Team General Tire Makes a Strong Showing at Vegas to Reno Race
Rick D. Johnson and Marc Burnett Make the Podium
RENO, Nev., Aug. 24 -- Team General Tire was ready to take on the grueling terrain at this year's Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno Race. This three-day race format was both challenging and inspiring for the teams, who were more than up for the challenge.
When the dust had settled, Team GT's drivers Rick D. Johnson placed third in the Trick Truck class, and Marc Burnett finished third in the 7200 class.
The event, which took place August 19-22, 2009, was billed as the longest off-road race in the United States, thanks to a new twist this year: instead of a straight run from Las Vegas to Reno through the Nevada desert, the event followed a 1,000-mile course over three days.
And because of the three-day format, the race brought excitement and hardship around each corner.
On Day 1, Team GT driver Ballistic BJ Baldwin finished 2nd with less than 45 seconds off the leader and Jason Voss took the 3rd place position in the Trick Truck class. Ted Hunnicutt finished 1st in the 8000 class and Marc Burnett finished 2nd in the 7200 class.
On Day 2, Baldwin held the lead for most of the race until transmission issues dropped him out of contention for a podium. Rick D. Johnson took the bull by the horns and finished the day with a 2nd place in the Trick Truck class. Driver Marc Burnett also finished the day with a podium in the 7200 class.
On Day 3, Johnson, Baldwin and Burnett were the hope to bring home podiums for General Tire. At the end of a day of harsh racing, Johnson finished with a 2nd place podium. Baldwin did not podium, but put on a huge show at pit 5 for all the spectators and Marc Burnett completed the day with a 3rd place podium.
In addition to the actual time on the course, each team had just one hour to work on the vehicles before the trucks were impounded until the next morning. Team support was forced to take it to the next level by wrench on the trucks in record time or face penalties. Marc Burnett's team had to do a complete transmission change one of the nights.
"This race was so challenging just to complete for both the drivers and team support. We are extremely proud of the efforts and their dedication," said Travis Roffler, director of marketing, General Tire.
"After winning the race last year, I really wanted to make it a back-to-back, but the course and the format was very challenging. We are still proud of our overall 3rd place podium in the Trick Truck class," said Rick Johnson, driver Team 71. "We look forward to coming back for another chance at a win in 2010."
"Three full days of all-out racing makes for a very unique event, both for spectators and for the drivers," said Marc Burnett, MB Motorsports. "This was a true test of skill and endurance, and we were excited to get General Tire on the podium."
General Tire is again 'unleashing the fury' in off-road performance for 2009, in the second year campaigning its Grabber competition tire. Designed with a tough, three-ply Duragen(TM)-reinforced body construction to stand up to the rigors of off-road conditions, the Grabber also features a newly-developed competition-specific tread compound. In addition, the Grabber name and General Tire logo are prominently featured on the sidewall in red and white letters. The Grabber competition tires are designed in size 37x12.50R17 for class 8 and trophy truck/trick truck and 35x12.50R17 for class 1, 6, 7, 7 S, stock mini and Protruck.
General Tire also has a complete line of Grabber tires for the passenger and light truck market, including the new Grabber DOT-approved off-road tire (to be released in 2010); the Grabber HTS, which delivers the perfect synergy of comfort, durability and performance; the Grabber UHP, which sets a whole new standard in performance and ride quality for SUVs, light trucks and crossover vehicles; and Grabber AT2, designed for aggressive all-terrain traction in all weather conditions.
For media information, visit www.ctnamedia.com.
General Tire is part of Continental Tire North America, Inc. (www.generaltire.com). With sales exceeding euro 24 billion in 2008, the Continental Corporation is one of the top automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for the powertrain and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires and technical elastomers, the corporation contributes towards enhanced driving safety and protection of the global climate. Continental is also a competent partner in networked automobile communication. The corporation currently employs approximately 133,000 at nearly 190 locations in 35 countries.
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