Yokohama Tire Joins the American Off-Road Racing Championship as a new Supporting Sponsor
Continuing over 40 years of off-road racing heritage, Yokohama Tire has come on board the newly formed American Off-Road Racing Championship (AORC) as a supporting sponsor. The championship unites the two largest desert racing sanctioning bodies—Unlimited Off-Road Racing (UNLTD) and Best in the Desert (BITD)—into a single five-race points championship.
“Yokohama Tire has been involved with off-road racing for over four decades,” said Matt Martelli, CEO of the American Off-Road Racing Championship. “We are thrilled to have them join us not only as a sponsor of the series, but to have them supporting racers as well as developing new products for Unlimited Trucks and UTVs.”
Yokohama’s involvement in off-road racing dates back to the early 1980s and the introduction of its iconic Super Digger tire. Known for race-proven durability and performance, Yokohama has long supported off-road racers and events worldwide, using competition as a proving ground to develop tire technology that performs in the harshest desert conditions.
A long-time supporter of off-road racing events and the racers who compete in them, Yokohama is a market leader in performance tires, manufacturing products for off-road racing, light trucks and SUVs, and UTVs.
“Racing is the ultimate proving ground for our tires. Every lap delivers critical data, real-world feedback, and hands-on experience that directly shape the products we create for everyday drivers and off-road enthusiasts. This newly unified league provides an unparalleled platform to showcase our athletes’ performance and demonstrate how our tires thrive under the most extreme conditions,” stated Candace Cogan, Director of Product Marketing, Yokohama Tire.
Details regarding racer registration, sponsorship packages, exhibitor vending, spectator tickets, camping, and parking passes for the American Off-Road Racing Championship are live on americanoffroadracingchampionship.com.
For more details about Yokohama Tire, visit yokohamatire.com and follow us on social media for the latest updates.
About Yokohama Tire Corporation:
Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global manufacturing and sales company of premium tires since 1917. Servicing an extensive sales network throughout the U.S., Yokohama Tire Corporation is a leader in technology, innovation, sustainable manufacturing and environmentally conscious products. The company’s complete product line includes tires for high-performance, light truck, passenger car, and commercial truck and bus. For more information on Yokohama’s broad product line, visit www.yokohamatire.com and www.yokohamatruck.com.
Yokohama is a strong supporter of the tire care and safety guidelines established by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association and the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration. Details can be found at the “Tires 101” section at www.yokohamatire.com.
Yokohama’s extensive list of North American-based motorsports partnerships – both on- and off-road – includes Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama, Porsche Sprint
Challenge USA West by Yokohama, Porsche Endurance Challenge North America by Yokohama, the Mustang Cup, Subaru Motorsports USA, Pikes Peak GT4 Trophy by Yokohama, King of the Hammers Yokohama Tire Every Man Challenge race, Official Tire of Crandon International Raceway, American Off-Road Championships, and the Championship Off-Road Series.
Yokohama’s environmental-related partnerships include Tread Lightly!, Surfrider North Orange and County California State Parks Foundation which help protect and maintain the ecosystem, from the desert to the ocean.
About the American Off-Road Racing Championship:
The American Off-Road Racing Championship (AORC) is the premier desert off-road racing league in North America, created through the unification of Best in the Desert (BITD) and Unlimited Off-Road Racing (UNLTD). Best in the Desert, founded in 1984 by legendary racer Casey Folks, is the longest-running and most respected off-road racing series in the U.S., with a legacy that includes iconic events like Vegas to Reno, the Silver State 300, the Parker 425, and the Laughlin Desert Classic. Unlimited Off-Road Racing, established by the Martelli Brothers in 2023, produces world-class events such as The Mint 400, The California 300, and The Parker 400. UNLTD is recognized for its focus on innovation, storytelling, and large-scale racer participation, with events known for high car counts, challenging courses, pre-running, and family-friendly fan experiences near major markets.
Together under the AORC banner, BITD and UNLTD preserve the heritage of desert racing while building its future—offering racers, sponsors, and fans a unified championship built on clarity, consistency, and world-class competition.