Yep, the name comes from Dakar, Senegal (In Africa), when the race, the Dakar Rally, was originally ran from Paris to Dakar. It's now held in South America, yet retains the legacy name.

These are specially built off road vehicles, Kamaz is the manufacturer in this example. Like many races, there are different classes of trucks that compete in the Rally, alongside dirt bikes, quads and cars.

It's basically Mad Max and I encourage folks to check out highlights of it, or the similar Baja 1000 race.

Interestingly, the truck class includes support trucks that don't actually compete, but assist competitors stranded in the middle of nowhere.

This Red Bull sponsored Monster (energy drinks!) has right around 1000hp and a 265 gallon fuel tank if I recall correctly. Road trip!

It had to have been strapped down for it to have not left the trailer. It looked like it may have been an off-road truck like they run in the Dakar Rally... and instead of strapping it down by the frame and compressing the suspension, they strapped the wheels or only the front which allowed it a lot of movement.>> ^MarineGunrock:

Why the fuck wasn't that thing strapped down!?!?