July 15, 2008

Toyo® Sponsored Drivers have Great Weekend at World Series of Off-Road Racing® Event in Bark River

BARK RIVER, MICHIGAN -- Toyo® sponsored drivers scored victories and stood on the podium in multiple classes during The Island Resort & Casino, Boss Snowplow Off-Road Challenge at Bark River International Raceway™ in Bark River, Michigan this past weekend.

Mike Vanden Heuvel scored double victories in the packed 26-car 1600 Light Buggy class during Saturday’s Round V and Sunday’s Round VI of the 2008 World Series of Off-Road Racing® (WSORR) championship series. Vanden Heuvel provided a “lesson on driving” as he now has a commanding lead in the 1600 Light Buggy points championship.

“My Toyo tires worked great for me,” said Vanden Heuvel. “They seem to go to the front in any condition on any track.”

Also winning Saturday’s SRT Super Truck race was Ben Wandahsega driving his Forest County Potawatomi/Toyo Tires® Chevy Silverado on 35X12.50R17 D.O.T. Open Country M/T® tires. The returning champion is currently third in the overall standings, continuing to demonstrate his ability to win with Toyo.

Jon Probst, driver of the E3 Sparkplugs/Toyo Tires Nissan competing in the Pro Light Pickup class, had his best ever finishes this past weekend. Probst fought hotly contested battles to finish second during both days at Bark River. Dave Waldvogel drove his Bendix®/Toyo Tires Chevy Silverado truck to a third place finish in the Pro 2WD class on Saturday. Waldvogel maintains third place in the points standings behind Kevin Probst and his E3 Spark Plugs/Dixie Choppers/Simply WOW/Toyo Tires Chevy Silverado truck, both competing on Open Country M/T-R tires.

“We congratulate the rising stars of Team Toyo, both Mike Vanden Heuvel and Jon Probst for their outstanding performances,” said Stan Chen, manager of events and motorsports, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. “Their performances add to the diversity of wins by top WSORR drivers such as Ben Wandahsega, Kevin Probst and Dave Waldvogel, all competing and winning podiums on Toyo tires.”

To learn more about Team Toyo® Off-Road drivers and their tires from Toyo, 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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