December 5, 2007

LeDucs and Toyo Tires™ Capture 2007 Best In The Desert Series Class 8000 Championship

HENDERSON, NEVADA – The ROCKSTAR Energy Drink/Toyo Tires/Skyjacker Ford truck team of Curt and Todd LeDuc, with co-drivers Brent Wendt and Thomas Andreoli, finished third in class 8000 during last weekend’s “Henderson’s Terrible 400” to capture the 2007 Best In The Desert Series Class 8000 Championship. This finish capped off a remarkable season for the team, which competes on 37X13.50R17 Toyo® Open Country M/T®-R tires.

The team had a perfect season prior to this final round, having won every desert race they had entered. Challenging weather conditions slowed the team at this event along with mechanical problems, one such problem being an alternator belt that fell off due to the heavy mud that wedged in between the pulleys and the belt.

“Our Toyo Open Country M/T tires were flawless during the race and were excellent in the mud and standing water which caused other trucks to hydroplane and roll over,” said Curt LeDuc. “This is our first year and first championship with Toyo, which is a great way to start a relationship.”

LeDuc’s team finished the entire 2007 season without a single DNF, a remarkable accomplishment in the sport of off-road racing. This is also the tenth off-road racing championship for the 52-year old LeDuc who shows no signs of slowing down.

“We congratulate the LeDuc family for winning the Best In The Desert Series class 8000 championship,” said Stan Chen, manager of events and motorsports, Toyo Tire (U.S.A.) Corporation. “The LeDuc name is synonymous with off-road racing, and we are proud that the Open Country M/T delivered both the performance and reliability needed for them to dominate in 2007.”

Also finishing third in class 1400 and fifth overall were Bruce Greer, Jr. and Glen Greer with co-drivers Brad Kline and Mike Kerr driving their Toyo Tires/Greer Bros. Dodge truck.

To learn about Toyo’s Open Country M/T™ which has won championships in desert racing, short course and rock-racing in 2007, log on to toyo.com. Toyo manufactures and distributes a complete line of replacement tires for high performance cars, luxury vehicles, light trucks and SUVs as well as tires for commercial trucks, buses and off-road and construction applications.

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