Christopher Polvoorde Takes the Overall Victory at the 2024 King of the Hammers Toyo Tires Desert Challenge

JOHNSON VALLEY, CALIFORNIA – Christopher Polvoorde and Toyo Tires^® have won the 2024 King of the Hammers Toyo Tires Desert Challenge. This race takes place in Johnson Valley, California and is considered one of the toughest and most demanding one-day off-road races in the world of motorsports. Featuring everything from rocky terrain to high-speed areas over the 182 miles of racing, this race tests the drivers and pushes their vehicles to the limit. Starting Sunday’s Unlimited Race at the pole position, Polvoorde and his brand new 1000 horsepower Optima Batteries / Toyo Tires / Ford Raptor that debuted over the weekend, set a winning time of 3 hours, 16 minutes, and 58 seconds, securing his first victory in the new year. Polvoorde finished first overall and in the T1 class, recording his second win at the Toyo Tires Desert Challenge in three years. He relied on championship-winning Toyo^® Open Country M/T^®-R tires to get to the finish line. In addition, Rodrigo Ampudia took first place in the B3 UTV Pro Stock Turbo class, setting a winning time of 3 hours, 56 minutes, and 55 seconds. Driving his Can-Am / Monster Energy / Toyo Tires UTV, Ampudia relied on off-the-shelf Toyo^® Open Country SxS tires to take the checkered flag. Available for purchase through Toyo Tires dealers and online retailers, the Open Country SxS delivers performance and incorporates design features of the race-winning Open Country M/T-R in a smaller package, specifically designed for side-by-side vehicles. “What a great way to debut a brand new all-wheel drive race truck!” said Christopher Polvoorde. “It’s been a huge team effort to get this new truck out here and we made it happen. The race was super smooth and went as planned and I am extremely excited for the future of my career in T1.” “Our Toyo Tires were the key to our success,” said Rodrigo Ampudia. “They helped us dominate every type of terrain, from whoops to soft sand, to gnarly rocks, to the fast lake beds.” “Christopher and Rodrigo delivered two great performances over the weekend and gave us an amazing start to the off-road racing season,” said Stan Chen, senior manager, events, sponsorships and motorsports, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. “Winning races on both the Open Country M/T-R and SxS tires in two highly competitive classes is a testament to our championship-winning pedigree.” To learn more about the Open Country line of tires for light trucks, SUVs, crossovers, and outdoor adventure vehicles visit ToyoTires.com. About Toyo Tires^® Established in 1966, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. represents the innovation, quality, performance, and excellent service that Toyo Tires has delivered worldwide for more than 75 years. The company offers a full line of premium tires for nearly every vehicle including light trucks, SUVs, crossovers, sports cars, luxury cars, hybrids, and electric vehicles, as well as commercial trucks.  Many of the tires are built in the United States at their state-of-the-art factory in Georgia. To find the right tire for your vehicle as well as an authorized dealer, visit www.toyotires.com. You can also join the Toyo Tires community on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

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