Nearly 60 percent of the 2023 Baja 1000 racers ran the event on BFGoodrich rubber. Seven of the 10 overall winners showcased BFG tires, including the UTV overall win by Cayden MacCachren and the Polaris Factory Racing Team. BFGoodrich was everywhere. From Class 11 bugs to huge Trophy Trucks, BFG swept across the peninsula in true desert fashion. Racers from 33 U.S. states, the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and 18 foreign countries entered this year’s competition. We interviewed two BFGoodrich-supported Baja 1000 racers, Rob MacCachren and Justin Munyon, to understand their race prep, history, race vehicles, and more.
All photos by Mercedes Lilienthal
BFGoodrich Baja 1000 Rigs And Stats
The 56th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE International Baja 1000 race, presented by K&N Filters, was one of the most challenging races competitors endured. It was a tremendously long course, coming in at a grueling 1,310.94 miles. It was also the first year in the race’s long-established tenure that it ran in the opposite direction. Additionally, SCORE International celebrated its 50th season.
The 2023 Baja 1000 took place in Mexico, and it started south, in La Paz, Baja California Sur. It ended north in Ensenada, Baja California. Of the 335 teams that attempted the grueling desert race, only 178 successfully finished the event within the 50-hour time limit. That gave them bragging rights as a 2023 Baja 1000 finisher or better.
Different vehicles raced the 2023 Baja 1000, including several Class 11 bugs.
BFGoodrich Baja 1000 Racer: Rob MacCachren
“I love racing down here in Baja,” said Rob MacCachren, a decorated BFGoodrich-supported desert racer with over 20 off-road championships under his belt. “My first Baja 1000 was in 1986. I’ve raced almost every Baja 1000 since. We, as a team, have won this race, the Baja 1000 six times overall. No one else has done that.
Each Baja 1000 finisher gets a medal like this, a badge of honor and accomplishment.
“Normally I do this event myself with my own team,” MacCachren stated as we spoke the night before the race. “In 2014, 2015, and 2016, we were the second [team] to ever win this race three years in a row. Luke [McMillin] matched it in 2020, 2021, and 2022. He did 2020 with Larry Roeseler, and 2021 and 2022, he did [the Baja 1000] with me.
Team number 45, with their Ford F-150 trophy truck getting themselves ready for the race.
“So, if we can win another one, I’ll be the first person to get three [wins] in a row, twice. He’ll be the first one to ever have four in a row. And then it’ll increase me from six overall wins to seven. No one else has six,” MacCachren exclaimed. “The caveat to all that is, Luke is chasing records too, but us driving together is helping me stay in front of him. You see what I’m saying?”
Trophy Truck teams wait at the start line after their interviews are finished.
MacCachren’s Wise Words
Another reporter asked MacCachren if he could still keep up with the young guys. “Absolutely,” he said with a smile. “This isn’t a race of who’s the fastest or who’s the craziest. It’s a race of smarts, honestly.”
MacCachren says they’re one of the Baja 1000 favorites because their team knows how to win the race. “The McMillan team’s iconic to the sport,” MacCachren explained. “It goes back, I think three generations.”
This colorful Class 11 bug takes its turn waiting in line for tech inspection.
For MacCachren, he must be patient. “I can still go pretty darn fast. You know, I would say some of those guys are quicker, but they’re not as smart. So ultimately, [smartness] is the key.”
The Number 1 McMillin Racing Chevy Silverado, supported by BFGoodrich Tires and built by Mason Motorsports, finished in Second Place. The team closed a 15-minute gap to 1 minute and 18 seconds as they drove over the finish line without penalties.
One of two Wilson Motorsports cars, Number 100, earned the Class 1 win with their BFGoodrich-equipped unlimited buggy.
Number 153: Justin Munyon
Justin Munyon, a BFGoodrich-supported team, raced a Class 1 Unlimited Buggy and left the start line at 8:32 a.m. PST.
Munyon helps build NASCAR engines for Toyota Racing Development. “We have two cars,” Munyon said. “I’ll be driving one of them (starting) and going to San Ignacio, which is the 530-mile marker [RM530]. And then Ronnie Wilson, who’s Randy’s brother, one of the team owners, will be getting in. He will be going to Cavina and then Ronnie’s son Brad will be getting in and going from Cavina to the finish. That’ll be the three of us in the Number 153 car.
“Our aspirations are to win,” Munyon stated with a smile. “We’ve actually won the last two Baja 1000s between one of the two cars. So, we were looking to make it three in a row.”
When asked how many Baja 1000s Munyon raced in his lifetime, he divulged his first competition was in 2001, when he was 13 years old. “I actually rode with my grandfather [Larry Smith] in a Class 12 car,” Munyon explained. “I finished with him and was his co-driver. He was driving and I was just the passenger in the vehicle. Back then, if you signed the minor release form, 13 was the youngest age you were allowed to do it.”
Friends and families from all nationalities join together to compete in the Baja 1000.
The Family Legacy
“My dad raced motorcycles professionally back in the ‘60s and ‘70s, racing national enduros and went to the [The International] Six Days [Enduro], which is a big thing for off-road motorcycle racing for team USA.”
When Munyon’s father was reaching the end of his motorcycle racing career, he told his father-in-law and Munyon’s grandfather, Larry Smith, “Hey, this car thing is really cool! I have a couple of buddies that transitioned from motorcycles to cars. We should get one.” Munyon’s father talked his dad into buying one and they started racing. He recalls it was around 1978 or 1979 when they raced a 1600 car.
This kitted-out 2022 Lexus LX600 competed in the Stock Full Size class (which only had two entrants). It was built by Tomonori Noto of Japan.
That’s how it all started. “My dad kept racing for years,” Munyon stated. “My grandpa raced for a long time. I’ve been doing it since I was in diapers,” the 37-year-old said with a grin. He admitted to barely seeing over the hood during that time.
“Back in the day the passenger didn’t do as much as the navigators do today,” Munyon declared. “I’ve actually navigated for Randy and Ronnie and I’ve sat in that seat. I’ve done both sides of it. I’ll tell you right now, driving is way easier than navigating.”
Unfortunately, Munyon and his team didn’t finish this year’s grueling Baja 1000. However, the other Wilson Motorsports car, Number 100, earned the Class 1 win with their BFGoodrich-equipped unlimited buggy.
U.S.-based and BFGoodrich-supported BC1 BFGoodrich Baja Challenge team won their class at this year’s Baja 1000.
The BFGoodrich And SCORE International Evolution
BFGoodrich Tires became the Title Sponsor for the 2017 SCORE Baja 1000, celebrating its 50th anniversary. Additionally, BFGoodrich became the Title Sponsor for the SCORE Baja 500, starting in 2018 for that race’s 50th-anniversary celebration, too. Dedicated to desert racing, BFGoodrich has remained the Title Sponsor for the Baja 1000 and Baja 500 race series ever since.
The 2023 Baja 1000 race included drivers of all ages, including this 17-year-old from the Honda factory team.
SCORE International just celebrated its 50th season with the 2023 Baja 1000. Ever growing, SCORE reinvests to help racers. In the last few years, huge trusses and enormous screens adorned the interview stage before the start line. Years ago, it was a much simpler affair. They devised a small single screen to showcase the start line. The association was so happy to have it, but they realized they had no place to put it. When talking to a SCORE official, he jokingly said they probably propped the screen against a truck for racers to view it. He said that scenario has been a joke since then—and then realized how far SCORE International has come in its 50 total seasons.
A few years ago, a dynamic countdown was instituted at the start line so everyone could follow along and see exactly when a team takes off. The start-line screen shows red for several seconds as the countdown starts. Then, it suddenly switches to bright green and states, “GO!” This is the mark for teams to mash the throttle. It’s another improvement for racers and the “wow” factor for race fans to witness.
Bryce Menzies, Gustavo “Tavo” Vildósola Jr., and Andy McMillin with their Mason-built AWD Number 7 SCORE Red Bull Ford Raptor trophy truck crossed the finish line in First Place.
The Smell Of Burnt Rubber In The Air At BFGoodrich Baja 1000
The Baja 1000 is an iconic race for many reasons. Not only does it bring together racers and rigs from many walks of life, it creates a tight-knit community that looks after itself. The Baja 1000 is a race series that any automotive enthusiast should experience at least once in their lifetime. From the smell of burning rubber to the heart palpitations of Trophy Truck engines starting in unison, it’s worth the trip to witness. Though the 56th annual Baja 1000 is officially over, we’re already looking forward to next year.
Class 11 racer Dennis Hollenbeck and his Number 1121 1969 BFGoodrich–equipped Volkswagen Beetle, named “Bochito,” await technical inspection. Hollenbeck races to money for the Casa Esperanza, a nonprofit organization helping abused mothers and children.
