2011 SCORE Baja 1000 information

[JoeyD23]

SCORE releases proposed course map,
reduces Sportsman four wheel entry fee
adds Sportsman 5-1600 class for 44th anniversary
of the legendary Tecate SCORE Baja 1000​

Entry forms now available for internationally televised granddaddy of all desert races
Drawing for class starting positions on Saturday, Oct. 15
Prerunning begins on Friday, Nov 4.
Loop race to start and finish in heart of Ensenada, Baja Mexico, Nov. 17-20​

LOS ANGELES—Continuing its dedicated efforts to stabilize costs during these challenging economic times, SCORE International has reduced the entry fee by over 25 percent for its regular Sportsman Four Wheel classes, as well as added an additional special Sportsman 5-1600 class for this year’s 44th running of the legendary Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race. This year’s internationally televised granddaddy of all desert races will be a loop race starting and finishing in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, with race week festivities scheduled for Nov. 17-20.
With the race itself starting on Friday, Nov. 18, official entry forms are available online along with the proposed course map and prerunning rules on the SCORE website at Score International Off Road Racing. Entries from over 30 US States and 15 countries are expected to take the green flag in November, competing in 35 Pro and seven Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs.
For the regular Sportsman Truck and Buggy classes, along with the new Sportsman 5-1600 class, SCORE has reduced the total entry fee to $950 from the $1,300 charged in 2009.
The drawing for class starting positions will be held in the SCORE headquarters in Los Angeles on Saturday, Oct. 15.
“SCORE is extremely aware of the difficult economic times we are enduring right now, and when the SCORE Baja 1000 has been a loop race, we have kept the entry fee the same for all of our classes since 2005, and we also want the Sportsman adventurers from around the world to be able to live the experience of the legendary Tecate SCORE Baja 1000,†commented Sal Fish, SCORE President/CEO since soon after it was founded in 1973.
“Therefore we have reduced the Sportsman Four Wheel fee for this race to help encourage all of those weekend warriors to live the dream they have had for so many years.
“Conducting SCORE races at the high level that we have for 38 years is extremely expensive, but we are committed to helping the racers control their costs, so we have done our part since 2005 by keeping the entry fee at the same level for the SCORE Baja 1000 loop races.â€
It’s the oldest and most well known of all desert races, and it remains as the single most appealing accomplishment to a racer. Since 1967, the mother of all desert races has been run over the mysterious Baja California peninsula every year except 1974 when the international fuel crisis forced a cancellation.
This year’s race will start for the 37th time and finish for the 21st time in Ensenada. Completing its 38th year as the world’s foremost desert racing sanctioning body, the event is the finale of the five-race 2011 SCORE Desert Series. The race will start and finish on Boulevard Costero adjacent to the picturesque Bahia de Todos Santos in front of the iconic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center in the heart of Ensenada.
Prerunning on the approximately 710 mile loop course will officially begin on Nov. 4.
The course itself is a combination of much of the 2008 and the 2009 courses. The rugged course that travels from Ensenada east through Ojos Negros, down Laguna Salada to San Felipe, down through the three legendary Baja canyon washes of Matomi, Huatomote and Chanate, joining familiar routes to the six-mile turnoff before Mike’s Sky Rancho, heading over to the Pacific Coast crossing Highway 1 near San Vicente and to Erendira, then through Santo Tomas, Uruapan and back to Ojos Negros, covering much of the northern half of the majestic Baja California peninsula to and from Ensenada.
The famous and not-so-famous have tried their hand at conquering the Baja and they have come from all walks of life. Mark Thatcher, son of Great Britain’s then-prime minister Margaret Thatcher, raced in the 1982 SCORE Baja 1000. Celebrities James Garner, Ted Nugent and the late Steve McQueen all battled the Baja in the early 1970s and many racers from other forms of motorsports crossed over to try their skills.
Among the drivers from other arenas who have tested the Baja were Indy Car racers Rick and Roger Mears, Parnelli Jones, Danny Ongias, Danny Sullivan, Jimmy Vasser, Buddy Rice, Sebastien Bourdais, Oriol Servia, Roberto Guerrero, Michel Jourdain Jr., Johnny Unser and Mike and Robbie Groff, NASCAR’s Robby Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Boris Said and Brendan Gaughan, SCCA legend Elliot Forbes-Robinson, World Rally Championships’ Armin Schwarz, Armin Kremer, Andreas Aigner and Harri Pavanpera, world motorcycle champions Malcolm Smith, Larry Roeseler and Destry Abbott, Motocross legends Ricky Johnson and Jeremy McGrath, XGames star Travis Pastrana, drag racers Don Prudhomme and Larry Minor and legendary SCORE founder and motorsports innovator Mickey Thompson.
The late Academy Award winning actor, racer and race team owner Paul Newman raced in the 2004 event. Jesse James, of ‘Monster Garage’ fame, and Hollywood film and TV star Patrick Dempsey have both raced this classic several times in the last nine years.
This year’s race will commemorate the achievements of legendary desert racers like Rod Hall, Ron Bishop, Johnny Johnson, and Larry Roeseler. Hall, who will turn 73 on Nov. 22, has a record 21 class wins (including one overall win in 1972), and is the only racer who has competed in all 43 SCORE Baja 1000 races. Bishop is the only racer who competed in the first 40 SCORE Baja 1000 races.
Hall will be racing this year for the second time in the featured SCORE Trophy Truck division where he will split the driving with his sons Josh and Chad. As he attempts to add to his legacy, Hall will also be an additional driver in both the Stock Full and the Stock Mini classes.
Bishop is the only racer who competed every year of the first 40 on a Motorcycle, but is not scheduled to race this year at this time. Johnson, now retired, had 15 class wins, amazingly in eight different classes.
Roeseler, has won 17 times in this race, including 13 overall wins (10 on a motorcycle). Roeseler will share driving duties this year in SCORE Trophy Truck with Tim Herbst in the No. 19 Terrible Herbst Motorsports Ford F-150. Roeseler won the unlimited Class 1 for four consecutive years (2004-2007), driving with the youngest of the three racing brothers, Troy Herbst, in the Smithbuilt-Ford open-wheel desert race car that was known as the ‘Land Shark’. Roeseler is the only racer in the history of the event to win the overall 4-wheel in a truck and also in a car as well as the overall 2-wheel title as well.
This race also features the prestigious Sal Fish SCORE IronRider awards presented to each motorcycle or ATV rider who completes the entire course within the time limit while riding solo.
In addition to season class point championships, the racers are also competing for part of the nearly $400,000 in cash purse and contingency postings for the race. Drivers in the Pro car and truck classes are also attempting to earn prestigious SCORE Toyota Milestone Awards given to all Pro car and truck class drivers who complete every required mile of the five-race season. Being presented by Toyota Motorsports for the 26th consecutive year, a total of 27 drivers remain eligible after Round 4 of the 2011 SCORE Desert Series. Racers are also competing for the annual SCORE Off-Roadsman of the Year awards, including the MasterCraft Safety SCORE Rookie of the Year award.
Tecate Beer is the title sponsor of the 44th annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000.
Current SCORE official sponsors are:
--BFGoodrich Tires-official tire
--Volkswagen of America-official vehicle
--Sunoco Race Fuels-official fuel supplier
--Slime-official tire sealant
--Symons Ambulance Company-official ambulance
--Bilstein-official shock
--Instant Mexico Auto Insurance-official Mexican auto insurance
--Lightforce Performance Lighting-official driving light of the SCORE Baja 1000
Additional SCORE sponsors are: Coca-Cola of Mexico, Proturismo Ensenada, Baja California Secretary of Tourism, COTUCO, Las Vegas Events, Blue C Advertising, SignPros, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie’s Performance Products and Advanced Color Graphics.
For more information, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters 818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the 2011 SCORE Desert Series at Score International Off Road Racing.

 

[MossMan]

Re: SCORE releases proposed course map, reduces Sportsman four wheel entry fee.......

Oh yea!

 

[JoeyD23]

Re: SCORE releases proposed course map, reduces Sportsman four wheel entry fee.......

Adventurers from 35 States, 15 countries expected in Baja
for 44th annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race

Entry forms available at Score International Off Road Racing
for internationally televised granddaddy of all desert races;
Computerized drawing for start positions, by class,
for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs on Saturday, Oct. 15

LOS ANGELES—With all of the many other desert races seeming to serve as a prelude each year, motorsports enthusiasts from around the world are now turning their collective focus to the granddaddy of all desert races, the legendary Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. This year’s internationally-televised 44th anniversary celebration will be a large loop race starting and finishing in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico as race week festivities will run from Nov. 16-20.
With the season-finale of the five-race 2011 SCORE Desert Series starting on Friday, Nov. 18, official entry forms will be available online starting Monday on the SCORE website at Score International Off Road Racing. Entries from over 30 US States and 15 countries are expected to take the green flag in November, competing in 35 Pro and six Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs.
The official course map for the 2011 will be released publically by SCORE CEO/President Sal Fish on Saturday, Oct. 8 at the Off-Road Expo in Pomona, Calif. The computerized drawing, by class, for starting positions, will be held in the SCORE headquarters in Los Angeles on Saturday, Oct. 15.
“The Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 is our flagship event and although it takes more work to produce than the entire rest of our SCORE Desert Series, it is the ‘Super Bowl’ of our sport and we are privileged to be caretakers of such an amazing motorsports treasure,” commented Fish, who has been leading SCORE since soon after it was founded in 1973. “Each year provides another magnificent chapter in the never-ending story of the fabled SCORE Baja 1000 and this year will add yet another dimension to the legend of this memorable event held on the northern part of Mexico’s majestic Baja California peninsula.”
It’s the oldest and most well known of all desert races, and it remains as the single most appealing accomplishment to a driver. Since 1967, the mother of all desert races has been run over the mysterious Baja California peninsula every year except 1974 when the international fuel crisis forced a cancellation.
The Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 has captured the imagination of the entire world as entries have come not only from every state in the United States and the District of Columbia, but also has attracted racers from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, England, Finland, France, Germany, Guam, Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Panama, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, Yugoslavia as well as the host country of Mexico.
The first known record run occurred in 1962. Dave Ekins and Bill Robertson Jr. timed their trip from Tijuana to La Paz on a pair of Honda 250 motorcycles. Ekins made it in 39 hours, 54 minutes, Robertson in less than an hour slower. There were no official timers, of course, and to establish that they had made the trip, the two motorcycle racers time-stamped a sheet of paper in the Tijuana telegraph office and time-stamped it again at the telegraph office when they arrived in La Paz.
On the eve of the 44th anniversary of this motorsports adventure, Ensenada Mayor Enrique Pelayo expressed the thoughts of his city regarding the race, saying, "As Mayor of Ensenada, I want to tell you how excited we are and to personally welcome everyone to our city as well as to congratulate those that will be part of this year's 44th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. Sal Fish and SCORE desert racing are part of the foundation of our city and a vital part of our culture and our economy. We are excited to have this legendary race once again start and finish in the heart of Ensenada in front of the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center and we look forward to your visits here for pre-running and the race itself to be enjoyable, safe and as always memorable."
In its first 43 years, the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 has started 36 times in Ensenada, three times in Mexicali (1972, 1993, 1994), twice in Tijuana (1967, 1995) once in Santo Tomas (1998) and once in Ojos Negros (1999). The legendary race has finished in Ensenada 20 times, in La Paz 18 times, in Mexicali two times (1993, 1994), twice in Cabo San Lucas (2000, 2007) and once in Ojos Negros (1999).
Manufacturers, after-market companies and racers from around the world have followed the call to conquer the Baja and use this historic event as a proving ground for both man and machine. And none in those categories has done it any better than BFGoodrich Tires-24 overall 4-wheel vehicle wins, American Honda motorcycles-21 overall 2-wheel victories, the venerable 72-year-old Rod Hall who has driven a race truck in all 43 races and has an event-record 21 class wins and Southern California’s second-generation desert racer Cameron Steele and his wife Heidi Steele are currently the only husband and wife who each races in the SCORE Baja 1000 in separate classes. From the heart of the South in Tennessee and Virginia, the RPM Offroad Team will have as many as seven entries in this year’s historic race.
Frank DeAngelo, BFG Tires Motorsports Manager, expounds easily when it comes to this race, commenting, “The Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 is the King of all Desert Races and BFGoodrich is proud to have been a part of this great event for the past 36 years. As the Official Tire of SCORE, BFGoodrich brings more than sponsorship dollars to the series and the event. BFG brings support to the racers with pitting, communications, contingency and tire service and BFG brings support to SCORE by providing support for mapping, GPS, race notes and the assisting with the event media center.
“I think the course that Sal (Fish) has laid out for this year is going to be great for the competitors. It is easy to access, easy to pre-run and great for pitting. This should allow teams to race the biggest event of the season without breaking the bank to do it.
“BFGoodrich Tires will be on-site providing five full service pits, radio and satellite communications for any teams racing on BFGoodrich tires. Each BFGoodrich pit will be staffed with mechanics, welders, fabricators, tire changes, gas men, medics and cooks to feed each crew of around 25 people per pit. BFG Teams can go to the SCORE web site or BFGredirect from October 15 to the November 4 to sign up for free pit support. Combine this type of support with the course Sal has laid out and it is a win-win for competitors.
“Mexico is very, very special to the BFG brand, and a place where we have had great success winning 24 SCORE Baja 1000 races overall out of the last 25 years. Look at the sidewalls of our All Terrain T/A KO and Mud Terrain T/A MM2 tires. They all say Baja Champions. Baja is our proving grounds and we thank Sal and everyone at SCORE for making the SCORE Baja 1000 the premier event that it is. We look forward to this year’s SCORE Baja 1000 and hope that with what Sal has done to make this event affordable and logistically easier to compete in will encourage record entries and maybe even bring some of those older vehicles out of the garage to experience another adventure of a lifetime.”
American Honda motorcycles are the winningest in the history of the world’s great desert race with 21 overall two-wheel vehicle titles including 14 straight. Leading the factory Honda program in SCORE Baja racing now is the legendary 11-time overall SCORE Baja 1000 winner Johnny Campbell, San Clemente, Calif., and his JCR/Honda race team. Since stepping down as a regular rider, Campbell’s two-team effort has produced the overall 2-wheel winners the last two years.
“Everything we do, all of our racing all year long, is centered around one thing--to be the best at the SCORE Baja 1000 every year,” said Campbell. “We are always excited for the opportunity to be in Baja. Our main focus every year is anchored by our ultimate goal to finish 1-2 in the SCORE Baja 1000. It takes a tremendous amount of preparation, perseverance, amazing equipment and dedicated pit support to compliment great riders to make it all come together in the toughest race in the universe. For up to 40 other teams, we offer JCR/Honda Pit Program with 15 or 16 full pits and about 80 crew members for this year’s race for teams that sign up through pits@jcrhonda.com.”
Both riding on identical Honda CRF450X motorcycles, the two JCR/Honda teams are led by riders of record Kendall Norman, Santa Barbara, Calif. and Colton Udall, San Clemente, Calif..
Hall, of Reno, Nev., is truly a pioneer in the sport and while he may be ‘mostly retired’ from racing as a septuagenarian, the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 remains on his annual racing calendar. Like he did last year, he will be teamed with his sons Josh and Chad in the featured SCORE Trophy-Truck in a Chevy Silverado rally race truck. The elder statesman of Rod Hall racing will also race in the Stock Full class in a Hummer H1, trying to earn double class wins like he did in 2009. Between them, the Halls of a SCORE-record 33 class wins in the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 with Chad having eight and Josh four in addition to Rod Hall’s record 21 class wins.
“Some people like to say that ‘Rod is older than dirt,’ but I just like to say that I am comfortable in my own skin,” says the affable Rod Hall. “I have learned many life lessons and seen many changes in desert racing through four decades but probably the most import one is that ‘in order to finish first, you must first finish’ and I think I have learned that lesson pretty well. I keep very busy with instructional schools and training seminars along with my other business ventures, but what keeps my blood pumping so hard is just thinking about the SCORE Baja 1000. This race is the most unique, most challenging and most memorable of any desert race in the world and I challenge anyone to go and try it for themselves and see if they don’t end up feeling the same way that I do about this monumental event.”
Both with class wins in the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, TV sports commentator Cameron Steele expresses his thoughts regarding this amazing race, saying, “Our family races and there is nothing more special than our family heading across the border to participate in a SCORE Baja race. Heidi is working on winning her 4th SCORE championship and I am looking for my second class victory at the SCORE Baja 1000. This race is the most important event on the desert racing calendar and has no equal, in fact if you added all the other desert races together they would fail to amount to a mile of the ‘Mil’ in my opinion. To just race the SCORE Baja 1000 is a honor and it requires much luck to not have Baja get the better of you or your vehicle, if you can race clean then you can be concerned with all the other competitors and try and secure the top spot on the podium.
“Baja is a magical place filled for us with epic challenges, devastating heartbreak, life changing triumph and the most spectacular miles of land anywhere on the planet. After traveling to places like Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Spain, the UK, Hawaii and others we have seen a bit of the world and know that no where has the convergence of life and challenge that this sliver of land offers to anyone willing to pull up to the start line at the SCORE Baja 1000.
“When we heard of the general description of this year’s SCORE Baja 1000 course lay out we were excited to know that the battle would take place on the world’s toughest desert racing sections. There is no rougher and tougher challenge than that of the northern Baja but at the same time it allows for easy course recon and cost effective planning. What other course lay out would let you book nights on the Sea of Cortez in San Felipe and on the Pacific Ocean in Ensenada and also mix in stays at the legendary Mikes Sky Rancho.”
Among the many other committed teams to this year’s race is the RPM Offroad Team of Bristol, Tenn. RPM continues to record impressive results with four entries in Laughlin with three class wins, five entries in San Felipe in March with two more class wins, five entries in Ensenada with three additional class wins and seven entries in San Felipe in September with two more class wins.
With two lead drivers, Justin Matney, of Bristol, Tenn., leads the 2011 SCORE point standings in both Class 8 in a Chevy Silverado and Class 11 in a Stock VW Sedan while teammate Clyde Stacy, of Bristol, Va., leads Class 4 in a PSD-Chevy and he also is a rookie in SCORE Trophy-Truck. Matney’s father John Matney won the Stock Full class in San Felipe in March to go with Stacy’s Class 4 win. In Ensenada, Matney won both Class 8 and Class 11 while Stacy won again in Class 4. In the recent San Felipe race, Matney won Class 8 and Stacy won Class 4.
“SCORE Baja racing is our test proving grounds for the numerous aftermarket products we carry in our superstore in Bristol,” said Justin Matney, just 25. “There is nothing like the SCORE Baja 1000 anywhere in the world and we look forward to November when we will have five entries for sure and maybe seven like in San Felipe earlier this month. It’s all that much more research and development.”
In addition to season class point championships, the racers are also competing for part of the nearly $400,000 in cash purse and contingency postings for the race. Drivers in the Pro car and truck classes are also attempting to earn prestigious SCORE Toyota Milestone Awards given to all Pro car and truck class drivers who complete every required mile of the five-race season. Being presented by Toyota Motorsports for the 26th consecutive year, a total of 27 drivers remain eligible after Round 4 of the 2011 SCORE Desert Series. Racers are also competing for the annual SCORE Off-Roadsman of the Year awards, including the MasterCraft Safety SCORE Rookie of the Year award.
Tecate Beer is the title sponsor of the 44th annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000.
Current SCORE official sponsors are:
--BFGoodrich Tires-official tire
--Volkswagen of America-official vehicle
--Sunoco Race Fuels-official fuel supplier
--Slime-official tire sealant
--Symons Ambulance Company-official ambulance
--Bilstein-official shock
--Instant Mexico Auto Insurance-official Mexican auto insurance
--Lightforce Performance Lighting-official driving light of the SCORE Baja 1000
Additional SCORE sponsors are: Coca-Cola of Mexico, Proturismo Ensenada, Baja California Secretary of Tourism, COTUCO, Las Vegas Events, Blue C Advertising, SignPros, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie’s Performance Products and Advanced Color Graphics.
For more information, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters 818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the 2011 SCORE Desert Series at Score International Off Road Racing.

 

[JoeyD23]

Re: SCORE releases proposed course map, reduces Sportsman four wheel entry fee.......

Las Vegas rookie Menzies still leads SCORE Trophy Truck, SCORE
Overall points after Rd 4 of five-race 2011 SCORE Desert Series

Other class leaders include Davis, L. McMillin, Stacy (2), Matney (2), H. Steele, Chamlee,
Hanna, Navarro IV, J. McMillin, Brown, Bevly III, Bevly IV, Udall
heading to November’s season finale—the 44th annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000

LOS ANGELES—Winning two of the first four series races overall and in the featured SCORE Trophy Truck division, Las Vegas rookie driver Bryce Menzies continues to stand at the top of the point leader board after four of five-races in the 2011 SCORE Desert Series.
Menzies, who opened the season by winning the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge in January, drove to a penalty-free victory as well in June’s 43rd Tecate SCORE Baja 500 to pull further ahead in the SCORE Overall and SCORE Trophy Truck point standings in the No. 70 Menzies Motorsports Ford F-150. Sandwiched between his first two career SCORE race wins in the marquee racing division for high-tech, 850-horsepower, unlimited production trucks, Menzies finished sixth in SCORE Trophy Truck at the 25th MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 in March. On Sept. 10 Menzies finished third at Tecate SCORE San Felipe Challenge of Champions and now has a six-point margin over the rest of the world’s best desert racers.
The season finale of the five-race 2011 SCORE Desert Series will be the upcoming 44th running of the legendary Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race. This year’s internationally televised granddaddy of all desert races will be a loop race starting and finishing in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, with race week festivities scheduled for Nov. 17-20.
With the race itself starting on Friday, Nov. 18, official entry forms are available online along with the proposed course map and prerunning rules on the SCORE website at Score International Off Road Racing. Entries from over 30 US States and 15 countries are expected to take the green flag in November, competing in 35 Pro and seven Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs.
The drawing for class starting positions will be held in the SCORE headquarters in Los Angeles on Saturday, Oct. 15.
This year’s race will start for the 37th time in Ensenada and finish there for the 21st time. Completing its 38th year as the world’s foremost desert racing sanctioning body, the race will start and finish on Boulevard Costero adjacent to the picturesque Bahia de Todos Santos in front of the iconic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center in the heart of Ensenada.
Prerunning on the approximately 700 mile loop course will officially begin on Nov. 4.
SCORE points are based on starting, finishing, placement and number of official starters within each class, Menzies, 23, who had only raced the 2010 SCORE Baja 500 where he finished seventh in his first start in SCORE Trophy Truck, has 306 championship points following Round 4 of the five-race 2011 SCORE Desert Series. SCORE Trophy Truck has had the largest starting field for all four races with 32 in Laughlin, 24 in San Felipe, 28 in Ensenada and 13 in the most recent San Felipe race.
"We got a great jump on the rest of the field starting in Laughlin, kept it close in San Felipe in March, pulled further out front in Ensenada and after our third place in the recent San Felipe race, it’s still several racer’s title to win, but we do have a slight edge,” said Menzies. “We have an amazing team and
together we are on the verge of making some serious history. The challenge ahead is formidable to say the least, between the great competition and the rugged Baja race course. I will make no predictions except that I know we will be prepared for the race of our lives. There is no bigger prize in desert racing then to win the SCORE Overall and SCORE Trophy Truck season championship and of course we can secure that title by winning the most legendary desert race in the world-the SCORE Baja 1000."
Picking up his ninth career SCORE Trophy Truck race win this month in San Felipe, Las Vegas’ Rob MacCachren, an eight-time SCORE season point champion, is second in overall and in SCORE Trophy Truck points so far after finishing fourth in Laughlin, winning the MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe race in March and ninth in Ensenada with 300 points, just six behind Menzies.
With two wins and a second and a seventh this year, third in overall points and leading the unlimited class 1 is Justin Davis, 18 of Chino Hills, Calif., 11 points behind Menzies with 295 so far. Davis, last year’s SCORE LITES point champion, won Class 1 in Laughlin and San Felipe and was a close second in Ensenada and seventh in the September San Felipe race driving the Green Army Motorsports Chevy-powered ESM open-wheel desert race car.
Following consistent seventh, fifth, fourth and second-place finishes in the season’s first four events, Gary Weyhrich, Troutdale, Ore., is fourth in overall points and third in SCORE Trophy Truck with 281 in the No. 98 TSCO Motorsports Ford F-150.
After earning the first SCORE class win of his young SCORE career at the Tecate SCORE San Felipe Challenge of Champions, second in the unlimited Class 1 and fifth overall with 265 points is Daniel McMillin, 23, El Cajon, Calif., in a Jimco-Chevy.
San Diego’s McMillin family actually has three third-generation desert racers in the top 16 overall point standings after four races of the 2011 SCORE Desert Series. Besides Daniel McMillin, his brother Daniel McMillin is 16th in overall points and leading Class 1/2-1600 with 247 points in a McMillin Racing AlumiCraft-VW while their cousin Jessica McMillin leads the Protruck class with four straight wins this season and is tied for ninth in overall points with 255.
The McMillins also have two SCORE Trophy Truck entries in most races, one driven by Mark McMillin, Luke and Daniel’s father, and the other shared by Jessica McMillin’s brother and father, Andy McMillin and Scott McMillin. Andy and Scott actually split the driving with Jessica McMillin during the recent San Felipe race, helping her win her fourth Protruck race of the season and finish an impressive 14th overall in the No. 1331 McMillin Realty Ford F-150.
Andy McMillin did not race in Laughlin, but finished third and second respectively in San Felipe in March and Ensenada while Mark did not race in Ensenada, but finished eighth in Laughlin and ninth in San Felipe’s March race. Neither of the McMillin SCORE Trophy Trucks raced in September’s San Felipe race but both are expected in the starting grid for the approaching Tecate SCORE Baja 1000.
Entering November’s season finale, sixth overall and third in Class 1 with 261 points is Brian Parkhouse, Long Beach, Calif., in another Jimco-Chevy while seventh overall and fourth in SCORE Trophy-Truck with 259 points is Mexico’s preeminent son-father team Gus Vildosola Jr. and Sr., in the No. 21 Vildosola Racing Ford F-150.
With extremely tight competition, just 73 points separate the top 26 overall point leaders following the first four rounds of the 2011 SCORE Desert Series. And SCORE Trophy Trucks are holding down five of the top 10 spots in overall points.
While 41 points separate the top five drivers in the SCORE overall point standings, just 28 points separate the next 21 overall leaders.
Eighth in overall points and fifth in SCORE Trophy Truck with 256 is Adam Householder, Orange, Calif., who drives the No. 24 Blitzkreig Motorsports Chevy Silverado.
Besides Jessica McMillin, the other racer who has won all four races this season to lead his classes are and Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Va. (Class 4, PSD-Chevy). Stacy is tied also tied with Jessica for ninth overall in season points.
The racers who have won their class in three of the four races this season to lead their respective class point standings are Justin Matney, Bristol, Tenn. (Class 8, Chevy Silverado), Elias Hanna, Ensenada, Mexico (Class 7SX, Ford Ranger) and Kevin Carr, San Diego (Class 5, unlimited VW Baja Bug).
Besides Davis in Class 1, other racers leading their classes with two wins this season are Heidi Steele, San Clemente, Calif. (Class 6, Ford Ranger), Donald Moss, Sacramento Calif. (Class 3, Ford Bronco), Dan Chamlee, Carpenteria, Calif. (Class 7, Ford Ranger), Justin Matney, Bristol, Tenn. (Class 11, Stock VW Sedan), Wes Bevly III, Corpus Christi, Texas (Stock Full) and Wes Bevly IV, Corpus Christi, Texas (Class 7-2, BajaLite-Chevy).
Out of Bristol, Tenn., the RPM Offroad team continues to record impressive results with four entries in Laughlin with three class wins, five entries in San Felipe in March with two more class wins, five entries in Ensenada with three additional class wins and a SCORE-record seven entries in September in San Felipe with two more class wins.
With two lead drivers, Justin Matney, of Bristol, Tenn., leads both Class 8 in a Chevy Silverado and Class 11 in a Stock VW Sedan while teammate Clyde Stacy, of Bristol, Va., leads Class 4 in a PSD-Chevy and Class 17 in a Jeep Wrangler and he also is a rookie in SCORE Trophy Truck. Matney’s father John Matney won the Stock Full class in San Felipe to go with Stacy’s Class 4 win. In Ensenada, Matney won both Class 8 and Class 11 while Stacy won again in Class 4. In the second San Felipe race, Matney won again in Class 8 and Stacy won again in Class 4.
Among the other 2011 SCORE point leaders in car and truck classes after three races are Rafael Navarro IV, Temecula, Calif. (SCORE LITES, Jimco-VW) and Sergio Salgado, Mexicali, Mexico (Class 10, Jimco-Honda).
With motorcycles and ATVs racing in the three traditional SCORE Baja races, the overall motorcycle and Class 30 (riders over 30 years old) leader with 154 points after victories in San Felipe and Ensenada is the team led by Mike Johnson, El Paso, Texas on a Honda CRF450X.
Leading the open Class 22 and tied for second overall is the JCR/Honda team led by Colton Udall, San Clemente, Calif., on a Honda CRF450X.
Following their Class 24 ATV class win in San Felipe over a field of 17 starters and Ensenada over a field of 11 starters, leading the overall ATV and Class 24 point standings with 168 points is the team led by Brandon Brown, Umatilla, Ore. on a Honda TRX450R. Brown’s co-riders in San Felipe were Jorie Williams, Longview, Wash., Kenny Sanford, Tacoma, Wash., and Robbie Mitchell, Price Utah. Added for Ensenada was Christopher Kristensen, Vancouver, Wash.
Among the other motorcycle class point leaders after two of three SCORE Baja races for their classes are the teams led by Adam Neuwirth, Los Angeles, Calif. (Class 21, Honda CRF450X), Mike Prunty, Temecula, Calif. (Class 40, Honda CRF450X), Jim Dizney, Alpine, Calif. (Class 50, Honda CRF450X) and Donald Lewis, Marlborough, Conn. (Class 60, Honda CRF450X).
Leading Class 25 for open ATVs is the team led by Wayne Matlock, Calif., on a Honda TRX700XX.
After his San Felipe win and second in Ensenada, leading Class 26 (utility ATVs) on a Can Am Outlander 800 is the team led by Joe Rice, Lomita, Calif.
In addition to season class point championships, the racers are also competing for part of the nearly $400,000 in cash purse and contingency postings each race. Drivers in the Pro car and truck classes are attempting to earn prestigious SCORE Toyota Milestone Awards given to all car and truck class drivers who complete every required mile of the five-race season. Being presented by Toyota Motorsports for the 26th consecutive year, a total of 27 drivers remain eligible after Round 4 of the 2011 SCORE Desert Series.
Racers are also competing for the annual SCORE Off-Roadsman of the Year awards, including the MasterCraft Safety SCORE Rookie of the Year award.
Tecate Beer is the title sponsor of the 44th annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000.
Official Sponsors of the SCORE Desert Series are:
-BFGoodrich Tires, Official Tire
-Volkswagen of America, Official Vehicle
-Sunoco Race Fuels, Official Race Fuel
-Slime, Official Tire Sealant
-Symons Ambulance Company, Official Ambulance
-Bilstein, Official Shock Absorber
-Instant Mexico Auto Insurance, Official Mexican Auto Insurance
Official Sponsors of the SCORE Baja 1000 are:
-Coca-Cola, Official Soft Drink
-Volaris Airlines, Official Airline
-Lightforce Performance Lighting, Official Driving Light
Additional SCORE Sponsors are - Proturismo Ensenada, Baja California Secretary of Tourism, COTUCO Mexicali/San Felipe, Las Vegas Events, Blue C Advertising, SignPros, PCI Race Radios, McKenzie’s Performance Products and Advanced Color Graphics.
For more information, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters 818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the 2011 SCORE Desert Series at Score International Off Road Racing.

2011 SCORE Desert Series Point Leaders
(after Inaugural Tecate SCORE San Felipe Challenge of Champions-Sept. 9-11, San Felipe, Mexico; Remaining Race— 44th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000-Nov. 17-20, Ensenada, Mexico)
Top 25 Overall Cars and Trucks
(Position, Drivers, Vehicle-Engine, Class, Points)
1. Bryce Menzies, Las Vegas, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy Truck), 306
2. Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy Truck), 300
3. Justin Davis, Chino Hills, Calif., ESM-Chevy (Class 1), 295
4. Gary Weyhrich, Troutdale, Ore., Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy Truck), 281
5. Daniel McMillin, El Cajon, Calif., Jimco-Chevy (Class 1), 265
6. Brian Parkhouse, Long Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy (Class 1), 261
7. Gus Vildosola Jr., Mexicali, Mexico, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy Truck), 259
8. Adam Householder, Orange, Calif., Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy Truck), 256
9. Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Va., PSD-Chevy (Class 4), 255
9. Jessica McMillin, National City, Calif., Ford F-150 (Protruck), 255
11. Rafael Navarro IV, Temecula, Calif., Jimco-VW (SCORE LITES), 252
12. Jesse Ashcraft, San Marcos, Calif., Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy Truck), 251
13. Justin Matney, Bristol, Tenn., Chevy Silverado (Class 8), 250
14. Kevin Carr, San Diego, VW Baja Bug (Class 5), 249
14. Nick Vanderwey, Phoenix, Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy Truck), 249
16. Luke McMillin, El Cajon, Calif., AlumiCraft-VW (Class 1/2-1600), 247
17. Pete Sohren, Glendale, Ariz., Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy Truck), 246
18. Dan Chamlee, Carpenteria, Calif., Ford Ranger (Class 7), 243
18. Sergio Salgado, Mexicali, Mexico, Jimco-Honda (Class 10), 243
20. Heidi Steele, San Clemente, Calif., Ford Ranger (Class 6), 241
20. Zak Langley, Santa Monica, Calif., Smithbuilt-VW (SCORE LITES), 241
22. Noah Ostanik, Encinitas, Calif., Ford F-150 (Class 8), 238
23. Ken Losch, Tempe, Ariz., Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy Truck), 237
24. Wes Bevly IV, Corpus Christi, Texas, BajaLite-Chevy (Class 7-2), 233
24. Arturo Velazco, Banning, Calif., VBR-VW (Class 1/2-1600), 233
24. Cody Kellogg, Cypress, Calif., VW Baja Bug (Class 5), 233

2011 SCORE Desert Series
Pro Class Point Leaders
(NOTE: Motorcycles, ATVs and SPT UTVs race in the SCORE San Felipe 250, SCORE Baja 500 and SCORE Baja 1000) (With Class wins in parenthesis)
Pro Cars and Trucks
SCORE TROPHY TRUCK—1. Bryce Menzies, Las Vegas, Ford F-150 (2), 306; 2. Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Ford F-150 (2), 300; 3. Gary Weyhrich, Troutdale, Ore., Ford F-150, 281; 4. Gus Vildosola Jr., Mexicali, Mexico, Ford F-150, 259; 5. Adam Householder, Orange, Calif., Chevy Silverado, 256; 6. Jesse Ashcraft, San Marcos, Calif., Ford F-150, 251; 7. Nick Vanderwey, Phoenix, Chevy Silverado, 249; 8. Pete Sohren, Glendale, Ariz., Ford F-150, 246; 9. Ken Losch, Tempe, Ariz./Greg Nunley, Tulare, Calif., Chevy Silverado, 237; 10. Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Va., Chevy Silverado, 206.
CLASS 1—1. Justin Davis, Chino Hills, Calif., ESM-Chevy (2), 295; 2. Daniel McMillin, El Cajon, Calif., Jimco-Chevy (1), 265; 3. Brian Parkhouse, Long Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, 261; 4. Damen Jefferies, Apple Valley, Calif., Jefferies-Chevy, 226; 5. Dan Martin, Monrovia, Calif., Racer-Chevy, 219; 6. Steve Appleton, Boise, Idaho, Jimco-Chevy, 214; 7. David Greenhill, Crowley, Texas, Jimco-Chevy, 206; 8. Randy Wilson, Lakewood, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, 195; 9. Conan Barker, Whitter, Calif., Porter-Ford, 165; 10. Josh Rigsby, Santa Fe, N.M., Penhall-Chevy, 137; ALSO: 12. Steven Eugenio, Alpine, Calif./Adam Pfankuch, Oceanside, Calif., Jimco-Chevy (1), 107.
CLASS 1/2-1600—1. Luke McMillin, El Cajon, Calif., AlumiCraft-VW (1), 194; 2. Arturo Velazco/Abel Velazco, Banning, Calif., Porter-VW (1), 233; 3. (Tie) Brad Wilson, Long Beach, Calif., Penhall-VW and Brian Wilson, Long Beach, Kreger-VW, 224; 5. J.J. Schnarr, Reno, Nev., Levco-VW, 155; 6. Cody Robinson, El Cenro, Calif./Roberto Romo, Mexicali, Mexico, Romo-VW (1), 117.
CLASS 3—1. Donald Moss, Sacramento, Calif., Ford Bronco (2), 126.
CLASS 5—1. Kevin Carr, San Diego, VW Baja Bug (3), 249; 2. Cody Kellog, Cypress, Calif., VW Baja Bug (1), 233.
CLASS 5-1600—1. Emilio Salcido, Mexicali, Mexico, VW Baja Bug (1), 144; 2. Carlos Rivas, Mexicali, Mexico, VW Baja Bug (1), 85.
CLASS 6—1. Heidi Steele, San Clemente, Calif./Rene Brugger, San Diego, Ford Ranger (2), 241; 2. Marc Burnett, Chula Vista, Calif., Ford Ranger (1), 232; 3. Javier Manzo, Tijuana, Mexico, Ford Ranger, 161.
CLASS 7—1. Dan Chamlee, Carpenteria, Calif., Ford Ranger (2), 184; 2. Brandon Walsh, Encinitas, Calif., Toyota Tacoma, 178; 3. Arturo Alvarez, Mexicali, Mexico, Ford Ranger (2), 175.
CLASS 7SX—1. Elias Hanna, Ensenada, Mexico, Ford Ranger (3), 185; 2. Rich Severson, Tucson, Ariz., Ford Ranger, 59.
CLASS 8—1. Justin Matney, Bristol, Tenn., Chevy Silverado (3), 250; 2. Noah Ostanik, Encinitas, Calif., Ford F-150 (1), 238.
CLASS 9—1. Luke Babb, Monrovia, Calif., Jimco-VW, 70.
CLASS 10—1. Sergio Salgado, Mexicali, Mexico, Jimco-Honda (1), 243; 2. Peter Hajas, Wayzata, Minn., Kreger-Chevy, 188; 3. Matt Cullen, Long Beach, Calif., AlumiCraft-VW (2), 178; 4. John Langley, Santa Monica, Calif., Racer-Chevy, 168.
SCORE LITES—1. Rafael Navarro IV, Temecula, Calif., Jimco-VW (1), 252; 2. Zak Langley, El Segundo, Calif., SmithFab-VW, (1), 241; 3. Perry McNeil, Lemon Grove, Calif., Lothringer-VW, 205; 4. Steven Lisa, Paradise Valley, Calif., Foddrill-VW, 198; 5. Samuel Araiza, La Paz, Mexico, Curry-VW, 169.
CLASS 11—1. Justin Matney, Bristol, Tenn., VW Sedan (2), 180; 2. Matt Cullen, Long Beach, Calif., VW Sedan, 171.
STOCK FULL—1. Wes Bevly III, Corpus Christi, Texas, Ford F-150 (2), 195; 2. Joe Bacal, Anthem, Ariz., Lexus LX570, 141; 3. John Matney, Bristol, Va., Dodge Ram2500 (1), 129.
STOCK MINI—1. Justin Matney, Bristol, Tenn., Ford Ranger, 35.
PROTRUCK—1. Jessica McMillin, National City, Calif., Ford F-150 (4), 255.
CLASS 7-2—1. Wes Bevly IV, Corpus Christi, Texas, BajaLite-Chevy (2), 233; 2. Bruce Finchum, Mesa, Ariz., TrophyLite-Chevy (1), 200; 3. Reid Rutherford, Montrose, Colo. Mason-Chevy (1), 174.
CLASS 4—1. Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Va., PSD-Chevy (4), 255; 2. Tony Miglini, Dallas, PredatorX-18-Chevy, 167.
CLASS 17—1. Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Va., Jeep Wrangler, 35.
CLASS 2-D—1. Rob Rill, Gainesville, Fla., Rallyraid-BMW, 45.
Pro Motorcycles
CLASS 22—1. Colton Udall, San Clemente, Calif./David Kamo, Caldwell, Idaho, Honda CRF450X (1), 151; 2. Chad Thornton, Farmington, N.M./Kyle Abney, Albuquerque, N.M., KTM530XCW, 129; 3. A.J. Stewart, Jamul, Calif./Bryce Stavron, Palmdale, Calif./Donald Stanley, San Clemente, Calif./Kyle Corfman, El Centro, Calif., Honda CRF450X, 129; 4. Kendall Norman, Santa Barbara, Calif./Quinn Cody, Buellton, Calif., Honda CRF450X (1), 110.
CLASS 21—1. Adam Neuwirth, Los Angeles/Salvador Hernandez, Ensenada, Mexico, Honda CRF450X, 141; 2. Trevor Insley, San Clemente, Calif./Matt Eddy/Max Eddy Jr., Barstow, Calif./Bill Gilbert, Ladera Ranch, Calif., Honda CRF450X (1), 140; 3. David Kleiman, Carlsbad, Calif./Mike Gress, Anaheim Hills, Calif./Chad Earl, Huntington Beach, Calif., Honda CRF450X, 130.
CLASS 30—1. Mike Johnson, El Paso, Texas/Steve Garnett, Carson City, Nev./Brian Pinard, Sun City, Calif., Honda CRF450X (2), 154; 2. Francisco Septien, Ensenada, Mexico/Jason Trubey, Henderson, Nev./Noe Ibarra, Banning, Calif., Honda CRF450X, 142; 3. Tim Abshire, Dana Point, Calif./Scott Clemens, Laguna Niguel, Calif./John Burke-Zuber, Victorville, Calif./Craig McCall, Riverside, Calif., Honda CRF450X, 129.
CLASS 40—1. Mike Prunty/Sterlyn Rigsby, Temecula, Calif./Collie Potter, Murrieta, Calif., Honda CRF450X (1), 144; 2. Jeff Kaplan, Thousand Oaks, Calif./Jeff Sheets, Henderson, Nev./Brett Helm, Poway, Calif., Honda CRF450X, (1), 140; 3. Oscar Fazz, Yuma, Ariz./Randy Harmon, Peoria, Ariz./Derek Ball, Yuma, Ariz., Kawasaki KX450F, 89.
CLASS 50—1. Jim Dizney, Alpine, Calif./Doug Smith, Upland, Calif./Eric McKenna, Loomis, Calif./Steve Williams, Tehachapi, Calif./Paul Doebereiner, La Quinta, Calif., Honda CRF450X (2), 151; 2. Ken Kosiorek, San Diego, Honda XR650R, 131; 3. Jim O’Neal, Simi Valley, Calif./ Andy Kirker, Santa Ana, Calif./Tim Withers, Pepeekeo, Hawaii/Lee Scheffers, Riverside, Calif./Marc Prince, Malibu, Calif., Honda CRF450X, 89.
CLASS 60—1. Donald Lewis, Marlborough, Conn./Sam Dempsey, Lake Balboa, Calif./Bob Gates, Hesperia, Calif./Jim O’Neal, Simi Valley, Calif./Will Rogers, Escondido, Calif./Jim Dizney, Alpine, Calif., Honda CRF450X (2), 150.
Pro ATVs
CLASS 25—1. Wayne Matlock/Josh Caster, El Cajon, Calif./Wes Miller, Los Angeles, Honda TRX700XX (1), 141; 2. Craig Christy, Burbank, Calif./Dave Scott, Belen, N.M./Andy Lagzdins, Playa del Rey, Calif./Garren Fuller, Santee, Calif., Honda TRX700XX, 138; 3. Rafael Torres/Juan Naranjo/Damaria Maduena/Jouquin Maduena/Carlos Cansteneda, San Felipe, Mexico, Honda TRX450R, 136; 4. Roberto Ruiz, El Centro, Calif./Rodolfo Navarro, Mexicali, Mexico/Carlos Apdali/Ivan Mejorado, Tecate, Calif., Honda TRX450R (1), 102.
CLASS 24—1. Brandon Brown, Umatilla, Ore./Jorie Williams, Longview, Wash./Kenny Sanford, Tacoma, Wash./Robbie Mitchell, Price, Utah/Christopher Kristensen, Vancouver, Wash., Honda TRX450R (2), 168; 2. Juan Sanchez/Raul Cano/Angel Sanchez/Danny Salazar, Chula Vista, Calif., Honda TRX450R, 152; 3. Heriberto Marquez/Julio Gomez/Adrian Lopez, Ensenada, Mexico, Honda TRX450R, 145; 4. Jorge Brambila, Imperial Beach, Calif./Julio Cornejo, San Diego/David Nunez, Imperial Beach, Calif./Manuel Jimenez, Mexicali, Mexico, Honda TRX450R, 140; 5. Nick Nelson, Tehachapi, Calif./Jason Greenhaw, Bakersfield, Calif./Nick DeStout, Oceanside, Calif./Frank Batista, Riverdale, Calif., Honda TRX450R, 139.
CLASS 26—1. Joe Rice, Lomita, Calif./Tim Winiarski, Carson, Calif., Can Am Outlander800 (1), 144; 2. Carl Vela, Ardsley, N.Y./Mike Penland, Rabun Gap, Ga./Raymond Regis, Huntington, N.Y., Can-Am Outlander800 (1), 85.
Sportsman
SPT TRUCK—1. Nick Tonelli, Huntington Beach, Calif., Ford Ranger (1), 129.
SPT BUGGY—1. Peter Lang, Santa Rosa, Calif., Homebuilt-Buck (3), 215.
SPT UTV—1. Bill Morris, Bakersfield, Calif., Polaris RZR4 (1), 105.
SPT M/C 450cc<—1. Marco Meave, Chula Vista, Calif., Yamaha WR450R (1), 151.
SPT M/C 450cc>—1. Ulises Fierro, Tijuana, Mexico, Honda CRF450X (2), 175.
SPT ATV—1. Juan P. Gonzalez, Ensenada, Mexico, Honda TRX450R (1), 15