This is the Statt Mann Baby! It's time to Scatt a little bit…

All the headlines from this year's Dakar Rally went to the fight at the front between teammates Nasser Al-Attiyah and Carlos Sainz.  Al-Attiyah eventually won fulfilling a goal he's had much of his life, certainly the last two years when he battled Sainz, sometimes face to face, for the victory.

But while all that was going on at the front, back in the shadows there was another fight going on between two Americans, journalist Sue Mead and her teammate, off-road racer Darren Skilton.

Their battle was with the elements and the toughest two weeks of motor racing in the world.  Mead called it simply: Brutal.

They put their largely stock, FabSchool/General Tire Ford F-150 SVT Raptor on the victory stand in the class for cars and light-duty trucks.  There were six in the class including Robby Gordon.  Mead and Skilton were the only ones to finish.

Their sponsors MIGHT let us know that in the next few weeks!  It was an incredible battle.  They were as low as 126th and as high as 36th.  They finished 54th, switching off driving duties daily, battling the rain, snow, desert dunes and high altitude speeds in the 2011 Dakar Rally.

You think they'll want to see the inside of that truck for a while!?

Peace.