MacCachren, Steele, Lofton in, entry list climbs--52nd SCORE Baja 500

SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Clark, dominic@score-international.com
September 2, 2020
Presented by 4 Wheel Parts

MacCachren, Steele, Lofton, Patton/Pierce, Novelo, Christensen
latest entries for BFGoodrich Tires 52nd SCORE Baja 500

 

NOTE: Number/Name Entry List at bottom of text

ENSENADA, Baja California, Mexico –Rob MacCachren and Cameron Steele, a pair of legendary Hall of Fame desert racers lead the recent group of new entries along with Justin Lofton, the talented team of Bobby Patton/Robbie Pierce as well as Gerardo Novelo and Martin Christensen for this month’s BFGoodrich Tires 52nd Annual SCORE Baja 500, presented by 4 Wheel Parts, in San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico.
To date, 73 official entries have come from 16 U.S. States along with host country Mexico and Denmark. The first of two races on the pandemic-abbreviated 2020 SCORE World Desert Championship schedule will be held Sept. 22-27 in San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico.
San Felipe is the serene fishing village on the Sea of Cortez, 125 miles south of the U.S. Border at Calexico, Calif. All 2020 SCORE races will be held on Mexico’s magnificent Baja California peninsula for the fifth consecutive year.
Competition will include classes for cars, trucks UTVs, motorcycles and quads for the internationally-televised BFGoodrich Tires 52nd SCORE Baja 500, presented by 4 Wheel Parts.
Many of the world’s best desert racers will be in action at this year’s celebration of one of the top 10 motorsports events in the entire world. The race will be televised on a delayed basis as a one-hour special on the ABC Network World of X Games programming and syndicated internationally to as many as 25 countries.
ONLINE RACER REGISTRATION
Online registration, by class, for Pro and Sportsman cars, trucks, UTVs, motorcycles and quads, is now open through the SCORE website. Information on all SCORE races can be found on the home page under the Race Info tab. Online entries will be accepted until 8 p.m. PT on Friday, Sept. 11.
For more info, visit http://score-international.com/raceinfo/baja-500-2/.
Official entries received after the drawing will be given the next available starting position within their respective classes.
MAC ATTACK
Las Vegas’ Rob MacCachren, 55, is the winningest all-time off-road racer with over 300 career open desert and career short-course victories. He has seven career class wins in the SCORE Baja 500 including two overall crowns. MacCachren also has nine all-time career season SCORE class championships.
In SCORE Baja races in San Felipe, the ‘Mac Attack’ has 10 career class wins, including six overall titles. He also won the 2011 SCORE Challenge of Champions held in San Felipe.
He drives the No. 11 Geiser Bros-built MacCachren Motorsports Ford F-150 in the featured SCORE Trophy Truck division. He is the all-time leader in SCORE Trophy Truck career race wins with 17 total.
One of MacCachren’s magical moments in his storied career was winning the overall and SCORE Trophy Truck titles in 2018 in the 50th anniversary of the SCORE Baja 500.
MAN OF STEELE
SoCal’s veteran TV action sports announcer/SCORE champion racer Cameron Steele, 52, San Clemente, Calif., returns to the Baja desert in his Geiser Bros-built No. 16 Monster Energy Desert Assassins Ford Raptor in the SCORE Trophy Truck class.
A second-generation desert racer and popular Baja tour guide who also owns the BajaHQ aftermarket company in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., Steele, who has been SCORE racing for over 30 years with class wins in several classes, labored nearly 13 seasons in SCORE Trophy Truck until he ended the 2018 SCORE World Desert Championship by winning two consecutive races, including the iconic season-ending SCORE Baja 1000.
Another benchmark finish for the popular Steele was a second-place finish in the memorable 50th anniversary of the SCORE Baja 1000 in 2017.
DESERT TO NASCAR & BACK
Another of SCORE’s many second-generation desert racers, Justin Lofton, 34, Brawley, Calif., started in SCORE Baja racing with his father Bob and then moved to NASCAR series for several years before returning to the desert a couple of years ago.
Justin Lofton is one of the most gifted drivers on any surface and he always among the favorites in the top-tier SCORE Trophy Truck division in his No. 41 Ford Raptor built by Jimco Racing.
TALENTED TEAM
Prominent Texas energy and real estate investor and co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers Bobby Patton, 57, of Fort Worth, and Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee and owner of the iconic Jimco Racing Products company Robbie Pierce, 61, Alpine Calif., have moved up as a talented team to compete this year in the SCORE TT Legend class.  For this year’s SCORE Baja 500, the dynamic duo will split the driving in the Jimco-Built No. 20L Chevy Silverado.
STATESMAN NOVELO
Mexico’s influential Federal Senator from the state of Baja California and prominent Ensenada entrepreneur Gerardo Novelo, 55, will be racing once again in Class 7SX in his No. 741 Nissan Frontier King Cab. Novelo, who has been a long-time supporter of SCORE in dealing with Mexican authorities locally, statewide and nationally, won the SCORE Class 7SX season championship in both 2017 and 2018.
GREAT DANE
Returning to SCORE Baja racing again after a sabbatical of few years, SCORE veteran champion Martin Christensen, of Denmark, has entered in the No. 2914 Can-Am X3 in the Pro UTV Forced Induction class.
Christensen, 52, who lives in Escondido, Calif., has raced in and won races in several classes in his SCORE racing career earning three season point championships (1998 in Class 9 and 2002 and 2003 in Class 10).
MORE ENTRIES
More new entries since last Friday include: Cody Parkhouse, 27, Long Beach, Calif. (Class 1, No. 127 Jimco-Chevy), Chris Miller, 46, LaJolla, Calif./Christian Sourapas, 24, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (SCORE Trophy Truck, No. 40 Chevy Silverado), Jeff Proctor, 41, Glendora, Calif. (Class 7, No. 709 Honda Ridgeline), Justin Ellenburg, 43, Mesa, Ariz. (Pro UTV FI, No. 2977, Can-Am X3) and Edward Muncey, 49, San Diego (Baja Challenge, BC4 BTC-Subaru).
MORE SCORE TROPHY TRUCKS & SCORE TT LEGENDS
SCORE Trophy Truck, the marquee SCORE racing division for high-tech, 950-horsepower unlimited custom trucks leads the early entry list with 17 vehicles (including four SCORE TT Legend entries) in the lineup so far. In addition to MacCachren, Steele, Lofton and Miller, the other SCORE Trophy Truck entries to date include defending race and series overall point champion Andy McMillin, 32, San Diego (No. 1 Chevy Silverado), Bryce Menzies, 32, Las Vegas (No. 7 Ford Raptor), Robby Gordon, 51, Charlotte, N.C. (No. 77 Chevy Silverado), Alan Ampudia, 29/Aaron Ampudia, 27, Ensenada, Mexico (No. 10 Ford Raptor), McMillin’s cousins Luke McMillin, 27, San Diego (No. 83 Ford F-150) and Dan McMillin, 32, San Diego (No. 23 Chevy 1500), Mike Lawrence, Banning, Calif. (No. 85 Ford F-150), Dave Taylor, Page, Ariz. (No. 26 Chevy Silverado) and Josh De Jong, San Jacinto, Calif. (No. 71 Chevy Silverado).
In SCORE TT Legend for drivers 50 years and older, entries so far are Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Va (No. 1L Chevy V16), Mark Winkelman, 61, Cedar Hill, Texas (No. 25L Chevy Silverado) and Bobby Patton, 57, Fort Worth Texas/Robbie Pierce, 61, Alpine, Calif. (No. 20L Chevy Silverado) and Jim Bult, Monee, Ill. (No. 47L Dodge Ram2500).
START ORDER/DRAW DEADLINE
For all the non-qualifying classes, the starting order within each class for this race will be determined by a start order drawing, if the individual entry is received and all fees paid in full by 8 p.m. on Friday, September 11.
The results of the drawing, to determine the remainder of the start order within each class, will be posted on the SCORE website at 5 p.m. on Friday, September 18.
Between September 11 and 5 p.m. PT on September 18, entries will be accepted in the SCORE Ensenada office but those entries will not be able to qualify or be in the start draw. Late, on-site racer registration will be held on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (September 23, 24, 25) and will be given the next available start position within their respective classes.
All entries received after 8 p.m. PT on Friday, September 11 will be given the next available starting position within their respective classes.
PRE-RUNNING
Official practice, or pre-running, on the official 486.81-mile race course for this year’s BFGoodrich Tires 52nd SCORE Baja 500, presented by 4 Wheel Parts will begin at 8 a.m. PT on Saturday, September 12 starting at race mile 0.16 and finishing at race mile 485.16. Pre-running starting at 8 a.m. PT on Wednesday, September 23 through Friday, September 25 will start at race mile 0.0 to race mile 7.80 outbound only.
The official SCORE Racer Brief, course map and GPS files will be available by 6 p.m. PT on Thursday, September 10.
QUALIFYING
SCORE will hold a qualifying session for this race starting at 7 a.m. PT on Wednesday, Sept 23 to determine the starting positions within each class for the SCORE Trophy Truck, SCORE TT Legend, Class 1 and Trophy Truck Spec divisions. Entries in these classes must also be completed by Friday, September 11 to be eligible to qualifying. Start order for qualifying will be based solely on entry order into race, by class.
Starting positions for the other classes will be determined by a random drawing after the close of online racer registration which is at 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11.
Late, on-site entries will receive the next starting position within the class entered.
Qualifying will be held on a 3.47-mile course South of San Felipe near the local airport.
GREEN FLAG
It is an elapsed-time race with staggered starts as the green flag on Saturday (Sept. 26) will drop first for the motorcycles and quads at 3 a.m. PT and approximately 7 a.m. PT for the cars, trucks and UTVs.
Nearly 150 vehicles are expected at the start line. Long-time SCORE sponsor and race title sponsor BFGoodrich Tires has also posted a US$25,000 contingency bonus for the overall 4-wheel winner to help commemorate this year’s race.
EL DORADO RANCH S/F
Following planning with and approval from city and state governments, SCORE International has announced that all the official pre-race activities and the start/finish line compound for this year’s SCORE Baja 500 will be held in a restricted area at the prominent El Dorado Ranch resort with no spectators allowed. Spectators following health and safety protocols will be allowed in the open areas around the 486.81-mile race course.
With the Biosecurity Protocols in place, SCORE will produce extensive live streaming of the race and pre-race festivities air on the SCORE website and SCORE social media platforms.
HEALTH & SAFETY
Because of the significant health and safety Biosecurity protocols developed by SCORE in conjunction with and the approval of state and local health authorities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, all race-week festivities and the start/finish line compound will be restricted access only and closed to the general public. All race-related activities and the race start/finish compound will be on the grounds of the popular El Dorado Ranch gated resort which is located seven miles North of downtown San Felipe alongside of Mexico Federal Highway 5.
MAIN COURSE
The race will feature a course, when finalized and plotted over the next several days by SCORE President/Race Director Jose A. Grijalva of 486.81 miles. It will run both North and South of San Felipe in a counterclockwise direction on the East side of the Baja California peninsula.
When completed, the historic race course will be 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 ocean with elevations from sea level to over 3,000 feet. The course will be another jewel reflecting the stark beauty of Baja California.
There will be three physical full-stop checkpoints and 197 virtual checkpoints. Checkpoint 1 is at race mile 155.63 (Laguna Salada), CP 2 is at rm283.52 (Laguna Amarga) and CP is at rm453.
Much of the course will run through Laguna Salada as well as going through parts of four of Baja California’s infamously magnificent washes: Amarillas, Chanate, Huatamote and Azufre.
All Sportsman classes along with Pro classes 7SX, 11 and 9 will run an abbreviated course of 426.41 miles.
DETAILS
As required by the health and safety Biosecurity protocols required to conduct this race, race week activities will have restricted access at the Eldorado Ranch with no spectators allowed for contingency, tech inspection and the start/finish compound.
On-site Racer Registration and Media Registration, again with restricted access, will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (September 22-25) at the Pavilion at El Dorado Ranch.
Racer registration will be held for racers who are qualifying from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday (Sept. 22). Racer registration for the balance of the entries will be held on Wednesday (Sept. 23) from Noon to 7 p.m. PDT, on Thursday (Sept. 24) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday (Sept. 25) with no new entries accepted after 3 p.m. PDT on that final day of registration.
SCORE Media registration will be held in the Pavilion at El Dorado Ranch from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday (Sept. 22) from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. PDT on Wednesday (Sept. 23) and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT on both Thursday and Friday (Sept. 24-25).
LIVE STREAMING
On the two days of contingency (Sept. 24-25) and during the race on Saturday, Sept. 26 until the course closes on Sunday morning, Sept. 27, there will be extensive live streaming from the start/finish line compound broadcasting race activities and start and finish line interviews. Popular Rat Sult will again serve as primary host of the SCORE live streaming along with assistance from Karolina Hirales.
With no spectators allowed in the start/finish line compound, all of the week’s activities will be streamed both live and same-day including the race, airing via the internet on the SCORE website and social media platforms.
LAST YEAR’S CHAMPS
While Andy McMillin returns to defend his overall win in last year’s SCORE Baja 500 in his No. 1 McMillin Racing all-wheel drive Chevy Silverado SCORE Trophy Truck built by Mason Motorsports. Expected back to defend in Pro Motorcycles, Justin Morgan, El Cajon, Calif. and his co-riders Mark Samuels, Yucca Valley, Calif. and Justin Jones, Murrieta, Calif. are expected to defend their overall motorcycle title on their No. 1x Honda CRF450X, competing once again in the Pro Moto Unlimited motorcycle.
GRAN HISTORIA
This year’s SCORE World Desert Championship includes another special tribute to the iconic SCORE Baja 500 when it is held this year in San Felipe for just the second time in the 52-year history of the race.
The SCORE Baja 500 is one of the top motorsports events in the world. It was started originally in 1969 by the NORRA organization. Mickey Thompson and his SCORE International organization were invited by the Mexican government to take over the event starting in 1974. Sal Fish ran and later owned and produced the SCORE Baja 500 for 39 years until he sold SCORE in December of 2012.
The first Baja 500 organized and produced by SCORE was held on July 26, 1974 in Ensenada as the first of over 150 SCORE Baja races.
This year will be the second time that the race has started and finished in San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico. The only other time the race was held in San Felipe was 1989 and featured only the four-wheel vehicle classes.
While this will be just the second time for the SCORE Baja 500 to be held in San Felipe, the SCORE San Felipe 250 has been held in San Felipe for 32 of its 33-year history.
SCOREscope
2020 SCORE SKED
BFGoodrich Tires 52nd SCORE Baja 500, presented by 4 Wheel Parts—
September 22-27, San Felipe, Mexico
BFGoodrich Tires 53rd SCORE Baja 1000, presented by 4 Wheel Parts—
November 17-22, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
ABC TV AGAIN IN 2020
For the second straight year, the 2020 SCORE World Desert Championship will air on the ABC family of networks. The two-races will air as specials on ABC TV’s World of X Games program with replays on ESPN2.
ABC first covered the 1967 and 1968 Baja 1000 races on the old ABC Wide World of Sports show with Jim McKay and again in the late 1980s with veteran motorsports journalist Sam Posey.
All of the SCORE race coverage shows also continue to air internationally in nearly 25 countries in Europe, Asia, Latin America and South America via syndication and ESPN International. The shows are co-produced by SCORE International and SoCal’s award-winning BCII TV.
SCORE SPONSORS…
Official SCORE Sponsors: BFGoodrich Tires-Official Tire and Race Title Sponsor, Monster Energy-Official Energy Drink, 4 Wheel Parts-Official Off-Road Retailer and Race Presenting Partner, Ford-Official Truck and SUV, King Shocks-Official Shock Absorber, Polaris RZR-Official UTV, RACELINE Wheels-Official Wheel, VP Racing Fuels-Official Fuel, Wide Open Excursions-Official Arrive and Drive Company, Crystal Bay Casino-Official Casino.
SCORE Official Partners: PCI Race Radios, The Satellite Phone Store, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance, Lucerna Hotel.
Additional SCORE Associate Partners: Baja California Secretary of Sustainable Economy and Tourism, XXIII Ensenada Municipal Government, XXIII Mexicali Municipal Government, Mexicali and San Felipe COTUCO, Cruz Roja Mexicana.
For more information regarding SCORE, visit the official website of the SCORE World Desert Championship at www.SCOREInternational.com.

BFGoodrich Tires 52nd SCOR E Baja 500,
presented by 4 Wheel Parts