The team's strategy for qualifying was to take it easy, wanting only to qualify in the top 10 starting grid. Team driver Brett Strom turned in a moderately fast 2-minute lap to take fifth place on the grid. The team maintained this steady pace throughout the race, setting a comfortable lap pace of 2:05 to 2:07. To explain his pace, teammate Ralph Warren said, "We are all great night drivers, and we knew we had the car to make up some serious ground if necessary. We knew it would be easier to make up laps at the end of the race after competitors had dropped out through attrition." The team's strategy paid off as they noticed other teams setting faster lap times and as a consequence overworking the engines.

Weather conditions also proved challenging during the race. During the night it drizzled, making one lap dry and the next wet and making passing treacherous. The team continued to run a steady pace despite the rain. "We felt going in that the NT01 would be a great endurance race tire, but we hadn't realized it would also serve as an intermediate rain tire" said Team Engineer Scott Cary. "Many of the teams lost valuable time switching to rain tires and coming in to pit more frequently. Even with the drizzle, the NT01s maintained traction and allowed us to keep a comfortable pace. Used at full tread depth, it's a great combination of grip plus durability - and it can hold its own in the rain." The team finished the race with 615 laps, a full five laps ahead of the second-place finisher.

"We are thrilled by the team's victory and would like to congratulate them on awesome race preparation, execution and driving!" stated John Wu, Staff Engineer at Nitto Tire. "This was Nitto's second stab at the 25 Hour and we are absolutely ecstatic that we were able to win our second try. The fact that the team was able to use the tires in the drizzle and keep racing really proves the versatility of the NT01. We were up against some tough competition but our NT01 proved that you need a combination of speed, versatility, durability and consistency to win."

To commemorate their victory, the team was awarded a life-sized trophy. The trophy will be displayed in the lobby of Nitto's corporate offices alongside a banner signed by the team. Footage of the race will air on the Speed Channel's Redline TV later this month. Visit SpeedTV.com for more details.

Nitto Tire develops performance tires for all uses, including racing, off-road and street. Using state-of-the-art manufacturing and testing facilities in 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 or its products, visit the company's web site or contact the company directly. Nitto and Fueled by Enthusiasts are registered trademarks or trademarks of Nitto Tire North America, Inc., located at 6021 Katella Ave., Ste 250, Cypress, CA 90630.

Contact
Marketing Department
Nitto Tire North America
6021 Katella Ave., Suite 250
Cypress, CA 90630
(714) 252-0007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 7, 2007