Continuing its longstanding involvement in off-road racing, Yokohama Tire announced it has joined the newly formed American Off-Road Racing Championship (AORC) as a supporting sponsor. AORC unites two prominent desert racing sanctioning bodies, Unlimited Off-Road Racing (UNLTD) and Best in the Desert (BITD), into a single five-race points championship, company officials stated in a press release. The season kicks off Jan. 14 at the Parker 400 in Arizona.
With championship titles as the ultimate goal, Team Yokohama says that it is well represented across multiple classes. Isenhouer Brothers Racing and Dave Mason Jr. will continue to showcase the GEOLANDAR MT-R in Unlimited Truck Spec and Unlimited Truck (2WD) classes, respectively.
Additionally, Josh Row, Michael McFayden and Mitchell Alsup will take on the Pro Open UTV class on GEOLANDAR SD and GEOLANDAR M/T G003 SXS tires. The storied Mint 400 in Las Vegas will see other Team Yokohama members, like The Warrior Built Foundation and Josh and Martin Barkey of MBRP, try their hand at the toughest terrain in the U.S.
Proving Ground for Developing Tire Technology
Yokohama’s participation in off-road racing dates back to the early 1980s and the introduction of its Super Digger tire. 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, the company said.
“Racing is the ultimate proving ground for our tires,” said Candace Cogan, Yokohama’s director of product marketing. “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.”
“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.”
American Off-Road Racing Championship 2026 Schedule:
- Jan. 14-18, Parker 400, Parker, Arizona
- March 4-8, Mint 400, Primm, Nevada
- April 22-26, Silver State 300, Tonopah, Nevada
- July 23-26, Vegas to Reno Legends Rally, Las Vegas
- Aug. 13-16, Vegas To Reno, Las Vegas
- Oct. 15-19, Laughlin Desert Classic, Laughlin, Nevada
Yokohama Tire’s Motorsports Partnerships
Beside the American Off-Road Championships, Yokohama’s extensive list of 2026 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 and the Championship Off-Road Series.