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  • BFGoodrich Racers Reign at King of the Hammers

    BFGoodrich Racers Reign at King of the Hammers

    BFGoodrich wins overall for the ninth time in 13 years

    GREENVILLE, S.C., Feb. 15, 2019 — BFGoodrich racers dominated the notoriously tough King of the Hammers in Johnson Valley, Calif., handily winning three of the four major events.

    The 235-mile King of the Hammers race takes Ultra4 cars through extreme rock crawling for one of the most grueling events in off-road racing. BFGoodrich racer Jason Scherer earned his third Ultra4 crown at King of the Hammers, and second in a row. No other racer has won back to back. The win earned him a $10,000 contingency prize from BFGoodrich and $65,000 from the race purse.

    Racing on custom BFGoodrich® Baja T/A® KR3-SR tires made specifically to win King of the Hammers, Scherer completed the race in six hours and 32 minutes – five minutes ahead of the next driver. 

    “I’m amazed we’ve started two King of the Hammers races in a row and have won back-to-back races on the same set of tires we started with. That is probably one of the most amazing feats that occurs in this brutal race,” Scherer said. “I appreciate everything BFGoodrich has done for our team to develop the best tires to conquer the harshest terrain imaginable.”

    In the King of the Hammers Desert Invitational, T1 desert trucks raced for a large prize pot of $125,000. In the end, the top five racers were all on BFGoodrich tires. The top three split the entire prize.

    Luke McMillin took first place in the T1 race, winning on 40-inch BFGoodrich® Baja T/A® KR3 tires and taking home $100,000. Justin Lofton, also a BFGoodrich racer, came in second place, winning $15,000. BFGoodrich racer Apdaly Lopez claimed third place and $10,000.

    In the King of the Hammers UTV competition, Mitch Guthrie Jr. won for the second time, competing on BFGoodrich® Baja T/A®KR2 UTV tires.

    “For this race, tire choice is the most important thing, and that’s why I run with BFGoodrich,” Guthrie said. “Not only did I have zero flats, but the tires helped guide me up some of the nastiest rock sections on the planet. Whether it was fast desert lakebed or slow rock sections, my tires helped me win.”

    BFGoodrich Motorsports Manager Peter Calhoun said the weekend wins were a significant milestone as the 2019 racing season gets underway. 

    “The 2019 season is off to a very strong start for us,” Calhoun said. “We’ve seen overall wins in the Dakar Rally, the Best in the Desert Parker 425 and now King of the Hammers. We’re thankful to all the racers who trust us to get them their wins.”

    About BFGoodrich® Tires

    With more than 100 years of heritage, BFGoodrich® Tires is dedicated to providing high performance tires for those who have a passion for driving in virtually any environment. Combining technical expertise with 45 years of motorsports experience, BFGoodrich Tires delivers tires for a full range of driving experiences, from ultra-high performance street to off-road terrain, with one common theme — extreme performance. Upgrade your performance with BFGoodrich and see where our tires can take you at www.BFGoodrichTires.com, www.BFGoodrichracing.com, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/BFGoodrichTires or on Instagram or Twitter at @BFGoodrichTires.

  • Rancho(R) Announces Official Sponsorship of the 2019 Jeep Jamboree USA Program

    Rancho(R) Announces Official Sponsorship of the 2019 Jeep Jamboree USA Program

    Enthusiast-First Suspension & Shock Company Enters into Sponsorship for Third Consecutive Year

    Los Angeles, Tues., Jan. 22, 2019 – The Rancho performance suspension and shocks brand of Tenneco has again partnered with Jeep Jamboree (JJUSA) in 2019 as the official event sponsor for its third consecutive year.

    “Jeep Jamboree USA continues to connect us with thousands of avid enthusiasts and Jeepers through their adventure-driven events,” said Chris Gauss, director, performance products, Tenneco. “If you look back into Rancho’s history, you’ll see our roots in the off-road Jeep events that brought together the outdoors, adventure, enthusiasts and Jeeps…identical to the popular Jeep Jamboree events today.”

    At select 2019 JJUSA events, a Rancho-outfitted Jeep Wrangler JL will be available for participants to see Rancho products firsthand on and off the Jeep Jamboree event routes as it showcases the latest Rancho suspension technologies.

    Participants also will be able to experience the Rancho-sponsored Jeep Jamboree Outdoor Garage, where event attendees can see Rancho suspension parts on display and ask questions. Attendees will be able to experience the events from afar online at www.GoRancho.com through the Rancho 360 VR experience throughout the season.

    “The Rancho team is truly an enthusiast-first organization. Through their sponsorship over the course of three years plus at-event support, they’ve certainly enhanced our participants’ experiences through educational initiatives like the Jeep Jamboree Outdoor Garage,” said Pearse Umlauf, president and CEO, Jeep Jamboree USA. “The Outdoor Garage is staffed by industry experts who provide helpful off-road preparedness tips and guidance to participants about vehicle modifications. The Rancho team has dedicated an entire event team to staffing this interactive product display vehicle at more than 20 upcoming events. This truly gives Jeep enthusiasts a unique experience and the ability to experience Rancho products in the field.” 

    Since 1955, the Rancho brand has been synonymous with Jeeps and its history is entrenched in innovative solutions and product engineering specific to Jeeps. The Rancho brand has a full complement of performance suspension systems, shock absorbers, ride control products and popular RockGEAR™ off-road performance accessories. 

    Rancho is headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., and is manufactured and marketed by Tenneco. Tenneco is the global supplier and manufacturer of the Rancho brand of suspension systems and components, shock absorbers, off-road protective equipment, specialty exhaust pipe kits and more for a variety of trucks, sport utility vehicles and Jeeps found around the globe.

    To follow along on the Rancho adventure, Connect with Rancho on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To learn more about Rancho products, contact your nearest Rancho dealer, call 1-734-384-7806 or visit www.GoRancho.com.

    About Tenneco  

    Headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois, Tenneco is one of the world’s leading designers, manufacturers and marketers of Ride Performance and Clean Air products and technology solutions for diversified markets, including light vehicle, commercial truck, off-highway equipment and the aftermarket, with 2017 revenues of $9.3 billion and approximately 32,000 employees worldwide. 

    On October 1, 2018, Tenneco completed the acquisition of Federal-Mogul, a leading global supplier to original equipment manufacturers and the aftermarket with nearly 55,000 employees globally and 2017 revenues of $7.8 billion.  Additionally, the company expects to separate its businesses to form two new, independent companies, an Aftermarket and Ride Performance company as well as a new Powertrain Technology company, in late 2019.

    About the Future Aftermarket and Ride Performance Company

    Following the separation, the aftermarket and ride performance company will be one of the largest global multi-line, multi-brand aftermarket companies, and one of the largest global OE ride performance and braking companies.  The aftermarket and ride performance company’s principal product brands will feature Monroe®, Walker®, Clevite® Elastomers, MOOG®, Fel-Pro®, Wagner®, Champion® and others. The Aftermarket and Ride Performance company would have 2017 pro-forma revenues of $6.4 billion, with 57% of those revenues from aftermarket and 43% from original equipment customers.

    About the Future Powertrain Technology Company

    Following the separation, the powertrain technology company will be one of the world’s largest pure-play powertrain companies serving OE markets worldwide with engineered solutions addressing fuel economy, power output, and criteria pollution requirements for gasoline, diesel and electrified powertrains. The powertrain technology company would have 2017 pro-forma revenues of $10.7 billion, serving light vehicle, commercial truck, off-highway and industrial markets.

  • New Rancho® Promotion Offers Up to $400 Mail-In Rebate for Qualifying Lift Kits, Shocks or RockGEAR Purchases

    New Rancho® Promotion Offers Up to $400 Mail-In Rebate for Qualifying Lift Kits, Shocks or RockGEAR Purchases

    Los Angeles, Tues., Jan. 22, 2019 – The Rancho “Get Up to $400” mail-in rebate promotion – available on purchases made between March 1 and May 31, 2019 – will offer truck, SUV and Jeep owners Visa® Prepaid cards* worth up to $400 this spring. The Rancho brand is a leader in off-road suspension systems, ride control and accessories for the truck, SUV and Jeep markets.

    “This spring is a great time to save on Rancho performance products,” said Mike Sype, product and marketing manager, Rancho. “You can save on any of our lift kits, shock absorbers and even our Jeep-specific RockGEAR. Don’t miss out on this valuable savings opportunity!”

    Consumers can earn a Visa Prepaid card valued at $400 for a qualifying Rancho purchase totaling $2,000 or more; $300 for a $1,700 to $1,999.99 purchase; $250 for a $1,400 to $1,699.99 purchase; $200 for a $1,100 to $1,399.99 purchase; $150 for a $800 to $1,099.99 purchase; $100 for a $500 to 799.99 purchase; and $50 for a $200 to $499.99 purchase.

    The products included in the promotion are qualifying Rancho lift kits, Rancho quickLIFT™ Loaded assemblies; RS9000™XL, RS7000®MT, RS5000™X/RS5000™ series shocks and struts; RS7000MT and RS5000 series steering stabilizers; and RockGEAR off-road accessories.

    Many Rancho products are covered by an industry-leading Performance Guarantee and 90-day risk-free ride offer that lets enthusiasts try Rancho RS9000XL, Rancho RS7000MT, Rancho RS5000X shocks or Rancho quickLIFT units for 90 days. Consumers can return their shocks within 90 days for a full refund of the product’s purchase price. For a complete list of applications covered by the warranty, please visit www.GoRancho.com.

    Rancho is headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., and is manufactured and marketed by Tenneco. Tenneco is the global supplier and manufacturer of the Rancho brand of suspension systems and components, shock absorbers, off-road protective equipment, specialty exhaust pipe kits and more for a variety of trucks, sport utility vehicles and Jeeps found around the globe.

    To learn more about the requirements for processing the mail-in rebate and to download the redemption form, please visit www.GoRancho.com after March 1, 2019. Submissions must be postmarked by June 30, 2019 to qualify.

    To learn more about the Rancho “Get Up to $400 Back” spring promotion or Rancho products, contact your nearest Rancho dealer, call 1-734-384-7806 or visit www.GoRancho.com. Connect with Rancho on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram.

    About Tenneco  

    Headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois, Tenneco is one of the world’s leading designers, manufacturers and marketers of Ride Performance and Clean Air products and technology solutions for diversified markets, including light vehicle, commercial truck, off-highway equipment and the aftermarket, with 2017 revenues of $9.3 billion and approximately 32,000 employees worldwide. 

    On October 1, 2018, Tenneco completed the acquisition of Federal-Mogul, a leading global supplier to original equipment manufacturers and the aftermarket with nearly 55,000 employees globally and 2017 revenues of $7.8 billion.  Additionally, the company expects to separate its businesses to form two new, independent companies, an Aftermarket and Ride Performance company as well as a new Powertrain Technology company, in late 2019.

    About the Future Aftermarket and Ride Performance Company

    Following the separation, the aftermarket and ride performance company will be one of the largest global multi-line, multi-brand aftermarket companies, and one of the largest global OE ride performance and braking companies.  The aftermarket and ride performance company’s principal product brands will feature Monroe®, Walker®, Clevite® Elastomers, MOOG®, Fel-Pro®, Wagner®, Champion® and others. The Aftermarket and Ride Performance company would have 2017 pro-forma revenues of $6.4 billion, with 57% of those revenues from aftermarket and 43% from original equipment customers.

    About the Future Powertrain Technology Company

    Following the separation, the powertrain technology company will be one of the world’s largest pure-play powertrain companies serving OE markets worldwide with engineered solutions addressing fuel economy, power output, and criteria pollution requirements for gasoline, diesel and electrified powertrains. The powertrain technology company would have 2017 pro-forma revenues of $10.7 billion, serving light vehicle, commercial truck, off-highway and industrial markets.

    * This card is the property of and is issued by Bank of America, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa USA and must be returned upon request. This card is not a credit card and expires on the date listed on the front of the card and has no value after that date. This card may be used for purchases at merchants that accept Visa cards. This card may be subject to fees and certain restrictions on use. See your cardholder agreement and associated materials for details.

  • RUGGED RIDGE ANNOUNCES NEW SPARTAN SERIES BUMPERS FOR WRANGLER JL

    RUGGED RIDGE ANNOUNCES NEW SPARTAN SERIES BUMPERS FOR WRANGLER JL

    Trend-Setting Off-Road Inspired Bumper Designs Are the Focus of This Budget Friendly Lineup

    Suwanee, Ga. (February 5, 2019) – Rugged Ridge®, a Truck Hero Inc. company and a leading manufacturer of high-quality Jeep®, truck and off-road parts and accessories, today announced the availability of its new Spartan Series of bumpers for 2018-2019 Wrangler JL models.

    The new Spartan Front and Rear Bumpers are engineered to give the new Wrangler JL a rugged off-road appearance while providing high-quality construction in an affordable package.

    Rugged Ridge Spartan Bumpers are assembled using high-strength steel plates featuring fold and weld construction. Then they are finished with a tough satin black powder coat to protect against hazards regardless of where the trails may lead.

    The Rugged Ridge Spartan Bumpers are direct bolt-on replacements for the stock JL bumpers, engineered to provide a uniform fitment and trouble-free installation. They also utilize the original factory fog lights into the design to minimize the expense of a pricey lighting upgrade.

    There are two front bumper variations available to suit a range of tastes, including models with standard ends or muscular high-clearance ends for a more aggressive look. Each bumper can be fitted with an off-road winch using the included winch mounting plate and can be accented with an optional tubular over rider. The Spartan Rear Bumper is compatible with all factory towing equipment.

    Each Rugged Ridge Spartan Bumper utilizes a pair of D-ring mounting plates and includes all necessary installation hardware as well as detailed instructions for the do-it-yourself enthusiast.

    The Spartan Series of bumpers from Rugged Ridge are backed by an industry-leading five-year limited warranty and are available online and through select Jeep® and off-road parts and accessories retailers nationwide.

    For more information about the new Spartan line of front and rear bumpers, or any of Rugged Ridge’s complete line of high-quality Jeep and off-road products, or to find an authorized retailer, please contact Rugged Ridge at 770-714-6101 or visit www.RuggedRidge.com

    ABOUT OMIX-ADA, INC.

    Omix-ADA®, Inc. is the world’s largest independent manufacturer and wholesaler of Jeep®, truck and off-road parts, accessories and floor liners. For two decades, Omix-ADA has designed, tested and manufactured more than 20,000 of the highest quality restoration and replacement parts and accessories. The Omix-ADA family of brands, Rugged Ridge® and Alloy USA®, are distributed throughout the USA and in more than 90 countries worldwide. For more information, please call Omix-ADA, headquartered in Suwanee, GA at 770-614-6101 or visit http://www.omix-ada.com.  

    Omix-ADA is a subsidiary of Truck Hero whose product offering includes: hard and soft truck bed covers, truck caps, bed liners, floor liners, steps, suspension kits, Jeep® parts and off-road accessories. Truck Hero’s industry leading family of brands includes Advantage, A.R.E., BAK, BedRug, Extang, Husky Liners, N-FAB, Omix-ADA, Retrax, Rugged Liner, Rugged Ridge, Superlift, TruXedo, UnderCover and an online retailer, RealTruck. Jeep® is a registered trademark of FCA USA LLC.  

  • NEXEN TIRE USA MAKES FIRST APPEARANCE AT 2019 KING OF THE HAMMERS SPONSORING TRUE NORTH RACING TEAM

    NEXEN TIRE USA MAKES FIRST APPEARANCE AT 2019 KING OF THE HAMMERS SPONSORING TRUE NORTH RACING TEAM

    — True North Racing will be Competing on Nexen’s MTX Premier Off-Road Tires —

    DIAMOND BAR, Calif. (Feb. 4, 2019) – Nexen Tire America, Inc., a worldwide leader in high-performance, passenger, SUV / light truck and winter tire technology, is now taking its Roadian MTX Extreme Off-Road mud-terrain tires to one of the world’s most grueling off-road racing events – the 2019 King of the Hammers in Johnson Valley on Feb. 1 – Feb. 9. Nexen Tire is partnering with True North Racing to showcase how well its leading off-road tires perform under extreme load and demanding environments. King of the Hammers is one of the world’s toughest off-road racing events. The race entails a grueling full-week event that combines rigorous desert racing with positional rock crawling, tackling some of the harshest desert terrain that Southern California is home to.

    True North Racing of Western Canada competes in the 4600 Stock Class with two highly advanced off-road capable Jeep Grand Cherokee builds, as well as the 4800 Legends Class with a custom-fabricated ‘Brinkfab’ off-road vehicle. Nexen Tire has provided its Roadian MTX Extreme Off-Road tires for all three vehicles and will utilize the company’s extremely popular 35×12.5×17-inch and 37×12.5×17-inch off-road tires. The Roadian MTX Extreme Off-Road Tire has quickly made a name for itself as a tier 1 tire choice among off-road enthusiasts since its initial release just over a year ago, which is why established off-road racing teams like True North Racing have selected Nexen Tire as its exclusive tire provider for competitive racing.

    True Racing North will have two highly custom Jeep Grand Cherokee builds and one custom-fabricated off-road vehicle on the scene at this year’s King of the Hammers event:

    • Joey Shilliday – driver of the 2014 King of the Hammers’ winning #4674 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 4600 Stock Class
    • Alex McNeil – driver of the #4675 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 4600 Stock Class
    • Lyndon Sheppard – driver of the Brinkfab Chassis off-road vehicle, 4800 Legends Class

    “We’re excited to finally announce that we will be working with our newest sponsor, Nexen Tire! We have tremendous goals for this year, and Nexen Tire will help solidify those goals and position True Racing North as a top contender during the annual King of the Hammers event,” said Joey Shilliday, driver of the 2014 King of the Hammers’ winning #4674 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee. “More than 90% of competitors who enter this competition do not finish. Teaming up with Nexen Tire means we have a better chance at winning this year, and we plan to capitalize on that thanks to our new Roadian MTX Extreme Off-Road tires.”

    For more information, please contact nexen@godriven360.com or call 310-374-6177.

    About Nexen Tire:

    Inspired by Nexen’s global family of drivers to engineer superior performing tires – from championship-winning Formula DRIFT drivers, rock-climbing off-road enthusiasts to everyday commuters – Nexen Tire utilizes proprietary technology and the highest quality standards in the industry to guarantee world-class products backed by unrivaled customer support for the life of each tire. As a worldwide leader in high-performance, passenger, SUV / light truck and winter offerings, the company is second-to-none in research, development and state-of-the-art manufacturing. And as part of a select group of tire manufacturers worldwide that are specified as standard fitment on original equipment vehicles, Nexen delivers premium products at a sensible price. Find out more about how Nexen has your back at nexentireusa.com – and join us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. #WeGotYou #NexenTire #NexenRacing

  • 4WP Brings Support and Stacked Teams to 2019 King of the Hammers™ Off-Road Race

    4WP Brings Support and Stacked Teams to 2019 King of the Hammers™ Off-Road Race

    4 Wheel Parts, the global leader in off-road performance product sales, is returning to the 2019 Ultra4 King of the Hammers™ for the 10th consecutive year with defending champions in the Ultra4 and UTV classes and title sponsorship of the 4WP Every Man Challenge Race.

    Compton, CA (February 1, 2019) – 4 Wheel Parts (4WP) is proud to announce its participation and official partnership with the toughest one-day off-road race on the planet: King of The Hammers. Dubbed the “Ultimate Desert Race,” the 2019 Nitto King of the Hammers Powered by OPTIMA Batteries combines breakneck racing speeds with extreme rock crawling and will be held February 1-8 in Johnson Valley, California.

    “King Of The Hammers is a truly unique opportunity to spectate and participate in one of the world’s most challenging off-road events,” said Joey DiGiovanni, 4WP Director of Creative Marketing & Partnerships. “This year is especially exciting as we have built up the best roster of 4WP athletes to ever represent us in competition, as well as being the title sponsor the always-exciting Every Man Challenge race.”

    At the beginning of each February, a pop-up city called “Hammertown” rises from the desert as tens of thousands of off-road enthusiasts descend on the area, an off-road shopping market emerges and hundreds of professional teams arrive to vie for qualifying positions. In a little more than a decade the race has evolved from 12 teams racing for bragging rights to more than 300 sponsored teams competing in front of 35,000 fans in person and nearly 500,000 watching online. The UTV Race, the 4WP Every Man Challenge (EMC) and the Toyo Desert Invitational (truck race) all lead up to the Ultra4 Championship Race held on Sunday, February 8. The vehicles in the Ultra4 class reach speeds in excess of 100 MPH and sport gear ratios as low as 100:1 for technical rock crawling, while the drivers’ endurance is tested to beat the grueling 14-hour cutoff time.

    4WP will lead off with their UTV team, featuring Mitch Guthrie Sr., Mitch Guthrie Jr., Sara Price and Craig Scanlon. Guthrie Jr. won the UTV race last year on a Polaris RZR, defeating teammate and father Guthrie Sr., a UTV legend and six-time King of the Hammers UTV champion. Jason Scherer, Raul Gomez, Tom Wayes and Brent Goegebuer will represent 4WP in the signature King of the Hammers Ultra4 race. Scherer is among the most decorated drivers in KOH history, winning in 2009 and 2018 and reaching the podium on three other occasions.

    In 2012, the 4WP Every Man Challenge (EMC) was established in an effort to bring core fans back into the race. King of the Hammers was created by grassroots enthusiasts but the event’s rapid ascent in popularity brought with it formidable professional teams backed by cutting edge technology and hefty bankrolls, leaving many of its original supporters in the dust. The race is a testament to DIYers and diehard fans, who come in droves from around the country with their garage-built rigs and volunteer chase crews to populate Hammertown and seek glory on the podium.

    4 Wheel Parts will once again have a significant retail presence in the Hammertown marketplace as they roll in with their “Showroom on Wheels” and $100,000.00 worth of off-road inventory. In addition to supplying parts and services for racing teams, 4WP representatives will be offering products at substantial discounts to the countless fans in attendance and giving away free Illumicraze phone accessories. Customers who stop by can also find out how to enter to win a brand new Polaris SXS UTV with a retail value of over $18,000.

    “We encourage fans, racers and enthusiasts alike to come visit our massive Showroom on Wheels booth located directly next to the Tribe 16 firepit inside Hammertown,” added DiGiovanni. “They can take advantage of our massive on-site inventory with exclusive KOH specials or pick up some of our newly released 4WP merchandise, such as t-shirts, hoodies, hats and beanies.”