LOS ANGELES – StopTech has begun providing brakes for a handful of professional off-road racing teams.

The StopTech program has already attracted the attention of motocross and racing legend Jeff Ward, who competes off-road on StopTech brakes. This year, the seasoned and successful racecar driver took his skills off-road and, with his co-drivers, won the Baja Challenge at the Baja 1000, which is a grueling race across the unforgiving terrain of the Baja Peninsula in Mexico.

The concept of an off-road program from StopTech, the ultra-performance division of Centric Parts, was first conceived by company CEO Dino Crescentini in 2008.

StopTech’s off-road brake kits have been custom designed for each specific team application but are based on StopTech’s winning Trophy Big Brake Kit technology, with additional features added for off-road use. According to StopTech, the lightweight, yet stiff, Trophy-style racing calipers have an internal crossover to move brake fluid from the inboard to the outboard side of the caliper, rather than the external tube used in the street and on-road racing calipers. The internal crossover is not vulnerable to damage in off-road racing environments. In addition, extra material around the brake line inlet protects the hose and fittings, the company says.
 
StopTech’s patented AeroRotors are paired with AeroHats where applicable for better cooling, plus the kits include StopTech stainless steel brake lines. The result is improved brake modulation, firmer pedal feel and less brake fade resulting in stronger, more reliable and stable performance in the unique conditions experienced by both vehicle and driver in off-road racing situations.

StopTech’s Street Performance Brake Pads when combined with the StopTech brake system have been used in the Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing series.
 
The Speed Technologies off road racing team was the first to jump on board the StopTech off road program. The team has fielded several trucks in the 2010 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Unlimited classes. All three team drivers in the Unlimited 2 class have competed with a StopTech off road brake system, and the parts have recently been installed on the team’s latest addition, an Unlimited 4 truck driven by team principal John Harrah.