Yokohama Drivers Get Three Podiums In Lucas Oil Off Road Opener

FULLERTON, March 24, 2011: Yokohama Tire Corporation-sponsored drivers combined for three podium finishes at the Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series opener at Firebird Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona, March 19-20.

In the Pro Lite Unlimited class, Yokohama driver Jimmy Stephensen took his #33 Discount Tire/Ironclad Nissan, outfitted with Yokohama Geolandar A/T-SŪ tires, to the podium with a third-place finish in round 1 on Saturday, March 19. The next day, Stephensen, from Las Vegas, repeated his podium performance with a second-place finish.

“The competition was fierce out there this weekend and there are a lot of new trucks and drivers to contend with. I feel ecstatic to be on the podium both days,” said Stephensen. “It was quite the battle to get up on the podium but I’m glad to be here and start the season strong. We proved that we can run with the best of the best.”

In the Super Lite class Saturday, Funco Motorsports driver Chad George (Rialto, Calif.) battled hard from the middle of the pack and moved up truck by truck to get his #42 Kawasaki/Yokohama SuperLite, outfitted with Geolandar A/T-S tires, on the podium with a third-place finish to start the season.

“Overall it was a solid start to the 2011 season. With the weather and track changes, the Firebird dirt was tricky to master, said George. “Without the superior performance of the Yokohama A/T-S tire, a pair of top five's for the Kawasaki/Yokohama Superlite would not have been possible. We are only moving up from here.”

The next event in the 2011 Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series is April 16-17 at Speedworld Off-Road Park in Surprise, Arizona.