PART 5: Racers prepping for start of SCORE WDC

SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Clark, Dominic@SCORE-International.com
 
February 6, 2023
 
Season Opener in San Felipe, Baja
‘Celebrating 50 years of Desert Racing Excellence’
PART  5: ‘The Luke’, Potter, Kiger, Gaughan, Thor Herbst
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 World Desert Championship.
Certainly, there are numerous developing stories regarding drivers with new teams or changes in classes, but here is PART 5 of comments gathered from SCORE superstars Luke ‘The Luke’ McMillin (SCORE Trophy Truck), Stan Potter (Class 10, 3 1/2 Amigos), Elijah Kiger (Trophy Truck Spec), Brendan Gaughan (Class 1) and Thor Herbst (Trophy Truck Spec…
LUKE ‘THE LUKE’ McMILLIN, San Diego—No. 83 Chevy 1500 (Mason): SCORE Trophy Truck
What are you doing to get yourself physically and mentally ready for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season?
“Typically, we race KOH or another race in the beginning of the season, but this year we passed on the early races and have decided to focus on the SCORE World Desert Championship this year. This has been the biggest break from racing I've had since I started racing. It's been really nice to not be in the "rat race" getting to the next race. Often, I find myself living from race to race and slamming in too much stuff in between. This year I've been able to spend more time focusing on DLM Properties, our real estate company. Mentally it's been really nice to slow down, and take some time to focus on the company and myself. I really believe that will translate into a good start to the race season, mentally.”
“We're also expecting a baby girl in May, so we've been getting ready for that and are very excited. It's nice to spend some time getting ready for that. Since we've been spending more time at home, I've also been working out a lot more consistently to get physically ready. When our schedule is really busy and full of long days between the races and work, sometimes it's hard to find the motivation and time to get in the gym... but this year I've been in the gym consistently 4-5 times a week and plan to stick with it. We still have a lot of time to San Felipe. Slowing down the beginning of year is really helping me get all my ducks in a row. I will be physically and mentally ready to take on the 2023 season.”
What is your team doing to prepare/upgrade/change your vehicle for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season?
“Since our AWD was finished 10 days before the 2021 SCORE Baja 500 it's been non-stop racing and testing for that truck. This prep we were able to tear the truck down to a bare frame and get the chassis painted. It will be a chassis up prep, so the truck will be 100%, like new.”
“We're also in the middle of fully remodeling our pre runners. Those trucks are almost 15 years old now so they were long overdue for new engine packages, rewire and many more upgrades. That has also been taking up a lot of our time and focus in the shop.”
What testing plans do you have planned heading into the 2023 SCORE San Felipe 250?
“We still stick with a standard 80ish mile test session before the SCORE San Felipe 250. The truck set up will be very similar to the way it was in 2022. We were consistently the fastest truck in 2022, and as much as I believe in development, I also believe "if it's not broke, don't fix it". Our issues at the SCORE Baja 500 and SCORE Baja 400 are fully diagnosed and fixed. I have a lot of confidence in our truck for 2023... Of course we have a few tricks up our sleeve, my mind never stops thinking about how to make our race car better, we will have a fast truck.”
Are you planning having any additional drivers for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season and if so, who will they be?
“Well interesting question... There are a few unknowns for 2023. Celine, our baby girl, is due 10 days before the SCORE Baja 500. The race truck will be ready to race, and it may be me driving or maybe a guest appearance...time will tell and nothing will be announced until last minute.”
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.
“McMillins have a long and successful history in SCORE Baja racing starting with my Grandfather Corky McMillin in 1976, and racing in the SCORE World Desert Championship means a lot to me and my family. But, to be honest, it doesn't make much difference to me that it's the 50th or that the SCORE Baja 1000 is running backwards, northbound. It's the SCORE Baja 1000 and we want to win!”
STAN POTTER, San Marcos, Calif. (3-1/2 Amigos),—No. 1006 Alumi Craft-Chevy: Class 10
NOTE: 3-1/2 Amigos is a prominent SCORE team comprised of Freddie Willert (DOR in 2023), Stan Potter (DOR in 2022) and Dan Worley. The newbie (1/2) is Freddie’s son Matt Willert, 17, who races in Class 1/2-1600.) STAN POTTER, who was driver of record for the team in 2022 and won Class 10 in last year’s SCORE Baja 500, has answered the questions below.
What are you doing to get yourself physically and mentally ready for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season?
“For Freddie and I, we value the time away from the SCORE series to recharge and relax as well as to address and care for those things we perhaps neglected during the racing year.  As far as fitness goes, we both spend a lot of time ensuring our bodies are in peak shape.  I personally spend a lot of time hunting, on my mountain and road bike, as well as time in the gym.  Freddie rides his motorcycle.  Diet is a key part for us a well.”
What is your team doing to prepare/upgrade/change your vehicle for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season?
“We spent quite a bit of time this off season testing.  Learning about different setups on the car to optimize for certain courses.  Its also very helpful to spend time in the car testing in Mexico - where we race.”
What testing plans do you have planned heading into the 2023 SCORE San Felipe 250?
“We spent several days in early January testing with King Shocks.  We took some chances and went away from our typical setup - and definitely found more performance.”
Are you planning having any additional drivers for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season and if so, who will they be?
“In 2022, Freddie was committed to race with his son (and up and coming star) Matthew Willert in his first season in SCORE in the 1/2-1600 car.  Consequently, I did a couple of the 2022 races solo.  However, in 2023 it will be Freddie and I racing the Class 10 car for the entire season.”
“Until he got behind the wheel in 2022, Matt was strictly a motocross racer. In 2022, in his first year driving a car, he had podium finishes in every SCORE race he entered (500, 400, 1000).  In 2023, Matt will be racing with Daniel and Michael Goodrich (sons of Brian Goodrich - who was SCORE Rookie of the Year and class champ for 5-1600 in 1992).”
“Dan Worley, Freddie Willert, and Stan Potter are still the 3 Amigos in Class 10.”
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.
“We are very much about tradition.  All three of us have been racing in SCORE for a good part of those 50 years.  In our minds, SCORE is the pinnacle of desert racing and what other off-road racing series aspire to be.  So, to be a part of that history means everything to us.  We won the 50th Baja 1000 in 2017, so now we'd like to win the 50th SCORE Baja 1000 in 2023!”
ELIJAH KIGER, Kirby, Pa.—No. 238 TSCO-Chevy: Trophy Truck Spec
What are you doing to get yourself physically and mentally ready for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season?
“Not too much physical planning. But mentally, I like watching other drivers in-car footage from races and making comparisons of our driving styles and just thinking of new things to try next time I drive.”
What is your team doing to prepare/upgrade/change your vehicle for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season?
“We made a great step right before the SCORE Baja 1000 last year in our TSCO Trophy Truck Spec. The race program is in a good spot currently and I just want to keep it going.”
What testing plans do you have planned heading into the 2023 SCORE San Felipe 250?
“We will get a suspension day in before the SCORE San Felipe 250 just dial back in our whoop set up. Nothing to drastic. Like I said, we are happy with the way our race truck is right now.”
Are you planning having an additional driver for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season and if so, who will they be?
“Nope. Back to the original team of myself, Sean Bogdan and riding co-dog (navigator) with us both is Tyler King.”
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.
“We are super excited. We fell short of the championship last year (second place). Looking to be competitive in the Trophy Truck Spec championship this year. This year is going to be crazy with all the competition. As always, we can’t wait for the SCORE Baja 1000. Another point-to-point race makes it so cool and were looking forward to the challenge of three-peating in the SCORE Baja 1000 in our Trophy Truck Spec Class.”
BRENDAN GAUGHAN, Las Vegas—No. 162 HMS-Chevy: Unlimited Class 1
What are you doing to get yourself physically and mentally ready for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season?
“After the worst year of racing in my entire life (including 23 years in NASCAR) in 2022, we are looking to come back strong for 2023. Because we didn’t do many miles in 2022 the race car is in great shape and our Kroyer Racing Engines are all fresh and ready to roll for the season.”
“Mentally, I’ve been racing cars for over 30 years of my life, I feel as focused now as i have ever been and am not gonna let one bad year get in my way.  I’ve got a great group of guys working on the car at Collins Motorsports and I really feel good about how well Mike Montes (my navigator) and I work in the car and when doing our pre-running and GPS work, so we feel great starting this season.”
“Physically, I have dropped over 20 pounds and needed to get back into better shape and feel like I’m in the best shape I’ve been since about 2015, so I am ready to eat some San Felipe sand whoops!”
What is your team doing to prepare/upgrade/change your vehicle for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season?
“We have who I feel is one of the best suspension people left in our sport, Billy Goerke, in charge of the shock program.  He just got done building brand new shocks for this season so we are really looking forward to putting those to the test.  Also, after the transmission troubles that plagued us last year, we sent everything back to my old buddy Doug Fortin Jr to have him make sure we don’t have anymore problems this season.”
What testing plans do you have planned heading into the 2023 SCORE San Felipe 250?
“So testing and I are kind of an interesting subject.  I’m 47 years old now and during my NASCAR years did a whole lot of testing.  It has become not one of my more favorite things to do, I say that testing is a young man’s sport.  So, I have two aces up my sleeve. First, Billy Goerke is not just one of the best in the sport at tuning suspension, but he is also a great race car driver, which makes him one of the best at also tuning his suspension!! I mean come on, when you have someone as good as he is, let’s just cut out the middle man!  Also last year my good buddy R.J. Anderson finally big-timed us and had to move on to bigger and better(?) things, and we were able to go back to my roots and bring Jordan Dean onto the team as one of our drivers.  Jordan (son of SCORE racer Pat Dean) is an exceptionally talented race car driver and has become one of the fastest guys around in a buggy, so I choose to let him do much of the testing for me.”
Are you planning having any additional drivers for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season and if so, who will they be?
“So, for the SCORE San Felipe 250, we normally just have me and Mike Montes (navigator) do the whole race.  It’s such a ‘short’ race and we really don’t need another driver for that one.  But after that, I will always offer up the first seat to Dr. Buddy Feldkamp for as long as he is willing to keep racing with me!  I love the Feldkamp family and Buddy is so solid in the race car you never have to worry him when he gets in.  And then of course, the aforementioned Jordan Dean.  I’m really excited to continue the tradition of the Gaughan Family and the Dean family’s legacies together and look forward to Jordan making the two old guys look good by going fast!”
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.
“Every SCORE season is special to me.  After being away from the desert for 20+ years doing my NASCAR thing, I never lost my love for desert racing and more specifically SCORE Baja desert racing.  I grew up down there with my father and Walker (Evans) and all of my heroes and mentors and will, hopefully soon, be bringing my sons to the races down there with me.  All of that being said, when you win races and championship in major anniversary years, that just adds to the lore and the lure of wanting to perform at your best.  I look forward to hopefully bringing home the Class 1 championship in SCORE’s 50th Anniversary season but more importantly, we are gonna have a great time celebrating 50 amazing years in Baja with all our friends!”
THOR HERBST, Las Vegas—No. 264 Herbst/Smith-Chevy: Trophy Truck Spec
NOTE: Thor Herbst is the second driver for his younger brother Pierce Herbst who is a student at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. The sons of SCORE champion racer Tim Herbst (who drives the No. 19 with Pat Dean in SCORE Trophy Truck), the Herbst brothers are part of the third-generation of Herbst family SCORE racers.
THOR HERBST has provided the answers for these questions…
What are you doing to get yourself physically and mentally ready for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season?
“We are trying to get as much seat time in the car as we possibly can before the start of the season. This is a must so that is on the top of our list of things to do. Other than that Pierce and I stay in pretty good shape by working out regularly in order to keep our endurance up.”
What is your team doing to prepare/upgrade/change your vehicle for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season?
“This season Pierce and I will be racing a brand new Herbst/Smith Fab in the Trophy Truck Spec class. Everyone at the shop has put in long hours to get this truck ready for the season. We are very happy with the performance and capabilities this truck has already shown us when testing so we are very excited to bring it out to the SCORE Baja races.”
What testing plans do you have planned heading into the 2023 SCORE San Felipe 250?
“We will continue to test the truck out here in the Las Vegas area to dial it in so it is perfect coming into the SCORE San Felipe 250 to start the 2023 SCORE World Desert Championship.”
Are you planning having any additional drivers for the 2023 SCORE Baja racing season and if so, who will they be?
“Pierce and I will be driving the majority of this season but hopefully will have our cousin Riley Herbst (NASCAR Xfinity Series regular making his Cup debut in this year’s NASCAR Daytona 500) joining us for the SCORE Baja 1000 in November.”
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.
“Growing up we’ve watched our dad (Tim Herbst) and uncles (Ed Herbst and Troy Herbst) go to Baja and compete in the SCORE World Desert Championship as well as hearing about our grandfather’s racing (Jerry Herbst). For Pierce and I being able to race and compete these past few years in this historic series has been an amazing feeling. Going into this race season with it being the 50th anniversary of SCORE we are really excited to see what we can accomplish.”
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—
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.