51st Annual SCORE Baja 1000
WHAT: 51st SCORE Baja 1000 desert race, final round of 4-race 2018 SCORE World Desert ChampionshipWHEN: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, November 12-18, 2018
WHERE: Start/Finish: Ensenada-Baja California, Mexico(65 miles south–U.S./Mexico Border at San Diego)
WHO: Nearly 300 entries with racers from 38 U.S. States, 18 countries in Pro and Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, UTVs, motorcycles and quads.
COURSE: TOTAL MILEAGE: 806.76 miles (5 physical checkpoints, 192 virtual checkpoints plus the finish line). Start/Finish on Blvd. Costero, adjacent to the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center in Ensenada.SCORE has put together another memorable race course, this one for a loop race, with all of the foreboding, unforgiving terrain the northern state of the mysterious Baja California peninsula has to offer. Starting and finishing in the heart of Ensenada in front of the historic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center, the course travels in a counter-clockwise direction. It includes the approximate 30 mile stretch to Ojos Negros which is used in both directions.After Ojos Negros the course heads out to Jamau. After Jamau before the ‘Goat Trail’ there is a new short section that has never been raced on. Course goes to Kiliwas and out to Hwy 3 to San Matias, over to the desert in San Felipe. South of San Felipe it loops around Amarillas Wash and comes back to Old Puertecitos Road on Huatamote Wash, head south to the Sulphur mines and turn right and will loop back using Matomi Wash to Old Puertecitos Highway. South from Puertocitos to Gonzaga Bay and before Coco’ s Corner it turns south and takes a new trail that will take racers back to the main road out to Chapala. At Chapala the course goes across Hwy 1 and does a loop behind Cataviña where there is tons of silt and nasty hill climbs. North of Cataviña the course goes back across the peninsula on the east side of Hwy 1 and heads north to Rancho Victoria and more silt before and after this ranch in the Rm 490 to Rm 510 area. It then drops down to El Rosario Wash and goes north to San Quintin on a fast smooth road that has never been raced on. In San Quintin the course runs north and hits the coast to Santo Tomas, taking pavement to Uruapan and then back through the hills and natural terrain back to Ojos Negros and to the finish in Ensenada.
Because of the horrendous silt beds, Class 11 (stock VW sedans) and all Sportsman 4-wheel vehicles classes will be allowed to eliminate the Cataviña loop, taking pavement from rm 379.22 to rm 478.38.
This year’s race course alo has 22 speed zones.
This year’s race course features 5 outlying checkpoints where each vehicle is required to quickly stop before continuing on. The checkpoints will be located as follows: Checkpoint No. 1—North of San Felipe (race mile 177.34), No. 2—before Hwy 1 on Chapala Road (rm 378.27), No. 3—San Quintin (rm 597.81), No. 4—Vicente Guerrero Wash (rm 633.85), No. 5—Santo Tomas (rm 733.02).
Schedule of Events:
MONDAY, Nov. 12–(All times PST)
Noon – 5 p.m. – SCORE Chassis Inspections-Playa Hermosa Beach 1.1 miles south of Riviera del Pacifico CC
Noon – 5 p.m. – Pre-Tech Inspections/Stella Bracket Checks & Installations-Playa Hermosa Beach
TUESDAY, Nov. 13–(All times PST)
9a.m. – 5 p.m. – SCORE Chassis Inspections-Playa Hermosa Beach 1.1 miles south of Riviera del Pacifico CC
9a.m. – 5 p.m. – Pre-Tech Inspections/Stella Bracket Checks & Installations-Playa Hermosa Beach
1 p.m. – 8 p.m. – Racer Registration, Red Room-Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center (adjacent to S/F)
1 p.m. – 5 p.m. – Media Registration, Red Room-Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 14–(All times PST)
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Racer Registration (No new walk-in entries after 3 p.m.), Red Room-Riviera (next to S/F)
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Media Registration, Red Room-Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center
9 a.m. — 5 p.m. – Contingency Row-All motos, quads, UTVs, some car/truck, Boulevard Costero, Next to Riviera CC
9 a.m. – 6 p.m. – Technical Inspection for above classes, End of Contingency Row
THURSDAY, Nov. 15–(All Times PST)
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Racer Registration (No new walk-in entries after 3 p.m.), Red Room-Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Media Registration, Red Room-Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Volunteer Registration, location TBA
9 a.m. — 5 p.m. – Contingency Row-Remaining car/truck classes including SCORE Trophy Truck, Blvd. Costero
9 a.m. – 6 p.m. – Technical Inspection for above classes, End of Contingency Row
11:30 a.m. – SCORE Baja 1000 Media Conference, Torre Lucerna Hotel Ensenada
6 p.m. – Mandatory Aircraft Pilot Meeting, Torre Lucerna Hotel Ensenada
7 p.m. – Mandatory Racer Meeting, Torre Lucerna Hotel Ensenada
8 p.m. – 12 a.m. – Monster Energy SCORE Papas & Beer Street Party, Avenida Ruiz (adjacent to Papas Y Beer)
FRIDAY, Nov. 16–(All Times PST)
3:30 a.m. – Midnight – BFGoodrich Tires/Baja California Secretary of Tourism/SCORE Media Center—Red Room, Riviera
4a.m. – RACE START – Pro Motorcycles, Pro Quads, Sportsman Motorcycles, Sportsman Quads
STARTING ORDER (Subject to change): (One vehicle every 30 seconds)
Pro Moto Unlimited, Pro Moto Limited, Pro Moto 30, Pro Moto 40, Pro Moto 50, Pro Moto Ironman, Pro Moto 60, Pro Quad, SPT Quad, SPT M/C
9 a.m. – Special Hoisting of the Monumental Mexican Flag-Ventana al Mar Plaza
9:45 a.m. – Opening Ceremony, Honor Guard, Salute to the Flag, Start/finish line area, Blvd. Costero
10:30 a.m. RACE START – Cars/Trucks/UTVs (Approximate 5 1/2 hour first and second group)
STARTING ORDER (Subject to change): (One vehicle every 60 seconds in SCORE TT and Class 1 with a five-minute gap between those two classes, one vehicle every 30 seconds for remaining classes)
TT/TT Legend, 1, TT Spec, 10, 2, Hammer Unltd, Hammer Ltd, 8, 1/2-1600, SL, 7, 7F, 5, HM, Pro UTV FI, Pro UTV, Pro UTV Unltd, 5-1600, 3000, TL, Baja-e, BC, 3, PT, SF, 7SX, 3700, 2700, 1700, SM, VT, VI, 9, 11, SPT Unltd Truck, SPT Buggy, SPT Ltd Truck, SPT UTV, SPT Stock UTV FI, SPT Stock UTV NA
TIME LIMIT:All vehicles will have a 36-hour time limit from the time each starts.
Race in Progress – Posting of Unofficial Results — SCORE Media Center, Red Room, Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center
SATURDAY, Nov. 17–(All Times PST)
12 a.m. – course close – BFG Tires/Baja California Secretary of Tourism/SCORE Media Center—Red Room, Riviera CC
Race in Progress — Posting of Unofficial Results — SCORE Media Center, Red Room, Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center
SUNDAY, Nov. 18–(all times PST)
6:30 a.m. – Posting of Results—SCORE Semi and online
6:30 a.m. – 8 a.m. – Race teams must submit results inquiries at SCORE Semi (see Racer Brief)
8 a.m. – Noon — BFGoodrich Tires/Baja California Secretary of Tourism/SCORE Media Center—Red Room, Riviera CC
9 a.m. – Posting of SCORE Baja 1000 Race Results—Red Room, Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center
10 a.m. – Awards Celebration-Start/Finish line Ramp in front of Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center
SANCTION: Sanctioned/produced by SCORE International SRL: President—Roger Norman; Race Director– Jose Grijalva; Tech Director—Dan Cornwell; Assistant Race Director—Marco Durazo; SCORE Special Advisor—Juan Tintos; Logistics Coordinator—David Duenas; Course Worker Coordinator—Hector Ponce
MARKETING:Marketing by Promote Mexico LLC: President–Roger Norman; Vice President–Elise Norman; Director of Sales and Marketing–Jim Ryan; Registration Director—Audreonna Cuarez; Media Operations Director—Dominic Clark; Attorney–John Alessio; Digital Media Advisor—Edward Muncey; Administrator—
Mandy Dunn; Bookkeeping—Michelle Ou; Vendor Coordinator—Jacqueline Rocha
STREAMING: Pre-race and race days coverage will be streamed live. There will also be vehicle tracking on
race days. Announcer: Rat Sult.
TELECAST: Produced by BCIITV–two-hour special to air domestically on the El Rey Network. Producer: Bud
Brutsman. Will air worldwide via international distribution. Announcers: Cameron Steele, Aaron Ampudia
BLACK BOXES: SCORE International Tracking provides the required data recording and Anube
tracking/data Stella III tracking devices are used on all entries in SCORE World Desert Championship events
SPONSORS:
Official SCORE Sponsors: BFGoodrich Tires-Official Tire and official race title sponsor, Monster Energy-Official Energy Drink, King Shocks-Official Shock Absorber, Polaris RZR-Official UTV, RACELINE Wheels-Official Wheel, VP Racing Fuels-Official Fuel, Lucerna Hotels & Resorts-Official Hotel and official race title sponsor, Wide Open Excursions-Official Arrive and Drive Company, Crystal Bay Casino-Official Casino.
SCORE Official Partners: PCI Race Radios, 4 Wheel Parts, The Satellite Phone Store, Satellite Del Norte.
Additional SCORE Associate Partners: Proturismo Ensenada, Baja California Secretary of Tourism, Baja California Sur State Government, Baja California Sur Secretary of Tourism, Mexicali Ayuntamiento, COTUCO Mexicali/San Felipe, Cruz Roja Mexicana, Corporate Helicopters, McKenzie’s Performance Products, Advanced Color Graphics.
Tijuana SCORE Desert Challenge Special Partners: XXII Ayuntamiento de Tijuana, Baja California State Secretary of Tourism, Comite de Turismo and Convenciones, Comite de Marcadotecnia Turistica, Asociacion de Hoteles del Noroeste.
TOP RACERS:
SCORE TROPHY TRUCK:No. 11 Rob MacCachren/Jason Voss, No. 1 Carlos ‘Apdaly’ Lopez/Juan C. Lopez, No. 77 Robby Gordon/Cole Potts, No. 31 Andy McMillin/Tavo Vildosola, No. No. 16 Cameron Steele/Pat Dean, No. 97 B.J. Baldwin/Willie Valdez Jr, No. 15 Billy Wilson/Chad Bunch, No. 4 Justin Matney/Josh Daniel, No. 23 Dan McMillin/Gary Weyhrich, No. 19 Tim Herbst/Ed Herbst/Ryan Millen, No. 7 Bryce Menzies/Toby Price, No. 83 Luke McMillin/Larry Roeseler, No. 54 Troy Herbst/Christian Sourapas/Brett Sourapas, No. 32 Ryan Arciero/Adam Householder, No. 20 Robbie Pierce/Matt Loiodice, No. 10 Alan Ampudia/Aaron Ampudia/Rodrigo Ampudia, No. 6 Larry Connor/Ricky Johnson/Luke Johnson, No. 50 Zak Langley/Kyle Jergensen, No. 86 Joe Bacal/Jeff Geiser, No. 45 Gary Magness/Devin Housh, No. 70 Kevin Thompson/Harley Letner, No. 5L Clyde Stacy/Armin Schwarz (SCORE TT Legend class) and No. 21L Gus Vildosola Sr/Scott Bailey/Mike Coleman (SCORE TT Legend) CLASS 1: 168 Shelby Reid, 153 Brad Wilson, 100 Brian Wilson, 185 Justin Davis, 150 Morgan Langley, 189 Jon Walker, 129 Brandon Bailey; TROPHY TRUCK SPEC:200 Elias Hanna, 295 William Hedrick Jr/William Hedrick Sr, 242 Bryce Swaim, 204 Sara Price, 230 Chad Hall, 277 Rod Lewis, 227Jordan Brenthel, 250 John Langley/Steve Hengeveld, 232 Chelsea Magnass, 276 Gerardo Iribe;CLASS 10:1023 Broc Dickerson/Jeff Dickerson, 1068 Cody Reid, 1081 Todd Winslow/Matt Winslow, 1049 Ty Godde, 1016 Hiram Duran; HAMMER TRUCK UNLTD:4422 Casey Currie, 4405 Shannon Campbell; CLASS 1/2-1600:1603 Oscar Alvarez,1614 Bruce Yee, 1678 Gustavo Avina;SCORE LITES: 1210 Luis Barragan, 1258 Jeremy Davis/Vic Bruckmann, 1206 Freddie Willert; Class 7: 700 Dan Chamlee, 709 Jeff Proctor/Alexander Rossi/Johnny Campbell; HEAVY METAL:894 Vincent Munoz;PRO UTV FI:2971 Wayne Matlock, 2913 Branden Sims, 2900 Marc Burnett, 2919 Brandon Schueler, 2966 Rhys Millen, 2912 Tony Riggs; PRO UTV:1954 Kristen Matlock, 1995 Kaden Wells, 1955 Paul Champion;PRO UTV UNLIMITED:1872 Jesus Mendez Jr; CLASS 5-1600:553 Cesar Iniguez, 577 Luis Herrera;BAJA CHALLENGE:BC1 Larry McRae; CLASS 3:302 Donald Moss;CLASS 11:1104 Viry Felix, 1100 Dennis Hollenbeck, 1111 Eric Solorzano, 1156 Art Penner;PRO MOTO UNLIMITED:1x Shane Esposito/Colton Udall, 4x and 66x Santiago Creel, 7x Justin Morgan/Mark Samuels; PRO MOTO 40: 400x Jano Montoya; PRO MOTO 30:300X Ryan Liebelt, 333x Chad Thornton, 360x Santiago Creel; PRO MOTO 50: 510x Giovanni Spinali,PRO MOTO LIMITED: 100x Santiago Creel;PRO MOTO IRONMAN: 730x Francisco Septien, 722x Liz Karcz; PRO MOTO60:649x Guy Laycraft; PRO QUAD:1a Said Sanchez, 2a Don Higbee.
EL GRAN JEFE—GRAND MARSHAL
For this year’s 51st SCORE Baja 1000, SCORE International has selected Mexico’s beloved tourism official Nico Saad, the only person who has been behind the scenes at all 50 of the previous races, as the Grand Marshal for this year’s anniversary of the world’s most iconic desert race.
Honorably humble, unusually unassuming, famously friendly by nature while constantly and consistently working diligently behind the scenes by choice on behalf of SCORE Baja racing for nearly 45 years, Saad is the beloved owner of the San Nicolas Resort and extremely cherished and productive President of Proturismo de Ensenada. Saad is the only person who has been part of all 50 Baja 1000 events, obviously including the 44 produced and sanctioned by SCORE International.
WELCOME AXALTA
Axalta, known in 130 countries worldwide as a leader in coating systems and recognized easily for its long-lasting involvement with NASCAR Racing including drivers like Jeff Gordon, has entered the world of desert racing with its sponsorship of the No. 86 Dodge Ram, Geiser Bros.-built SCORE Trophy Truck to run in this year’s SCORE Baja 1000.
Champion SCORE racer Joe Bacal, a stunt-car driver and performance driving school owner in Phoenix, is the driver of record with Jeff Geiser as his second driver. Bacal, who is a two-time SCORE Stock Full class season point champion, has three class wins in the SCORE Baja 1000 (2010, 2012, 2013).
The full-branded SCORE Trophy Truck was unveiled at the SCORE Baja 1000 display at the Off-Road Expo in Pomona, Calif. in Sept. The truck sports a ‘desert-style’ version of “Primary Colors”, a recognizable paint scheme frequently seen throughout many of the 14 Axalta-sponsored Motorsports Series around the world. The iconic, flashy neon colors are layered on a Cromax EZ blue basecoat to maximize “sparkle and pop” in the bright sun of the Mexican desert.
SCORE World Desert Championship Class Descriptions/Numbers
The 2018 SCORE World Desert Championship series features 43 Pro and 8 Sportsman Classes for cars, trucks, UTVs, motorcycles and quads. Class winners are determined along with the overall race winner in Pro Cars/Trucks, Pro Motorcycles and Pro UTVs. General Class descriptions and numbers:
Pro Cars & Trucks Numbers
SCORE Trophy Truck (Unlimited 2-wheel/4-wheel drive custom Trucks) 1-99
SCORE TT Legend (Drivers over 50, Unlimited custom Trucks) 1L-99L
Class 1 (Unlimited single or two-seat open-wheel race cars) 100-199
Trophy Truck Spec (unlimited trucks/sport utility vehicles, stock, sealed engines) 200-299
Class 10 (Limited, sealed engine, single or two-seat desert race cars) 1000-1099
Class 2 (Unrestriced cars/trucks including turbo and superchargers) 2000-2049
Hammer Truck Unlimited (unlimited, custom 4-wheel drive Rock Crawler) 4400-4499
Hammer Truck Limited (limited, production type, 4-Wheel Drive Rock Crawler) 4500-4599
Class 8 (Full-size two-wheel drive truck or SUV. No limit on displacement) 800-899
Class 1/2-1600 (single or two-seat desert race cars to 1600cc VW engines) 1600-1699
SCORE Lites (Limited single-1776cc-or two-seaters-1835cc VW engines) 1200-1299
Class 7 (Unlimited, six-cylinder production appearing trucks or SUVs) 700-739
Class 7F (Stock frame, 2 or 4-wheel drive mini or mid-size trucks) 700F-739F
Class 5 (Unlimited Baja Bugs VW concept engines allowed) 500-549
Heavy Metal (Open Trucks, SUVs, stock appearing body, open displacement) 8000-8099
Pro UTV FI (two-seat Forced Induction OEM engine UTVs) 2900-2999
Pro UTV (two-seat Normally Aspirated OEM engine UTVs) 1900-1949
Pro UTV Unlimited (two-seat Unlimited UTV open displacement) 1850-1899
Class 5-1600 (1600cc VW Baja Bugs) 550-599
Class 3000 (Short wheelbase open-wheelers car, 2.2/2.4-Liter Ecotec engine) 3000-3099
Trophy Lite (Unlimited mini-truck, 2.2/2.4-Liter Ecotec engine) 6000-6099
Baja-e (single or two-seat electric powered Unlimited 4-wheel vehicles) E400-E424
Baja Challenge (Spec Subaru-powered two-seat open wheel race cars) BC1-BC99
Class 3 (Short wheelbase 4X4 based on production vehicles) 300-399
Protruck (Spec Production Trucks. V8 engines) 1350-1399
Stock Full (Stock full-sized 2 or 4-wheel drive trucks, SUVs) 8100-8199
Class 7SX (2 or 4-wheel drive mini or mid-sized trucks) 740-769
Class 3700 (Jeepspeed Outlaw-including Class 4700) 3700-3799
Class 2700 (Jeepspeed Intermediate) 2700-2799
Class 1700 (Jeepspeed Challenge) 1700-1799
Stock Mini (Stock mini truck, SUV) 770-799
Vintage Trailblazer (1982 and earlier) vNumber
Vintage Innovator (1983-1992) No. v
Class 9 (Short wheelbase, 1600cc VW-powered single or two-seaters) 900-999
Class 11 (Stock VW Sedans, safety modifications) 1100-1199
Sportsman Cars/Trucks/UTVs Numbers
Sportsman Unlimited Truck 1400-1499
Sportsman Buggy (unlimited single or two-seat open-wheel cars) 1500-1599
Sportsman Limited Truck (full frame, leaf springs only) 2050-2099
Sportsman UTV (unlimited) 1800-1849
Sportsman Stock UTV FI (Forced Induction) 3900-3969
Sportsman Stock UTV NA (Normally Aspirated) 3970-3999
Pro Motorcycles Numbers
Pro Moto Unlimited (400cc or more) 1x-99x
Pro Moto Limited (less than 400cc) 100x-149x
Pro Moto 40 (Riders over 40 years old, Open cc) 400x-499x
Pro Moto 30 (Riders over 30 years old, Open cc) 300x-349x
Pro Moto 50 (Riders over 50 years old, Open cc) 500x-599x
Pro Moto Ironman (Solo, Open cc) 700x-799x
Pro Moto 60 (Riders over 60 years old, Open cc) 600x-649x
Pro Quads Numbers
Pro Quads (open engine displacement) 1a-49a
Sportsman Motorcycles/Quads Numbers
Sportsman M/C (open engine displacement) 200x-299x
Sportsman Quads (open engine displacement) 100a-149a
HISTORY OF START/FINISH:
In the 50-year history of the SCORE Baja 1000, this will be the 44th time the race has started in Ensenada and the 25th time it has finished in Ensenada. The last time this race started and finished in Ensenada was in 2016.
ENGINE WINNERS:
In 4-wheel vehicle competition, Ford motors have produced 17 overall winners, Chevy motors are second with 14 overall winners, VW motors have with 12 overall winners, followed Porsche with 3, Toyota with 2, and Dodge with 1.
CHASSIS WINNERS:
Among 4-wheel vehicles, Ford has produced the chassis for 16 overall winners while Chenowth has produced the chassis for 10 overall winners, followed by Chevy with 10, Toyota, Funco, Raceco, Jimco and Smithbuilt with 2 each and Miller, Hi-Jumper, Dodge, and Meyers Manx with 1 each.
MOTORCYCLE WINNERS:
In motorcycle competition, Honda leads with 27 overall victories, followed by Husqvarna with 11, Kawasaki with 10 and Yamaha with 2.
CAR & TRUCK TIRE WINNERS:
Among tire manufacturers in the car and truck classes, BFGoodrich Tires leads with 29 overall winners, followed by Western Auto with six, Firestone with four, Calahan cap and Toyo with three each and Armstrong, Gates, Goodyear, Mickey Thompson and Tectira with one each.
BFGOODRICH TIRES UNMATCHED
BFGoodrich Tires is celebrating over four decades as a major player in SCORE Baja racing. In addition to being the official tire of SCORE International for over four decades, BFGoodrich Tires has produced the tire of choice for 20 of the overall 4-wheel vehicle winners in the SCORE Baja 1000, including 29 of the last 32 years along with a record-run of 20 straight from 1986 through 2005. In total, BFGoodrich Tires has now be the tire of choice for the overall 4-wheel vehicle winner in 90 SCORE Baja races including 32 in the SCORE Baja 500.
BFGoodrich Tires also provides unmatched pit support for racers using their tires with five full service pit areas and more than 200 support crew personnel spread along the race course and complete radio relay the entire race course.
BFGoodrich Tires will also award $25,000 contingency money to the overall winners of this year’s SCORE Baja 1000 running exclusively on BFGoodrich Tires.
UNITED NATIONS:
Entries in the internationally-showcased race have come from 38 U.S. states and 18 countries. In addition to the 38 U.S. States, the U.S. Territory of Guam, racers have entered from host country Mexico, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, England, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Peru, Spain and Sweden.
OVERALL POINTS SHOWDOWNS
Among the car and truck classes, just 36 points separate the top seven who are from four different classes and there is a rare tie at the top spot. Tied for the SCORE Overall point lead heading into the season finale with 285 points each are SCORE Trophy Truck point leader Rob MacCachren and Pro UTV FI leader Wayne Matlock.
Third overall and leading the Trophy Truck Spec class is William Hedrick Jr with 261 points. With a three-way tie at fourth overall with 255 points each are Class 10 point leader Broc Dickerson, second place SCORE Trophy Truck point leader Cameron Steele and second in Trophy Truck points Bryce Swaim. Seventh overall and second in Pro UTV FI with 251 points is Tony Riggs.
In the motorcycle category, the top five point leaders represent five different classes. Leading the overall motorcycle points and Pro Moto Unlimited with 247 points is Justin Morgan while tied for second with 238 points each are Pro Moto 30 leader Ryan Liebelt and Pro Moto Ironman leader Francisco Septien. Tied for fourth overall with 235 points each are Pro Moto 40 leader Jano Montoya and Pro Moto 60 point leader Guy Laycraft.
In the battle for the SCORE Pro UTV overall season point title chase the top three are all from the Pro UTV FI (Forced Induction) class. Leading in the hunt for the Pro UTV SCORE Pro UTV overall is Wayne Matlock with 285 points, second is Tony Riggs with 251 points and third heading into the season-finale is Brandon Schueler with 250 points.
REVVING THE RPMs
RPM Racing, based in Bristol, Tenn., has five entries again in this year’s SCORE Baja 1000.
With team principals Justin Matney and Clyde Stacy, who have captured 11 SCORE season class point titles between them as key drivers, RPM Racing has three entries in the marquee SCORE Trophy Truck division along with one in unlimited Class 1 and one in Trophy Truck Spec.
Entered in SCORE Trophy Truck are defending season point champion Carlos ‘Apdaly’ Lopez/Juan C. Lopez in the No. 1 Chevy Rally Truck, Matney in the four-wheel drive No.4 Chevy Silverado and Clyde Stacy/Armin Schwarz in the No. 5L Chevy Rally Truck (SCORE TT Legend class). Derek Fletcher is racing in Class 1 in the No. 106 RPM-Chevy and Sara Price is driving in the Trophy Truck Spec class in the No. 204 Geiser-built Chevy truck.
SCORE TROPHY TRUCK QUALIFYING
Helped by a huge assist from Supercross Hall of Fame legendary co-driver Ricky Johnson, Team C Racing’s Larry Connor has earned the first starting position in the featured SCORE Trophy Truck division for next month’s 51st annual SCORE Baja 1000.
The special SCORE Baja 1000 Qualifying, presented by BFGoodrich Tires was held on Oct. 29 on a purpose built, very technical .6-mile course that started and finished on the Off-Road Track at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It was the fifth consecutive year that this special qualifying event was held in conjunction with the SEMA SCORE Baja 1000 Experience at the annual SEMA Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
In front of an appreciative capacity crowd at the LVMS Off-Road Track on Tuesday night, Johnson, who won 38 Supercross races and seven AMA season championships in his Hall of Fame motorcycle career, blistered the dirt and asphalt covering two laps of the .6-mile course in one minute, 51.92 seconds with an average speed of 38.57 miles per hour in Connor’s No. t Team C Racing Chevy Silverado. He ran laps of 58.69 seconds and 53.23 seconds. His second lap was the fastest of the night.
Johnson was quickest among the 30 trucks out of the 37 entered in the race that elected to participate in the optional qualifying event.
The 5,000-pound race trucks are designed for the pounding of open desert racing resulting in average speeds in qualifying 15-20 miles per hour less than they will average during the actual race.
Johnson, driving Connor’s SCORE Trophy Truck, finished 1.14 seconds faster than the runner-up qualifier as all of the top 16 qualifiers finished the course in less than two minutes.
A total of 30 of the 37 SCORE Trophy Trucks entered in the race including three SCORE TT Legend race trucks participated in the optional qualifying for starting positions within their respective classes, which are combined for starting positions but scored separately at the conclusion of the race.
Behind Johnson, second in qualifying was Luke McMillin, San Diego, with a time of 1:53.05 in the No. 83 Mark Racing Ford F-150 and third was last year’s top qualifier Robby Gordon, Charlotte, N.C., with a time of 1:53.52 in the No. 77 Team Gordon Chevy Silverado.
Completing the top 5 qualifier list was Cole Potts, Scottsdale, Ariz., fourth in a time of 1:53.84 in the No. 60 Chevy Silverado and fifth was Las Vegas’ Bryce Menzies with a time of 1:53.97 in his new No. 7 Menzies Motorsports Ford Raptor.
ULTIMATE DANA FAST QUALIFIER AWARD
For the third straight year, international drivetrain manufacturer Dana Incorporated presented the Ultimate Dana Fast Qualifier award.
Dana is also presented live streaming of the entire three-hour qualifying event from LVMS on the SCORE website.
Winning the Ultimate Dana Fast Qualifier award in 2016 was Las Vegas’ Mark Post and fastest last year was Robby Gordon, Charlotte, N.C. In 2015, Johnson was again the fast qualifier for driver of record Justin Matney.
SCORE TRUCK ANNIVERSARY
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, SCORE Trophy Truck, developed and launched by former SCORE owner Sal Fish in 1994, is the marquee racing division in the sport—for high-tech, 950 horsepower unlimited custom trucks and SCORE TT Legend, which debuted in 2017, is the SCORE Trophy Truck class-within-a-class with drivers at least 50 years old.
SCORE TROPHY TRUCK CHAMPS
A total of 13 of the last 14 SCORE Trophy Truck SCORE Baja 1000 race winners are entered in this year’s race, including the last 11 straight. And 18 racers are entered in this race who have combined to earn 80 career SCORE Trophy Truck race wins.
Also entered are seven racers who have combined for 16 SCORE Trophy Truck season point championships in the first 24 years of the marquee SCORE racing division.
Leading the way among the former SCORE Trophy Truck season point champs are bothers Ed and Tim Herbst with four titles (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003), four-time champ B.J. Baldwin (2006, 2008, 2012, 2013), three-time consecutive and reigning champ Carlos ‘Apdaly’ Lopez (2015, 2016, 2017), and two-time SCORE Trophy Truck season point champs Robby Gordon (1996, 2009) and Rob MacCachren (1994, 2007)
MORE TIGHT POINTS
Several classes enter the 51st SCORE Baja 1000 with very tight title point’s races for the SCORE season championship in each class. With the most points available at this race than any other, classes that seem to have the closest battles for the 2018 season point championships are Trophy Truck Spec, Class 1/2-1600, SCORE Lites Class 7, Pro Quad and Sportsman Motorcycle.
Points are tied in the SCORE Lites classes with 229 each between veteran Luis Barragan, Mexicali, Mexico (No. 1210 Seagrove-VW) and rookie Jeremy Davis, Chino Hills, Calif. (No. 1258 Porter-VW). The two drivers are also tied for 22nd in the SCORE overall point standings.
Bill Hendrick Jr, Vicente Guerrero, Mexico (261 points, No. 295 ID-Chevy) has a six-point lead over Bryce Swaim, El Cajon, Calif. (255 points, No. 242 TSCO-Chevy).
Six points also separates the top two in Class 1/2-1600. Oscar Alvarez, McAllen, Texas, leads (236 points, No. 1603 Romo-VW) and Gustavo Avina, Ensenada, Mexico (230 points, No. 1678 Dethomas-VW). In Class 7, reigning champion Dan Chamlee, Montecito, Calif. (217 points No. 700 Ford Ranger) is in the top spot by three points over Carlos Diaz, Calexico, Calif. (214 points No. 711 Ford Ranger).
In the Pro Quad class, Said Sanchez, Tijuana, Mexico (229 points, No. 1a Honda TRX450R) has a six-point lead over Juan Sanchez, Chula Vista, Calif. (223 points No. 15a Honda TRX450R).
In the SPT M/C class that has seen 32 total racers this season so far, holding an eight-point lead is Shane Schorno, Discovery Bay, Calif. (250 points, No. 284x KTM 500EXCF) over Miguel Pena, Tijuana, Mexico (242 points, No. 200x KTM 450EXC).
SCORE LEGENDS
This year’s race will also commemorate the achievements of legendary desert racers like Rod Hall, Ron Bishop, Johnny Johnson, and Larry Roeseler. Hall, who will turn 81 on Nov. 22, has retired from racing with a record 25 class wins (including one overall win in 1972), and is the only racer who competed in all previous 50 SCORE Baja 1000 races.
Bishop, who died in 2014, is the only racer who competed in the first 40 SCORE Baja 1000 races.
Johnson, now retired, had 15 class wins, amazingly in eight different classes. Roeseler has 17 class wins in this race, including a record 13 overall wins (10 on a motorcycle). Roeseler will share driving duties again this year in SCORE Trophy Truck with Luke McMillin in the No. 83 Mark Racing Ford F-150.
BACK FOR MORE
Another testament to how much this race means to the sport of desert racing, winners of 22 of the 28 Pro classes that had finishers last year are back in the starting field for this year’s race.
CROSSOVERS/CELEBRITY RACERS:Among the crossover/celebrity racers officially entered in this year’s race are (as of 11/5/18):
–Alexander Rossi, 2016 Indy 500 champion, former Formula 1 driver, No. 709, Class 7
–Robby Gordon, former NASCAR Team Owner/Driver, owner/driver of stadium off-road truck series, three-time SCORE Baja 1000 Overall Winner, No. 77 SCORE Trophy Truck
–Cameron Steele, action sports TV announcer, No. 16 SCORE Trophy Truck
–Armin Schwarz, of Germany who lives in Austria, seven-time World Rally Championship race winner, No. 5L, SCORE TT Legend
–Brendan G
