People | Rodrigo Ampudia Joins Team Toyo® Off-Road in 2012
Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. announced that Pro2 Unlimited class driver Rodrigo Ampudia, has joined Team Toyo® Off-Road for the 2012 race season. Competing in the Lucas Oil® Off Road Racing Series, Ampudia will pilot his 900-horsepower #36 Papas and Beer / Lucas Oil / Toyo Tires® Ford Raptor on Toyo® Open Country M/T®-R tires. The high-energy Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series draws huge crowds and is broadcast on television through major networks and cable.
Ampudia, now a resident of San Diego, California; has many accomplishments to his name. During his 2006 rookie season in short course off-road racing, Ampudia was the first international driver to win a Championship Off-Road Racing (CORRTM) series race. He also won the CORR World Championship race in Crandon, Wisconsin during that same year. Ampudia then capped it off by winning the 2006 CORR Series Pro-LiteTM class championship. When he made the transition to Pro 2 class trucks, he qualified first in his rookie year.
“From my earliest days behind the wheel, I learned the absolute necessity of running tires I can trust. Our new partnership with Toyo Tires gives RA Motorsports everything we need to pursue a championship title,” said Ampudia. “I am really excited to be a part of the Toyo Tires racing team as we share the same commitment for performance and innovation. Toyo is synonymous with quality in the world of Off Road Racing carrying an amazing reputation worldwide.”
“We are thrilled to announce the addition of Rodrigo Ampudia to our impressive team of short course racers,” said Amy Coleman, senior director of marketing, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. “Rodrigo is a championship driver who will help demonstrate the winning capabilities of our Open Country M/T-R tires. He also expands our marketing reach, exposing the Toyo Tires brand to new fans both in the United States and Mexico.”
Ampudia completes Team Toyo Off-Road’s Lucas Oil Series super team which includes Kyle LeDuc, Jeremy McGrath and Jeremy “Twitch” Stenberg.
The 16-race Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series begins March 31, 2012 at Firebird Raceway in Chandler, Arizona. Races will be broadcast on CBS Sports, NBC Sports Network, SPEEDChannel and MavTV. Log on to www.lucasoiloffroad.com for both race and programming schedules.
About Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp.
Toyo Tires manufactures and distributes a complete line of premium replacement tires for nearly every make and model including high performance cars, luxury vehicles, light trucks and SUVs as well as tires for commercial trucks. For more information log onto www.toyotires.com and connect with the community at www.facebook.com/toyotires and www.twitter.com/toyotires.
