Sourapas Bros to start first SCORE Trophy Truck, Morgan in M/C for next week’s Inaugural Lucerna SCORE Baja 400

SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Clark, dominic@score-international.com
Sept. 12, 2019
Airing on ESPN World of X Games

Sourapas Bros to start first SCORE Trophy Truck, Morgan
in M/C for next week’s Inaugural Lucerna SCORE Baja 400

 

     ENSENADA, Baja California, Mexico—SoCal’s second-generation desert racers who are 23-year old twins—Brett and Christian Sourapas, have drawn the first starting position in the marquee SCORE Trophy Truck division and Justin Morgan’s three-rider team has drawn the first motorcycle start for next week’s history-making Inaugural Lucerna SCORE Baja 400.
Celebrating its 46th year as the World’s Foremost Desert Racing Organization, the newest SCORE Baja race will be held next Wednesday through Sunday in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.
In time for Tuesday’s drawing held at Cameron Steele’s BajaHQ company in San Juan Capistranto, Calif., entries from all across the United States and around the world are entered in the upcoming internationally-televised desert race in Mexico’s Baja California. The race and pre-race festivities will be held in and around the heart of Ensenada, the seaside port on the Pacific Ocean, 80 miles south of San Diego.
Following three days of late, on-site racer registration next week in Ensenada, nearly 200 vehicles, racing in classes for cars, trucks, UTVs, motorcycles and quads, are expected at the start line for this history-making, first-time SCORE race with racers from nearly 25 U.S. States and 10 countries anticipated. Long-time SCORE major sponsor BFGoodrich Tires has posted a US$5,000 contingency bonus for the race winner to help commemorate the start of this newest race on the SCORE schedule.
PRE-RUNNING
Official practice, or pre-running, on the official race course for this year’s Inaugural Lucerna SCORE Baja 400 opened this past Saturday. Pre-running is being held from race-mile 39 to race-mile 360.75. The first 19.6 miles, which will be used in both directions during the race, will be available for pre-running only on Thursday (Sept. 19) and Friday (Sept. 20) and only in the outbound direction. The official course map, GPS files and course notes are located under Race Info on the SCORE Website at the following link:
http://score-international.com/raceinfo/lucerna-score-baja-400-sept-18-22-2019/.
LATEST ENTRY TOTAL
With 173 entries in the live drawing for starting position there are racers from 24 U.S. States, host country Mexico, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Peru and Spain, SCORE Trophy Truck leads the way with 35 entries (including six in SCORE TT Legend for drivers over 50 years old. Besides the marquee SCORE Trophy Truck, other classes with double-figure entries so far are Trophy Truck Spec with 25, Pro UTV FI (Forced Induction) with 17, Class 10 with 12 and the unlimited Class 1 with 10.
Entries from the USA include racers from Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia.
START GRID-SCORE BAJA 1000
The results of this race will also determine the start order within each class for November’s iconic season-ending 52nd SCORE Baja 1000.
GREEN FLAG
The Inaugural Lucerna SCORE Baja 400 is an elapsed-time race with staggered starts as the green flag on Saturday (Sept. 21) will drop first for the motorcycles and quads at 6:20 a.m. (PDT) and approximately 10 a.m. (PDT) for the cars, trucks and UTVs. While the fastest vehicles are expected to finish in around eight hours, all vehicles will have a 16-hour time limit to become official finishers in the race.
TWINS
Brett and Christian Sourapas, of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., are the sons of SCORE racing champion Steve Sourapas and this will be their debut in SCORE Baja racing as the driver-of-record/co-driver tandem. They have raced successfully in domestic events in the U.S. and have been additional drivers in SCORE Baja events.
They will lead the field of 35 SCORE Trophy Trucks (including six in the SCORE TT Legend division for drivers over 50 years old). Created by SCORE in 1994, SCORE Trophy Truck is the featured division in SCORE racing for high-tech, 950-horsepower custom truck.
The Sourapas brothers will pilot the No. 88 Ford Raptor built by the legendary Geiser Brothers of Phoenix.
MORGAN FIRST
With two wins to open the 2019 SCORE World Desert Championship, Justin Morgan, El Cajon, Calif., will lead the No. 1x Honda CRF450X in the motorcycle field in Ensenada. His teammates are Mark Samuels, Yucca Valley, Calif. and Justin Jones, Murrieta, Calif.
GAUGHAN FIRST
Running the entire SOCRE World Desert Championship in 2019, colorful NASCAR racer Brendan Gaughan has drawn the first start in the unlimited Class 1. Returning to his desert-racing roots as a second-generation SCORE desert racer, Gaughan, of Las Vegas, is running NASCAR part-time this season and will head to Baja on Sunday after running the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race in his hometown.
He drives the No. 162 South Point Racing Chevy-powered HMS open-wheel desert race car in the SCORE World Desert Championship.
MORE FIRST STARTS
Among the other racers who drew first starting positions in their respective classes at the BajaHQ event Tuesday night were: Scott Bailey/Gus Vildosola Sr (No. 1L, SCORE TT Legend), Kelly McArthur (No. 270, Trophy Truck Spec), Clay Lawrence (No. 1002, Class 10), Cory Sappington (No. 2904, Pro UTV FI), Freddie Willert (No. 1206, SCORE Lites) and Jano Montoya (No. 325x, Pro Moto 30).
MAIN COURSE
The race features a course, finalized by SCORE President/Race Director Jose A. Grijalva of 400 miles. After the first 19.6 miles which will be used in both directions for the race, the course runs in a clockwise direction.
There are three physical checkpoints and 103 virtual checkpoints on the race course along with 13 speed zone areas that total 71.01 miles of the total 400 miles. The three physical checkpoints are located at Santa Catarina (race-mile 96.91), Llano Colorado (rm 230.15) and Santo Tomas (rm 321.94).
The historic race course is another memorable example of all that Mexico’s Baja California has to offer, including high-speed dirt trails, sandy, rocky and silty natural terrain, majestic Baja washes and canyons, stretches along the seashore with elevations from sea level to over 3,000 feet. The course is another jewel reflecting the stark beauty of Baja California.
In addition to the three physical checkpoints, central Ensenada for the start and finish, the Ensenada Arroyo and Ojos Negros area in both directions, the course will also go through such landmark Baja California locations as Heroes de Independencia, Nuevo Junction, Jamau, Valle de Trinidad, the infamous ‘Goat Trail’, Mike’s Sky Rancho, Rancho Las Truchas, Rancho Simpson, Colonet, San Antonio Del Mar, Rancho Johnson, Cerro Solo, Erendira, Acambaro and Uruapan.
AIRING ON ESPN
The race will air domestically on a delayed basis as a one-hour special on the World of X Games program on ESPN and will be syndicated internationally to nearly 25 countries in Europe, Latin America, South America and Asia. Co-producing the shows with SCORE is the award-winning BCII TV of Los Angeles led by producer Bud Brutsman. Announcers are SCORE racers Cameron Steele and Aaron Ampudia.
A HAPPENING…
Chassis inspections will be held on Thursday (Sept. 18) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT as well as pre-tech/Stella bracket check and installation on Playa Hermosa south of the city on Highway 1.
On Friday (Sept. 20) evening will be the Monster Energy Papas Y Beer street party on Avenida Ruiz from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight.
Friday (Sept. 20) will see the day-long pre-race Manufacturer’s Midway and contingency festival in the start finish line area in Ensenada. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. contingency row will be held. Tech inspection will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the end of the manufacturer’s row.
During the race on Saturday, Sept. 21 until the course closes on Sunday morning, Sept. 22, the start/finish line compound will include the massive double-sided SCOREvision LED screen broadcasting race festivities and start and finish line interviews. Popular Rat Sult and veteran Dave Arnold will once again serve as hosts of the SCORE Live streaming.
AT THE RIVIERA…
The historic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center, in the heart of Ensenada, will again be the site of many of the activities surrounding the Inaugural Lucerna SCORE Baja 400. Racer registration and media registration will both be held in the Red Room on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (Sept. 18-20).
Racer registration will be held on Wednesday (Sept. 18) from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. PDT along with 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PDT on both Thursday (Sept. 19) and Friday (Sept. 20). On Friday, no new entries will be accepted after 3 p.m.
Media registration the Red Room will be held on Wednesday (Sept. 18) from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. PDT and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT on both Thursday (Sept. 19) and Friday (Sept. 20).
The SCORE Media Center will be in the Red Room during the race (Sept. 21-22) with internet access and live race updates, vehicle tracking displays including unofficial elapsed times.
On Friday (Sept. 20) at the Torre Lucerna Hotel in Ensenada will be pre-race media conference at 11:30 a.m. PDT as well as the mandatory pre-race racer’s meeting at 7 p.m. PDT. The post-race awards celebration will also be at the Torre Lucerna Hotel at noon PDT on Sunday (Sept. 22).
The start/finish line for the race will be in front of the iconic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center on Blvd. Costero.
GRAN HISTORIA
The first Baja 500 organized and produced by SCORE was held on July 26, 1974 as the first of over 150 SCORE Baja races.
Ensenada is the heart and soul of the SCORE Baja races. Ensenada has hosted the start line 46 times and the finish line 42 times for the SCORE Baja 500. For the iconic SCORE Baja 1000, Ensenada will be hosting the start line this November for the 45th time and the finish line for the 26th time.
SCOREscope
2019 REMAINING SCHEDULE
Inaugural Lucerna SCORE Baja 400, Sept. 18-22, Ensenada, Mexico
52nd SCORE Baja 1000, Nov.19-24, Ensenada, Mexico
2020 SCHEDULE
Here is the four-race 2020 SCORE World Desert Championship and for the fifth consecutive year all races will be held in Baja California, Mexico:
34th SCORE San Felipe 250, March 25-29, San Felipe, Mexico
52nd SCORE Baja 500, June 3-7, Ensenada, Mexico
2nd SCORE Baja 400, Sept. 16-20, Ensenada, Mexico
53rd SCORE Baja 1000, Nov.16-21, Ensenada, Baja California to La Paz, Baja California Sur
ABC TV IN 2019
The 2019 SCORE World Desert Championship is being televised on the ABC TV family of networks, marking the first time back on the ABC network since the 1967 and 1968 coverage of the Baja 1000 on ABC’s old Wide World of Sports show.
The one-hour shows on the 33rd SCORE San Felipe 250, 51st SCORE Baja 500 and the 52nd SCORE Baja 1000 will be televised as part of ABC’s World of X Games year-long programming. Presented by SCORE sponsors Monster Energy and BFGoodrich Tires, the ABC World of X Games series profiles iconic action sports figures and also highlights athletes, artists, event previews and recaps.
The inaugural Lucerna SCORE Baja 400 in September will air as a one-hour special on ESPN TV, also on the World of X Games programming.
All of the SCORE race coverage shows continue to air internationally in nearly 25 countries in Europe, Asia and South America via syndication and ESPN International.
SCORE SPONSORS…
Official SCORE Sponsors: BFGoodrich Tires-Official Tire, 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, The Satellite Phone Store.
Additional SCORE Associate Partners: Proturismo Ensenada, Baja California Secretary of Tourism, Mexicali Ayuntamiento, COTUCO Mexicali/San Felipe, Cruz Roja Mexicana, Corporate Helicopters.
For more information regarding SCORE, visit the official website of the SCORE World Desert Championship at www.SCOREInternational.com.

 (start order, by class)
SCORE TROPHY TRUCK (30)
88 Brett Sourapas
97 Robert ‘BJ’ Baldwin
70 Kevin Thompson
27 Jonathan Brenthel
6 Ricky Johnson
89 Mike Walser
40 Chris Miller
99 Dale Dondel
21 Gustavo ‘Tavo’ Vildosola
50 Zak Langley
41 Justin Lofton
10 Alan Ampudia
31 Andy McMillin
30 Robbie Pierce
32 Ryan Arciero
11 Rob MacCachren
77 Robby Gordon
7 Bryce Menzies
16 Cameron Steele
14 Bobby Pecoy
19 Tim Herbst
26 Dave Taylor
33 Todd Tuls
83 Luke McMillin
54 Troy Herbst
9 Carlos ‘Apdaly’ Lopez
85 Mike Lawrence
28 Corey Keysar
23 Dan McMillin
SCORE TT LEGEND (6)
1L Scott Bailey
25L Mark Winkelman
72L Rob Reinertson
5L Clyde Stacy
37L Rolf Helland
47L Jim Bult
CLASS 1 (10)
162 Brendan Gaughan
105 Mason Cullen
100 Brad Wilson
129 Brandon Bailey
168 Shelby Reid
114 Al Torres
127 Cody Parkhouse
150 Morgan Langley
185 Justin Davis
138 Brian Wilson
TROPHY TRUCK SPEC (25)
270 Kelly McArthur
237 Robert Malone
246 James Scully
209 Rafael Navarro IV
240 Bobby Patton
205 Joe Delucie
299 Charles Dorrance
234 Jason McNeil
218 Chad Dohrman
298 Jorge Sampietro
211 Pat Sims
250 John Langley
274 Elias Hanna
279 Austin ‘A.J.’ Jones
204 Sara Price
293 Ryan Peacock
208 Andrew Entwistle
275 Juan Sanchotena
253 Mike Perez
295 William Hedrick Jr
294 Vincent Munoz
260 Luis Pelayo
202 Chad Broughton
269 Guillermo Zamacona-2nd RS
220 Craig Christy-1st RS
HAMMER TRUCK UNLTD (1)
4421 Mike Hales-RS
CLASS 10 (12)
1002 Clay Lawrence
1087 Ivan Tagle
1030 James Anderson
1068 Cody Reid
1048 Kevin Price
1022 Rafael Aguirre
1008 Chase Warren
1011 Cesar Cuevas
1007 Cody Robinson
1062 J.J. Schnarr
1016 Hiram Duran
1027 Arturo V. Malo-RS
CLASS 7 (2)
700 Daniel Chamlee
703 Scott Brady
CLASS 5 (1)
510 Gerardo Ibarra-RS
PRO UTV FI (17)
2904 Cory Sappington
2987 Edgar Garcia Leon
2903 Juan Martinez
2905 Marc Burnett
2914 Malcolm Mitchell
2912 Tony Riggs
2919 Brandon Schueler
2931 Craig Scanlon
2910 Scott Trafton
2930 Sean Cook
2926 Christine Giampaoli Zonca
2907 Erik Davis
2989 Wes Miller
2940 Erick Kozin-4th RS
2960 Mitchell Alsup-3rd RS
2983 Nicholas Gurries-2nd RS
2971 Wayne Matlock-1st RS
SCORE LITES (8)
1206 Freddie Willert
1224 Javier Rochin
1234 Steve Jones
1274 Mike Aguilar
1201 Mario Alcala
1202 Matias Arjona IV
1212 Martin Lizarraga
1229 Douglas Satterfield-1st RS
PRO UTV NA (7)
1905 Adrian Escandon
1978 T. Bradley Millner
1995 Kaden Wells
1977 Darin Harvey
1908 John Andrew Entwistle
1958 George Felix-2nd RS
1954 Kristen Matlock-1st RS
CLASS 1/2-1600 (3)
1689 Marco Venegas
1616 Angel Barajas-2nd RS
1609 J. David Ruvalcaba-1st RS
PRO UTV UNLIMITED (3)
1851 Herman Johnson
1877 Josh Herzing
1850 Jesus Mendez Jr-1st RS
PRO UTV STOCK (1)
3936 Rodrigo Ampudia
CLASS 8 (2)
810 Jose Contreras
818 Jesus Beltrones Hurtado
CLASS 3 (1)
313 David Orzolek-RS
BAJA CHALLENGE (2)
BC4 Edward Muncey
BC2 David Payne
CLASS 5-1600 (4)
571 David Heredia
554 Rigoberto Cabrera
550 Luis Herrera
582 Rodolfo Martinez
CLASS 7F (2)
714F Justin Park
725F Kelly McNeil
CLASS 7SX (2)
740 Gerardo Novelo
751 Mike Lesle-1st RS
CLASS 11 (4)
1121 Dennis Hollenbeck
1113 Mario Vazquez (DOR-Kent Thygerson)
1111 Eric Solorzano
1152 Elmer Cayetano

SPT UNLTD TRUCK (1)
1414 Jessalyn Sells
SPT OPEN-WHEEL (1)
1500 Diane Gianelli

PRO MOTO UNLIMITED (4)
1x Justin Morgan
4x Ray Dal Soglio
66x Santiago Creel
5x Colton Udall
PRO MOTO LIMITED (2)
100x Santiago Creel
180x Fernando Beltran
PRO MOTO 40 (1)
444x Jason Trubey
PRO MOTO 30 (7)
325x Jano Montoya
370x Francisco Septien
365x Nick Lanning
300x Luis M. Gomez
308x Ryan Liebelt
360x Santiago Creel
310x Enrique Fuhrken
PRO MOTO IRONMAN (3)
734x Bob Kimber
709x Lukas Spies
729x Michael Skurkis
PRO MOTO 50 (1)
500x Giovanni Spinali

Pro Quad (2)
21a Adolfo Arellano
1a Said Sanchez

SPT QUAD (6)
100a Danny Magdalena
125a Brisa Fernanda Ochoa
112a Daniel Gaytan
119a Gustavo Torres
123a Ismael Hernandez
111a Alejandro Bourge
SPT M/C (3)
212x Carlos Silva
201x Scott Borden
284x Nick Robertson (ROR-Shane Schorno)