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Category: Events/Competitions

  • Darren Skilton Finishes One Second Behind Nasser Al-Attiyah On First Stage of Dakar Rally

    Skilton's Revolution VI atop the starting podium to the cheer of Dakar Rally fansDakar Rally has typically started with WRC-style gravel roads since moving to South America, but this year the ASO course designers headed straight for the coastal dunes at Necochea for a 57 kilometer special stage to start the 2012 rally.  Darren Skilton finished just one second behind 2010 champion Nasser Al-Attiyah and 9:51 behind the lead car when the times were tallied.  “To be honest the size of the dunes took me by surprise,” Skilton admitted.  “Skyler (Gambrell- Skilton’s navigator) and I just aired down the General Grabbers and had no problems staying on top of the sand.”  Then with the long liaison Skilton aired the Grabbers back up and made his way to Santa Rosa de la Pampa in comfort. (more…)

  • Darren Skilton Looks For Back To Back Victories For General Tire In His Return To The Legendary Dakar Rally

    Skilton's Revolution VI atop the starting podium to the cheer of fans - DakarDarren Skilton has an addiction with Dakar that began over a decade ago.  Since that time he has become the United States representative for the race’s sanctioning body (ASO) and returned to the rally in a myriad of capacities including navigator, support driver, mechanic, and racer.  Last year Skilton and journalist Sue Mead won the Open Production class in a Ford Raptor shod with production General Grabber tires, but this year Skilton is looking to up the ante by jumping into the deep end of the pool, taking on heavy hitters such as Robby Gordon.  “Volkswagen’s departure from the rally really opens up the field to privateers like myself,” Skilton commented.  “I have a competitive car that has just been sitting and waiting for the right opportunity.  That opportunity has arrived.”   (more…)

  • Matt Parks Joins Jagged-X Racing for 2012 BITD Season

    Jagged-X Set to Campaign 2 Polaris UTV’s in 2012

    Jagged-X #1919 Polaris RZR XP900

    Phoenix, AZ – 12/26/11 -With the 2011 Best In The Desert (BITD) season complete, Brandon Schueler and the Jagged-X desert off-road race team fell just a few points short of capturing their 5th Pro-UTV championship in as many years. Despite falling short, Brandon and the factory sponsored Polaris racing team Jagged-X, still viewed the season as a success. The team managed to win their 5th consecutive Vegas-to-Reno race, currently the longest race in North America and by far the most difficult in the BITD series. The team also managed to collect 2-1st place and 3-2nd place finishes on the season. (more…)

  • La Paz Racing Wins The Henderson 250 On Their Way To Back To Back BITD Class 8100 Championships

    Tim Casey and La Paz Racing on their way to another victoryIn an environment notorious for destroying equipment and drivers’ will, La Paz Racing has found the secret to success in the desert.  “Drive the vehicle you have, not the vehicle you wish you had,” La Paz driver Tim Casey shares.  This philosophy has provided Casey with not just a rock solid finish rate, but an unprecedented nine class victories in the last two years,  including SCORE International’s 2010 Baja 500.  Most recently La Paz Racing won Best In The Desert’s (BITD) Henderson 250 to secure the Class 8100 title for the second consecutive season.  (more…)

  • General Tire to Sponsor Three Entries for the 2012 Dakar Rally, Looking to Repeat 2011 Win

    • General Tire partners with Baja Automotive for the December 29, 2011 – January 15, 2012 Dakar Rally.
    • Darren Skilton, Joaquin De Uriarte and Mark McMillin to pilot the entries.
    • All three entries will race on General’s Grabber tire across the rugged and unpredictable race course.

    Fort Mill, SC – (December 21, 2011) General Tire is pleased to announce their partnership with Baja Automotive to sponsor three entries in the 2012 Dakar Rally. The event begins December 29, 2011 in Mar de Plata, Argentina and finishes January 15, 2012 in Lima, Peru, a pan-American adventure of more than 5,590 miles (or 9,000 kilometers). Darren Skilton will pilot an Unlimited car in the Open Production 1 (OP1) class while Joaquin De Uriarte and Mark McMillin will pilot a Raptor and JeepSpeed in the Open Production 2 (OP2) class respectively. Dakar is one of the world’s great adventures and a true test of the human spirit. This is simply the ultimate event that the General Tire Grabber has been designed and built for. (more…)

  • Chris Brandt Podiums for Big Winnings at Final Lucas Oil Off Road Race and Challenge Cup Race

    COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA    DECEMBER  20, 2011  –  Chris Brandt #82 BFGoodrich / Toyota Pro Lite Unlimited Truck added two more podiums to the list of successful accomplishments in the 2011 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series at the final race in Phoenix, Arizona at Firebird Raceway.  Finishing third in the 15th race of the season on Saturday, Brandt secured the Second Place Championship for the 2011 season.  On Sunday, in a hard fought Challenge Cup battle including Pro Buggies, Brandt finished second taking home a $10,000 check.  “There is no doubt we tried everything to jump into that first place position, and although we didn’t get the checker flag first, we continued our streak of consistent podium finishes,” said Chris Brandt after the 14th podium of the season.  “I would like to thank BFGoodrich, Toyota and all my family and friends that crew for me every weekend.  It works so well with the whole family being involved.  We know everyone’s going to get the job done and it’s in everyone’s heart to do it well.” (more…)