Whatever the reason and whoever's to blame is of little importance to the overall outcome. Maybe it was the ghost of Luaghlin past or maybe even the fact that all the entries and contingency sponsors went south for the winter. Who knows? The bottom line is SCORE contingency was dismal in excitement compared to the zoo it was last year.
The big debut of Darren Skilton's new Kia Trophy Truck will have to race for another green flag. Who blew the motor during testing and will be racing the Sportage that earned him a number of championships as well as the name Captain Kia.
Last year, walking was an elbow-to-elbow affair. This year, the warm sun and cool winds washed over a lot of emptiness. Oh well, the race will go on tomorrow, but we'll be in Parker for most of the day providing you with results and commentary of the more than 250 racers that are rumored to have amassed.
As for the news surrounding Protruck and its new relationship with Goodyear and the bad blood its cut with mainstay tire company previous sponsor B.F. Goodrich, money talks. Evidently, it was those words that Protruck boss Ivan Stewart used to lead his trucks onto Goodyear rubber.
The drivers seem content. Although this eliminates the Ironman's long-standing relationship with BFG, it is said to reap benefits that BFG has not offered in years. First of all, ever since Michelin bought out BFG, the off-road budget took a hit. From there, the tire prices climbed and benefits became scarce - but far superior and quality, reliability and numbers to the presence - or lack of - of other companies.
Protruck driver Greg Lewin sizes up the Goodyear against the BFG. His eyes were on the sidewalls.
Talking to Dusty Times publisher John Calvin put the whole thing into perspective. "BFG has a long term memory. They do not forget."
I remember years ago talking with John in his old Chatsworth office. He explained to me the way things work with the people from BFG. "The people from BFG do not know names; they know faces. They remember you."
When it comes to the San Felipe 250 race in little over a month, some of the guys swapping on their new Goodyears are unconvincingly confident that the deal struck with the new tire company is a deal that will cover them when the chips are down in Baja. Those who run their own pits could care less.
Later on down and deeper into contingency, we diced it up with the Enduro Racing Trophy Truck. After winning the Baja 2000, defending Ford's honor against Larry Ragland's Chevy, and taking home the points championship for last year's efforts in SCORE, Duralast dropped out as a sponsor. The Duralast truck is no longer the Duralast truck. It now wears a BFG banner across the door.
In other news, we're out of here and onward to Parker. It's become boring around here.
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