Cypress, Calif. – April 4, 2008 – Nitto Tire announces its sponsorship agreement with Adrian Cenni and Mark Porter of Cenni/Porter Motorsports for the 2008 and 2009 Championship Off-Road Racing (CORR) seasons. The newly merged team will campaign their Nitto Navy Seals Pro 4 and Nitto Navy Seals Pro 2 trucks in CORR. Both vehicles will be outfitted with Nitto’s competition-spec Mud Grappler™ Extreme Terrain tire.
Adrian Cenni will drive both vehicles. He began racing in the CORR series in 1999, after stepping up from the Barber Dodge car racing series. Nicknamed “The Wildman” for his fast driving and crowd-pleasing driving style, Cenni has consistently lived up to his namesake. He set the fastest qualifying lap six times during the 2007 season, including winning the Borg Warner Time Trials. He led the majority of his Pro 4 races, and took the podium six times. Cenni joined forces with team manager Mark Porter for 2008. Porter brings over 20 years racing and management experience that includes a championship in the Best in the Desert’s (BITD) coveted trophy truck class and a stint in Pro 2 his rookie year in CORR.
“We’re really looking forward to this partnership,” said Nitto’s marketing representative, Tim Coltey. “Adrian has a proven track record, and we are confident that we have the right combination of talent and performance parts to get us to the top of the podium.”
By partnering with Cenni/Porter Motorsports, Nitto will further test and develop the company’s competition-spec Mud Grappler Extreme Terrain radial. CORR regulations require both its Pro 2 and Pro 4 divisions to be equipped a maximum 35” overall diameter tire. The team will use one of the largest tire sizes allowed, a 35x12.50R17. The competition-spec Mud Grappler has a specialized racing compound that helps to resist punctures and withstand the extreme conditions found on the off-road tracks. Nitto offers a commercial version of the Mud Grappler, which is available in retail stores.
The Cenni/Porter team is also excited about the partnership. After a recent tire test, Cenni stated: “Our whole team feels confident that we will immediately be competitive on the Nitto tire. The first time we tested the tire, it put smiles on our faces as it performed well above our expectations and really shined in the corners.”
Nitto® plans to launch a national web campaign that includes videos of the team practicing and competing to support the team. Look for Nitto Tire and the Cenni/Porter Motorsports team at all of the 2008 and 2009 CORR events, beginning on April 26-27, 2008 at the Fairplex in Pomona, Calif. The event will be aired live on the Speed channel April 26, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. PST and 3:30 p.m. EST. Visit CORRacing.com for more series information.
Nitto Tire develops performance tires for all uses, including racing, off-road and street. Using state-of-the-art manufacturing and testing facilities in both Japan and the United States, the company strives to provide innovative and high-quality performance tires for the most demanding enthusiasts. For more information about Nitto Tire or its products, visit NittoTire.com or contact the company directly. Nitto and Fueled by Enthusiasts are registered trademarks or trademarks of Nitto Tire U.S.A., Inc., located at 6021 Katella Ave., Ste 250, Cypress, CA 90630.
