SCORE Latest News

Rob MacCachren takes wire-to-wire overall, SCORE Trophy Truck win, Justin Davis wins Class 1 at 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500

SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Clark, dominiccnv@aol.com

June 3, 2018

To air world-wide

Rob MacCachren takes wire-to-wire overall, SCORE Trophy Truck win,

Justin Davis wins Class 1 at 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500

321 starters in Rd 2 of four-race 2018 SCORE World Desert Championship in Ensenada, Mexico

Justin Morgan 3-rider team first overall motorcycle, Kristen Matlock earns first overall UTV,

other class winners include Vildosola Sr, Swaim, Dickerson, Sims, Alvarez, Pinuelas Jr, Proctor,

Viry Felix, Heredia, Munoz, McNeil, Septien, Liebelt, Montoya, Spinali, Laycraft, S. Sanchez

ENSENADA, Baja California, Mexico—Patience and fortitude along with a trusty steed carried Las Vegas’ iconic Hall of Fame desert racer Rob MacCachren to his second straight overall SCORE win Saturday as won the golden anniversary celebration of the 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500 in dynamic fashion by starting first, never losing the physical lead and finishing first in the elapsed-time race.

Round 2 of the four-race 2018 SCORE World Desert Championship was held this past week in Mexico’s Baja California, starting and finishing in Ensenada, the seaside port on the Pacific Ocean, 80 miles south of San Diego.

BIG BONUS

Race title sponsor BFGoodrich Tires also paid a US$25,000 contingency bonus to MaCachren for his overall victory to help commemorate this year’s race. He earned the 32nd overall 4-wheel victory for his tire sponsor BFGoodrich Tires in this race.

THE PODIUM

Starting first and never passed while defeating a strong field of 321 starters including 33 in the marquee racing division for high-tech, 900-horsepower, unlimited custom trucks, MacCachren, 53, drove to victory over a tremendously tough 542.12-mile race course, finishing in his trusty warhorse-- No. 11 Rockstar Energy MacCachren Motorsports Ford F-150 (built by Geiser Bros of Phoenix) in a penalty-free 11 hours, 21 minutes, 15 seconds, averaging 47.75 miles per hour.

MacCachren earned a victory margin of three minutes, 32 seconds over Luke McMillin, 25 of San Diego, who finished second overall in 11:24:47 at 47.50 mph in the No. 83 Mark Racing Ford F-150.

For MacCachren it was his sixth class win and second overall triumph in the SCORE Baja 500 as he increased his SCORE-record total of career SCORE Trophy Truck race wins to 17. While finishing second three times in this race by less than four minutes total, including a seven-second loss to Las Vegas’ B.J. Baldwin in 2008, MacCachren’s first overall win here came in 1996 when he was racing for the powerful BFGoodrich Tires Rough Rider team in SCORE Trophy Truck.

Improving on his fifth place finish in San Felipe Ryan Arciero, 44, Lake Forest, Calif., deftly drove himself to the final spot on the podium with a third-place overall and SCORE Trophy Truck finish in his No. 32 Ford F-150 in 11:29:06 while averaging 47.20 mph.

MCMILLIN MAGIC

For the second straight SCORE race, San Diego’s legendary McMillin family had three third-generation desert racers with top finishes. After third, fourth and sixth place finishes in San Felipe, the McMillins had second, fourth and fifth place finishes in the SCORE Baja 500.

While Luke finished in second place his brother Dan McMillin, 30, teamed with desert racing legend Larry Roeseler, 61 of Imperial, Calif., to finish fourth in the No. 23 Mark Racing Ford F-150 in 11:29:40 (47.16mph). The McMilin-brothers’ cousin Andy McMillin, 31, finished fifth overall and in SCORE Trophy Truck in the new No. 31 McMillin Racing Chevy Silverado with a time of 11:30:53, averaging 47.08mph.

The first time for the McMillin family to finish three SCORE Trophy Trucks in the top five overall and in class, the first and second generation McMillin racers did it first in the 1981 SCORE Baja 1000 when the won three classes while finishing in the top five overall.

Mark McMillin, Dan and Luke’s dad, finished first overall and in Class 1, late family patriarch Corky McMillin finished second overall and won Class 2 and Scott McMillin, Andy’s father, finished fourth overall while winning Class 10.

FINAL CHECKER

When the race course officially closed on Sunday morning at 8:28 a.m., 187 of 321 starters (58.26 percent) completed the radically rugged course within the 22-hour time limit to earn their coveted official finisher medals and status. Both the start and finish line were located once again in the heart of Ensenada on Boulevard Costero adjacent to the historic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center.

STATES/COUNTRIES/STARTERS

With the 321 official starters being a solid eighth-most in the 50-year history of this great race., U.S. racers among the field ranged from Alaska, Hawaii, California, Washington and Oregon in the Pacific West, Nevada, Idaho, Arizona, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico in the Mountain West, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Connecticut in the Northeast, Illinois, Ohio, South Dakota, Kansas and Texas in the Midwest and Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia in the South.

In addition to 32 U.S. States, racers came from 14 total countries. In addition to the USA, U.S. Territories Guam and Puerto Rico, racers came from Host Mexico, Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Canada, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Peru and Spain.

CLASS 1 SUPERLATIVE

For the second straight race, Justin Davis, Chino Hills, Calif., captured the unlimited Class 1 while finishing 12th overall in the No. 185 Green Army Motorsports Chevy-powered Jimco open-wheel desert race car. His winning effort was completed in 12:25:39 (43.62mph. He defeated 12 starters in his class. Starting first he never looked back and finished with a victory margin of over 45 minutes.

MORGAN WINS MOTO OVERALL

Riding the No. 7x Honda CRF450X, Justin Morgan, 25, El Cajon, Calif. and his three-rider team raced to the overall motorcycle victory for his third overall motorcycle win in this race in the last four years. Repeating their SCORE San Felipe 250 win earlier this year, they crossed the finish line in 11:54:58 at an average speed of 45.49mph.

Morgan split the riding with Mark Samuels, Yucca Valley, Calif. who won his second overall moto title in this race in three years and Justin Jones, Murrieta, Calif. who won his first SCORE overall moto title in this race.

OVERALL UTV

Pulling off a major upset by winning over a SCORE-record field of 35 starters in Pro UTV FI, 13 starters in Pro UTV and three starters in Pro UTV Unlimited, Kristen Matlock was the overall UTV winner and Pro UTV NA (Normally Aspirated) class winner in the race. Matlock, 37, of Alpine, Calif., drove solo in Pro UTV NAto a winning time of 14:26:47 in a Polaris RZR XP4 1000 for a victory margin of over 31 minutes over the second place finisher among all 51 of the Pro UTVs that started the race.

A veteran competitor in her class and winner of the season opener in San Felipe, Matlock’s victory was even more impressive by the fact that she defeated all of the normally-faster Forced Induction UTVs as well.

Keeping things in the family, her husband Wayne Matlock, 40, finished second in the higher-powered Pro UTV FI class in a Polaris RZR XP4 Turbo. The married couple both won their respective classes in the season-opening SCORE San Felipe 250 in early April.

MAC COMMENTS

Enjoying his victory celebration at the finish line, Rob MacCachen commented, ““This was the roughest, toughest, longest and most spectacular SCORE Baja 500 race course in the 50-year history of this glorious race. Early on we had Cameron Steele behind us and something happened and it’s hard when you’re out front to know how hard to run. Then the last time we checked we had about a 1 minute, 44-second gap on Andy (McMillin) and I hope we pulled a little more gap on him at the finish. I have been coming to Baja since the mid 80’s and I have a good fan base; you could hear them cheering us on throughout the course. Want to thank my sponsors and the crew as they work almost 24/7 prepping the truck and getting us a reliable truck. This truck honestly has had very few problems over the last 4 or 5 years. Want to thank my crew chief (Jim Blackmore) who is well known down here in Ensenada and has gotten us three SCORE Baja 1000 wins in a row, two SCORE San Felipe 250’s in a row, and now a SCORE Baja 500 win and that’s good stuff. Love being in Baja!”

11 OF TOP 12 OVERALL SCORE TROPHY TRUCKS

Eleven of the top 12 overall finishers in the race were from the marquee SCORE Trophy Truck class. The one that wasn’t from SCORE Trophy Truck was Davis from Class 1.

Finishing sixth overall and in SCORE Trophy Truck was three-time defending SCORE Trophy Truck season point champion Carlos ‘Apdaly’ Lopez, Tecate, Mexico, in 11:52:36 in the No. 1 RPM Racing Chevy Rally Truck and seventh was Billy Wilson, Corpus Christi, Texas in the No. 15 Bevly/Wilson Racing Ford Raptor with a time of 11:56:43.

Eighth and ninth overall and in SCORE Trophy Truck we the three Herbst brothers of Las Vegas racing in twin Monster Energy Terrible Herbst Motorsports Ford F-150 SCORE Trophy Truck. Troy Herbst, racing with Christian Sourapas, Rancho Santa Fe finished in 12:01:41 in the No. 19 truck and his older brothers Tim and Ed Herbst finished 40 second behind Troy in 12:01:51.

Former NASCAR team owner/driver Robby Gordon, Charlotte, N.C. was 10th overall in his No. 77 Speed Energy Team Gordon Chevy Silverado in 12:08:39 and 11th was brothers Alan Ampudia/Aaron Ampudia, Ensenada, Mexico in their No. 10 Papas Y Beer Racing Ford F-150 in 12:08:43.

THE UNBEATEN

In addition to MacCachren (SCORE Trophy Truck), Davis (Class 1 and Kristen Matlock (Pro UTV), Morgan, five other racers remain undefeated after winning here at the SCORE Baja 500 following their class wins at the season-opener in San Felipe.

In the car, truck classes, also winning for the second straight race were Vincent Munoz, Yucaipa, Calif. (Class 8, Ford Ranger) and Jesus Mendez Jr, Mexicali, Mexico (Pro UTV Unlimited, Can-Am X3).

Also winning for the second time were Giovanni Spinali, El Cajon, Calif., in Pro Moto 50 on a Honda CRF450X, Francisco Septien, Ensenada, Mexico in the Pro Ironman motorcycle class on a Honda CRF450X and Canada’s Guy Laycraft in Pro Moto 60 on a Honda CRF450X.

FIRST-TIME WINNERS

Among the racers earning their first class wins in the 2018 SCORE World Desert Championship at the 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500 were Gustavo Vildosola Sr, Mexicali, Mexico (SCORE TT Legend, Ford Raptor), Bryce Swaim, El Cajon, Calif. (Trophy Truck Spec, TSCO-Chevy), Broc Dickerson, Brawley, Calif. (Class 10, Alumi Craft-Chevy), Casey Currie, Norco, Calif. (Hammer Truck Unlimited, Jeep Wrangler), Oscar Alvarez, McAllen, Texas (Class 1/2-1600, Romo-VW), Gustavo Pinuelas Jr, Mexicali, Mexico (SCORE Lites, Jimco-VW), Jeff Proctor, Glendora, Calif. (Class 7, Honda Ridgeline), Mark McNeil, El Cajon, Calif. (Class 5, VW Baja Bug), Branden Sims, Prescott Valley, Ariz. (Pro UTV, Polaris RZR XP Turbo), Peter Alesi Jr, Alpine, Calif. (Vintage Trailblazer, Chenowth-VW), Viry Felix, Ensenada, Mexico (Class 11, VW Sedan) and David Heredia, Hacienda Heights, Calif (Class 5/1600, VW Baja Bug).

Two 2017 season class champions who won for the first time this year were motorcycle class racer Ryan Liebelt, Reedley, Calif. (Pro Moto 30, Yamaha WR450F).

Winning for the first time this year in Pro Quad was Said Sanchez, Tijuana, Mexico on a Honda TRX450R.

XTREME CREEL

With points allotted to the driver/rider of record who must start and/or finish the race, it’s not uncommon to see a racer on two entries, or occasionally on three entries, but Mexico’s Santiago Creel took it to an entirely new level. Creel, 31, an international motorcycle rally racer from Mexico City, was rider of record on four motorcycle entries in three classes and an additional driver for Mark Winkelman, Cedar Hills, Texas, in a new Trophy Truck Spec vehicle.

Riding on various KTM motorcycles, Creel had rider of record on two vehicles in the Pro Moto Unlimited Class, one in the Pro Moto Limited and the fourth one in the Pro Moto 30 class for riders over 30 years old. At the season opener in San Felipe, his teams won both the Pro Moto Limited and Pro Moto 30 classes and finished second and third in Pro Moto Unlimited.

In Saturday’s race, Creel was second in both Pro Moto Limited and Pro Moto 30, and his KTMs in Pro Moto Unlimited finished fifth and a did not finish and the Trophy Truck Spec did not finish as well.

RECORD LONG COURSE/MASSIVE CROWDS

The Golden Anniversary course, designed and finalized by SCORE Race Director Jose A. Grijalva was an astounding race-record 542.12 miles, running in a clockwise direction.

Starting and finishing once again in the heart of Ensenada in front of the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center, it quickly left the pavement and head up the spectator-friendly Ensenada Arroyo for two miles as it headed out of town.

Upwards of 50,000 spectators watched the race in that area alone. And local tourism officials estimated upwards of 200,000 fans spread along the entire length of the grueling race course.

The historic race course was 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 was another jewel reflecting the mesmerizing, stark beauty of Baja California.

This year’s Golden Anniversary course had four physical checkpoints—Checkpoint No. 1-El Chinero, (Race Mile 174.20), Checkpoint No. 2-San Matias (RM 260.72), Checkpoint No. 3-Vicente Guerrero (RM 368.15) and Checkpoint No. 4-Santo Tomas (RM 466.83).

Reflecting on the course, Grijalva commented,

Among the other towns, areas and landmarks the course goes through or near are Ensenada Arroyo, Ojos Negros, the Goat Trail, Valle de Trinidad, Diablo Dry Lake Bed, Las Cuevitas Wash, Mike’s Sky Rancho, Rancho El Coyote, Rancho Meling, Camalu, Colonet, Colonet Wash and Erendira .

GRANDEST CO-GRAND MARSHALS

Legendary Hall of Fame former SCORE owner Sal Fish joined Hall of Fame retired racer Ivan Stewart as co-Grand Marshals for the 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500.

Fish, the ‘godfather’ of desert racing who ran SCORE from its Baja start in 1974 for 39 years through the end of the 2012 season joins the iconic ‘Ironman’ Stewart, who has 17 class wins (including an incomparable 10 4-wheel vehicle overalls) in the SCORE Baja 500, shared duties for the special golden anniversary race that they both have been such a major part of over the years.

Fish turned 79 on May 2 and Stewart will turn 73 on Monday.

GRAN HISTORIA

Following last year’s epic celebration of the 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000, this year’s SCORE World Desert Championship spotlights the special tribute to the 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500.

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 in 1974. Sal Fish ran and later owned and produced the SCORE Baja 500 for 39 years until he sold SCORE to Roger and Elise Norman in December of 2012.

This year was the 45th time the race it started and 41st time it finished in Ensenada, the off-road capital of the world.

SCOREscope

Below is the four-race 2018 SCORE World Desert Championship schedule. For the third consecutive year all four races are being held in Baja California, Mexico.

32nd SCORE San Felipe 250, April 4-April 8, San Felipe, Mexico
50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500, May 29-June 3, Ensenada Mexico
Tijuana 22nd SCORE Desert Challenge, Sept. 19-23, Tijuana, Mexico
51st SCORE Baja 1000, Nov.14-18, Ensenada, Mexico

SCORE 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, 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, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance, CETTO Vineyards.

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.

For more information regarding SCORE, visit the official website of the SCORE World Desert Championship at www.SCOREInternational.com.

SCORE Baja 500

Ensenada, Baja California Mexico

All-Time Overall 4wheel & 2wheel champions (1969 through 2017)

Year—DRIVERS/RIDERS, VEHICLE

1969—Bud Ekins/Guy Jones, Baja Boot-Olds

Doug Douglas/Jim McClurg, Ducati

1970—Parnelli Jones, Ford

Bill Silverthorn/Gene Fetty, Husqvarna

1971—Bobby Ferro, Funco-VW

Malcolm Smith/J.N. Roberts, Husqvarna

1972—Bobby Ferro, Sandmaster-VW

Gene Fetty/Bill Silverthorn, Honda

1973—Parnelli Jones, Ford

Howard Utsey/Mickey Quade, Husqvarna

1974—Bobby Ferro, Sandmaster-VW

Mitch Mayes/A.C. Bakken, Husqvarna

1975—Ivan Stewart, Funco-VW

Larry Roeseler/Bruce Ogilvie, Harley-Davidson

1976—Bobby Ferro/Ivan Stewart, Funco-VW

Larry Roeseler/A.C. Bakken, Husqvarna

1977—Ivan Stewart, Chenowth-VW

Larry Roeseler/Jack Johnson, Husqvarna

1978—Bud Feldkamp/Malcolm Smith, Funco-VW

Brent Wallingsford/Scot Harden, Husqvarna

1979—Malcolm Smith/Bud Feldkamp, Funco-VW

Jack Johnson, Husqvarna

1980—Bob Gordon, Chenowth-Chevy

Bruce Ogilvie/Chuck Miller, Yamaha

1981—Malcolm Smith/Bill Newbury, Chenowth-Chevy

Larry Roeseler/Bruce Ogilvie, Yamaha

1982—Larry Ragland, Funco-VW

Larry Roeseler/Chuck Miller, Yamaha

1983—Corky & Scott McMillin, Chenowth-VW

Dan Ashcraft, Husqvarna

1984—Larry Ragland, Chaparral-VW

Dan Smith/Dan Ashcraft, Husqvarna

1985—Ron Gardner/Bud Feldkamp, Funco-VW

Kurt Pfeiffer/Scot Harden, Husqvarna

1986—Corky & Scott McMillin, Chenowth-Porsche

Garth Sweetland/Scot Harden, Husqvarna

1987—Bob Gordon/Tim Crabtree, Chenowth-Porsche

Larry Roeseler/Ted Hunnicutt Jr, Kawasaki

1988—Mark McMillin, Chenowth-Porsche

Dan Ashcraft/Kurt Pfeiffer, Yamaha

1989—Robby Gordon, Ford

(no motorcycles)

1990—Robby Gordon, Ford

Larry Roeseler/Danny LaPorte, Kawasaki

1991—Ivan Stewart, Toyota

Garth Sweetland/Paul Krause, Kawasaki

1992—Ivan Stewart, Toyota

Larry Roeseler/Ted Hunnicutt Jr/Paul Krause, Kawasaki

1993—Ivan Stewart, Toyota

Danny Hamel/Larry Roeseler/Ted Hunnicutt Jr, Kawasaki

1994—Ivan Stewart, Toyota (SCORE Trophy Truck)

Dave Ashley/Dan Smith, Ford

Paul Krause/Ted Hunnicutt Jr, Kawasaki

1995—Curt LeDuc, Jeep (SCORE Trophy Truck)

Mike Julson/Bob Lofton, Jimco-VW

Paul Krause/Craig Smith, Kawasaki

1996—Rob MacCachren, Ford (SCORE Trophy Truck)

Troy Herbst, Smithbuilt, Smithbuilt-Porsche

Paul Krause/Ty Davis, Kawasaki

1997—Ivan Stewart, Toyota (SCORE Trophy Truck)

Mark McMillin, Jimco-Porsche

Johnny Campbell/Bruce Ogilvie, Honda

1998—Ivan Stewart, Toyota

Johnny Campbell/Bruce Ogilvie, Honda

1999—Ivan Stewart, Toyota

Jonah Street/Torsten Borstrom, Honda

2000—Larry Ragland, Chevy

Jonah Street/Steve Hengeveld, Honda

2001—Mark McMillin, Jimco-Chevy

Steve Hengeveld/Johnny Campbell, Honda

2002—Troy Herbst/Larry Roeseler, Smithbuilt-Ford

Steve Hengeveld/Johnny Campbell, Honda

2003—Troy Herbst/Larry Roeseler, Smithbuilt-Ford

Steve Hengeveld/Johnny Campbell, Honda

2004—Alan Pflueger, Chevy

Steve Hengeveld/Johnny Campbell, Honda

2005—Robby Gordon, Chevy

Mike Childress/Mouse McCoy, Honda

2006—Brian Collins/Larry Ragland, Chevy

Robby Bell/Kendall Norman, Honda

2007—Larry Ragland/Brian Collins, Chevy

Robby Bell/Kendall Norman/Steve Hengeveld, Honda

2008—B.J. Baldwin, Chevy

Robby Bell/Kendall Norman, Honda

2009—Harley Letner/Kory Halopoff, Tatum-Chevy

Bill Boyer/Donnie De Arman/Nicholas Blais/Rudy Iribe, Honda

2010—Andy McMillin/Scott McMillin, Ford

Kendall Norman/Quinn Cody, Honda

2011—Bryce Menzies, Ford

Kendall Norman/Quinn Cody, Honda

2012—Bryce Menzies, Ford

Robby Bell/David Pearson/Steve Hengeveld, Kawasaki

2013—Robby Gordon, Chevy

Timmy Weigand/Colton Udall/David Kamo, Honda

2014—Bryce Menzies, Ford

Ricky Brabec/David Pearson/Max Eddy Jr, Kawasaki

2015—Carlos Lopez, Chevy

Ricky Brabec/Max Eddy Jr/Justin Morgan/Ian Young, Kawasaki

2016—Gus Vildosola Jr, Ford

Colton Udall/Mark Samuels, Honda

2017—Andy McMillin, Ford

Francisco Arredondo/Shane Esposito/Justin Morgan/Roberto Villalobos, Honda

2018—Rob MacCachren, Ford

Justin Morgan/Mark Samuels/Justin Jones, Honda

SCORE Baja 500 Overall Champions

Manufacturers

Overall 4wheel Vehicle Trucks/SUVs*

Ford

Chevy

Toyota

Jeep

*Includes 1993-97 (52 Total)

Cars

Funco

Chenowth

Jimco

Smithbuilt

Sandmaster

Baja Boot

Chaparral

Tatum

*Includes 1993-97 (52 Total)

Overall Engine Winners

Cars & Trucks

Ford

Volkswagen

Chevy

Toyota

Porsche

Jeep

Oldsmobile

*Includes 1993-97 (51 total)

Motorcycles

Honda

Husqvarna

Kawasaki

Yamaha

Beta

Ducati

Harley-Davidson

Tires

4wheel vehicles

(missing 4 years)

BFGoodrich Tires

Western Auto Tires

Toyo Tires

Firestone Tires

Goodyear Tires

Yokohama Tires