Race Coverage (Thursday/Friday/Saturday AM)

So after all the preparations, Team Mitsubishi/DXR Racing is ready to put the race-prepped Mitsubishi Raider to the test that is the Baja 1000. Team Mitsubishi/DXR Racing will be competing against factory efforts from Toyota (FJ Crusier with off-road/rally legend Rod Millen as lead driver), Hummer (H3 with Baja legend Rod Hall as lead driver) and Honda (Ridgeline).

While other teams will rotate multiple drivers during the competition, Team Mitsubishi/DXR Racing´s Dan Fresh will drive nearly the entire race solo. His only break will be a 25 minute section where the race goes onto asphalt for a speed controlled section (60 KM per hour maximum).

Here´s the action that unfolded during more than 34 hours of continous Baja 1000 competition:

THE START - ENSENADA (Race mile 0)

S.C.O.R.E CEO, Sal Fish, wishing Team Mitsubishi/DXR Racing good luck and a safe race before taking the start of the 2006 Baja 1000

Raider leaving the stage and readies to take the start

The Team Mitsubishi/DXR Racing Raider takes the flag and will have a 2 minute time advantage over the Factory Toyota FJ that lead the Stock Mini class into the competition. This time advantage would later play a significant role that nobody imagined as the Raider set out on course

Team Mitsubishi/DXR Racing Raider is now on course and on the race clock

Team Mitsubishi/DXR Racing Raider leaves the start and heads out into
the sand wash towards Checkpoint 1 in San Felipe, 180 race miles away

PIT 5 - Outside Bahia de Los Angeles (race mile 307)
The first part of the Baja 1000 gets too remote for our camer crew to cover and keep up so we're forced to skip ahead to meet the Team Mitsubishi/DXR Racing Raider at the later stages of the race.

At this stage of the race, The Team Mitsubishi/DXR Racing is on race strategy and has a comfortable third overall in the class position behind Rod Millen's factory Toyota FJ and Rod Hall's factory Hummer H3.

It's now close to midnight on Thursday as he crew awaits the Raider for servicing.

Team Mitsubishi/DXR Racing crew staying warm while waiting for the Raider to come in.

A beautiful but cold Baja desert night...temps were in the high 30's Celsius

Routine gas and suspension check by the Team Mitsubishi/DXR Racing crew

Team Mitsubishi/DXR Racing driver Dan Fresh gets a quick bite and talks to
the crew about the Raider's front end. Everything looks great at this stage

Back on course and the Raider goes back into the night towards San Ignacio

PIT 6 - Outside San Ignacio (race mile 555)
The Team Mitsubishi/DXR Racing Raider stayed out of trouble in the night and is maintaing a second overall in class position with more than half of the race run. Driver Dan Fresh let his co-driver, Sean Douglass, take the wheel for a short asphalt stretch so he could get about 15 minutes of sleep on a portion of the course that is all asphalt.

Overall, the team is on race strategy and the Raider is performing beyond expectations in it's first Baja 1000 competition.

After driving through the night, our crew caught back up to the Team Mitsubishi/DXR Racing Raider outside the mission town of San Ignacio, a spot normally known for it's easy access to Laguna San Ignacio for some of Baja's best whale watching.

Here's more action:

Early Friday AM sun on the mountains

The Team Monster Energy Drink Trophy Truck roaring by our pit.
These 800 horsepower beasts shake the ground as they go by!!!

Team Mitsubishi/DXR Racing Raider heading into our pit for a quick gas and service check

After more than 19 hours into the race, Team Mitsubishi/DXR Racing driver Dan Fresh shares a laugh with the crew...so far, the truck is nearly flawless with only one puncture and no mechanical issues

Gassed up and heading out back on course

Our crew took our Mitsubishi Monteros off-road to catch one of the many water crossings along this stretch of the course. Why should the Raider have all the fun?