Yokohama Tire’s highly competitive off-road team just got better: the tiremaker announced it has added Isenhouer Brothers Racing to the mix. They will join veteran Team Yokohama members, including Wayne and Kristen Matlock, Levi Shirley, Apdaly Lopez, and Jonathan and Jordan Brenthel at the annual King of the Hammers (KOH) race. Yokohama’s off-road team will compete in several categories on various rugged GEOLANDAR off-road tires.
“Nick and Chris Isenhouer are an incredible addition to the team,” said Andrew Briggs, Yokohama VP of Marketing & Product Management. “They not bring not only an extraordinary off-road racing skill set, which definitely will give the team a competitive edge, but a deep understanding of marketing, content creation and the off-road culture. We can’t wait to see what they can do with our tough, durable GEOLANDAR tires both on and off the racecourse.”
“We are super excited to join the Yokohama team and to be working with a manufacturer that has such a rich history in motorsport tire technology centered around racing,” said Nick Isenhouer. “Working with a team of people that have the same passion and drive to win as my brother and I do is a refreshing and motivating feeling. We are grateful for Yokohama bringing us aboard this year!”
The Isenhouer Brothers will compete in the Spec TT class while veteran Levi Shirley heads up the 4400 class. Both will be on purpose-built GEOLANDAR MT-R 40X13.50R18 tires.
“We are pumped to put these new 40-inch GEOLANDARs to the test, not only on the racetrack but also get out there in the rocks and to do some 4×4 adventuring this year,” Isenhouer said. “Working with a team that offers such a versatile tire is extremely exciting! We have a fun season planned with a solid mix of off-road races, 4×4 adventures and even some drift stuff. Luckily for us Yokohama has something for all of that!”
Added Levi Shirley: “The thing about King of the Hammers is that you need to have a well-rounded tire: we’re doing everything from desert racing to sand climbs to extreme rock climbs. Combine that with doing it as fast as you possibly can. We have to have the best tire available on the market. I’m proud to be running the Yokohama GEOLANDAR tire for the King of the Hammers 2024 Race of Kings and am confident in this tire’s capabilities.”
Other Yokohama team drivers include Jonathan Brenthel in the TT class; Jordan Brenthel and Apdaly Lopez, Spec TT; and Bailey Cole, 4600/4400. All will race on the MT-R tires.
Also competing will be Kyle Chaney, Desert UTV; Wayne Matlock, Desert UTV; and Kristen Matlock Desert UTV. They will all be riding on GEOLANDAR SD tires in a new size: 35X11.50-15. Over the course of the event, Yokohama will support more than 25 drivers at KOH and participate in all six of the four-wheel races.
Also, Yokohama and partner Warrior Built Foundation are again co-funding combat veteran Jay Schwab in the KOH Everyman Challenge 4800 Legends Class. Schwab will once again compete on GEOLANDAR MTs. Yokohama and Warrior Built will also be hosting a group of combat veterans onsite at the race and will outfit one vet’s vehicle with a new set of wheels and GEOLANDAR X-AT tires.
KOH, which is the season opener for the Ultra4 National Series racing tour, combines desert racing and rock crawling, and is considered the one of the most challenging off-road races in the world. For details on KOH, visit KOH’s website.
Besides King of the Hammers, Yokohama’s extensive list of 2024 North American-based motorsports activities – both on- and off-road – includes Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama, Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama, Porsche Carrera Cup North America, Pikes Peak GT4 Trophy by Yokohama, Nitrocross, SCORE, Yokohama NORRA Mexican 1000, Crandon International Raceway sponsorship, Ultra4 USA, Brenthel Industries partnership, TrophyLite Series and the Championship Off-Road Series partnership.
