BJ Baldwin and Toyo win first round of 2012 SCORE Desert Series

Team Toyo Off-Road’s newest member, “Ballistic” BJ Baldwin, won Saturday’s Round 1 of the 2012 SCORE Desert Series during the 18th Annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge in Laughlin, Nevada.  Baldwin, from Las Vegas, Nevada, finished an impressive first overall and first in class with a one minute, six second margin of victory over the next finisher, Juan Carlos Lopez.
 
Driving his #97 Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Chevy Silverado trophy truck; Baldwin beat 98 other vehicles entered in the eight lap race with a time of 53 minutes, 45 seconds.  This was Baldwin’s first-ever SCORE off-road race competing on Toyo Open Country M/T-R tires.
 
Baldwin was the number one qualifier for Saturday’s race, posting the fastest time of six minutes, 23.99 seconds during a single 6.25-mile lap sprint on Friday.  During Sunday’s Round 2, Baldwin experienced a mechanical problem during lap two, sidelining his truck before the finish of the race.
 
“It's 2012 and the end is near... for the competition!  Our race season is already starting to blossom thanks to Toyo,” said Baldwin.  “We qualified first by a mile and then easily won round one.  Round 2 was going to be victorious as well if not for engine trouble.  This year is going to be awesome for us now that we are running on the best off road tire. The Toyo Open Country M/T-R’s simply perform better!”
 
“We congratulate BJ Baldwin on his win during Round 1 of the 2012 SCORE Desert Series,” said Stan Chen, manager of events and motorsports, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp.  “This was his first time competing as a member of Team Toyo Off-Road, and he won immediately on our Open Country M/T-R tires.  We are looking forward to an exciting desert racing season with BJ.”
 
To learn more about “Ballistic” BJ Baldwin and the Open Country line of light truck tires, log onto www.toyotires.com.