SANTA ANA, CA. – (Apr. 25, 2019) – The 35th running of One Lap of America will feature the Travis vs. Bilko show, courtesy of Yokohama Tire and Subaru of America. Yokohama is sponsoring the two drivers in the contest, which runs May 4-11, and Subaru Motorsports USA will provide a pair of WRX STI Type RA vehicles for a head-to-head showdown.
Nitro Circus ringleader Travis Pastrana and fellow Nitro Circus member Blake “Bilko” Williams, both Team Yokohama members and the winners of last year’s Stock Touring division in a Subaru WRX STI, are back again…with a twist. This time, instead of being teammates, Pastrana and Williams are taking each other on in the eight-day, 3,379-mile race.
“Travis and Bilko are both super competitors so I’m sure they’ll put on a show in this classic race,” said Fardad Niknam, Yokohama’s senior director of consumer product planning and product marketing. “They’ll be on the new ADVAN A052 tires for One Lap 2019, so it’ll be interesting to see who comes out on top.”
“The WRX STI Type RA was designed to be track-ready without sacrificing comfort for the street,” said William Stokes, motorsports manager for Subaru of America. “With One Lap demanding both serious track performance and long-distance highway driving, Travis and Bilko will definitely be putting their cars to the test.”
“Last year’s One Lap event was a blast,” Pastrana said. “Bilko and I got a chance to experience the event and push the Subaru WRX STI and Yokohama tires to the limits. We decided at the end of last year’s event that we had to do it again…but on different teams! This year is going to be even better.”
Pastrana is ready. His co-driver this time is author and former Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell. “I’m going with the ‘Lone Survivor,’” he said. “He’s mentally tough and has experience behind the wheel.”
Williams is going with his friend, Nitro Circus athlete and X Games gold medalist, Josh “Sheeny” Sheehan. “Last year was such an awesome time,” said Williams. “I had a blast battling with the competition and also the on-going rivalry with Travis. I can’t thank Yokohama, Nitro Circus and Subaru Motorsports USA enough for the support, and the crew from One Lap for putting on such a rad event!”
Pastrana and Williams’ exploits will be posted at www.instagram.com/yokohamatire.
One Lap of America started in the early 1970s when auto journalist Brock Yates created the now infamous Cannonball Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash – a flat out, no-holds-barred race from New York City to Redondo Beach, California. In 1992, Yates configured the Cannonball One Lap of America into the format it uses today: nearly 24 hours a day of driving with competitions taking place as time trials on race tracks throughout the country.
For details on One Lap of America, visit http://www.onelapofamerica.com/.
In addition to One Lap of America, the ongoing partnership between Yokohama Tire and Subaru of America includes support of Subaru Motorsports USA in American Rally Association competition. Following the conclusion of One Lap, Travis Pastrana will return to his WRX STI rally car – also wearing Yokohama tires – for the first time in 2019 at the upcoming Oregon Trail Rally.
About Yokohama Tire Corporation
Celebrating its 50th year in the U.S., Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global manufacturing and sales company of premium tires since 1917. Servicing an extensive sales network throughout the U.S., Yokohama Tire Corporation is a leader in technology and innovation. The company’s complete product line includes tires for high-performance, light truck, passenger car, commercial truck and bus, and off-the-road mining and construction applications. For more information on Yokohama’s broad product line, visit www.yokohamatire.com, www.yokohamatruck.com or www.yokohamaotr.com.
Connect with Yokohama Tire Corporation:
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www.youtube.com/user/yokohamamotorsports
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Yokohama is a strong supporter of the tire care and safety guidelines established by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association and the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration. Details can be found at the “Tire Care & Safety” section at www.yokohamatire.com.
About Subaru Motors bout Subaru Motorsports USA
Subaru Motorsports USA is managed by Vermont SportsCar and proudly supported by Subaru of America, Inc., Yokohama Tires, Method Race Wheels, DirtFish Rally School, and KÜHL. Follow the team online at www.subaru.com/rally.
Follow Subaru Motorsports USA on Facebook, on Instagram @subarumotorsportsusa, and on Twitter @subarums_usa.
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