Racers prepping for SCORE season opener

SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Clark, Dominic@SCORE-International.com
 
January 31, 2023
 
Season Opener in San Felipe, Baja
‘Celebrating 50 years of Desert Racing Excellence’
PART  4: Chamlee, W. Matlock, Quinn, Montoya all
prepping for 2023 SCORE World Desert Championship
 
Season opener will be King Shocks 36th SCORE San Felipe 250
set for March 28-April 2 along azure waters of the Sea of Cortez
 
    ENSENADA, Baja California, Mexico—‘Celebrating 50 years of Desert Racing Excellence’ in 2023, the season-opener for the 2023 SCORE World Desert Championship will be the King Shocks 36th SCORE San Felipe 250.
The World’s Foremost Desert Racing Organization will be presenting its entire four-race series for the eighth consecutive year on the Baja California peninsula starting March 28-April 2 in San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico.
Racers and teams have a variety of methods to get themselves and their amazing desert racing machines ready to attack the majestic, mysterious, foreboding Baja California peninsula. Here are the comments from several top SCORE racers regarding their varied approaches to the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season.
Certainly, there are numerous developing stories regarding drivers with new teams or changes in classes, but here is PART 4 of a sampling of comments gathered from SCORE superstars Daniel Chamlee (Class 7), Wayne Matlock (Pro UTV Open), Kyle Quinn (unlimited Class 1) and Jano Montoya (Pro Moto 30)…
DANIEL CHAMLEE, Montecito, Calif. (San Felipe, Mexico)—No. 700 Ford Ranger: Class 7
What are you doing to get yourself physically and mentally ready for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season?
“I am working on some light physical therapy from an injury that I received before last year’s SCORE Baja 1000. We also pre-ran and participated in a Desert Mayhem race in San Felipe recently to keep my skills honed.”
What is your team doing to prepare/upgrade/change your vehicle for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season?
“A typical prep on the race truck includes replacing suspension pivots, looking for metal fatigue and cracks, and repairing broken and damaged items from the last race such as A-arm and sway bar links. We will also be replacing the engine which we've ran for about 5 full championship seasons.”
What testing plans do you have planned heading into the 2023 SCORE San Felipe 250?
“We are living in San Felipe now so we will be able to spend more time pre-running this year’s race course and we often take out the pre-runner to play on many of the roads often used in SCORE San Felipe 250's.”
Are you planning having an additional driver for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season and if so, who will that be?
“I am the solo driver so I don't have any plans for additional drivers but I am looking for navigators to wear out in the desert for the longer races.”
Knowing that 2023 is the 50th anniversary season of SCORE racing, what does SCORE mean to you as a racer in the SCORE World Desert Championship.
“SCORE is the ultimate series in desert racing particularly because of the SCORE Baja races. They are the most professionally run. We are excited to be able to participate and as the reigning Class 7 champion run the 700 plate for the 18th time in our career. We are also excited for the SCORE Baja 1000 uphill run and to earn our 10th SCORE Milestone Award during the 50th Anniversary season of SCORE.
WAYNE MATLOCK, Alpine, Calif.—No. 1871 Polaris RZR Pro R: Pro UTV Open
What are you doing to get yourself physically and mentally ready for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season?
“After the SCORE Baja 1000 near the end of October, I took a little time off, but I recently got back into my everyday routine at CrossFit. On the mental side of it, I am trying to keep my head down and stay focused on getting everything prepared so we are dialed in for the season.”
What is your team doing to prepare/upgrade/change your vehicle for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season?
“I am currently having Newline Products build a brand new Polaris RZR Pro R for this season that we will be testing soon. The guys in the shop are also busy building new pre-runners and making some needed changes to our chase trucks.”
What testing plans do you have planned heading into the 2023 SCORE San Felipe 250?
“I am planning on doing a couple test sessions with Fox Shox and with the guys from Xtravel, as well as shaking down the car by racing a local desert race before heading down to the SCORE San Felipe 250 at the end of March.”
Are you planning having any additional drivers for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season and if so, who will they be?
“I will be racing the first three races of 2023 SCORE World Desert Championship season solo, until the SCORE Baja 1000 when I will team up once again with Josh Row as my second driver.”
Knowing that 2023 is the 50th anniversary season of SCORE racing, what does SCORE mean to you as a racer in the SCORE World Desert Championship.
     “I have been attending SCORE races since I was a kid with my father being a long-time racer as well. I remember watching him and his competitors lining up at the starting line and dreaming of the moment that I too could do the same. I never imagined all these years later (Matlock turned 45 in November) that I would have the honor of lining up beside my idols, but here I am and with so many years of history behind the SCORE series, it would be one of the highlights of my career to win a championship on its 50th anniversary year.
Kyle Quinn, Lakewood, Calif.—No. 138 Jimco-Chevy (Wilson Motorsports): unlimited Class 1
What are you doing to get yourself physically and mentally ready for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season?
“My preparation for the year and races is a little different than most. I am a type 1 Diabetic (since I was 10 years old) so I am developing changes to my pump therapy with my doctor to keep my blood sugar numbers dialed in during the races. I have been trying to get more exercise in and training on my simulator at home. Mentally, I am staying present in what my body needs and what is going on in the shop to know the cars front to back.”
What is your team doing to prepare/upgrade/change your vehicle for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season?
“Our team is always looking for ways to improve. We are rebuilding parts to make them stronger and looking for the next edge on our competition. We will be continuing our efforts to grow Class 1 bigger with more entries every race.”
What testing plans do you have planned heading into the 2023 SCORE San Felipe 250?
“We will get the cars out testing 3-4 weeks before the race for an extensive testing session and go back out for fine tuning if needed. Our mechanics Ben (Wright) Chris (Ramey) really have our cars dialed so there is not too much work needed when testing.”
Are you planning having an additional driver for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season and if so, who will they be?
“This is still to be determined.”
Knowing that 2023 is the 50th anniversary season of SCORE racing, what does SCORE mean to you as a racer in the SCORE World Desert Championship.
“SCORE is the pinnacle of desert racing! Wilson Motorsports has been competing in SCORE for over 40 years. Being a part of these momentous SCORE races and all these years with the Wilsons (nearly 30 years) is always exciting and very memorable.”
Jano Montoya, Winter Park, Fla. (Peru)—No. 325x KTM 450EXCF: Pro Moto 30
What are you doing to get yourself physically and mentally ready for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season?
     “Mentally we are excited to get the 2023 SCORE World Desert Championship season started.  We are anxious to defend the Pro Moto 30 (riders over 30 years old) class championship this year.  Physically we have started our training which includes riding every weekend and working out during the week.”
What is your team doing to prepare/upgrade/change your vehicle for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season?
“The team has started preparing the Race Bike and the Pre-running bikes to make sure that we have all the equipment in top notch condition.  We are making a comprehensive list of all the parts that we will need for the upcoming races.”
What testing plans do you have planned heading into the 2023 SCORE San Felipe 250?
“We plan to start testing the Bike suspension, gear ratio, bike settings and tire set up towards the end of February.  We typically start testing six weeks before the race.”
Are you planning having any additional riders for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season and if so, who will they be?
“Yes, this year we are bringing Jesse Canepa to our team.  We are excited to have him join the team. The other riders expected back for 2023 are Bryce Stavron, San Clemente, Calif., Kyle Tichenor, Mesquite, Nev. and David Zarate, La Paz, Mexico.”
Knowing that 2023 is the 50th anniversary season of SCORE racing, what does SCORE mean to you as a racer in the SCORE World Desert Championship.
“It is exciting to be able to participate In the 50th SCORE anniversary season.  I have been racing the SCORE World Desert Championship series since 2014.  Racing for a SCORE Class Championship is very exciting and fulfilling.  Racing in Baja, Mexico is very unique.  The fans, spectators, and the Baja Peninsula terrain is like nothing else I have seen or raced on.”
SCOREscope
2023 GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY SCHEDULE
Here are the dates for the four-race 2023 SCORE World Desert Championship Golden Anniversary season, ‘Celebrating 50 Years of Desert Racing Excellence’, which will be held totally in Baja California, Mexico for the eighth consecutive year:
King Shocks 36th SCORE San Felipe 250, presented by Baja Vida Snacks—
March 28-April 2, San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico
BFGoodrich Tires 55th SCORE Baja 500, presented by 4 Wheel Parts—
May 31-June 4, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
4th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing Fuels—
September 12-17, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
BFGoodrich Tires 56th SCORE Baja 1000, presented by 4 Wheel Parts—
November 13-18, La Paz, Baja California Sur to Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
ESPN TV NETWORKS AGAIN IN 2022
For the fourth straight year, the 2022 SCORE World Desert Championship races aired on the ESPN family of networks. The four-races aired as specials 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 journalists Sam Posey and Jack Arute.
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, 4 Wheel Parts-Official Off-Road Retailer and Race Presenting Partner, Ford-Official Truck and SUV, King Shocks-Official Shock Absorber and Race Title Sponsor, Polaris RZR-Official UTV, VP Racing Fuels-Official Fuel and race presenting sponsor, Baja Vida-Official Snacks and race presenting sponsor, Optima Batteries-Official Batteries, Wide Open Excursions-Official Arrive and Drive Company, Crystal Bay Casino-Official Casino and PCI Race Radios.
SCORE Official Partners: The Satellite Phone Store, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance, Lucerna Hotel.
Additional SCORE Associate Partners: Baja California Secretary of Tourism, MEXICO Secretary of Tourism, San Felipe Foundational Municipal Council, Ensenada Municipal Government, San Felipe Marketing Tourism Committee, Ensenada Marketing Tourism Committee, Ensenada Hotel and Motel Association, Proturismo Ensenada and Cruz Roja Mexicana.
For more information regarding SCORE, visit the official website of the SCORE World Desert Championship at www.SCORE-International.com.