BFGoodrich® Tires Sets Sights on 70th Overall Four-Wheel Win at 43rd Annual SCORE Baja 1000

| November 15, 2010 | 0 Comments

BFGoodrich^® Tires commemorates 35 years of winning grip and toughness with SCORE International in Baja racing, takes on desert with special TeamBFG effort, pit support and more –

ENSENADA, MEXICO (Nov. 15, 2010) – What began in 1976 as a test of ultimate toughness for BFGoodrich^® Tires has become a testament of performance for the tire manufacturer. Celebrating its 35^th anniversary of desert racing with SCORE International in 2010, BFGoodrich Tires has established a reign in Baja that is indisputably unmatched, winning the overall four-wheel title 69 times and the overall Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 title 23 of the past 24 years, including a stretch of 20 consecutive victories.

“We’d like to congratulate each and every team that has proven the toughness of BFGoodrich tires by conquering one of SCORE International’s brutal desert races,” said Tom Jupena, Marketing Communications Manager, BFGoodrich Tires. “Whether it was on a BFGoodrich tire that can be purchased off-the-shelf or one of our specially designed race tires, they’re all a huge part of the success we’ve had in Baja and we thank them for their extraordinary efforts.”

When they take on the challenging desert race course, BFGoodrich teams compete on a variety of tires, including the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A^®KO tire, BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A^®KM2 tire, BFGoodrich Baja T/A^® tire and BFGoodrich Baja T/A^®^KRtire. In 2009, drivers who chose BFGoodrich tires earned victories in eight competing classes, as well as eight of the top 10 overall four-wheel spots, including the overall title by Andy McMillin and Scott McMillin in a SCORE Trophy-Truck. BFGoodrich Tires also support the entire Baja Challenge Class with Mud-Terrain T/A^KM2tires.

“To take home our 70^thoverall four-wheel title during our 35^th anniversary of competing with SCORE would be an incredible ending to an amazing year of desert racing,” added Jupena.

“What to Watch” at the 43^rd Annual SCORE Baja 1000

Chad Gilsinger, T3-class Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) National Runoffs champion; Jason Scherer, 2008 King of the Hammers champion; Casey Currie, 2010 TORC Pro Lite champion; Lars Wolfe, rally racer; Kyle Tucker, custom car designer; and Bud Brutsman, Hollywood producer, join forces courtesy of BFGoodrich Tires to race in the Baja Challenge class (BC5).

The 43^rd annual SCORE Baja 1000 will be the deciding factor of the SCORE Trophy-Truck championship. Six points separate Andy McMillin and Jesse Jones in the SCORE Trophy-Truck standings – McMillin currently has 321 championship points while Jones has 316. Both Jones and McMillin rely solely on BFGoodrich tires to assist them in their championship quest.

Rod Hall will be racing in the SCORE Trophy-Truck for the first time in his 42 years of Baja racing. Hall has 21 class wins at the SCORE Baja 1000 and is the only person in the history of the event to have raced all 42 years since the race began in 1967.

BFGoodrich Tires Pit and Communications Support Continues for the 2010 SCORE Baja 1000

BFGoodrich Tires’ commitment to the growth of SCORE International and off-road racing does not end with its sponsorship extension or product support for numerous competitors in several classes. For the 2010 event, BFGoodrich Tires will dedicate seven full service tractor-trailers and nearly 180 volunteer and active personnel at pit areas located along the racecourse to support more than 60 percent of the field who competed on BFGoodrich Tires. From the start of the race until finish line, BFGoodrich Tires sets the standard for onsite pit and event support with the most extensive network available, including pit areas staffed with volunteers consisting of emergency medical technicians (EMTs), race mechanics, welders, fabricators and communications specialists, services which have been provided since 1981.

BFGoodrich Tires’ support network also includes organization and mobilization of all parts, tires (as many as 14 per vehicle), fuel and equipment for all teams using BFGoodrich Tires. Last but certainly not least, BFGoodrich Tires’ pit support network includes satellite communications, mountain top relay stations and coordinates race communications for any teams running BFGoodrich tires, including on-course vehicle tracking and overall position tracking for every participant, regardless of tire choice.

Track the Race with BFGoodrich Tires Online

For those unable to witness the 43^rd SCORE Baja 1000 firsthand, a number of websites will be available allowing fans to follow along throughout the entire race. Beginning at 9 a.m.ET on Thursday, November 18, fans can log onto www.bfgoodrichtires.com and connect to a portal that will host a plethora of SCORE Baja 1000 information including live video courtesy of www.baja1k.com and tracking courtesy of www.racetheworld.net. BFGoodrich Tires’ Facebook page www.facebook.com/bfgoodrichtires and its newly launched off-road racing Twitter account www.twitter.com/BFGintheDirt will also have plenty of photos, videos and race information throughout race week.

43^rd Annual SCORE Baja 1000 Information and BFGoodrich Tires Winners

This year’s 1061.69-mile race, to be held Nov. 16-20 in Mexico, will start for the 36^th time in Ensenada and finish for the 18^th time in La Paz while extending over a rugged course on both sides of the Baja peninsula. The car and truck classes will leave the starting line on Thursday, Nov. 18 at approximately 11:45 a.m. PT. 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 19 hours, all vehicles will have a 45-hour time limit to become official finishers in the legendary adventure.

More than 300 entries from 15 countries and 35 U.S. states are expected to compete in 33 Pro and seven Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs will take part in this year’s event. 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 and challenging Baja California peninsula, sans 1974 when the international fuel crisis forced a cancellation.

The 43^rd annual SCORE Baja 1000 desert race will be televised on a delayed basis as a one-hour NBC Sports special on Sunday, Dec. 19 on the NBC Television Network. It will also air on a delayed basis outside of the U.S. on ESPN International. Check your local listings.

BFGoodrich Tires Overall SCORE Baja 1000 Winners List

During the past 24 years, SCORE Baja 1000 overall 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/Robby 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
2009	Andy McMillin/Scott McMillin	Chevy Silverado

Using motorsports as a proving ground for more than 40 years, BFGoodrich^® Tires is involved in every type of racing, including oval, sports car, drifting, drag, desert, dirt, rally and extreme rock crawling. BFGoodrich Tires combines technological expertise with vast motorsports experience, delivering a high-performance tire for every type of vehicle. Visit BFGoodrich Tires at www.BFGoodrichTires.com.