Nitto back in 2013 for King of the Hammers Off-Road Challenge

Feb. 5, 2013

Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc. returns again this year as Presenting Sponsor and sponsor of six topnotch off-road racing teams for the grueling seventh running of the Griffin King of the Hammers Presented by Nitto Tire on Fri., Feb. 8, 2013. 

The tough 4x4 race will be the culmination of this years week-long event billed as the most impressive to date with an expanded vendor show, additional entertainment and improved spectator areas.

"The Ultimate Desert Race" set in Californias rugged Johnson Valley northeast of Los Angeles pits expert drivers and finely tuned vehicles against the areas sand, hard-packed rock trails, near-vertical rock walls and treacherous ledges in breathtaking, all-out, high-speed runs.

There is nothing like the excitement of off-road action at this level that takes its toll every year with less than half of the participants typically finishing the race. The event has evolved from 12 teams racing for bragging rights and a case of beer to more than 150 teams competing before thousands of fans both live and online.

Nitto has made an equally aggressive commitment to this signature Ultra 4 racing event as the Presenting Sponsor and sponsor of six racing teams. That impressive roster includes 2012 Ultra 4 series champion Nick Nelson, 2010 King of the Hammers Champion Loren Healy, 2009 KOH Champion Jason Scherer, as well as Cottin Rodd, the groundbreaking first female Ultra 4 competitor. The Nitto sponsorship also includes the striking championship rings for the winning driver and co-driver.

Nitto-sponsored teams, running on Nitto Trail Grappler K-Spec tires, for this years King of the Hammers competition include:

* Nick Nelson, Nick Nelson Motorsports, Las Vegas; 2012 Ultra 4 series champion; 1st 2012 Ultra 4 Glen Helen, San Bernardino, Calif.; 1st  2012 Mint 400, Las Vegas; 1st Vegas to Reno, Reno, Nev.;

* Cottin Rodd, Jimmys 4x4, Cortez, Colo.; only female driver in Ultra 4; co-owner of Jimmys 4x4, top car fabricator in Ultra 4 racing;

* Loren Healy, Healy Racing, Farmington, N.M.; 3rd 2012 Ultra 4 overall champion; 5th 2012 King of the Hammers; 3rd Ultra 4 American Rock Sports Challenge, Toole, Utah; 2nd Ultra 4 Cinco De Baja, Albuquerque, N.M.; 2010 King of the Hammers champion;

* Derek West, Crush Motorsports, Springfield, Mo.; 3rd 2013 Ultra 4 Badlands Offroad, Attica, Ind.;

8 Jason Scherer, PSC Motorsports, Berkeley, Calif.; 1st Ultra 4 Championships, Blackwell, Texas; 2009 King of the Hammers champion; and

* Mel Wade, Off Road Evolution, Long Beach, Calif.; only stock body vehicle to race in KOH.

In addition to the avid crowd of spectators on the scene, King of the Hammers week activities and racing action will be streamed for live viewing online at http://www.nittoracing.com.