IRVINE, Calif., June 6, 2003 – Despite starting 12 in a field of 14 trophy trucks, Darren Skilton and Team Kia were outpacing the competition for the first 190 miles of the grueling Baja 500 this past weekend. By the 190-mile mark of the 452-mile race Skilton was in fourth position, having passed half of the entire field well before the halfway marker of the race. But a heartbreaking engine failure at El Coyote put a halt to Kia's victory dance.

"I lost oil pressure and that was enough to stop us," said Kia factory driver Darren Skilton. "There wasn't much we could do."

Team Kia was on pace to conquer and win the prestigious race, had it not been for that little detail. Skilton and the team were easily outpacing the winning truck, which won with an average speed of 42.4 mph.

"Based on our split times we were averaging about 44 mph," pointed out a bittersweet Skilton. "We were competitive with all the lead trucks, which makes a mechanical failure all the more frustrating."

Little else went wrong for Team Kia before the engine let go. A slow leaking tire was dealt with at the first pitstop, but Skilton had adroitly avoided getting a flat through the rocky sections at the start of the race, no small feat in and of itself. In addition, Skilton had managed to pass a slower vehicle right after the starting line to avoid losing precious time. At mile 55 a deep silt bed held hostage many competitors, but Skilton weaved his way through the blockade with little trouble. "It's a case where you do everything right only to fall victim to mechanical issues beyond your control," said Skilton. "On a positive note, I'm happy that we were competitive with the 700-plus horsepower competition."

Skilton and Team Kia now prepare for the Vegas to Reno race in the Best in the Desert series June 26-29. A stronger, more powerful engine is going into the Sorento Trick Truck, and Skilton estimates it will make 400 horsepower and be even more durable than the powerplant it's replacing.

"We know the next two motors are going to be stronger all around," beamed Skilton. "We have new crankshafts coming that are custom made for this type of racing."

With their sights set on the race ahead, Team Kia is more determined than ever to bring home a series championship.

"We're going to put 110-percent effort into this Vegas-to-Reno race," said Skilton. "We have our setbacks like anyone else, but we bounce back stronger and more focused because of them."

Kia Motors America is the U.S. sales, marketing and service arm of Kia Motors Corp. in Seoul, South Korea.