Yokohama off-road racers SCORE in Laughlin Desert Challenge

Two Yokohama Tire-sponsored off-road figures took the podium last weekend at the January 23-25 SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge in Laughlin, Nev. Heidi Steele, a double off-road series champion in 2008, reached the winners’ platform in two classes, placing first and third in Classes 6 and 7, respectively, with co-drivers Ross Savage and Rene Brugger.

Cameron Steele, two-time SCORE Person of the Year, took second (with co-driver Justin Smith) behind NASCAR racer Robby Gordon in the highly competitive Trophy Truck class.

Cameron Steele set the stage for a podium finish, driving the No. 16 Desert Assassins Chevrolet Silverado outfitted with Yokohama Geolandar M/T+ tires on Saturday, before tending to announcing duties at ESPN’s Winter X-Games in Aspen, Colo., on Sunday. Co-driver Smith piloted the Trophy Truck for the remainder of the race for a second place win.

Heidi Steele, a champion in 2008 in both Best of the Desert and the SCORE Desert Series, moved up in class at Laughlin and won the Class 6 competition. Heidi also advanced from Class 7SX to Class 7, taking a third place finish.

“I’m working my way up to Trophy Truck class and this move up to Class 6 was really fun,” said Heidi. “It was the first time I’ve been able to race a more unlimited truck and also my first time doing the Laughlin Leap.”

In both classes, Heidi drove off-the-shelf Yokohama Geolandar M/T+ tires on a Ford Ranger.

“My Yokohama tires were exceptional,” said Heidi. “We had no flat tires this weekend even though the course was really rough.”

Yokohama-sponsored racers went six for six at Laughlin, competing in six classes and corralling six podium finishes, including Class 1-2/1600 where Adam Pfankuch and Brian Burgess placed first and second, respectively. Pfankuch also teamed up with Rick St. John to win the SCORE Lite Class.

“We’re looking forward to another season of record-setting racing with a queue of outstanding off-road drivers,” said Robert Dole, Yokohama product promotions manager. “We know our tires can conquer the challenging terrain and it’s exciting to see them tested to the maximum, giving us real life feedback that ultimately benefits our customers.”

The next SCORE race for Yokohama-sponsored teams is the Tecate San Felipe 250, March 13-15, in San Felipe, Mexico.