Posted on November 16, 2009

BFGoodrich Tires Preps for 23rd SCORE Baja 1000 Victory in 24 Years

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BFGoodrich® Tires is preparing for its 23rd victory in 24 attempts at the granddaddy of off-road races, the SCORe Baja 1000. The 42nd running of the most well known of all desert races will begin on Friday, November 20, and end on Saturday, November 21, in ensenada, Mexico. More than 325 racers will attempt to master the rugged terrain and dethrone last year's Baja 1000 champions and BFGoodrich Tires' drivers, Roger Norman and Larry Roeseler, by taking home the overall title.

"BFGoodrich has raced the SCORe Baja 1000 for 34 years in order to prove the extreme capability of our tires," said Roberts Kukainis, Motorsports Manager, BFGoodrich Tires. "The Baja T/A® tire may grab the headlines, but a majority of our wins come from racers who compete with tires that are available off-the-shelf. That off-road BFGoodrich tire on your truck has won the SCORe Baja 1000. That's proven, extreme capability in tires recognized by the people that choose our tires because they're proven winners in extreme conditions."

each year, BFGoodrich teams compete on a variety of tires, including the BFGoodrich® All-Terrain T/A® KO tire, BFGoodrich® Baja T/A® tire and BFGoodrich® Baja T/A®KR tire. During recent years, teams driving on BFGoodrich® Baja T/A® tires have been near perfect in the Baja 1000. In 2008, BFGoodrich Tires took victories in 12 of the competing classes, including the overall title by Roger Norman and Larry Roeseler, in a Trophy-Truck. BFGoodrich Tires also supported the entire Baja Challenge Class with Mud-Terrain T/A®KM2 tires.

"Ask any driver who was down in Baja last year (2008) and they will tell you that, while not the longest course in race history, the 631-mile loop course was as demanding on the racers, equipment and tires as ever before," said Frank DeAngelo, off-road motorsports manager for BFGoodrich Tires. "This year's course is set up similarly to last year's, but they've added an extra 40 miles to the course for good measure."

BFGoodrich Tires will be lending pit and communications support to teams through its fleet of off-road motorsports vehicles. This immense undertaking involves more than 250 off-road enthusiasts and volunteers each year who are passionate about BFGoodrich and donate their time to help make the race an overwhelming success.

"We've been waiting to put our BFGoodrich Baja T/AKR and Mud-Terrain T/AKM2 tires to the test on this treacherous course since the end of last year's race," added DeAngelo. "each Baja victory is sweet in its own shape or form and we hope to taste number 23."

BFGoodrich driver Rod Hall knows what it's like to taste victory in Baja. Hall is the only racer to have driven in all 41 SCORe Baja 1000 races and will be competing again this year hoping to capture his 20th victory at the 2009 SCORe Baja 1000. Hall is currently the all-time leader with 19 class wins.

Those unable to witness the 42nd SCORe Baja 1000 firsthand, International Racing Consultants (IRC)/Tracking International (TI) and BFGoodrich Tires have partnered to provide an online experience. Beginning at 9 a.m. eT on Friday, November 20, fans can log on to www.bfgoodrichtires.com and connect to a portal to follow their favorite drivers as they conquer the grueling racecourse. The site will feature a live tracking page that will show the location of all vehicles equipped with IRC tracking systems. The information on each vehicle will update at two-minute intervals throughout the race.

This year's 672.85-mile race, to be held November 19-22 in Mexico, will start for the 35th time and finish for the 20th time in ensenada, Mexico, while extending over a rugged course on both sides of the Baja peninsula. The motorcycle and ATV classes will start their journey at 6:30 a.m. (PT, Friday, Nov. 20) with the car and truck classes starting at approximately 10:30 a.m., or three hours after the last ATV leaves the line. Vehicles will leave in 30-second intervals in the elapsed-time race and while the fastest finishers are expected to complete the course in approximately 14 hours, all vehicles will have a 31-hour time limit to become official finishers in the legendary adventure.

More than 325 entries from 13 countries and 38 U.S. states are expected to compete in 29 pro and six sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs in this year's SCORe Baja 1000. It is the oldest and most well known of all desert races, and it remains as the single most appealing accomplishment to a driver. Since 1967, the mother of all desert races has been run over the mysterious Baja California peninsula every year except 1974, when the international fuel crisis forced a cancellation.

This year's Tecate SCORe Baja 1000 desert race will be televised on a delayed basis as a one-hour NBC Sports special for the sixth consecutive year, scheduled to air at 2 p.m. (eST) on Sunday, December 19 on the NBC Television Network. It will also air on a delayed basis outside of the U.S. on eSPN International.

During the past 23 years, winners riding on BFGoodrich tires have included:

 

1986 Mark McMillin/Ralph Paxton Chenowth Porsche
1987 Bob Gordon/Malcolm Smith Chenowth Porsche
1988 Mark McMillin Chenowth Porsche
1989 Robby Gordon Ford Pickup
1990 Bob Gordon/Robyn Gordon Chenowth Chevy
1991 Larry Ragland Chevy Pickup
1992 Paul Simon/Dave Simon Ford Ranger
1993 Ivan Stewart Toyota SR5
1994 Jim Smith Ford Pickup
1995 Larry Ragland Chevy Pickup
1996 Larry Ragland Chevy Pickup
1997 Larry Ragland Chevy Pickup
1998 Ivan Stewart Toyota Tundra
1999 Larry Ragland Chevy Pickup
2000 Dan Smith/Dave Ashley Ford Pickup
2001 Doug Fortin/Charlie Townsley, Jr. Jimco Chevy
2002 Dan Smith/Dave Ashley Ford Pickup
2003 Doug Fortin/Charlie Townsley, Jr. Jimco Chevy
2004 Troy Herbst/Larry Roeseler Smith Built Ford
2005 Troy Herbst/Larry Roeseler Smith Built Ford
2007 Mark Post/Rob MacCachren/Carl Renezeder Ford F-150
2008 Roger Norman/Larry Roeseler Ford F-150

 

About BFGoodrich

BFGoodrich Tires is dedicated to providing high performance tires for those who have a passion for driving in virtually any environment. Combining technical expertise with 50 years of motorsports experience, BFGoodrich delivers tires for a full range of driving experiences from ultra-high performance street to off-road terrain with one common theme – extreme performance. Come upgrade your performance with BFGoodrich and see where our tires can take you at BFGoodrichTires.com, BFGoodrichRacing.com, as well as on Facebook and Instagram at @BFGoodrichTires and TikTok at @BFGoodrich.

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Category: Car & Light Truck