Ensenada, Mexico (June 5, 2010) – Robby Gordon and his Monster Energy / Toyo Tires off-road team headed south to Ensenda, Mexico with high hopes of winning the 42nd Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500, one of the most difficult desert races in the world.

Before the event took place, Robby Gordon and navigator Andy Grider set out to pre-run the challenging course. After a successful pre-run, Andy commented that everything went smooth and that he expected a good finish for the No. 1 Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Trophy Truck.

During the driver's meeting held on Friday, June 4, Sal Fish, owner of SCORE International Off-Road Racing, made it clear to the field (one of the largest trophy truck fields in the 41-year history of the Baja 500) that the course was by far one of the toughest that he has ever seen. Drivers, including Robby Gordon, welcomed the challenged and set of obstacles that lay ahead of them and couldn’t wait to see who proved victorious in Saturday’s 500-mile race.

On Saturday morning, the duo of Gordon and Grider strapped themselves in and prepared for their 10:03:30 am start. They were the seventh truck off the line. Once Gordon got into his rhythm, he would end up passing a few trucks within the first 30 miles of the race. By the half way point, Gordon was only 11 seconds behind leader, Andy McMillin, who had started in 8th place. Just before Gordon was making the pass onto the famous Mike's Sky Ranch Road around race mile 222, the truck’s transmission popped out of gear hindering Gordon's chance of taking the lead. With his pit only 10 miles back, he decided to head back there to assess the situation. Once Gordon limped his way back, the team went to work on a broken transmission and replaced it with a new one. Luckily for the team, it wouldn't end their day, but it did put them one hour and 30 minutes behind the leader and the 18th place truck on the road. Gordon tried to pick off as many competitors as he could, but time was running out for the Monster Energy / Toyo Tires trophy truck. Heading into the night, he did everything that he could to pick up as many positions as possible, but ended up finishing 13th.

"All and all, it was a good effort by my guys. They gave me an awesome truck that got me to the lead fast but unfortunately we broke a transmission at the same time. I haven't broken a transmission in years so it really surprised me but we'll move forward and get prepared for Primm."

Gordon would also leave the Baja 500 with no flat tires. Gordon spoke highly of his "Robby Proof" tires, "I just can't say enough about Toyo Tires. What an excellent job their team of engineers and staff did to come up with a tire that can outlast Baja. I'm even thinking of switching to the size 37 tire on my HUMMERS because they worked so well here today. I think they'll be better for us in the Rally coming up, and I just can't thank the guys over at Toyo enough."

Next up for Robby Gordon's Off-Road team is the Terribles Primm 300 in Primm, Nevada on September 10-12, where Gordon became the overall winner last year.

Charlotte, NC (March 15, 2010) –  For the second consecutive year, Robby Gordon and his Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Trophy Truck finish second in the San Felipe 250.  The team’s second-place finish was not easy to come by as a left rear shock broke just past Race Mile 35.  For what seemed to be a disastrous turn of events early in the race, the championship-winning team worked quickly to come up with a plan to change the shock as expeditiously as possible at Race Mile 44.  Knowing that time was of the essence to get Gordon back on the course, the team hustled and were only down a total of 13 minutes. As a result of the change, several trucks passed Gordon during the stop, leaving him 17 minutes behind. He and navigator, Andy Grider would make up valuable time as they made their way over the rough terrain of San Felipe’s washes and valleys.  By Race Mile 160 Gordon was only 11 minutes behind the overall leader and scored in seventh position.  Luckily for the Monster team, the turbulent terrain resulted in mechanical failures on many of the trophy truck entries. As the duo was making up ground on the leader, they experienced another issue around Race Mile 170 when the right rear shock failed due to the rough terrain.  Despite the shock issue, the No. 1 Monster Energy / Toyo Tires trophy truck was only seven minutes behind eventual winner Jesse Jones at Race Mile 200, which was not that bad considering the adversity that the team faced during the race.

 “Our Monster Energy / Toyo Tires truck got off to a great start, but unfortunately we would end up breaking our left rear shock at the beginning of the race,” commented Gordon. For something like that to happen, one would think that your day would be ruined, but the team made a great recovery and changed the shock fast.  Later on our right rear shock would go out as well, and it would be hard for us to gain any ground through the bumps.  During the last stretch, all we could really hope for is for other trucks to fall out.  It’s pretty amazing to see what this course does to these trucks, and we beat a lot of guys with broken equipment.  We’ll change some pressures in our shocks and be ready to repeat as winners in the Baja 500.”

After the second event in the 2010 SCORE season, Robby Gordon would also gain ground in the point standings leaving San Felipe in the fifth position, 26 points behind overall leader Andy McMillin.  Gordon commented, “As far as points go it looks like we’ll be in the top-5 leaving here but we still have a lot of more racing to do before it’s all said and done.  I’m sure Andy McMillin will be tough to beat, but we come out here to win so I look forward to coming back to Mexico in June for the Baja 500.”

In last year’s edition of the San Felipe 250, Gordon led the event early, but fell behind when the air jack and mechanical jack both failed during a pit stop. Gordon was forced to drive his trophy truck a mile and a half on a flat tire, until he found some locals with a floor jack that helped him change the tire. Despite falling 22 minutes behind, Gordon was able to make up half of his deficit to finish the event in second-place just 11 minutes behind the leader. Gordon later went on to win the 2009 SCORE International Off-Road Series Season Championship.

This year, Gordon will pilot the No. 1 Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Chevy CK1500 Trophy Truck in the 24th Annual MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 this weekend. Gordon will race in a field of approximately 275 competitors from nearly ten different countries and 25 states. The race will take place over a narrow 248-mile loop that extends north of San Felipe and then south adjacent to the Sea of Cortez. The extreme course requires drivers to cross three of the most picturesque and challenging washes in Baja, as well as canyons filled with silt, jagged rocks and narrow passes between rock walls. Throughout the event, drivers will need to pass through four physical checkpoint locations before making their way across the finish line at the famed San Felipe Arches.

The trophy truck class will begin its trek across the Baja Peninsula at 10:00 a.m. PST on Saturday, March 13, with one vehicle beginning the timed-event every 30 seconds. Gordon will roll off second on Saturday morning in effort to capture this year’s San Felipe 250 title. Drivers will have a maximum of 11 hours to complete the course.

“Our Sprint Cup program has had a really tough start in 2010,” commented Gordon. “We simply haven’t had any luck, but I’m hoping that we can change that this weekend and boost the spirits of the entire Robby Gordon Motorsports organization. Our Monster Energy / Toyo Tires trophy truck was extremely fast here last year, and I’m positive that my team has prepared another vehicle capable of pulling the same speeds here this year. As long as we can avoid any trouble, we should be able to bring home a strong finish at San Felipe. Off-road racing and the SCORE desert series are two things that I am extremely passionate about. I can’t wait to get this race started!”

Fans that want to follow Gordon’s progress in the SCORE San Felipe 250 can visit robbygordon.com, planetrobby.com, and Robby Gordon’s twitter page for daily updates on the team’s performance. Fans can also check the overall progress of the San Felipe 250 at www.SCORE-international.com.

Robby Gordon Off-Road is scheduled to test in San Felipe on February 23rd through the 25th.  Please stay tuned to robbygordon.com for updates as the #1 Monster Energy / Toyo Tires trophy truck prepares for their second race of the 2010 season.

Nine months ago, Polaris announced a relationship with Robby Gordon and today we’re proud to introduce the first Robby Gordon edition, the all-new RANGER RZR 4. Before today, Sport Side-by-Side enthusiasts looking to carry multiple passengers had no option; that is no longer the case with the announcement of the industry’s first four-seat Sport Side-by-Side.

“Polaris saw a market for a multi-passenger Sport vehicle at a significantly lower price than an expensive Sand Car or Rail,” said Eric Nault, product manager for RANGER RZR 4. “The RANGER RZR 4 fills that need for a Sport Side-by-Side experience for multiple passengers.”

The RANGER RZR 4 has all the performance and attributes of the RANGER RZR family and the ability to carry four people. With a powerful 800cc High Output Twin EFI engine, the RANGER RZR 4 has a class-leading power-to-weight ratio and strong acceleration. Its 60-inch/152.4cm width coupled with RANGER RZR’s patented design that places the engine behind the back seat for the lowest center of gravity, makes the RANGER RZR 4 more agile than most competitive two-seat Side-by-Sides. At 1,255 lbs/569.3 kg., it’s also lighter than many two-passenger vehicles.

For optimal, agile handling on any terrain, RANGER RZR 4 features long travel suspension with 12 in/30.5 cm of suspension travel and ground clearance. The unit’s premium suspension includes new Fox Podium X 2.0 Piggyback Reservoir Shocks plus Chrome Moly front upper A-Arms for precision and strength. The rear anti-sway bar and dual rate springs keeps the chassis flat through corners and the rolled independent rear suspension (IRS) provides a smooth ride through all terrain. To tackle tough terrain, RANGER RZR 4’s suspension is coupled with Polaris’ true all-wheel drive (AWD) system that automatically engages when the rider needs more forward traction and reverts back to 2WD automatically when AWD is no longer needed.

In creating the first four-passenger Sport Side-by-Side, Polaris paid close attention to ergonomics. For the driver, RANGER RZR 4 has class-leading tilt steering offering 10 in/25.4 cm of range and a heel pocket for unmatched throttle response and control. The front passenger will enjoy an industry-exclusive adjustable front passenger handrail, while the rear passengers an ample amount of head-room and an exclusive rear passenger handrail. Similar to the front passengers, rear passengers also have a 12-volt plug in and two cup holders. All four bucket seats are interchangeable and offer 4 in/10.2 cm of front-to-rear adjustability making it easy to switch drivers. For safety, RANGER RZR 4 has four side protective nets.

The RANGER RZR 4 also features graphics from the Robby Gordon’s TORC truck he raced at Crandon, Wisconsin, as well as, No. 7 NSCS Toyota Camry he raced during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Labor Day Classic 500. The Black, Blue and White theme sports the Robby Gordon Off-Road logo on the front side panels with race-inspired graphics, cut-and-sew seats and Maxxis Big Horn tires with Black Bruiser Rims making the vehicle the sharpest-looking Side-by-Side on the market.

“At Robby Gordon Off-Road, we build the highest performance, most elite off-road vehicles in the world. I hope Polaris customers like the new RANGER RZR 4 Robby Gordon Edition as much as we do,” said Robby Gordon.

The RANGER RZR 4 will be available at Polaris dealerships in January, with a MSRP of $14,999 (US) and $17,999 (CAN). A full line of PURE Polaris accessories, including roofs, cabs, bumpers, brushguards, windshields and Lock & Ride products also will be available, including many of the existing RANGER RZR and RZR S accessories that fit the RANGER RZR 4.

About Polaris

With annual 2008 sales of $1.9 billion, Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets off-road vehicles (ORVs), including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and the Polaris RANGER™, snowmobiles and Victory motorcycles for recreational and utility use and has recently introduced a new on-road electric powered neighborhood vehicle. Polaris is a recognized leader in the snowmobile industry; and one of the largest manufacturers of ORVs in the world. Victory motorcycles, established in 1998 and representing the first all-new American-made motorcycle from a major company in nearly 60 years, are rapidly making impressive in-roads into the cruiser and touring motorcycle marketplace. Polaris also enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Pure Polaris apparel, accessories and parts, available at Polaris dealerships. Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PII,” and the Company is included in the S&P Small-Cap 600 stock price index. Information about the complete line of Polaris products, apparel and vehicle accessories is available from authorized Polaris dealers or anytime from the Polaris homepage at www.polarisindustries.com

With the same determination and skill that drove them through the 2009 SCORE-International off-road racing season, Robby Gordon and navigator, Andy Grider, clenched the 2009 SCORE Overall Point and Trophy-Truck Championships as they crossed the finish line of the 42nd Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 on November 21.

These mark the first overall championships for Toyo Tires in this legendary racing series.  

Running on 39X13.50R17 Toyo Open Country M/T®-R tires, Gordon and Grider had accumulated enough points during the season in this historic desert racing series to only have to finish the 42nd Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 to secure the overall point championship.

Off-road fans around the world tracked the results online and monitored their favorite off-road websites to see if Gordon would come out on top.  Knowing Gordon, they know he always races to win.

In the end, Gordon’s #77 Monster Energy/Toyo Tires Chevy CK1500 trophy truck endured the 672.85-mile course around the Baja California peninsula to finish the Baja 1000 in fifth place with a time of 15:14:31.  The team competed against 327 other starters from 39 U.S. states and 14 countries, nearly half not finishing the punishing race.

To win the overall 2009 SCORE championship, Gordon led the five-event racing season starting with his win at the first race, the Laughlin Desert Challenge held in January.   He then finished runner-up in the San Felipe 250, finished in the top 10 in the Baja 500 and won the Primm 300 in September.  Gordon was also one of 14 racers to earn a 2009 SCORE Toyota Milestone Award for completing every required mile of every race.

“I can't say enough about the commitment, hard work and dedication Toyo Tires has given our team this year,” said Gordon after the race.  “They are committed to being the best in the off-road industry and this championship proves it; I couldn't do it without them.“

“Winning the overall SCORE-International championship is the perfect ending to a year that has been filled with off-road racing victories,” said Steve Hutchinson, vice president of marketing, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp.  “Robby Gordon has been a member of Team Toyo since 2005, delivering wins such as the 2006 Baja 1000 and stages of the Dakar.  We are glad that our Open Country M/T-R tires helped deliver that success.”

The next event for Robby Gordon and Toyo Tires is the 2010 Dakar® race which begins January 2 in Argentina.  Last year, Team Dakar USA shook the international community by finishing third overall with their Open Country M/T-R equipped Hummer H3.  It was the only two-wheel-drive vehicle in the top ten.  With their successes throughout 2009, the team is even more determined to take the overall win at Dakar.

Follow the 2010 Dakar race here, at toyotires.com!  Toyo Tires will send one of their own, to chronicle the adventure in South America.  Watch for Ramses’ Rally Journal - filled with stories, photos and video - at the end of December.

Click here to learn more about 2009 SCORE Champion, and Team Toyo driver, Robby Gordon