SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/668518
driver and deliberately steer the truck into a rock or ditch that was sure to kill one or more tires. His line upon returning to the testing compound would suggest that the tires seemed better, but they weren't good enough. So he had the R&D team go back and bring something tougher. This isn't just urban legend; it actually happened. Who knows how many additional prototype tire builds were executed because Frank didn't accept that good enough is good enough?" Despite DeAngel's' efforts to keep BFG involved in off-road racing, the Baja T/A KR2 was eventually launched in 2013 and garnered 18 overall desert race wins, including the top 10 Trophy Truck finishes. The top seven Class 10 finishers that year were also on the Baja T/A KR2 tires. "We cleaned up for two years in a row," said Baker. "BFG won 21 of the last 23 substantial races in North America, including the SCORE Baja 1000 and Baja 500 races." According to Dan Newsome, the KR2 tire originally launched in a 37-inch diameter size, and was initially tested at the 2013 SCORE Baja 500. The 39-inch diameter KR2 was tested at the 2013 SCORE Baja 1000. The KR2 was so successful, that BFGoodrich made specific versions for Trophy Truck and in 2014, a version was designed specifically for Class 1 racing vehicles. Despite the continued victories within SCORE and other race venues, BFGoodrich combined its knowledge of desert racing, with the refinements of the KR2 tire to develop additional tires that SCORE racers utilize to this day. The company's KO2 tire is a perfect example of a redesigned All-Terrain Radial T/A that has DNA from the KR2, but remains a DOT approved tire that is used in many buggy and OE classes. "The development of the All- Terrain KO2 tire benefitted greatly from our off-road development in an intimate way," said Baker. "There is very close DNA between the Baja T/A KR IN 2004 TROY HERBST AND LARRY ROESELER DROVE THE LANDSHARK TRUGGY TO AN OVERALL VICTORY ON BFG'S BAJA TA RACING TIRES THE BFG PIT PROGRAM IS STILL ONE OF THE MOST WIDELY USED PITS IN SCORE INTERNATIONAL RACES. THEY NOW HAVE PROFESSIONAL PIT CREWS THAT SPECIALIZE IN REPAIRS AND QUICK RE-FUELING. 019 SCORE JOURNAL