52nd Annual SCORE Baja 1000 Set to Kick Off Nov. 19
Toyota racers Walsh, Moncure, and Baldwin ready for the 2019 Baja 1000.
The crown jewel of the American off-road circuit is prepping to return for another rendition in 2019. This year marks the 52nd running of the Baja 1000. Organized by SCORE International Off-Road Racing, the annual event turns up the heat in the desert in this grueling truck racing event.
As it stands, three racers are gearing up to race for Toyota this year. Each one will be racing in separate classes. Veteran racers Brandon Walsh, Ted Moncure, and BJ Baldwin will be taking on the monster task of traveling just over 800 miles through the unforgiving Baja Desert.
BJ Baldwin and Ivan “Ironman” Stewart
Each year the course for the race changes. Sometimes the course is a loop, other times it is a point to point race. The changes keep the race fresh and unpredictable and is certainly one of the more exciting and unique aspects of this particular race. This year’s course will start and finish in the coastal town of Ensenada, in Mexico’s Baja California.
TRD Off-Road Accomplishments
Ivan Stewart and his Toyota SR5
In the past, Toyota has seen its fair share of success at the SCORE Baja 1000. Most of which has come through Ivan “Ironman” Stewart. With Stewart behind the wheel, Toyota claimed overall victories in 1993 and 1998. Up until 2013, Stewart maintained icon-status as being the only solo racer to ever win the 1000 outright.
Stewart’s other accomplishments include 4x champion of both the Mint 400 and Parker 400 races. Also, in 1993 Stewart and Toyota “swept the ‘Crown Jewels’ of desert racing – the Nevada 500, the Baja 500 and the Baja 1000.” On top of all that, “Ironman” is also a 4x SCORE World Champion. The man is a legend.
Under Stewart’s leadership, Toyota and TRD have gone on to leave an impressive mark on the off-road racing landscape. Now, Stewart mainly serves as a coach for the next-generation of TRD off-road racing stars.
One of those future stars, BJ Baldwin, has already seen plenty of success. Baldwin frequently races for TRD in his enviable Tundra Trophy Truck. To date, Baldwin has secured a victory in the Baja 500 and two in the Baja 1000.
2014 Baja 1000 Full Stock Tundra
In past years we’ve seen crazy things take place on the course. Such as in 2014 when an opponent’s stuck vehicle “opened our side up like a can opener,” recalls Ted Moncure. That Tundra went on to win it’s ‘Full Stock’ class.
Time to Tear it Up!
Racing across the desert isn’t easy. This year’s event is sure to be as thrilling as all the rest. There will be over 250 entrants gunning for glory, hailing from 30 states and 15 countries. Toyota and the TRD team hope to make some noise in the 2019 Baja 1000, taking place Nov. 19-24.
Course map for the 2019 Baja 100 can be found here.
Photos: TRD