Gittin Sideways with Vaughn Sweepstakes
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Have you ever wanted to look like Formula Drift world champion Vaughn Gittin Jr., driver of the Monster Energy / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR? Well your chance has finally come to win some official autographed Vaughn Gittin Jr. merchandise in the Gittin Sideways with Vaughn Sweepstakes. From May 10th – June 10th, fans of Nitto Tire will have the opportunity to enter the sweepstakes with prizes being awarded every Monday. The prizes include official Vaughn Gittin Jr. team t-shirts, Electric Visual Signature VGJR Edition shades images or even an autographed canvas image of the Monster Energy Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR! Race on over to the Nitto Facebook page and enter the Gittin Sideways with Vaughn Sweepstakes today!
SHARE | Nitto Tire Releases New NT421Q CUV and SUV Tire Line
Tuesday, May 07, 2013
Nitto Tire, a leading innovator in high performance tires, announces the launch of the NT421Q, its new all-season UHP tire line for the CUV and SUV replacement tire market. The product is now available in 31 sizes (with three more coming soon) and is designed to offer a versatile product line for dealers to accommodate a variety of popular vehicle fitments.
“The NT421Q is a product created through the fusion of several new technologies,” said Alan Ngo, Senior Staff Engineer of Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc. “We have incorporated technologies traditionally found only in specific weather and performance dedicated tires to create a product that truly thrives in all weather conditions.”
The NT421Q features two advanced siping technologies, each one providing specific performance attributes. The innovative siping designs increase both grip and tread-block rigidity under acceleration, braking and cornering conditions. In addition, the latest tread compound incorporating new high-grip polymer, wear-oriented polymer and increased silica delivers enhanced safety performance as well as longevity. The NT421Q is backed by a class-leading mileage warranty of 75,000 miles for H and V speed-rated sizes and 60,000 miles for W speed-rated sizes. To further assist the consumer in getting the most tread life out of their tires, the NT421Q also comes equipped with Intelligent Maintenance Indicators™ that provide an early alert for irregular wear and potential issues with the vehicle’s suspension alignment. UTQG ratings for the NT421Q are 640 A A for H and V speed-rated sizes and 560 A A for W speed-rated sizes.
For more information on the new Nitto NT421Q, visit www.nittotire.com/Tire/NT421Q.
Nitto Tire Teams with Los Angeles Angels for Fourth Year of Highly Successful Co-Branded Fan Giveaway
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Nitto Tire, a leading innovator in high performance tires, has partnered with the Los Angeles Angels for the fourth straight year to give away uniquely designed drawstring backpacks as a continuation of the two organizations’ very successful co-branding partnership. Nitto will be conducting the giveaway at two Saturday afternoon home games: April 20 at 12:05 p.m. against the Detroit Tigers and June 15 at 4:15 p.m. against the New York Yankees.
Based on the high quality and popularity of its designer backpacks, Nitto is the only sponsor allowed by the Angels to produce its own giveaway product. Angel fans have responded resoundingly. Giveaways from previous years have been spotted in use by everyone from sunbathers at the beach to motorcyclists on the freeways of Southern California.
“Both Nitto and the Angels share a progressive approach to inspiring a passionate base of loyal fans and enthusiasts,” said Angels Chairman Dennis Kuhl. “Our co-branding partnership perfectly aligns two premium brands who share both quality and performance.”
With the broad demographic audience attracted to Angels games through stars like Albert Pujois, Mike Trout and Josh Hamilton, both organizations have also pursued innovative ways to build their fan communities via social media. With Nitto now reaching over 3.4-million fans on Facebook and the Angels ranked as one of the fastest growing teams on social media in Major League Baseball, the partnership allows each to use the latest technology to interact with fans. Additionally, Nitto will be offering fans a free download for two of their award-winning iPhone apps.
This is the fourth year that Nitto has provided a high-quality, custom giveaway item for Angel fans and the third for the popular drawstring backpacks. The backpacks are designed by Kyoko Mizutani, wife of Nitto Tire U.S.A. President Tomo Mizutani. In addition to the brand awareness achieved with the backpack giveaway, Nitto will also have exposure to an average attendance of nearly 40,000 on the home plate rotational banner, Great Plays/Bloopers and LED Halo e-billboard during those games.
“We have been diehard Angel fans for 20 years, and we treasure our large collection of Angels memorabilia,” said Kyoko Mizutani. “Designing a fun and attractive accessory for the fans has been a wonderful way to express our appreciation to the team and build a relationship with the fan base.”
Promotional giveaways are part of Nitto Tire’s ongoing support for Angel fans, the community and the local team. With an exceptionally loyal fan base, the team has won eight American League Division Championships, hosted the MLB All-Star Game three times and captured the World Series Championship in 2002.
Nitto Tire Announces 2013 Formula Drift Team
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Nitto Tire, a leading innovator in high performance tires, has announced its sponsorship of three top-notch competitors for the 2013 Formula Drift racing season. All three will be taking to the track on Nitto NT05 competition radials, a max performance tire that provides precise and responsive handling. Matt Powers will be in his third season as a Nitto-sponsored driver, while Chelsea DeNofa and Vaughn Gittin Jr. are beginning their first full season with the team. Round 1 of the 2013 Formula Drift season is set to take place April 12-13 on the Streets on Long Beach. .
Recognized as North America's professional drifting championship series, Formula Drift attracts fans and car enthusiasts from all walks of life. This high-skilled, high-powered motorsport demands that drivers maneuver their cars into well executed, controlled sideways slides at high speeds through a marked course. Judged on execution and style, rather than finishing time, drifting is a crowd pleaser and often compared to the freestyle nature of skateboarding and motocross.
Here are the details on each of Nitto’s 2013 Formula Drift drivers:
Vaughn Gittin Jr.
• Vehicle: Monster Energy / Nitto Tire Ford Racing RTR Mustang
• Entry: #25
• Residence: Baltimore, MD
• Team: Monster Energy / Nitto Tire / Ford Racing
• Career Rankings: 2012 – 2nd, 2011 – 11th, 2010 – 1st
Gittin has become one of drifting's most iconic figures and his vehicle is one of the sport's most identifiable. He is known for an aggressive, foot to the floor, big smoke driving style. In 2010, he earned his first Formula Drift Championship, becoming the second-ever champion with a strictly drifting background. Also in 2010, Gittin launched his brand for a new generation of Mustang with the RTR, a dealer-installed package for the 2011 Ford Mustang GT V8 available at select Ford dealerships. Overall, he has achieved three wins and multiple podiums throughout his Formula Drift career. He has traveled to China to compete in WDS (World Drift Series) and winning the championship in the process. In 2011, he was a featured driver for Ford’s "Octane Academy." This is the first season for Gittin as a Nitto-sponsored competitor.
Matt Powers
• Vehicle: Nitto Tire / Fatlace Nissan s14
• Entry: #665
• Residence: Pacific Beach, CA
• Team: Deal With It
• Career Rankings: 2012 – 10th, 2011 – 6th, 2010 – 16th
A guy who likes to race “because it’s fun,” Powers also takes to similar endeavors like surfing and biking.
When he’s home in SoCal, he prefers to take his practice circuits at Willow Springs Raceway north of Los Angeles. Some of his career highlights include: 2011, The Final Countdown, 6th place overall, 2 podiums, 1 first-place qualifier, Hardest Charging Driver, Best Style, Most Improved Driver; In December of 2012, Powers took home the 2012 Red Bull Drifters championship. Underpinning his success, Powers credits “all my sponsors, friends and family who believe in me and have my back, which is awesome.” This is the third season for Powers in the Need for Speed Nitto Tire Nissan S14.
Chelsea DeNofa
• Vehicle: BC Racing / Nitto Tire BMW E46
• Entry: #88
• Residence: Orlando, FL
• Team: Chelsea DeNofa Motorsports / BC Racing
• Career Rankings: 2012 – 17th,
DeNofa has had his hands in several forms of automobile racing, with an array of driving techniques that have set him apart in drifting, club racing and stunt driving. His drifting career began at age 15 when mother drove his car to his first major drift event in Miami. Schooling in road racing and stunt driving soon followed. After earning his SCCA Pro racing license, he began competing in several series. When his focus turned to the exploding sport of drifting, he quickly made a name for himself at nearly every event on the East Coast and the majority of pro events throughout the states. DeNofa was granted back-to-back NOPI and D1 Professional Drift licenses and seen in several TV shows and magazines. In 2010 and 2011, he won back-to-back XDC championships in his BMW M3 and entered Formula Drift competition in mid-2012 in the BC Racing / Nitto Tire Mazda RX8 R3.
Scherer Dominates at ULTRA4 MetalCloak Nor Cal Stampede
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
More than 2,000 fans attended the inaugural ULTRA4 MetalCloak Nor Cal Stampede held at the Prairie City State Park near Sacramento, CA last weekend. Over the course of two days and multiple heats, 48 ULTRA4 cars waged battle on a brutal two mile course that left only 29 vehicles running by the final two races. Drivers pushed their cars to the limit in this first race of the 2013 ULTRA4 Trail Gear Western Regional series in pursuit of both a podium finish and a chance to qualify for the 2014 Griffin King of The Hammers Presented by Nitto Tire. Ultimately, two former Kings and the son of a King claimed the podium. 2009 King of The Hammers champion, Jason Scherer took the checkered flag followed closely by 2010 King, Loren Healy, and third place went to the youngest King of the Hammers competitor to date, 17 year old Wayland Campbell, the son of the only two-time King, Shannon Campbell.
Drivers had three chances to earn a spot in the 21 car finale. On Friday, the top four drivers from four heats earned the first 16 spots for Saturday’s main event. The remaining 32 drivers each had two chances to claim one of the five remaining spots in the finals. Of the 5 drivers who qualified on Saturday two had major repairs to fix in the few hours between qualifying and the finals. Fifth place finisher Jason Blanton changed a ring and pinion while Grass Valley native, Kevin Yoder, started the final with only 3-wheel drive as he did not have enough time to replace a broken axle before the finals.
Once the green flag dropped, Scherer’s Rubicon Express 76 car made fast work of taking the lead followed closely by fellow Nitto Tire Team member Loren Healy in his 67 ATX car. Scherer and Healy ran 1st and 2nd most of the race as Wayland Campbell steadily moved his way up from an early 5th place position into 3rd place. 4th and 5th place finishers, Kevin Sacalas and Jason Blanton respectively, fought their way to the front from positions 18th and 20th to round out the top five in Saturday’s main event. Six of the top 10 drivers earned qualifying spots in the 2014 Griffin King of The Hammers Presented by Nitto Tire as only four had already qualified. Below is a results list including those that qualified.
In addition to the ULTRA4 class, two Rubicon Express Modified cars raced side by side with the ULTRA4s while six Pro Comp Stock Cars competed in both a qualifying and a final race on the same course as the ULTRA4s. Wayne Hartwig was declared the Modified winner. In the Pro Comp Stock Class, Richard Gauthier, Kevin Adler and Bret Scheiding took first, second and third respectively. .
The next race in the 2013 ULTRA4 Trail Gear Western Regional series will be taking place at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, CA May 24th and 25th, and the first race in the ULTRA4 4WD Hardware Eastern Regional Series will take place this weekend in Rausch Creek, PA. Live coverage will be available for both races at www.ultra4racing.com/live
