CYPRESS, CALIFORNIA – Team Toyo’s “Ballistic” BJ Baldwin clenched the 2012 SCORE Overall Point Championship and the checkered flag at the 45th annual Baja 1000 on November 16.  Baldwin and his #97 Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Chevy Silverado trophy truck conquered the 1,121.55-mile course in just over 20 hours.  His tire choice for his assault on the legendary Baja… Toyo Open Country M/T-R tires.

This is Baldwin’s first year as a member of Team Toyo and his first season competing with Toyo Open Country M/T-R tires.  His impressive season started in January when he won Round 1 of the Laughlin Desert Challenge.  He then finished second in the San Felipe 250, following that up with a second place finish in the Tecate SCORE Baja 500.  Baldwin clenched the overall title when he won the Baja 1000.

“Making the change to the Toyo Open Country M/T-R on our race truck made the difference.  It is the single best performing product we use on our race truck,” said Baldwin.  “We attribute the majority of our success this year to the performance of our tire. It is what helped us win our 5th Championship and it is what helped us win this year’s Baja 1000.  We are happy to say we did not have to get out once to change a single tire for this year’s Baja 1000.  Running over 1000 miles of the Baja without getting a flat is not an easy task for any tire. Using Toyo’s on our truck gives us a competitive advantage in the areas of puncture resistance, traction, and tread life.  We are very happy with the performance of the tire and look forward to winning more races and Championships with Toyo in the future!”

“BJ’s Championship season underscores what a great racer and great tire can do together in the desert,” said Amy Coleman, senior director of marketing, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp.  “BJ demonstrated his own toughness as the first driver in history to ironman a peninsula run and win overall, and the toughness and durability of our Open Country M/T-R was proven with no flats in 1,121.55 miles of grueling desert terrain.  We are excited to celebrate these victories with him and look forward to many more.”

Baldwin’s SCORE Overall Point Championship and Baja 1000 victory are each the second for Toyo Tires.  Team Toyo’s Robby Gordon was crowned the SCORE Overall Point Champion in 2009 and he won the Baja 1000 in 2006.