BFGoodrich to celebrate Golden Anniversary at Baja 1000

It’s safe to say that BFGoodrich’s worldwide success in producing some of the industry’s best off-road tires is firmly grounded in the rugged Baja peninsula. As racers from around the globe prepare for this week’s 58th BFGoodrich SCORE Baja 1000, the Michelin-owned brand will celebrate its golden anniversary as part of the legendary desert endurance race.

The goal? To claim BFGoodrich’s 35th overall Baja 1000 victory.

While race qualifying takes place on Tuesday for Trophy Truck, Trophy Truck Legend, Trophy Truck Spec and Class 1 categories, the 854-mile edition of the 2025 Baja 1000 starts Friday morning in Ensenada, Mexico. The first four-wheel finishers are expected back in Ensenada approximately 17 hours later. Top BFGoodrich contenders for an overall Baja 1000 victory include Luke McMillin, Rob MacCachren (sharing driving duties with Luke McMillin and as driver of record for the Jimco Fastball Trophy Truck), the Australian duo of Toby Price and Paul Weel, the team of Ryan Arciero and Tim Herbst and the pairing of Kevin Thompson and Harley Letner.

With 'Wide World of Sports' cameras rolling, legendary ABC announcer Jim McKay (left) and racing icon Sam Posey share a moment at Frank 'Scoop' Vessels in the iconic BFGoodrich Blazer at the finish of the 1980 SCORE Baja 1000. Marty Fiolka Archives

A fixture in desert and short-course off-road racing for generations of drivers, teams and fans, BFGoodrich’s journey to their 50th Baja 1000 race began with 1976’s 'Wet and Wild' event that saw downpours of rain test man, machine and tire. The company’s race debut was a humble one, with tires outfitted on a Class 8 truck of Frank 'Scoop' Vessels and a Class 6 Oldsmobile Starfire piloted by Fritz Kroyer.

The very next year Vessels claimed Class 8 wins at both that season’s 1977 SCORE Baja 500 and Baja 1000 using the revolutionary BFGoodrich Radial All Terrain T/A, and the die was cast for the companies unwavering commitment to using the sport to build better products while becoming the must-have tire for off-road enthusiasts everywhere.

Part of that brand loyalty for racers was based on the 1982 introduction of BFGoodrich’s Pit Support program that provided all teams competing on its products with a network of full-service pits, located in strategic and often remote locations throughout desert races in Baja and the United States. Generations of teams with limited resources counted on the Pit Support program for refueling, spare tires, repairs and a communications relay to make their participation possible.

Five-time Baja 1000 champion Mark McMillin and his Porsche-powered Chenowth Class 1 car provided BFGoodrich with their first overall Baja 1000 title in 1986. The factory truck and tire wars of the late 1980s and early 1990s was next, with OEM supported race programs of Toyota, Ford, Chevrolet, GMC and Nissan almost all carrying the BFGoodrich brand.

In addition to supporting four generations of racers and teams, the BFGoodrich brand has always been a partner to major off-road cultural event like SCORE International’s '40 Years to Glory' celebration of the 2007 SCORE Baja 1000 in Long Beach.  Marty Fiolka Archives

By 2005, BFG rode this momentum to a 20th consecutive Baja 1000 victory thanks to the Class 1 'Truggy' driven by Troy Herbst and Larry Roeseler. Luke McMillin has won four of the last five Baja 1000s for the brand, but there is increased competition for the titles thanks to the likes of Toyo, Yokohama and Maxxis. At this point the number of overall and class wins at other desert, short course, stadium and rock events like the annual King of the Hammers for BFGoodrich are almost impossible to count.

When taking into account off-road racing is a form of motorsports that shuns the concept of a spec or series tire more than any other, the BFG success story is extensive – and certainly admirable.

“Since 1976, BFGoodrich has been connected with the iconic Baja 1000, and we’re proud to have become woven into the fabric of the Baja racing community,” explained BFGoodrich North American Motorsports Director Raymond Cotton. “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate this 50-year milepost than by bringing home BFGoodrich’s 35th overall Baja 1000 victory. Our race teams are ready for the challenge. After all, we put ‘Baja Champion’ on our tires for a reason.”

Watch the Baja 1000 on RACER Network.