placed him in first position.

“We’re really pleased with the team and the tire’s performance,” said Jonathan Ozeretny, Marketing Supervisor at Nitto Tire. “Team Donahoe’s race truck competes with our off-the-shelf all-terrains against teams with compounds and constructions designed specifically for racing. It shows how competitive our tires can be right out of the box.”

When Dylan Evans was asked about his win, he also said the tires were a contributing factor. He explained, “The first 75 miles were very treacherous and the traction from the Terra Grapplers gave me total driver confidence when navigating my way through what seemed like a graveyard of hopelessly stuck competitors.” The team completed the race on just one set or tires and without any flats.

The Baja 250 was Nitto’s first win in SCORE competition. “This win is a great achievement for our company,” said Efrain Viveros, Senior Staff Engineer at Nitto Tire. “This is the first year we will be competing in a full desert race season, and it is great to have this victory early on. We are extremely proud of Dylan Evans, Steve Krieger and all of Team Donahoe for bringing Nitto Tire its first class win in the desert.”

Nitto Tire and Team Donahoe will carry this momentum into the remained of the desert-racing season. The Team Donahoe/KC HiLites/Nitto Tire Toyota FJ will compete in the remaining 2007 SCORE events.

The Nitto Terra Grappler All-Terrain tire utilizes a multi-block tread design for excellent off-road traction. The staggered shoulder lugs provide traction in deep sand, mud, and loose gravel. The Terra Grappler is available in retail stores.  Visit NittoTire.com for the nearest retail locations.

Nitto Tire North America develops performance tires for all uses, including racing, off-road and street. Using state-of-the-art manufacturing and testing facilities in both Japan and the United States, the company strives to provide innovative and high-quality performance tires for the most demanding enthusiasts. For more information about Nitto Tire or its products, visit the company’s web site or contact the company directly. Nitto and Terra Grappler are registered trademarks of Nitto Tire North America, Inc., located at 6021 Katella Ave., Suite 250, Cypress, CA 90630.