OPENING WEEKEND OF OFF-ROAD SEASON FINDS HANKOOK IN PRIME SHAPE

Fans and racers from all parts of the United States and Canada came to the .8 mile grueling off-road track at the Steele County Fairgrounds in southeastern Minnesota to witness some of the best rough and tumble off-road racing in the nation.

In Round One, O’Donnell in his No.23 Nissan Frontier, co-sponsored by Hankook Tire, lead the pack for the majority of the race, but due to some minor mechanical problems, began to fall back. Nevertheless, O’Donnell ultimately finished in third place, giving Hankook it’s first podium finish of the day.

Afterwards, O’Donnell commented, “Following practice I was pretty excited how well the Hankook Tires hooked up with the race surface. I was fairly confident that we would have a solid finish if we could come out of the first turn clean. The Hankook tires allowed me to accomplish just that and make it to the podium.”

Not to be outdone by his teammate, Frederico grabbed the early lead in round two. On lap five, his Tacoma experienced an intermittent power steering problem, slightly slowing his race pace. However, the drop of the checkered flag found the No. 24 truck at a hard fought second place. “Two solid finishes for our team this weekend is a great way to start the season,” said Frederico. “I couldn’t be happier.”

Despite the two big wins, the day wasn’t without its serious moments. In the second round, O’Donnell was forced to drop out early after failing to clear the infield triple jump, causing his Nissan Frontier to flip dramatically end over end. The damage to the truck was terminal, but fortunately O’Donnell walked away without serious injury.

“It was a scary moment, but thankfully everything ended up OK,” said O’Donnell. “I’m glad that I did well the first round, it made the bruises from the second hurt a little less!”

All three Sticker Dude Motorsport vehicles compete on Hankook Dynapro MT tires. The Dynapro MT RT03 is a rugged tire designed for "true off-road drivers." The "V" shaped tread blocks are tapered for better grip in mud, sand, or snow. There are "ejectors" built into the tread grooves to prevent stones from penetrating the wall of the tire. Specifically designed shoulders keep dirt from building up and to help prevent damage from impacts.

About Hankook Tire America Corp.
Headquartered in Wayne, N.J., Hankook Tire America Corp. is a technology-focused, market-driven company that supports motorsports enthusiasts and racers at all levels. Hankook is known and respected around the world for its superior competition tires that outlast the toughest opposition. As Hankook expands its motorsports activities, the focus will remain on technology that will keep Hankook-equipped vehicles in the winners circle. Hankook is one of the largest tire manufacturers in the world, manufacturing a wide range of tires for almost any vehicle.

For more information please visit Hankook Tires on the web at www.hankooktireusa.com.