Singapore – In its rookie season of off-road motorsports, Radar Tires heads into the final SCORE International race next month with the Class 10 Unlimited points lead, courtesy of driver Mike Johnson and the Bronson Motorsports team. Johnson leads his competition by a small margin – just two points.

It’s a tiny lead on the field, but Johnson is determined to secure the Class 10 Unlimited Championship title. Johnson and Mike Majesky co-drove during the SCORE Baja 250 in March to a third-place finish. During the Baja 500 in May, Johnson drove solo and won the Class 10 race, which was Radar Tires’ first long course, off-road racing win.

Looking to maintain the podium result and secure the championship, Johnson, Bronson Motorsports and Radar Tires are preparing and assembling the buggy to withstand the grueling November endurance race.

“We ran great at both the 250 and 500, and we’ve got that momentum to keep us going,” Johnson said. “The first two SCORE races this season were flawless, and that’s our goal for the 1000. I know our Radar tires can take the pounding in the desert; we just need to minimize our pit stops and driver changes. We have the points lead heading into the race, and our plan is to keep that lead and get that championship. We’re ready for it.”

Last weekend, SCORE International officials announced the starting order and course map. Johnson along with co-driver Majesky are scheduled to start the No.1031 Radar Tires Racing Buggy from the fourth position of the 16-entrant class. The racing machine is an Alumicraft chassis, Class 10 buggy with special non-DOT size 33X10.50R15 Radar Renegade R5 race tires.

“Starting fourth is a good, but anything can happen at the Baja 1000,” Johnson continued. “This course will be challenging and travels much farther south than previous years. We’ll be in Ensenada early in the month of November, so the Bronson guys and I can set our strategy and logistical plan.”

The 46th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 will take place on Nov. 13-17, and is being touted as one of the toughest courses in series history. The 900-plus mile event starts in Ensenada, treks southeast through the Baja California peninsula in the Baja Norte state from Ensenada on the Pacific Ocean, then over to San Felipe on the Sea of Cortez, travels south through Coco’s Corner, kisses the Pacific Ocean near Punta Blanco, vectors north into the mountains again through Mike’s Sky Ranch, before finally finishing in Ensenada.

The four-wheel start is set for 9 a.m.,on Friday, Nov. 15. The Bronson team projects the race to take 22 to 24 hours.

“We really won’t have accurate time projections until we get down there pre-running,” stated John Hoffman, Bronson Motorsports crew chief and team manager. “But we plan to do our homework and we’ll be prepared for almost any eventuality.”

Radar Tires chose off-road motorsports to showcase the Renegade R5 M/T tire, which features open blocks for mud dispersion, deep tread blocks and reinforced shoulders. This tread pattern and rigorous construction is ideal for the surfaces encountered on short course tracks such as Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, Calif., and Firebird Raceway in Chandler, Ariz. as well as the open desert of Baja California in the legendary SCORE Baja 1000, the most iconic of all off-road races.