BFGoodrich Tires wins 29th Tecate Score Baja 500 in 33 years

Monday, 9 July 2012

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Bryce Menzies' second consecutive victory in the Trophy Truck category of the Tecate SCORE Baja 500 gave BFGoodrich® Tires its 29th win in 33 years and 76th overall SCORE race win. Team BFGoodrich member Menzies' now has his sights set on crossing the finish line first in November at the 45th annual SCORE Baja 1000.



"Congratulations to all of the teams who tackled this year's rigorous Tecate SCORE Baja 500  on BFGoodrich tires, and a great job by all the class winners," said Peter Calhoun, motorsports manager, BFGoodrich Tires. "We celebrate with our winning teams, but as we turn off the lights, we immediately shift our focus to the 45th Anniversary of the legendary Tecate SCORE Baja 1000.

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Menzies, who was 19th off the start line, fought through extreme temperature variations and dusty conditions on the course to finish eleven seconds in front of BJ Baldwin's Chevrolet Silverado in the second closest Baja 500 finish on record. Throughout the fast-paced race, Menzies and co-driver Pete Mortensen averaged 48.77 miles per hour to finish with a winning time of 9 hours, 13 minutes and 39 seconds. Racers using BFGoodrich tires in total claimed first place in 15 of the 19 pro four-wheel classes, including 18 of the first 20 finishers across the finish line. Jesse Jones completed the overall podium, running on BFGoodrich Baja T/A™ KR tires, finishing third, 17 minutes and 26 seconds behind Menzies, after starting 35th in his Ford F-250 Trophy Truck.



"We fought back against the elements today and knew we had the team and the tires to win in the end," commented Menzies as the race concluded. "My equipment was incredible throughout the race. We had our BFGoodrich tires on from the pit at mile 200 and they carried us through to the flag. I couldn't be happier than I am right now."



BFGoodrich tires also helped other drivers dominate their individual classes. Luke McMillin and Justin Bean Smith demolished their competition in Class 1, finishing fifth overall at a speedy 45.35 MPH in a Chevrolet-powered Jimco open-wheel desert racer, while Rudolfo Iribe continued his stellar season by winning Class 8 in a Chevrolet Silverado, and Clyde Stacy conquered Class 5-1600 in a 1600cc VW Baja Bug.  In Class 3, brothers Donald and Ken Moss took the victory for their team's 40th first place SCORE finish.