Facing a near-record field of 424 starting entrants, BFGoodrich^® Tires drivers Mark Post, Rob MacCachren and Carl Renezeder captured the overall four-wheel victory at the 40th Anniversary of the SCORE Baja 1000. In doing so, they recorded the fastest overall speed in a four-wheel vehicle over the grueling 1,296 mile course down the rugged peninsula of Baja California, Mexico. Their Ford F-150 Trophy Truck, outfitted with BFGoodrich Baja^® T/A^{® KR} off-road tires, crossed the finish line in 25 hours, 21 minutes and 25 seconds after logging an average speed of 51.13 miles per hour despite early fog, rain and blinding dust throughout the race. "Ask the Experts" caught up with Mark, Rob and Carl, to get their take on the race.

So Mark, tell us about how you feel now and how you chose your teammates.

"This was the big one for me, Riviera Racing and BFGoodrich Tires. We planned carefully for this one, as we knew it was going to be the toughest and longest Baja 1000's we'd ever run. Carl and Rob are both short course specialists so each could push extremely hard on the sections they drove. It was a good strategy that allowed us to stay up front against one of the best fields we've seen all year." Rob, what tire did you guys choose for the Baja 1000? "We implemented our strategy early and vowed to remain conservative regardless of the circumstances. We decided to go with BFGoodrich Baja T/A^{® KR} tires to tackle the tricky course. In the middle of the night, there were fires all along the course and thousands of people up all night and it really keeps you motivated to see everyone yelling out there. One thing I learned about Baja is up and down the Peninsula, there's always someone nearby. Thanks to BFG and their Baja T/A^{® KR} tires, we didn't have any flat tires at all and we knew if we had no mechanical failures, no flats and ran a smooth, consistent race, we'd have a chance."

Carl, at what portion of the race did you take over?

"I climbed into the truck around race mile 368 and ran approximately 330 miles. It was dark the entire time and the beginning section was technical and fun. Once we were south of the Bay of L.A. it got a lot tougher. There was a ton of dust and it wasn't moving. It's a very high-speed section and you can't see more than a few feet in front of the truck. We came up on the motorcycles and ATVs really quickly, which made it even more difficult. But, we got through it without any issues. My goal was to keep the truck in perfect shape and in the hunt, and I'm happy to say that's exactly what I did."

Their overall strategy worked as Post's Riviera Racing team faced extremely tough competition in the early going from last year's race winner, NASCAR's Robby Gordon, Garron Cadiente, and B.J. Baldwin, last year's SCORE Trophy Truck champion. Baldwin led on time in the early going but faded toward the end with transmission problems. Cadiente drew the first starting slot and had clear air for much of the early going, which often kept him in front of Baldwin and Post on elapsed time.

Cadiente, one of desert racing's young lions, easily matched the veterans' speed until mile 929, where he was sidelined with mechanical problems. Gordon's team decided to go without mounting lights at a pit stop forcing Gordon to race with a borrowed handheld spotlight. Due to his unfortunate decision, he could not keep pace with Post, MacCachren and Renezeder who moved into the lead and took the win.

The win for Post and MacCachren gives them the SCORE Trophy Truck season championship. It is Post's first series crown and MacCachren's second Trophy Truck title. He won the first trophy truck championship in 1994, the initial year of the class. MacCachren started the race and drove the most miles with Renezeder in the middle and Post finished the race.

Mark, how does it feel now that you have had time to reflect?

"We have been fortunate and had very little mechanical errors on the truck this year. We had three SCORE race wins this year but to win the overall at the SCORE Baja 1000 in a Trophy Truck is a dream come true.The entire team did a flawless job. "

Rob, can you touch on your thoughts about the race?

"This has allowed me to do what I want to do, and to do what I love doing, which is to come here and win the 40th Anniversary of the SCORE Baja 1000. I have never had the overall win and now I finally do. Our team was great."

Carl, what does it feel like to capture the overall?

"First of all, I was honored that Mark and Rob asked me to be a part of this epic race with their team. They were in the chase for the championship and it was my job to keep them in the hunt by driving smart. I was in no position to try to be a hero and do something stupid. So, we followed our plan and I was able to deliver the truck without any issues. I'm proud to be a small part of their successful season and to have my name on such a prestigious list of overall winners."

The SCORE Baja 1000 is one of the most demanding off-road races known to man, running 1,296 miles down the rugged Baja California peninsula through some of the worlds' toughest terrain. During the past several years, teams equipped with BFGoodrich Baja T/A^{® KR} off-road tires, a purpose-built racing tire designed for use in desert and off-road racing, have been near perfect in the worlds' most recognized off-road race.

Nearly 424 entries from more than 44 states and 19 countries, competing in 28 Pro and six Sportsman classes for cars and trucks, plus additional classes for motorcycles and ATVs took part in this year's SCORE Baja 1000. It's the oldest and most well known of all desert races, and it remains the single most appealing accomplishment for any racer. Since 1967, the granddaddy of all desert races has been run over the mysterious Baja California peninsula every year except 1974, when the international fuel crisis forced a cancellation.

This year's SCORE Baja 1000 will be televised on a delayed basis as a one-hour NBC Sports special for the fourth consecutive year, airing on Dec. 30 on the NBC Television Network. It will also air on a delayed basis outside of the U.S. on ESPN International.