'08 Laughlin Desrt Challenge

[Blanco]

Just booked my room. :D

[Yikes]

Just booked my room. :D

Which year was that again? :confused:

[Blanco]

What are you talking about?

What year? :confused:

FYI, The laughlin Desert Challenge & Leap are help every Jan.
So I'm talking about '08.

[Brokenbronco]

What are you talking about?

What year? :confused:

FYI, The laughlin Desert Challenge & Leap are help every Jan.
So I'm talking about '08.

Darn it Yikes! Don't you know that!?

[chupakabras]

so change the title, 07 laughlin desert challenge, to, 2008, i thought this was and old thread,,.. :confused:

[Blanco]

so change the title, 07 laughlin desert challenge, to, 2008, i thought this was and old thread,,.. :confused:

DOH! http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/eusa_doh.gif

Ok, I fawked up! http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/paperbag.gif

Thanks for pointing it out.

& now I understand what Yikes was asking...
Wosrt thing is I was 100% sober.

[AngerIssues]

My hopes are you won't see a single class 3 at this race.

Too much money for 33 miles per day, and maybe 29 points if you win?

I will not be racing.

[Blanco]

If Moss would of been there last year he might still be the Class Champ. :o

I suspect the Donahoe team will be there & if no body else shows then he wins...

[AngerIssues]

I suppose... if someone wants to be that way. I think SCORE needs a message that this is NOT CORR and it's a ridiculous venue for the money and the points.

I'm open to other people's opinions... maybe I should move this to the racer's thread?

[Blanco]

maybe I should move this to the racer's thread?

Maybe? http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/shrug.gif

[Kreg Donahoe]

My hopes are you won't see a single class 3 at this race.

Too much money for 33 miles per day, and maybe 29 points if you win?

I will not be racing.

Ken, I feel the same way. We are under contract with Nitto for 08 to hit ALL the SCORE races. So we have to be there. Sorry to wreck your hope but we have to pay the bills.

[AngerIssues]

Ya, I kinda figured that would be the case. For the rest of us, "paying the bills" may mean skipping the race, ironically!

I'm going to start a racers-only thread on a potential Class 3 Cup (or something more exciting sounding).

ken

[Blanco]

Ok so whos going?

I hope to have Blanco there to pre-run the course. ( I've never run laughlin before )

I know we have Donahoe going & Moss.

who else?

[AngerIssues]

boooo hisss boooo hisssss
:o)

[Blanco]

boooo hisss boooo hisssss
:o)

:rolleyes:

[toddz69]

Ok so whos going?

I hope to have Blanco there to pre-run the course. ( I've never run laughlin before )

I know we have Donahoe going & Moss.

who else?

I'm planning on being there on Friday for tech and contingency but I don't think I'll stay for any racing.

Todd Z.

[flyinbronco]

Looks like I'll be there for this one. Maybe I'll get to meet a few of you guys this trip. Getting there thurs night late and heading home Sunday night. See ya all there.

[Rambo79]

Of course I will be there I live here. I hope they did some changes for the fans, last year was a joke. Maybe Don Laughlin can take that stick out of his a$$ and let the fans park on the hills again along the track and see some racing.

[AngerIssues]

Well I hope some of you save your money for the Mint 400. I won't be going for the first time in over 10 years...

[localmotion]

Who will be attending and who will be racing?

[flyinbronco]

I'll be there checking it out.

[retroblazer]

Surprise, surprise, the only entry thus far are the Mosses. Sure is tempting....

[AngerIssues]

Put your tools in this time Raffo! :p

save it for the Mint 400! he he (you guys getting sick of me yet!) :D

[roaringrory]

I have been to the desert challenge twice. I wish I can go again but have to work. It is a great experiance. Those trucks really fly.

[flyinbronco]

I'm really looking forward to it. I've wanted to watch the Laughlin leap for a long time.

[Blanco]

I am starting to wonder if I can even afford to go. :o
I havent worked since mid Dec. & laughlins race is comming up fast.

[billy1911]

Im heading up Thursday sating at the edge water dont know if im taking the bronco?

[billy1911]

staying not sating

[Blanco]

14th Annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge
Official Entries-127
(from 11 States , Mexico & Germany ) (as of 1/04/08)
(Starting Order, By Class)

Pro Cars and Trucks
SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK (31)
(SCORE T-T Qualifying Order)
51 Kory Scheeler
55 Luis Wallace
5 Travis Coyne
7 Scott Steinberger
38 Garron Cadiente
39 Ron Whitton
50 Jason McNeil
34 Brandon McNeil
19 Tim Herbst
9 Gary Weyhrich
1 Mark Post
16 Cameron Steele
71 Robby Gordon
86 Josh Baldwin
35 Robbie Pierce
12 Brian Collins
61 Ryan Evans
2 Pete Sohren
97 B.J. Baldwin
22 Damen Jefferies
8 Roger Norman
17 Carl Renezeder
10 Ernesto Cervantes
13 Ed Stout
54 Jesse James
48 Jeff Spiers
85 Todd Wyllie
96 Bobby Baldwin
91 Bill McBeath
45 Rich Ronco
4 Gus Vildosola Jr.
CLASS 1 (26)
101 Harley Letner
102 Byron Ashley
103 Brian Deegan
104 Steve Barry
105 Troy Herbst
106 Scott Schovajsa
107 Pat Dean
108 Luis Ramirez Jr.
109 John Harrah
110 Steve Martz
111 Brian Hudson
112 Andy Grider
113 Kory Halopoff
114 Danny Ebberts
115 Brian Parkhouse
116 Dale Lenk
117 Armin Schwarz
118 B.J. Richardson
119 Brian Kirby
120 Brad Etter
121 James Scott
100 Billy Gasper
123 Josh Baldwin
124 Eric Chase
125 Josh Rigsby
126 Enrique Bujanda
CLASS 1-2/1600 (9)
1601 Byron Ziegler
1602 Myan Spaccarelli
1603 Arturo Velazco
1604 Mike Simpson
1600 David Caspino
1606 Javier Valenzuela
1607 Brent Parkhouse
1608 Mario Gastelum
1609 Adam Pfankuch
CLASS 3 (1)
300 Donald Moss
CLASS 5 (3)
501 George Seeley
502 Kevin Carr
500 Carlos Albanez
CLASS 5/1600 (12)
551 Patrick Dailey
552 Scott Pellerin
553 Tommy Craft
554 Ernie Negrete
555 Enrique Zazueta Jr.
556 Chad Mayernick
557 Eric Garcia
558 Matt Stevens
559 Richard Saldivar Jr.
560 Carlos Macklis
550 Mario Reynoso
579 Marcos Nunez
CLASS 7 (3)
700 Dan Chamlee
713 Doug Chadwick
714 Rick Battey
CLASS 7S (0)
CLASS 7SX (2)
741 Noe Sierra
742 John Holmes
CLASS 8 (3)
801 Greg Adler
802 Juan C. Lopez
803 Todd Wyllie
CLASS 9 (0)
CLASS 10 (10)
1001 Robert McBeath
1002 Brendan Fikes
1003 Mark Levrett
1004 Jesse McClain
1005 Mike Lawrence
1006 Mark Hutchins
1007 Chris Harrold
1008 Michael Meurer
1009 Sam Berri
1010 Michael Wichmann
SCORE LITES (11)
1201 Bill Hernquist
1202 Flavio Navarro
1203 David Callaway
1204 Rick St. John
1205 Jake Jones
1206 Hector Garcia Jr.
1200 Tom Watson
1208 Randy Ross
1209 Stan Potter
1210 Hector Garcia
1211 Steve Mamer
CLASS 11 (3)
1101 John Ledyard
1102 Todd Lucero
1103 Eric Solorzano
STOCK FULL (1)
860 John Griffin
STOCK MINI (2)
761 Steve Kovach
779 Thomas Natusch
PROTRUCK (2)
255 Richard Voss
235 Jason Voss
Sportsman Cars & Trucks
SPT CAR (3)
1401 Richard Boyett
1400 Peter Lang
1449 Rory Ward
SPT TRUCK (5)
1500 Keith Growe
1501 Mike Jenkins
1502 Marquis Pulido
1548 Dan Vance
1549 Chris Shive

[Blanco]

ONLY 1 Class 3? :confused:

[Blanco]

SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Clark, 702.735.7123

January 4, 2008

Jan. 24-27 in Laughlin , Nev.


SCORE Trophy-Truck to qualify for start positions while Harley Letner
Draws first Class 1 start for 14th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge

31 SCORE Trophy-Trucks entered in four-day event that starts with $16,000 SCORE Laughlin Leap on Jan. 24

LOS ANGELES—Harley Letner, a third-generation desert racer from Orange, Calif., received the first starting position in the unlimited Class 1 in Wednesday’s computerized draw for starting positions, by class, for this month’s 14th Annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge. SCORE also announced that the featured SCORE Trophy-Truck division, which had 31 vehicles in the drawing, will qualify for starting positions for the first time in SCORE history. The drawing was held at SCORE’s Los Angeles offices.
For the 14th straight year, motorsports fans and racers from across the United States , Mexico , and Germany will descend on Laughlin , Nev. , the desert resort town near the shores of the Colorado River for the vastly popular SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge. The first major race of the year will be held Jan. 24-27, launching the six-race 2008 SCORE Desert Series, the world’s foremost desert racing series.
When late registration is complete, over 150 expected starters will compete for over $300,000 in prize money and contingency postings during the four day SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge.
A total of 17 different Pro and two Sportsman classes for cars and trucks will be split into seven groups in Laughlin, each running as part of one of separate multiple-lap races over the much-abbreviated 6-mile loop each day. Racing action runs from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day (Jan. 26-27). Final official results for the race will once again be based on the combined two-day results.
The marquee racing division is SCORE Trophy-Truck, featuring high-tech, 800-horsepower, unlimited production trucks along with the unlimited Class 1 for open-wheel desert race cars. Those two classes will run the final two races each day with SCORE Trophy-Truck followed by Class 1.
Letner, 24, will drive No. 101 Letner Racing Chevy-powered Alpha open-wheel desert race car to lead Class 1. The Class 1 field has 26 entries to date.
A total of 31 vehicles have entered to date in the featured SCORE Trophy-Truck division, including the defending SCORE Trophy-Truck season point champion team of Mark Post, San Juan Capistrano , Calif. /Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas in the No. 1 Riviera Racing Ford F-150 and two-time defending race winner B.J. Baldwin, Las Vegas , in the No. 97 Baldwin Motorsports Chevy Silverado.
Among the other SCORE Trophy-Truck entries to date are Las Vegas brothers Tim and Ed Herbst, the winningest team in class history with 11 career race wins and four SCORE Trophy-Truck season point titles in the No. 19 Terrible Herbst Motorsports Ford F-150, Las Vegas’ Brian Collins and Chuck Hovey, Escondido, Calif., in the No. 12 Collins Motorsports Chevy Silverado, NASCAR team owner/driver Robby Gordon, Charlotte, N.C., in the No. 71 Chevy CK1500, Mexico’s son and father team of Gus Vildosola Jr. and Gus Vildosola in the No. 4 Vildosola Racing Ford F-150, TV sports announcer Cameron Steele, San Clemente, Calif., in the No. 16 Desert Assassins Cadillac Escalade, and TV personality Jesse James, Sunset Beach, Calif., in the No. 54 Chevy C1500.
Garron Cadiente, Mesa, Ariz., the 2006 SCORE Rookie of the Year, will also be in the SCORE Trophy-Truck field in his No. 38 G&R Racing Ford F-150 along with his father-in-law and teammate Ron Whitton, Maricopa, Ariz., in his No. 39 G&R Racing Ford F-150.
In the drawing for the qualifying order for SCORE Trophy-Truck, Las Vegas’s Kory Scheeler (No. 51, Chevy Silverado) will be first followed by Mexico’s Luis Wallace (No. 55, Ford F-150) and Travis Coyne, El Centro, Calif. (No. 5, Ford F-150).

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daily general admission tickets for the primary infield stadium grandstand seating, are $20 each for each day (Thursday, Saturday and Sunday), children five and under are free. Daily VIP tickets are $40 each for each of the three days, good for admission to the Laughlin Hospitality Chalet, including food beverage and special seating.
The stadium seating area will include the immensely popular SCOREvision large-screen LCD display, showing live footage from nearly 95 percent of the race course.
Tickets will also be available at the gate for the only other spectator area for the event, the popular ‘SCORE Hill’, which overlooks the infield, start/finish area and the main pits. The SCORE Hill will have grandstands and standing room areas along with vendors, concessions and other public safety services available. General Admission tickets will be $5 per person.
Event organizers at the Laughlin Tourism Committee have been able to secure an additional spectator area--the Cougar Corral--on the backstretch of the race course. Adjacent to Laughlin High School , off of State Highway 95, at the Cougar Corral, spectators will be able to pull their vehicle alongside the course with clear site of over one mile of race action. Daytime parking will be allowed for $10 per vehicle with no additional charge for occupants. These vehicle passes will be sold each day, as space is available, at the entrance to the ‘Cougar Corral’ off of Cougar Drive .
One of the event's most popular features, the SCORE Laughlin Leap, revs up the fun and gets the weekend off to a roaring start at 6 p.m. on Thursday (Jan. 24). Drivers and pit crews will share the spotlight at the Laughlin Events Park , competing for a $16,000 purse and the honor of being the 2008 champions. The SCORE Laughlin Leap, a dirt ramp built into the middle of the stadium infield, challenges the most daring of drivers. This year’s competitors will be looking to break the SCORE Laughlin Leap record set in 2004 by Mark Post in the No. 1 Riviera Racing Ford F-150 (160’ 6”).
The Events Park with grandstand seating, vendor’s village and food court is just minutes from the destination's nine resorts and includes a lenghty infield that includes jumps and whoops as well as the Laughlin Leap.
For the first time, the popular pre-race Manufacturer’s Midway and contingency row will be held on Bruce Woodbury Way and Casino Drive , adjacent to the heart of the Laughlin resort area. It will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 25.
The 14th annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge is sponsored by the Laughlin Tourism Committee, the Laughlin Visitors Bureau, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority in association with Las Vegas Events. The race is sanctioned and produced by SCORE International of Los Angeles.
Current SCORE official annual sponsors are: BFGoodrich Tires-official tire, Sunoco Race Fuels/Bryant Petroleum-official fuel supplier, Bilstein-official shock, Volkswagen-official vehicle, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance-official Mexican auto insurance, American Racing ATX Series-official wheel, Slime-official tire sealant, Red Bull--official energy drink and Bosch Power Tools-official power tool. Associate sponsors are: Tecate Beer, Coca-Cola of Mexico, Las Vegas Events, Terrible Herbst Inc., Blue C Enthusiast Advertising, Kartek Off-Road, Fram, Autolite, Prestone, Bendix, American Suzuki, Micron, NAPA Chassis, SignPros, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie’s Performance Products and Advanced Color Graphics.
More event information is available at www.visitlaughlin.com. Advance tickets for the event are on sale at 800.308.2253.
For more information, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters 818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the 2008 SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com.

[Tazz]

ONLY 1 Class 3? :confused:


Life, work and expenses to get my shop completed up north will prevent us from making it. We are planning on making the Mint race. Other SCORE races are on the plan this year though.

Good news, is the new 18,000 lb rated Bend-Pak lift, and new shop compressor arrived today. We started on the 800 sq/ft 1 bedroom apartment on the second floor of the shop, while I was up there over Christmas. :) It should be completed in about 2 months. It will be nice to only have to walk up a set of stairs to have a place to stay, when I go up to Idaho to work on the racer.

I told the guys that having a pool table in the middle of the living room, was past where I draw the line, on needed items for furnishing in a shop apartment.

[BajaBronco13]

Hey Tazz,

How about creating a thread on your shop build. I think it'll be pretty cool to see.

Chris

[Rambo79]

anybody who wants to watch some real racing and do not want to sit in the stands or on the hill should come out to cougar corral. We went out there last year to watch the prerun and there was some good action. Beware that this spot will fill up fast especially with locals, it has already spread around town. We are heading out there at 6am for a good spot.

[Blanco]

I have a sugery scheduled a few days before the race & I've suppose to take it easy for 2 weeks I'm told, So now I'm out for sure. :(

& I was wondering if anyone might want my hotel reservations?
I have a room for about 4 days at the Hotel/Casino where SCORE is doing most of their stuff.
I forget the name of it? :o

[flyinbronco]

I have a sugery scheduled a few days before the race & I've suppose to take it easy for 2 weeks I'm told, So now I'm out for sure. :(

& I was wondering if anyone might want my hotel reservations?
I have a room for about 4 days at the Hotel/Casino where SCORE is doing most of their stuff.
I forget the name of it? :o

Surgery? Damn I hope all goes well for you and you make a quick recovery.
I've got my reservations allready but thanks anyway.
Who's going to be the Bronco Driver magazine reporter now?

[Blanco]

Who's going to be the Bronco Driver magazine reporter now?

Well, being Moss is going to be the Only Bronco racing & Moss has already been in the Mag alot, I think they can get by without this race in the Magazine.
I thought about it & how exciting would it be to read about a race with only one entry?
Besides theres already some race stuff planned for the issue I would of made it into. :cool:

[Blanco]

& I was wondering if anyone might want my hotel reservations?
I have a room for about 4 days at the Hotel/Casino where SCORE is doing most of their stuff.
I forget the name of it? :o

http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/sign_bump.gif

Since I'm afraid to log into SCORE's web site for the info..
Might anyone know the name of the hotel SCORE is using as the base?

I'm thinking something like the Palms or something like that. :confused:

[straightaxle]

Come on Blanco, live on the edge, open the SCORE website.........

SCORE spreads it around to several hotels, but they usually have the registration at the River Palms.

And never say never on other entries at Laughlin...........

[Rambo79]

yes, it is at the River Palms

[Blanco]

Thats it! :D
River Palms.....

Last chance guys....
If nobody wants them, I'm gonna just cancel the reservations..

[Rambo79]

is Donahoe racing this year? I thought they had to because of sponsors? that sucks with only one entry and of course it is at my home race

[toddz69]

is Donahoe racing this year? I thought they had to because of sponsors? that sucks with only one entry and of course it is at my home race

No, you won't see them racing there.

Todd Z.

[Blanco]

No, you won't see them racing there.

Todd Z.

Are you sure? http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/6.gif

[AngerIssues]

The reason we all used to LOVE laughlin. I would nail these road-crossings HARD... but kind doubt I ever did this - ha ha!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQLDLc8M59c&eurl=http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=number+7+trophy+truck&fr=yfp-t-501&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8

and this...

kinda makes me want to go... but I know how it's changed

YouTube - Crazy Trophy Truck Jump - Laughlin Challenge

[Rambo79]

those were the good old days...

[Blanco]

Its official now, I cancelled my reservations... :(

[billy1911]

Only one class 3 and only 2 protrucks Whats the deal ?

[retroblazer]

Why are you surprised that there is only one entry? There were only two of us there last year. The entry fee alone is almost $1400. Between getting there and prepping the car you're looking at $3,000 to $5,000 to run this race. The cost per mile is the highest in the series.

[billy1911]

I understand I think SCORE should change the entries for each class and have more encentive to race (prize money, free enrtry to other races something)

[wiley-moeracing]

Thats the reason we don't run this race even though its close. So instead we just hang out at harra's instead

[AngerIssues]

Why are you surprised that there is only one entry? There were only two of us there last year. The entry fee alone is almost $1400. Between getting there and prepping the car you're looking at $3,000 to $5,000 to run this race. The cost per mile is the highest in the series.

Gee, I don't know... 33 miles each day. whoopeeee

They can keep it.

[flyinbronco]

What SCORE needs is a sliding scale entry fee based on dollar value of the entry. TT and class 1 would pay more than a class 11 or 3 or so on. If you can afford a 300,000 dollar ride you could afford a higher entry fee. Kinda like wefare for racers.:D

[Blanco]

SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Clark 702.735.7123



January 20, 2008

This Weekend in Laughlin , Nev.



B.J. Baldwin going for 3-peat; Post/MacCachren begin defense

Of season point title at 14th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge



Over 150 entries ready to start 2008 SCORE Desert Series on Thursday with $16,000 Laughlin Leap;

SCORE Trophy-Truck qualifying on Friday, third spectator area added for event;

Play-by-play audio of SCORE Trophy-Truck/Class 1 races

To be streamed by Totally Off-Road Radio on www.race-dezert.com



LAUGHLIN, Nev.—B. J. Baldwin is looking for a three-peat and the team of Mark Post/Rob MacCachren will begin defense of their 2007 overall season point championship as over 150 entries are ready to launch the new desert racing year at this weekend’s season-opening 2008 SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge in Laughlin, Nev.

For the 14th straight year, motorsports fans and racers from 17 states, Mexico and Germany will converge on Laughlin, the desert resort town along the banks of the Colorado River for the popular SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge. The first major motorsports event of the year will launch the 2008 SCORE Desert Series, the world’s foremost desert racing series.

A total of 17 Pro and two Sportsman classes for cars and trucks will be split into five groups in Laughlin, each running as part of one of separate multiple-lap races over the much-abbreviated 6-mile loop each day. Racing action will run from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both Friday and Saturday as the winners and finishing order will be deciding on the total elapsed time for the two days of racing. Racers will compete for nearly $400,000 in prize money and contingency postings.

Besides B.J. Baldwin, of Las Vegas , in the No. 97 Baldwin Motorsports Chevy Silverado and Post, Laguna, Beach, Calif./MacCachren, Las Vegas, in the No. 1 Riviera Racing Ford F-150, many of the other top desert racers in the world are entered in the SCORE Trophy-Truck division. Baldwin ’s two career SCORE Trophy-Truck race wins were the last two years in Laughlin while Post and MacCachren each have seven career SCORE Trophy-Truck race wins, including three in 2007.

Among the other SCORE Trophy-Truck entries are: NASCAR Cup owner/driver Robby Gordon, Charlotte , N.C. , seven career SCORE Trophy-Truck race wins (No. 77 Chevy CK1500), Brian Collins, Las Vegas, four career race wins (No. 12 Chevy Silverado), Jerry Whelchel, Portola Hills, Calif., four wins (No. 40 Chevy C1500 as second driver with Chet Huffman, Northridge, Calif.), Mexico’s Gus Vildosola Jr./Gus Vildosola Sr., (No. 4, Ford F-150), Carl Renezeder, Laguna Beach, Calif. (No. 17 Chevy Silverado), Josh Baldwin, Newport Beach, Calif. (No. 86 Ford F-150), Damien Jefferies, Apple Valley, Calif. (No. 22 Chevy Silverado), TV sportscaster Cameron Steele, San Clemente, Calif. (No. 16 Cadillac Escalade) and TV star Jesse James, Sunset Beach, Calif. (No. 54 Chevy Silverado).

The marquee racing division is SCORE Trophy-Truck, featuring high-tech, 800-horsepower, unlimited production trucks along with the unlimited Class 1 for open-wheel desert race cars. Those two featured classes will run the final two races each day with SCORE Trophy-Truck at 1 p.m. followed by Class 1 at 3 p.m. Each will run 8 laps each day, two more than last year.

The colorful $16,000 SCORE Laughlin Leap competition will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday. Racers will attempt to break the record of 160’ 6” set in 2004 by Mark Post.

From 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, the first qualifying for SCORE Trophy-Truck start positions will be held, with each of the 31 entries in the class allowed to run one lap at race speed or accept starting positions by random draw after the qualifying starting slots have been determined.

Daily general admission tickets for the primary infield stadium grandstand seating are $20 each for each day (Thursday, Saturday and Sunday), children five and under are free. Daily VIP tickets are $40 each for each day, good for admission to the Laughlin Hospitality Chalet, including food, beverage and special seating.

The stadium seating area will once again include the extremely popular SCOREvision large-screen LCD display, showing live footage from the SCORE Laughlin Leap on Thursday and live footage from approximately 95 percent of the race course on race days.

Tickets for the grandstand and VIP areas at Laughlin Events Park are on sale at 800.308.2253.

The two other spectator areas for the race are SCORE Hill and the ‘Cougar Corral’ and tickets for them will be available only at their respective entrances.

Overlooking the infield area and the main pits, general admission to SCORE Hill will be $5 per person.

The new ‘Cougar Corral’ is located on the west side of the course adjacent to Laughlin High School . With easy view of over one-mile of the race course, admission to the Cougar Corral will be $10 per vehicle for day use one on a first-come, first-served basis each day. The only entrance and exit to this new spectator area will be on Cougar drive off of Highway 95.

For the first time in event history, the pre-race SCORE Manufacturer’s Midway and contingency will be held away from the start/finish line area. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, this year’s display of all the participating vehicles in the race will be held on Bruce Woodbury Way , starting at Casino Drive in the heart of the Laughlin resort district.

Brothers Bill and Dave Gasper will start defense of their 2007 unlimited SCORE Class 1 season point title in their No. 100 Chevy-powered Porter open-wheel desert race car. Other top contenders in Class 1 include two-time overall race winner Dale Ebberts, Canyon Lake , Calif. , who will drive this year with team owner Brad Etter, Villa Park , Calif. , in another Porter-Chevy, Las Vegas teammates Pat Dean and B.J. Richardson in identically-equipped Bunderson-Chevy race cars, seven-time race winner in the World Rally Championship, Germany’s Armin Schwarz, who drives with team owner Martin Christensen, Escondido, Calif., in a Jimco-BMW, 2007 SCORE Rookie of the Year Eric Chase, San Diego, who races with his father Stuart Chase in a Penhall-Chevy and third-generation desert racer Harley Letner, Orange, Calif., in a Alpha-Chevy.

Scheduled to make his SCORE Class 1 debut will be 10-time XGames medal winner Brian Deegan, Temecula Calif. , in a Playtech-Chevy.

SCORE Trophy-Truck regular Josh Baldwin will also race in Class 1, where he finished fourth last year in his Jimco-Chevy.

Leading the multiple class winners in this race who are in the starting grid are George Seeley Jr., Glendale , Calif. , who has seven wins in Class 5 in a VW Baja Bug, Las Vegas ’ Rob MacCachren (6 class wins), Donald Moss, Sacramento Calif. (5) in Class 3 in a Ford Bronco, and with four class wins each: Las Vegas’ Brian Collins (SCORE Trophy-Truck) and Mexico’s Eric Solorzano (Class 11).

Besides Baldwin , MacCachren is also entered in two classes this year. Besides SCORE Trophy-Truck, he will drive Saturday in SCORE Lite for four-time defending series class point champion Tom Watson, San Diego , in a Jimco-VW.

Starting its 35th year in 2008, SCORE has also announced that audio streaming coverage of the event will be broadcast on the internet. With live play-by-play of both Saturday and Sunday’s SCORE Trophy-Truck and Class 1 races along with recaps of the other classes each day through the services Totally Off-Road Radio, the streaming will be available at www.race-dezert.com.

Current SCORE official annual sponsors are: BFGoodrich Tires-official tire, Sunoco Race Fuels/Bryant Petroleum-official fuel supplier, Bilstein-official shock, Volkswagen-official vehicle, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance-official Mexican auto insurance, Slime-official tire sealant, Red Bull--official energy drink and Bosch Power Tools-official power tool. Associate sponsors are: Tecate Beer, Coca-Cola of Mexico, Las Vegas Events, Terrible Herbst Inc., Blue C Enthusiast Advertising, Kartek Off-Road, Fram, Autolite, Prestone, Bendix, American Suzuki, Micron, NAPA Chassis, SignPros, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie’s Performance Products and Advanced Color Graphics.

Special sponsors for the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge are: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Las Vegas Events, Laughlin Tourism Committee and the Laughlin Chamber of Commerce.

For more information regarding the series, contact SCORE International at its Los Angeles headquarters (818.225.8402) or visit the official website of the 2008 SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com.


14th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge

Round 1, 2008 SCORE Desert Series


Schedule of Events(Subject to Change)



Thursday, January 24, 2008
11 a.m. – 5 p.m.--Driver Registration-Antigua Banquet Room, River Palms Hotel

11 a.m. – 5 p.m.--Media Center Open-River Room, River Palms Hotel

6 p.m.--$16,000 Laughlin Leap-Laughlin Events Park (Start/Finish Line)

Friday, January 25, 2008
8 a.m. – 1 p.m.--Course Pre-running (Racers Only)- Official Race Course-Laughlin Events Park

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.--Driver Registration-Antigua Banquet Room, River Palms Hotel

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.--Media Registration-River Room, River Palms Hotel

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.--Contingency & Technical Inspection-Bruce Woodbury Way & Casino Drive

1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.-- Qualifying-SCORE Trophy-Truck-Official Race Course-Laughlin Events Park

Saturday, January 26, 2008
6 a.m.--Late Registration & Tech Inspection-Start/Finish Line area-Laughlin Events Park

6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.--Media Center Open-Start/Finish Line area-Laughlin Events Park

Sunday, January 27, 2008
6 a.m.--Late Registration & Tech Inspection-Start/Finish Line area-Laughlin Events Park

6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.--Media Center Open-Start/Finish Line area-Laughlin Events Park



DAILY RACING SCHEDULE (Subject to Change)
7 a.m.--RACING STARTS (5 groups each day) Start/Finish Line-Laughlin Events Park

80-minute time limit for each group

Starting intervals--two vehicles every 15 seconds



7 a.m.--Group 1-Classes 1-2/1600 (6 laps), 5/1600 (6), 11 (3), SPT Car (6)

9 a.m.--Group 2-Classes 8 (6 laps), Protruck (6), 7 (6), 7SX (6), Stock Full (5), Stock Mini (5), Class 3 (5), SPTTruck(5)

11 a.m.--Group 3-Class 10 (7 laps), SCORE Lite (7), Class 5 (7)

1 p.m.--Group 4-SCORE Trophy-Truck (8 laps)

3 p.m.--Group 5-Class 1 (8 laps)



The Start/Finish Line area is located at the Laughlin Events Park

At the corner of Thomas Edison Drive and Bruce Woodbury Way

[Blanco]

SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Clark, 702.735.7123

NOTE: Following is the official schedule of events and expanded entry list for this weekend’s 14th Annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge in Laughlin , Nev. Late entries will be accepted on Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning in Laughlin.



14th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge
Round 1, 2008 SCORE Desert Series



Schedule of Events(Subject to Change)



Thursday, January 24, 2008
11 a.m. – 5 p.m.--Driver Registration-Antigua Banquet Room, River Palms Hotel

11 a.m. – 5 p.m.--Media Center Open-River Room, River Palms Hotel

6 p.m.--$16,000 Laughlin Leap-Laughlin Events Park (Start/Finish Line)

Friday, January 25, 2008
8 a.m. – 1 p.m.--Course Pre-running (Racers Only)- Official Race Course-Laughlin Events Park

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.--Driver Registration-Antigua Banquet Room, River Palms Hotel

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.--Media Registration-River Room, River Palms Hotel

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.--Contingency & Technical Inspection-Bruce Woodbury Way & Casino Drive

1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.-- Qualifying-SCORE Trophy-Truck-Official Race Course-Laughlin Events Park

Saturday, January 26, 2008
6 a.m.--Late Registration & Tech Inspection-Start/Finish Line area-Laughlin Events Park

6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.--Media Center Open-Start/Finish Line area-Laughlin Events Park

Sunday, January 27, 2008
6 a.m.--Late Registration & Tech Inspection-Start/Finish Line area-Laughlin Events Park

6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.--Media Center Open-Start/Finish Line area-Laughlin Events Park



DAILY RACING SCHEDULE (Subject to Change)
Saturday, Jan. 26/Sunday, Jan. 27

7 a.m.--RACING STARTS (5 groups each day) Start/Finish Line-Laughlin Events Park

80-minute time limit for each group

Starting intervals--two vehicles every 15 seconds



7 a.m.--Group 1-Classes 1-2/1600 (6 laps), 5/1600 (6), 11 (3), SPT Car (6)

9 a.m.--Group 2-Classes 8 (6 laps), Protruck (6), 7 (6), 7SX (6), Stock Full (5), Stock Mini (5), Class 3 (5), SPTTruck(5)

11 a.m.--Group 3-Class 10 (7 laps), SCORE Lite (7), Class 5 (7)

1 p.m.--Group 4-SCORE Trophy-Truck (8 laps)

3 p.m.--Group 5-Class 1 (8 laps)

The Start/Finish Line area is located at the Laughlin Events Park

At the corner of Thomas Edison Drive and Bruce Woodbury Way


14th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge
Round 1, 2008 SCORE Desert Series

Thurs-Sun— Laughlin , Nevada

OFFICIAL ENTRIES-152

(from 18 States , Germany & Mexico as of 1/21/08)

(By Class Starting Order)


SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK (Unlimited Production Trucks)--

(Starting order for SCORE Trophy-Truck to be determined by pre-race qualifying-Friday, 1:30-3:30p.m.)

1 Mark Post, Laguna Beach, Calif./Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Ford F-150

2 Pete Sohren, Glendale , Ariz. , Ford F-150

4 Gus Vildosola Jr. /Gus Vildosola Sr., Mexicali , Mexico , Ford F-150

5 Travis Coyne/Brandon Coyne, El Centro , Calif. , Ford F-150

8 Roger Norman, Reno , Nev. /Ronnie Gillespie, Las Vegas

10 Ernesto Cervantes, La Paz , Mexico , Ford F-150

12 Brian Collins, Las Vegas/Chuck Hovey, Escondido , Calif. , Dodge Ram2500

13 Ed Stout, Santa Ana, Calif./Jason Batulis, Tustin, Calif., Ford F-150

16 Cameron Steele, San Clemente , Calif. /Rick Geiser, Phoenix , Cadillac Escalade

17 Carl Renezeder, Laguna Beach , Calif. , Chevy Silverado

19 Tim Herbst/Ed Herbst, Las Vegas , Ford F-150

22 Damen Jefferies, Apple Valley , Calif. , Chevy Silverado

29 Stephen Jangaard, Torrance , Calif. , Chevy Silverado

34 Brandon McNeil/TK McNeil, Mesa , Ariz. , Ford F-150

35 Robbie Pierce, Santee , Calif. /Brent Gustin, Seal Beach , Calif. , Chevy Silverado

38 Garron Cadiente, Mesa , Ariz. , Ford F-150

39 Ron Whitton, Maricopa, Ariz. , Ford F-150

40 Chet Huffman, Northridge , Calif. /Jerry Whelchel, Portola Hills , Calif. , Chevy C1500

45 Rich Ronco, Peoria , Ariz. , Chevy Silverado, Tatum Motorsports

48 Jeff Spiers, Boise , Idaho /Ryan Spiers, Meridian , Idaho , Chevy Silverado

50 Jason McNeil, El Cajon , Calif. , Ford F-150

51 Kory Sheeler/Mike Costello, Las Vegas , Chevy Silverado

54 Jesse James, Sunset Beach , Calif. , Chevy Silverado

55 Luis Wallace, Cd. Juarez , Mexico , Ford F-150

61 Ryan Evans, Palmdale , Calif. , Chevy Silverado

77 Robby Gordon, Charlotte , N.C. , Chevy CK1500

85 Todd Wyllie, New River , Ariz. , Chevy C1500

86 Josh Baldwin, Newport Beach , Calif. , Ford F-150

91 Bill McBeath, Las Vegas , Chevy Silverado

96 Bobby Baldwin, Las Vegas , Chevy Silverado

97 B.J. Baldwin, Las Vegas , Chevy Silverado

CLASS 1 (Unlimited single or two-seaters)--

101 Harley Letner, Orange , Calif. , Alpha-Chevy

102 Byron Ashley, Litchfield Park , Ariz.

103 Brian Deegan, Temecula , Calif. /Mike Brunning, Corona , Calif. , Playtech-Chevy

104 Steve Barry, Jamul , Calif. , Jimco-Chevy

105 Troy Herbst, Las Vegas/Larry Roeseler, Hesperia , Calif., Smithbuilt-Ford

106 Scott Schovajsa, Humble, Texas

107 Pat Dean, Las Vegas , Bunderson-Chevy

108 Luis Ramirez Jr., Cabo San Lucas , Mexico , HMS-Chevy

109 John Harrah, Reno , Nev.

110 Steve Martz, San Marcos , Calif. , Jimco-Chevy

111 Brian Hudson, Westminster , Calif.

113 Kory Halopoff, Orange , Calif. , Tatum-Chevy

114 Danny Ebberts, Canyon Lake , Calif. , Jimco-Chevy

115 Brian Parkhouse, Bell Gardens , Calif. /Tom Ridings, Los Alamitos , Calif. Jimco-Chevy

116 Dale Lenk/Brett Lenk, Costa Mesa , Calif. , Penhall-Chevy

117 Armin Schwarz, Germany /Martin Christensen, Escondido , Calif.

118 B.J. Richardson/John Gaughan, Las Vegas , Bunderson-Chevy

119 Brian Kirby, Rowland Heights , Calif. , Kirby-Chevy

120 Brad Etter, Villa Park , Calif. /Dale Ebberts, Canyon Lake , Calif. , Porter-Chevy

121 James Scott, Hemet , Calif.

100 Bill Gasper, Chino Hills , Calif. /Dave Gasper, Santa Barbara , Calif. , Porter-Chevy

123 Josh Baldwin, Newport Beach , Calif. , Jimco-Chevy

124 Eric Chase, San Diego/Stuart Chase, Burbank , Calif. , Penhall-Chevy

125 Josh Rigby, Santa Fe , New Mexico /Tony Murray, Murrieta , Calif.

126 Barry Karakas, Oak Hills , Calif. /Andrew Birchard, Beaumont , Calif. , BK-Chevy

127 Enrique Bujanda, Socorro , Texas /Hector Trillo, Canutillo , Texas , Porter-Chevy

128 Jeff Farris, Kerman , Calif. , HMS-Chevy

129 Adam Householder, Orange , Calif. /Eric Corson, Placentia , Calif. , Playtech-Chevy

130 Chuck Dempsey, Oak Hills , Calif.

CLASS 1-2/1600 (VW-powered, single or two-seaters to 1600cc)--

1601 Byron Ziegler, Murrieta , Calif. , Dunrite

1602 Myan Spaccarelli, Simi Valley , Calif. , Mirage

1603 Arturo Velazco/Abel Velazco, Banning, Calif./Steve Cruz, San Diego , Porter

1604 Mike Simpson/Gary Messer, Kingman , Ariz. , Bunderson

1600 Dave Caspino, Woodland Hills , Calif. , Lothringer

1606 Javier Valenzuela/Gus Vildosola Jr., Mexicali , Mexico , Mirage

1607 Brent Parkhouse, Long Beach , Calif. , Mirage

1608 Mario Gastelum/Isaac Gastelum, El Centro , Calif. , Curry

1609 Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad , Calif. , Mirage

1610 Edgar Avalos, Horizon, Texas /Armando Avila, Cd. Juarez , Mexico , Kreger

1611 Adam Ashcraft, Vista , Calif. , Ashcraft

1612 Jeff Calhoun, Holtville , Calif. /Jason Jernigan, Imperial, Calif. , Jimco

1613 Gregg Hempel, Las Vegas/Jason Hansen, Henderson , Nev.

1614 Sparky Wilbur, Huntington Beach , Calif. /Steve Wilbur, Chino , Calif.

CLASS 3 (Short Wheelbase 4X4)--

301 Donald Moss, Sacramento , Calif. /Ken Moss, Marysville , Calif. , Ford Bronco

CLASS 5 (Unlimited VW Baja Bugs)--

501 George Seeley, Glendale , Calif.

502 Kevin Carr, San Diego

500 Carlos Albanez, Calexico , Calif. /Luivan Voelker, Mexicali , Mexico

CLASS 5/1600 (1600cc VW Baja Bugs)--

551 Patrick Dailey, Vista , Calif. /Glen Furtado, Valley Center , Calif.

552 Scott Pellerin, Romoland , Calif. /Brian Thompson, Bloomington , Calif.

553 Tommy Craft, El Cajon , Calif. /Ron Craft, Santee , Calif.

554 Ernie Negrete, San Ysidro , Calif. /Oscar Venegas, Rosarito Beach , Mexico

555 Enrique Zazueta Jr. /Enrique Zazueta Sr., La Paz , Mexico

556 Chad Mayernick/Gen Mayernick, Lakewood , Calif.

557 Eric Garcia, Lake Forest , Calif. /Brendan Garcia, Indio , Calif.

558 Matt Stevens/Rebecca Spencer, Lehi , Utah

550 Mario Reynoso, Tijuana , Mexico

562 Jose Angulo, Ensenada , Mexico

578 Jonathon Knight, San Mateo , Calif. /Richard Garavito, Montclair , Calif.

579 Marcos Nunez/Norberto Rivera, Ensenada , Mexico

CLASS 7 (Open mini trucks)--

700 Dan Chamlee/Tom Chamlee, Carpenteria , Calif. , Ford Ranger

701 Brandon Walsh, Encinitas , Calif. /Nick Belstrom, Rancho Santa Fe , Calif. , Toyota Tacoma

702 A.J. Rodriguez/Miguel Medina , Orange , Calif. , Ford Ranger

703 Chris Taylor, El Centro, Calif. /Josh Quintero, Imperial, Calif.

CLASS 7SX (Modified, open mini trucks)--

741 Noe Sierra, San Bernardino, Calif./Tony Sierra, Fontana, Calif., Ford Ranger

742 John Holmes, Olivenhain , Calif. /Mark Landersman, Temecula , Calif. , Ford Ranger

743 Aaron Gomez, Fallbrook , Calif. /Todd Sawyer, Temecula , Calif. , Ford Ranger

758 Gerardo Novelo, San Ysidro, Calif., Nissan Frontier

CLASS 8 (Full-sized two-wheel drive trucks)--

801 Greg Adler, Manhattan Beach , Calif. , Ford F-150

802 Juan C. Lopez, Tecate , Mexico /Beny Canela, Indio , Calif. , Ford F-150

803 Todd Wyllie, New River , Ariz. , Chevy C1500

CLASS 10 (Single or two-seaters to 1650cc)--

1001 Robert McBeath/Jessica McBeath, Las Vegas

1002 Brendan Fikes, Midland , Texas /Eric Stewart, Loma Linda , Calif. , Porter-Chevy

1003 Mark Levrett, Sparks , Nev.

1004 Jesse McClain/Victor Orellana, Chula Vista , Calif. , AlumiCraft-VW

1005 Mike Lawrence, Brea , Calif. /Chris Lawrence, Los Alamitos , Calif. , Lothringer-VW

1006 Mark Hutchins/C.J. Hutchins, Henderson , Nev. , Kreger-Honda

1007 Chris Harrold, Chula Vista , Calif. , AlumiCraft-Honda

1008 Michael Meurer, Castle Rock, Colo. /David Crosby, Elkhorn , Wisc., TMM-Toyota

1010 Michael Wichmann/Rick Lance, Las Vegas , Chenowth-VW

1011 David Rodriguez/Sergio Rodiguez, Santa Fe , N.M. , Kreger-VW

1012 Larry Job, Las Vegas , Jimco-Honda

1013 David Reyes/Marcos Reyes, National City , Calif. , Elite

SCORE LITE (VW-powered, Limited single-1776cc-or two-seaters-1835cc)--

1201 Bill Hernquist, San Diego , Jimco

1202 Flavio Navarro, Tepic , Mexico

1203 David Callaway, Menifee , Calif. /Scott Mapes, Riverside , Calif. , Dunrite

1204 Rick St. John, Encinitas , Calif. /Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad , Calif. , Duvell

1205 Jake Jones, Aliso Viejo , Calif. /Scot Jones, San Clemente , Calif.

1206 Hector Garcia Jr., Chino , Calif. , BajaMotorsports

1200 Tom Watson, El Centro , Calif. /Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas , Prill

1208 Randy Ross, Torrance , Calif. /Jimmy Delaney, Phelan , Calif. , Desert Dynamics

1209 Stan Potter, San Marcos , Calif. /Dan Worley, Encinitas , Calif.

1210 Hector Garcia Sr., Chino , Calif. /John Hsu, San Marino , Calif. , BajaMotorsports

1211 Steve Mamer, Holtville , Calif. , Raceco

1212 Lee Banning, Laveen , Ariz. /Andy Megaw, Scottsdale , Ariz. , Fodrill

CLASS 11 (Stock VW Sedans)--

1101 John Ledyard, San Marino , Calif. , Jim Ferguson, San Francisco

1102 Todd Lucero, Anaheim Hills , Calif. /Richard Nichols Jr., Placentia , Calif.

1103 Eric Solorzano, Tijuana , Mexico

1104 Jake Mueller/Todd O’Dwyer, San Diego

STOCK FULL (Stock, Full-sized trucks)--

860 John Griffin, Mission Viejo, Calif./Jeremy Spirkoff, El Cajon, Calif., Ford F-350

861 Chad Hall, Reno , Nev. , Hummer H3Alpha

862 Josh Hall, Reno , Nev. , Hummer H2

879 Clyde Stacy, Bristol , Va. /Justin Matney, Bristol , Tenn. , Dodge Ram2500

STOCK MINI (Stock, Mini-sized trucks)--

761 Steve Kovach, Tempe , Ariz. /Chip Carr, Gilbert , Ariz. , Ford Ranger

760 Rod Hall, Reno , Nev. , Hummer H3

779 Thomas Natusch, Weatherford , Texas /Todd Howell, Decatur , Texas , Isuzu Rodeo

PROTRUCK (Limited Production Trucks)--

255 Richard Voss, Cupertino , Calif. , Ford F-150

235 Jason Voss, Cupertino , Calif. , Ford F-150

SPORTSMAN

SPT CAR--

1401 Richard Boyett/Jeff Bowland, Bullhead City , Ariz. , AOR-Lexus

1400 Peter Lang, Santa Rosa , Calif. /Brian Jellison, Sebastapol , Calif. , Homebuilt-Chevy

1403 Glenn Smith, San Clemente , Calif. /Terry Collis, Carlsbad , Calif. , Raceco-VW

1404 Kelley Renezeder, Laguna Beach , Calif.

1449 Rory Ward/Tracy Ward, Mohave Valley , Ariz. , Chenowth-Chevy

SPT TRUCK

1500 Keith Growe/Mark Growe, Placentia , Calif. , Ford Ranger

1501 Mike Jenkins, Foothill Ranch, Calif./Sammy Navarro, San Juan Capistrano , Calif. , Ford F-150

1502 Marquis Pulido, Chino Hills , Calif.

1503 Doug Chadwick, San Clemente , Calif.

1504 Brian Freemal, Las Vegas , Trophy Lite-Chevy

1505 Robert Anderson, San Clemente , Calif. /Charles Anderson, Vista , Calif. , Ford Ranger

1547 Nick Tonelli, Huntington Beach, Calif./Eric Hampton, Lake Forest, Calif., Ford Ranger

1548 Dan Vance, Huntington Beach , Calif. , Toyota Tacoma

1549 Chris Shive/Dennis Sprong, Ramona, Calif., Ford F-150

[Blanco]

Looks like its still a one team race. :rolleyes:

[Yikes]

Looks like its still a one team race. :rolleyes:

Toyota reconsidering sponsor affiliation? I think Moss is going to regain the title this year.

[flyinbronco]

Toyota reconsidering sponsor affiliation? I think Moss is going to regain the title this year.

I read somewhere the Toyota was going to the KC lights people. And I hope Don and Ken can regain the title for sure. Just dosen't seem right them not being the champs. At least until I start racing them.:D

[Blanco]

I think Moss is going to regain the title this year.

DUH! :rolleyes:

[Blanco]

SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Clark 702.735.7123

January 25, 2008

Round 1, 2008 SCORE Desert Series Saturday and Sunday in Laughlin , Nev.

NASCAR’s Robby Gordon flies his SCORE Trophy-Truck 152’ 2”

For longest jump in Thursday’s $16,000 SCORE Laughlin Leap


Preview to this weekend’s SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge draws nearly 5,000 spectators

LAUGHLIN, Nev. –NASCAR Sprint Cup team owner/driver Robby Gordon nearly set an event-record in winning

Thursday’s SCORE Laughlin Leap competition, a prelude to this weekend’s season-opening 14th Annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge in Laughlin , Nev.

Always colorful, Gordon thrilled the standing-room only crowd of over 5,000, winning the large truck division by sending his powerful No. 77 Chevy CK1500 SCORE Trophy-Truck off the six-foot dirt jump for a distance of 152 feet, 2 inches. A total of 17 of the 29 SCORE Trophy-Trucks entered in this weekend’s race competed in the optional SCORE Laughlin Leap.

Gordon came close to the event record of 160’ 6” set in 2004 by Mark Post and nearly topped in 2006 when Carl Renezeder won with a leap of 159’ and Marty Coyne jumped his SCORE Trophy-Truck 157’ in 2005.

Second in the large truck division was Todd Wyllie, New River, Ariz., who jumped his Chevy C1500 SCORE Trophy-Truck 136’ 3”.

Las Vegas Dissemination Company teammates B.J. Richardson and Pat Dean, both of Las Vegas , took the top two spots in the large cc open wheel class. Driving near-identical Chevy-powered Bunderson Class 1 race cars, Richardson ’s vehicle went airborne for 138’ 10” while Dean’s was right behind at 138’ 4”.

Class 1-2/1600 racers Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad , Calif. , in a Mirage-VW and Dave Caspino, Woodland Hills , Calif. , in a Lothringer-VW had leaps of 93’ and 88’ 6” respectively.

Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Bruce Woodbury Drive at Casino Drive will be tech and contingency day for the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge as the over 150 cars and trucks entered in the race go through the colorful manufacturer’s midway. The Laughlin Events Park is the spectator area for the race and it is also where the pits and infield portion of the 6.25-course is located.

The unique race, split into two parts, will be held Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the 17 classes divided into five race groups running multiple laps each day. The featured SCORE Trophy-Truck division will race at 1 p.m. each day followed by the unlimited Class 1 cars at 3 p.m.

Ticket information is available at www.visitlaughlin.com.

14th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge

$16,000 Laughlin Leap, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008
Top Finishers



Big Trucks

Pos. Vehicle No.-Driver, Hometown, Vehicle, Distance, Purse

1. 77 Robby Gordon, Charlotte , N.C. , Chevy CK1500, 152 feet, 2 inches ($3,000)
2. 85 Todd Wyllie , Ariz. , Chevy C1500, 136’ 3” ($1,000)

Small Trucks

Pos. Vehicle No.-Driver, Hometown, Vehicle, Distance, Purse

1. 703 Chris Taylor, El Centro , Calif. , Ford Ranger, 117’ 11” ($3,000)
2. 1548 Dan Vance, Huntington Beach , Calif. , Toyota Tacoma , 115’ 6” ($1,000)

Large c.c. Open Wheel

Pos. Vehicle No.-Driver, Hometown, Vehicle, Distance, Purse

1. 118 B.J. Richardson , Las Vegas , Bunderson-Chevy, 138’ 10 ($3,000)
2. 107 Pat Dean, Las Vegas-Chevy, 138’ 4” ($1,000)

Small c.c. Open Wheel

Pos. Vehicle No.-Driver, Hometown, Vehicle, Distance, Purse

1. 1609 Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad , Calif. , Mirage, 93’ ($3,000)

2. 1600 David Caspino, Woodland Hills , Calif. , Lothringer, 88’ 6” ($1,000)

[localmotion]

Well it's 11pm and Ima off to the Cougar Coral. Gotta get there early if ya wanna get a good spot. See ya there.

[AngerIssues]

Well it's 11pm and Ima off to the Cougar Coral. Gotta get there early if ya wanna get a good spot. See ya there.

Now that is a die-hard fan. Just party all night in the car or what???

it's border-line freakish! :D

[localmotion]

Now that is a die-hard fan. Just party all night in the car or what???

it's border-line freakish! :D

Naw....just a off-road freak. I hate getting to a race event...thinking Iam early...and finding 50 cars inline in front of you. Besides I like to have first choice for spots to watch from.

Have to say Cougar Coral was best place to watch the race...other than from behind the wheel. Next weekend its off to parker.

[Blanco]

SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Clark, 702.735.7123


January 26, 2007


Dean leading Class 1

Mexico’s Vildosola patiently waits as early race leaders break to take
SCORE Trophy-Truck lead at 14th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge

Race finishes Sunday as Harrold, Watson, Boyer, Nunez, Chamlee, R. Hall, Holmes all leading classes



LAUGHLIN, Nev.—Mexico’s Gus Vildosola Jr. patiently waited his turn Saturday as the early race leaders all fell off the pace to take the first day Overall and SCORE Trophy-Truck class lead after the first of two days of racing in the season-opening 14th annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge.
Sixth after the first of 8 laps over the surprisingly rugged 6.25 mile race course, Vildosola patiently waited his turn to finish the lead with a time of 1 hour, 16 seconds, averaging 49.78 miles per hour in the No. 4 Vildosola Racing Ford F-150 SCORE Trophy-Truck.
Racing concludes Sunday for 17 Pro and 2 Sportsman classes for cars and trucks with racing starting at 7 a.m. and lasting to 5 p.m. Running 8 more laps each, the featured SCORE Trophy-Truck division will start the final portion of its race at 1 p.m., followed by the unlimited Class 1 at 3 p.m. The start/finish line area is located at the Laughlin Events Park at Edision Drive and Bruce Woodbury Drive in the heart of the Laughlin resort district.
Round 1 of the 2008 SCORE Desert Series features 141 starters from 19 states, Mexico and Germany competing for nearly $400,000 in prize money and contingency postings.
Vildosola crashed severely during Friday’s qualifying run but the crew was able to work until early Saturday morning to complete chassis repairs and pass tech of the vehicle wouldn’t have been able make the starting line.
One of the top Mexican desert racing teams, Vildosola Racing is based in Mexicali , Mexico . Gus Vildosola Jr. and his father Gus Vildosola finished second in SCORE Trophy-Truck in last year’s legendary 40th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000.
Vildosola was ninth after the first lap, hoping to run consistently and got much more than he had planned. He ran consistent laps of 7:23, 7:30, 7:29, 7:30, 7:28, 7:34 and 7;54 to take a 44 second lead in SCORE Trophy-Truck going in to Sunday’s final half of the race.
Second in SCORE Trophy-Truck is Rich Ronco, Peoria , Ariz. , in a Chevy Silverado while third is Damen Jefferies, Apple Valley , Calif. , in another Chevy Silverado, two minutes and one second behind Vildosola.
The unlimited Class 1 race was the closest of the day with Las Vegas’ Pat Dean and B.J. Richardson only one second apart and two-time race winner Dale Ebberts third just four seconds behind Dean.
Both part of the Las Vegas Dissemination Company team, Dean and Richardson drive near-identically Chevy-powered Bunderson open-wheel desert race cars. Ebberts, Whitlow, Calif. , is driving a Porter Chevy.
Vildosola outlasted early leaders Robby Gordon, Chet Huffman and Brian Collins to take the leading heading into Sunday’s final half of the popular race. Gordon, Huffman and Collins all broke down and Gordon’s first lap, turned in 6:55 was the fastest of the day. Gordon and Huffman went out on lap 4 while Collins was sidelined on lap 6.
Among the other class leaders after Saturday included: Corey Boyer, Bakersfield, Calif. (Class 1-2/600, Lothringer-VW), Marcos Nunez, Ensenada, Mexico (Class 5/1600, VW Baja Bug), Ramon Fernandez, Ensenada, Mexico (Class 11, VW Sedan), Dan Chamlee, Carpenteria, Calif. (Class 7, Ford Ranger), John Holmes, Olivenhain, Calif. (Class 7SX, Ford Ranger), Juan C. Lopez, Tecate, Mexico (Class 8, Ford F-150), Rod Hall, Reno, Nev. (Stock Mini, Hummer H3), John Griffin, Mission Viejo, Calif. (Stock Full, Ford F-350), George Seeley, Glendale, Calif. (Class 5, VW Baja Bug), Chris Harrold, Chula Vista, Calif., (Class 10 AlumiCraft-Honda), Tom Watson, El Centro, Calif. (SCORE Lite, Prill-VW).

Besides Class 1, several class leaders are less than a minute ahead of second place.

In Class 1-2/1600, Boyer leads Adam Pfankuch by just one second heading into Sunday’s finale. In Class 5/1600, the top three vehicles are only 20 seconds apart. Second by 12 seconds behind Nunez is Enrique Zazueta Jr. and eight seconds behind Zazueta is Jose Alonso.

In SCORE Lite, Tom Watson has a 46-second lead over David Callaway.

The stadium seating area includes the immensely popular SCOREvision large-screen LED display, showing live footage from nearly the entire race course.

More event information is available at www.visitlaughlin.com


14th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge

Round 1, 2008 SCORE Desert Series

Jan. 26-27, Laughlin, Nev., 6.25 miles per lap

Total Starters: 141



Top Overall Leaders



Pos., Driver(s), Vehicle, Class, 8-lap, 50-mile time (miles per hour)


1. Gus Vildosola Jr./Gus Vildosola Sr., Mexicali, Mexico, Ford F-150, SCORE Trophy-Truck, 1 hour, 16 (49.778 mph)

2. Rich Ronco, Peoria , Ariz. , Chevy Silverado, SCORE Trophy-Truck, 1:01:00 (49.18 mph)

3. Damen Jefferies, Apple Valley , Calif. , Chevy Silverado, SCORE Trophy-Truck, (1:02:17 (48.166 mph)

4. Pat Dean, Las Vegas , Bunderson-Chevy, Class 1, 1:02:27 (48.038 mph)

5. B.J. Richardson /John Gaughan, Las Vegas , Bunderson-Chevy, Class 1, 1.02.28 (48.025 mph)

6. Dale Ebberts, Wilton, Calif./Brad Etter, Villa Park, Calif., Porter-Chevy, Class 1, 1.02:31 (47.987 mph)

7. Kory Scheeler/Mike Costello, Las Vegas , Chevy Silverado, SCORE Trophy-Truck, 1:02:34 (47.948 mph)

8. Bobby Baldwin, Las Vegas , Chevy Silverado, SCORE Trophy-Truck, 1:02:49 (47.758 mph)

9. B.J. Baldwin, Las Vegas , Chevy Silverado, SCORE Trophy-Truck, 1:03:01 (47.606 mph)

10. Robbie Pierce, Santee , Calif. /Brent Gustin, Seal Beach , Calif. , Chevy Silverado, SCORE Trophy-Truck, 1:03:50 (46.997 mph)

11. Roger Norman, Reno, Nev./Ronnie Gillespie, Las Vegas, Ford F-150 , SCORE Trophy-Truck, 1:04:24 (46.583 mph)

12. Steve Barry, Jamul , Calif. , Jimco-Chevy, Class 1, 1:04.5 (46.248 mph)

13. Steve Martz, San Marcos , Calif. , Jimco-Chevy, Class 1, 1:04:56 (46.201 mph)

14. Todd Wyllie, New River , Ariz. , Chevy C1500, SCORE Trophy-Truck, 1:07:44 (44.291 mph)

15. Chuck Dempsey, Oak Hills , Calif. , HMS-Chevy, Class 1, 1:07:56 (44.16 mph)

16. John Harrah, Reno , Nev. , Jimco-Dodge, Class 1, 1:08:16 (43.945 mph)

17. Brian Parkhouse, Bell Gardens, Calif./Tom Ridings, Los Alamitos, Calif. Jimco-Chevy, Class 1, 1:09:27 (43.196 mph)

18. Bill McBeath, Las Vegas , Chevy Silverado, SCORE Trophy-Truck, 1:10:13 (42.724 mph)

19. Jeff Farris, Kerman , Calif. , HMS-Chevy, Class 1, 1:11:55, ( 41.714 mph)

20. Josh Baldwin, Newport Beach , Calif. , Jimco-Chevy, Class 1, 1:12:01 (41.657 mph)

21. Dale Lenk/Brett Lenk, Costa Mesa , Calif. , Penhall-Chevy, Class 1, 1:12:03 (41.637 mph)

22. James Scott, Hemet , Calif. , RPS-Chevy, Class 1, 1:12:43 (41.256 mph)

23. Armin Schwarz , Germany /Martin Christensen, Escondido , Calif. , Jimco-BMW, Class 1, 1:14:13 (40.422 mph)

24. Eric Chase, San Diego/Stuart Chase, Burbank , Calif. , Penhall-Chevy, Class 1, 1:16:37 (39.155MPH)

Class Leaders after Saturday:


SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK (Unlimited Production Trucks, 8 laps, 50 miles, 30 entries, 24 starters, 10 finishers) - 1, Gus Vildosola Jr. /Gus Vildosola Sr., Mexicali, Mexico, Ford F-150, 1 hour, 16 seconds (49.778 miles per hour); 2, Rich Ronco, Peoria, Ariz., Chevy Silverado, 1:01:00 (49.18 mph); 3, Damen Jefferies, Apple Valley, Calif., Chevy Silverado, 1:02:17 (48.166, mph).

CLASS 1 (Unlimited single or two-seaters, 8 laps, 50 miles, 30 entries, 27 starters, 14 finishers) - 1, Pat Dean, Las Vegas, Bunderson-Chevy, 1:02:27 (48.038 miles per hour); 2, B.J. Richardson/John Gaughan, Las Vegas, Bunderson-Chevy, 1.02.28 (48.025 mph); 3, Dale Ebberts, Wilton, Calif./Brad Etter, Villa Park, Calif., Porter-Chevy, 1.02:31 (47.987 mph).

CLASS 1-2/1600 (VW-powered, single or two-seaters to 1600cc, 6 laps, 37.5 miles, 18 entries, 16 starters, 13 finishers) - 1. Cory Boyer, Bakersfield, Calif./Rick Boyer, Bakersfield, Calif., Lothringer, :52:20 (42.993 miles per hour); 2, Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad, Calif., Mirage, :52:21 (42.979 mph); 3, Hiram Duran, Chula Vista, Calif., Amplified :53:14 (42.266 mph).

CLASS 3 (Short Wheelbase 4X4, 5 laps, 31.25 miles, 1 entry, 1 starter, 1 finisher) - 1, Donald Moss, Sacramento, Calif./Ken Moss, Marysville Calif., Ford Bronco, :53:52 (34.808 miles per hour).

CLASS 5 (Unlimited VW Baja Bugs, 7 laps, 43.75 miles, 3 entries, 3 starters, 3 finishers) - 1, George Seeley, Glendale, Calif., 1:03:02 (41.644 miles per hour); 2, Carlos Albanez, Calexico, Calif./Luivan Voelker, Mexicali, Mexico, 1:04:25 (40.75 mph); 3, Kevin Carr, San Diego, 1:04:31 (40.687 mph).

CLASS 5/1600 (1600cc VW Baja Bugs, 6 laps, 37.5 miles, 14 entries, 13 starters, 9 finishers) - 1, Marcos Nunez/Norberto Rivera, Ensenada, Mexico, 1:00:07 (37.427 miles per hour); 2, Enrique Zazueta Jr. /Enrique Zazueta Sr., La Paz, Mexico, 1:00:19 (37.303 mph); 3, Jose Angulo, Ensenada, Mexico 1:00:27 (37.22 mph).

CLASS 7 (Open mini trucks, 6 laps, 37.5 miles, 4 entries, 4 starters, 3 finishers) - 1, Dan Chamlee/Tom Chamlee, Carpenteria, Calif., Ford Ranger, :53:58 (41.692 miles per hour); 2, A.J. Rodriguez/Miguel Medina, Orange, Calif., Ford Ranger, :55:59, (40.19 mph); 3, Chris Taylor, El Centro, Calif./Josh Quintero, Imperial, Calif., Ford Ranger, 1:16:38 (29.361 mph).

CLASS 7SX (Modified, open mini trucks, 6 laps, 37.5 miles, 5 entries, 4 starters, 3 finishers) - 1, John Holmes, Olivenhain, Calif./Mark Landersman, Temecula, Calif., Ford Ranger, :55:58, (40.202 miles per hour); 2, Gerardo Novelo, San Ysidro, Calif., Nissan Frontier, 1:01:05 (36.834 mph); 3, Heidi Steele, San Clemente, Calif./Tim Lawrence, Santee, Calif., Ford Ranger, 1:03:33 (35.405 mph).

CLASS 8 (Full-sized two-wheel drive trucks, 6 laps, 37.5 miles, 3 entries, 3 starters, 1 finisher) - 1. Juan C. Lopez, Tecate, Mexico/Beny Canela, Indio , Calif. , Ford F-150, :45:21 (49.614 miles per hour).

CLASS 10 (Single or two-seaters to 1650cc, 7 laps, 43.75 miles, 10 entries, 10 starters, 4 finishers) - 1, Chris Harrold, Chula Vista, Calif., AlumiCraft-Honda, :54:53 (47.829 miles per hour); 2, Robert McBeath/Jessica McBeath, Las Vegas, :58:47 (44.655 mph); 3, Mike Lawrence, Brea, Calif./Chris Lawrence, Los Alamitos, Calif., Lothringer-VW, 1:03:10 (41.556 mph).

SCORE LITE (VW-powered, Limited single-1776cc-or two-seaters-1835cc, 7 laps, 43.75 miles, 12 entries, 11 starters, 10 finishers) - 1, Tom Watson, El Centro, Calif./Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Prill, :59:17 (44.278 miles per hour); 2, David Callaway, Menifee, Calif./Scott Mapes, Riverside, Calif., Dunrite, 1:00:03 (43.713 mph); 3, Rick St. John, Encinitas, Calif./Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad, Calif., Duvell, 1:00:47 (43.186 mph).

CLASS 11 (Stock VW Sedans, 3 laps, 18.75 miles, 5 entries, 4 starters, 3 finishers) - 1,Ramon Fernandez/Jesus Aras, Ensenada, Mexico :38:34 (29.17 miles per hour); 2, Todd Lucero, Anaheim Hills, Calif./Richard Nichols Jr., Placentia, Calif. :42:11 (26.669 mph); 3, Jake Mueller/Todd O’Dwyer, San Diego, :48:17 (23.299 mph).

STOCK FULL (Stock, Full-sized trucks, 5 laps, 31.25 miles, 4 entries, 4 starters, 3 finishes) - 1, John Griffin, Mission Viejo, Calif./Jeremy Spirkoff, El Cajon, Calif., Ford F-350, :50:30 (37.128 miles per hour); 2, Chad Hall, Reno, Nev., Hummer H3Alpha, :52:08, (35.965 mph); 3, 879 Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Va./Justin Matney, Bristol, Tenn., Dodge Ram2500, 1:00:38 (30.923 mph).

STOCK MINI (Stock, Mini-sized trucks, 5 laps, 31.25 miles, 3 entries, 2 starters, 2 finishers) - 1, Rod Hall, Reno, Nev., Hummer H3, :56:34 (33.146 miles per hour); 2, Steve Kovach, Tempe, Ariz./Chip Carr, Gilbert, Ariz., Ford Ranger, 1:12:44 (25.779 mph).

PROTRUCK (Limited Production Trucks, 6 laps, 37.5 miles, 1 entry, 1 starter, 1 finisher) - 1, Jason Voss, Cupertino, Calif., Ford F-150, :48:33 (46.343 miles per hour).

SPORTSMAN

SPORTSMAN CAR (6 laps, 37.5 miles, 5 entries, 5 starters, 5 finishers) - 1, Rory Ward/Tracy Ward, Mohave Valley, Ariz., Chenowth-Chevy, :52:39 (42.735 miles per hour)

SPORTSMAN TRUCK (5 laps, 31.25 miles, 9 entries, 9 starters, 7 finishers) - 1, Dan Vance, Huntington Beach, Calif., Toyota Tacoma, :44:28 (42.166 miles per hour)

[Blanco]

14th ANNUAL SCORE LAUGHLIN DESERT CHALLENGE

Round one of 2008 SCORE Desert Series

January 24-27, Laughlin , Nevada

Driver quotes after first of two days--Saturday, January 26



SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK

Gus Vildosola Jr., No. 4
(in first place after Saturday) – You know yesterday we had a rough day as most of you know we ended up rolling it off the first jump here. We turned and my co-pilot here (Javier Valenzuela) had a concussion and was knocked out for like five minutes when we were upside down and he ended up going to the hospital. He got checked out at 8:00 at night. The boys from the crew, everyone worked really hard putting this truck back together until 2:00 in the morning. We had to cut and weld and replace parts, it was a long night but it was worth it obviously. It held strong for eight laps, but just eight laps at that. We started 20th today, and we thought we’d just cruise around and hopefully finish in the top 10 and then tomorrow start in the top 10 and move our way up. We didn’t think we were going to finish in the top five for the weekend. There is a lot of tough competition here, some of the best drivers in SCORE Trophy Truck and off-road racing. We realistically thought top five for the weekend we’d be looking good, so we’re really proud of what happened today. At the start of the race, both my shoulders hurt, my knees hurt, my neck hurt. I didn’t want to let anyone know what was happening but adrenaline gets you though it. We knew we were doing good, we didn’t know we were leading, but the pain goes away. There’s a plateau over here and we cleared the plateau and cleared the landing area and landed on the other side where the burm is and we hit the burm sideways in the air and it just tipped us over. We did 2 and ¾ turns and ended up I was up and my co-pilot was down. We’re going to get this truck fixed and repeat our performance.


RICH RONCO, No. 45 (second) – That was a great race. The track was fast and rough; I just loved it. This is a brand-new truck and it ran great. I have to say I was surprised. We’re keeping up with the Joneses. We’ve got some fast guys out here, a lot of competition, and it was just a great day. We didn’t have to work on anything and that’s the best day of racing. We had to get by a few people. We got a little bit into the back of Rob MacCachren in a corner. It was two lines and it came down into one. I had the inside and I backed off a little bit, but I got his back bumper. The course stayed pretty consistent. There’s getting to be two grooves in the corners and that’s helping a lot. You can get by people now.


KORY SCHEELER, No. 51 (fourth) – It was a pretty good run. The rear suspension started to get a little tired after three or four laps, so we started babying it in. There’s trucks parked all over out there, it looks like a wrecking yard, so we just wanted to make it in. We might have broke the rear sway bar. The rear suspension definitely went away. It’s a rough course. It’s one of a kind.


BOBBY BALDWIN, No. 96(fifth) – The course was actually delightful. On Saturdays it’s always a good run. The course is groomed and the guys, SCORE does a lot of work to make sure the course is safe and well-groomed. The trucks bomb the course out obviously. When you have a 6,ooo-pound truck digging out every corner and you do eight laps, it makes it pretty rough for the 1 car guys to follow us. Every lap is different. The line you took the first time around may not be any good the next time around. In Laughlin you have to have a lot of imagination. There are actually 27 turns here, and those turns have different characteristics almost every lap. It’s not like Baja, where you know that road’s been there for 200 years and it hasn’t changed much. I don’t know the gameplan for tomorrow yet, I’m going to talk to my son, have a conference with him and see what his strategy is and what he thinks is best for me.

B.J. BALDWIN , No. 97 (sixth) – We were kind of just trying to set a pace and not get too aggressive the first day. Carl (Renezeder) was kicking my butt for the first two laps and then he pulled off. I tried to pick it up a little bit and ended up getting a flat and limped it from the back three jumps all the way to the hot pit so the pit crew could change the flat. Josh ( Baldwin ) passed me right about four and a half and we had a good race going there for a few miles. I got around him, and the start of the second to last lap I lost the transmission and then I was just limping it in. We’re still in good shape. We may make some (set-up) changes. (What’s key to success here?) Survival. Everybody thinks this is a sprint. It’s not. You’ve got to really take care of your equipment. I’ve won it two years in a row and I’m trying to keep up with these guys that were really pushing it instead of just hanging out and I ended broke my truck; I lost my transmission. I should have been smart and used my head.


ROBBIE PIERCE, No. 35 (seventh) – It was great. This is my first Laughlin race in anything, much less a SCORE Trophy-Truck, and to come out here and do this right off the get go … I’ve never done a short-course race like this, and having Damen (Jefferies) in front of me throwing rocks into my face just pumps you up. It was awesome. It was yeah, welcome to SCORE Trophy-Trucks, pal. We had a great time. I was trying to stay with them. We know it’s about attrition. We lost first and second gear about the third lap or so, so we just left it in high and conserved it; nurse it through. That’s all we could do. This is Jimco’s first SCORE Trophy-Truck (bought it from Mike Julson).


BILL McBEATH, No. 91 (10th) – First race in this truck. We took it real easy, we came out the first couple practice laps and ran it hard and then we turned it upside down. We decided that we didn’t get much of a pre-run so we came out here and decided the first three laps we’d work the truck out and get a feel for it. It was just delivered on Wednesday. We started picking up the last couple laps and we’ll go hard tomorrow. There’s a lot of carnage out on the course. We were getting a lot faster, taking better lines. The truck really took it easy the first laps, almost like a pre-run. (going to push it more tomorrow) Oh, for sure, for sure.


CLASS 1

PAT DEAN, No. 107
(first) – It wasn’t really very good. It started out really fast and then it got really rough. It was only 48 miles or something, but it felt like the Baja 1000 out there. But it was pretty fun. The course by the end (was bad), you were on the front bumper, the back bumper, the front bumper. It was out of control. Tomorrow will be unbelievable. We can’t wait, though. It’s equal for everybody. We’ll go back and figure out what we broke today and have it fixed tomorrow. I stalled right before the start-finish line (for lap seven) and maybe that cost us 45 seconds or something and that was it. Other than that we had a great day going.


B.J. RICHARDSON , No. 118 (second) – The course is chewed up, it’s beat up pretty bad. The SCORE Trophy-Trucks go before us and they leave big ruts out there. It’s a rough course. As you can see there aren’t a lot of cars rolling in here. It’s a lot of attrition. Were there a lot of guys parked out there? I don’t know because I didn’t have the chance to look at anybody. We had to pass a lot of cars out there, it was just constant, all the way through. It was a tough pace out there today, it was between this car, (Dale) Ebberts and our other car, our Las Vegas Insemination car for the lead today and then we’ll see what happens tomorrow because its going to get a lot rougher.

DALE EBBERTS, No. 159 (third) – We had entered under Brad Etter’s name, the car owner, but ended up changing at the last minute. We were 120 and dropped back to the very back, 159. We did that for points reasons. Brad can’t make it to San Felipe so we used my name. (Starting in back) it was a challenge. We got blasted by dirt trying to get by other people. It was a thrill. The car worked great. It’s just a real rough course. It was just a matter of trying to find the right lines. We were down some time right off the bat. We just kept picking up our lap speeds and got up to second, I guess. I don’t really think there’s much we could do to improve it other than if they take the grader out there. It’s a matter of finding the right lines. The holes are so big it wouldn’t matter what you did. You just have to do your best to miss the biggest ones and go on from there.


JOHN HARRAH, No. 109 (seventh) – It was rough. It’s very, very deep. I’m not sure (about changes to car). It worked pretty good. It’s just … deep and sandy. No problems whatsoever. It ran very, very well. Mike Olson is going to drive tomorrow.


CLASS 3


DONALD MOSS, No. 301(only starter) – It was pretty good. It sure got a lot rougher at the end there. We had no problems at all. We were behind another truck that rolled over right in front of us on that first lap. That was kind of interesting. (When only car in class, set other goals to keep motivated?) Yeah, you kind of find somebody that you want to race with a little bit and try to get around them, pass them. But for the most part, it’s just taking care of the equipment and try to keep out of the other guy’s way.


CLASS 5
GEORGE SEELEY, No. 501 (first) – We’re looking for win number eight here, this has always been our best track. We kind of dusted it off after the 1000 because we didn’t really have a good finish there. We like the way the track was going, we got an early lead. We just tried to keep it. We had good competition with the 12’s and the 10’s. It was a good class grouping for us. Sal (Fish) always puts on a great venue here. It was funny because they kind of groomed it for the first couple laps, then we got dug in. After we got going in the middle laps there was a blue groove all through the whole track. In addition, the sky jumps back by the school; it was really good for the crowd and good for the drivers, I thought that was a good addition. Tomorrow we just want to try and get out ahead of these guys early and stay out in front of them.


CLASS 7


DAN CHAMLEE, No. 700 (first) – It’s getting bumpy out there, but it’s a lot of fun, though. I really like the way they did the course this year. They widened it up a little bit and there’s a lot of room for passing. I really like the way coming into these corners (near start-finish), you pull a lot of g’s coming up on the bank there and it’s tons of fun. It’s (the vehicle) holding together. For a beat-up old truck it’s looking good. My brakes are on the floor, but that’s minor. Who needs to stop anyway? That was for most of the race. I can pump them up and get a little bit. But slowing down is for wusses anyway.


A.J. RODRIGUEZ, No. 702 (second) – It was great until I stalled my car at the starting line when I was in first. It was on the fourth lap. I was sitting there for about four minutes. It took me awhile to get restarted and I only had two laps to try to catch the leader. I almost caught him, but maybe tomorrow. Outside of that, it ran like a top. We’re going to change a couple of little things; nothing major.


CLASS 7SX
JOHN HOLMES, No. 742 (first) – We had a clean run. We had my daughter (Courtney) ride with me. It was the first time she has ever ridden in a race, so it was a lot of fun to have her ride with me. Our biggest trouble was getting the 7 Opens out of the way. It was hard to get them to move. We had a couple of the upper class cars that wouldn’t move over, but other than that it was clean. (On whether they will make any changes for tomorrow) No, we’re good. The truck felt good. I think we’ll be fine tomorrow. It looks like we have a 5-minute lead (5:07). That’s huge. In 36 miles, that’s huge. It looks like we beat all the 7 Opens except for one. My partner Mark ( Anderson ) is going to drive tomorrow.


CLASS 8


JUAN LOPEZ, No. 802 (first) – Co-driver Beny Canela said: We just lost the muffler and that’s about it. (On what happened to 803, who was leading) Just before the straightaway he was down. I could smell smoke. We lost a muffler and that’s about it. The course was chopped up quite a bit. We’re pretty happy. We just need to fix that muffler. We changed two transmissions on this thing yesterday. We finally took the tranny out of my truck and put it in here and it worked great.


CLASS 1-2/1600
CORY BOYER, No. 1649 (first) – It was good. We were actually having motor problems all day long. Every whoop and turn we’d go into I’d have to downshift and clear out the motor and then keep going. We decided Wednesday morning that we were coming out to this race and we started prepping the car. We cleaned it, checked every nut and bolt, threw a motor and tranny in it, CVs and axles, and came out and raced and ended up first by a whole second. We’ve already made a carburetor change and worked with the needle and seat and float level and stuff like that. We’re going to go out to the hills and make sure everything is worked out. If not, we’ll be working late on it. It was a great race even though we had those problems. I’d feel a lot better if we got the motor fixed before tomorrow and then we can really show them how we can do. The top end, as soon as we hit some whoops, it wants to bobble and cut out. Sometimes it takes three to five seconds to clear out, every whoop, every turn.


ADAM PFANKUCH, No. 1609 (second) – It was fun. There was a lot of lapped traffic which is a big problem with us racing so tight. The course was all right. Everything ran well; just got to try to make the car a little faster for tomorrow. It’s (course) going to be bad tomorrow. We’re going to change the setup a little bit; we’re going to run it a little stiffer and make sure it tracks to the ground a little better. Other than that, we’re ready to go.


DAVE CASPINO, No. 1600 (fourth) – We ran out of gas out there; still finished though. I’ve got tomorrow.

CODY ROBINSON, No. 1617 (seventh) – (Robinson is 16 years old) It was good. We rolled, barely on its side, and got it back over in about 30 seconds. Some people flipped us back over; made sure we were all right and flipped us right back over. It’s a fun race. The course was good; a little rougher than pre-running, but it was fun. (Changes for tomorrow?) Just the driver (to Roberto Romo).



CLASS 10


CHRIS HARROLD, No. 1007 (first) – It was a blast out there, a lot of fun. When I started there were like five cars in front that I had to pass. I didn’t have any problem with dust and that. I had plenty of room to get over. I didn’t have to hit anybody. I didn’thave any (traffic) problems. There was a couple I was worried about coming into corners, but I think once they saw you were there, they let everything go. It was a lot of fun. The course is getting pretty rough out there. (Any changes for tomorrow) I’m going to look everything over and see, but it felt pretty good overall. I don’t know if I’m going to do anything with the suspension because it’s going to be rougher tomorrow. I may tighten a little bit of stuff up. We hit it pretty close. We have a new motor package (a Kenny Majors-built Honda) that works really well. Last year this car was brand new and we had tranny problems. We had problems on Friday, we rebuilt it and I ended up winning on Sunday by a couple of seconds over my old race car. That was fun.


MIKEY LAWRENCE , No. 1005 third) – It was fun. It’s going to be really rough, though. Tomorrow’s going to be quite fun. It’s really, really choppy. It’s beating up the co-driver, but the driver is fine. No problems at all, it ran great. (Changes?) No, just get some good sleep and that’s it.


SCORE LITE
TOM WATSON, No. 1200 (first) –It (the course) was good. It’s getting a little tore up, but not bad. I thought it would be worse, but it’s good. The first lap went a little crazy passing so many cars. This car over here was on two wheels and I was on two wheels so it was pretty fun. The car the last few laps had a skip in it and it would quit running,, when I started downshifting so I don’t know if it got hot or what, so we need to work on that tonight. But the car is fast. I thought they cleaned it (the course) up a little bit from the practice, and it wasn’t bad. I had a good time. We just need to work on the motor. I was getting a little nervous there at the end. We have a little lead, not much, but (Rob) McCachren is driving tomorrow so he should be able to win it. We’ve gotten beat by a few seconds every year in Laughlin, two or three seconds, so it would be nice to come away with a victory. But we’re a long way away from it right now, tomorrow is going to be another race.


DAVID CALLAWAY, No. 1203(second) – We lost third gear the second lap. We started off pretty good. The second lap we lost third gear and we couldn’t keep the momentum going. There’s a couple of sand washes that we couldn’t pull because we were in between gears. All of a sudden toward the end we got third gear back and then I lost first at the start-finish line and couldn’t get going, so I was just hoping and praying that the trans was going to hold on until the finish.


RICK ST. JOHN, No. 1204 (third) – It went good; it was a fun track and I had a good time. On this pass up here I got myself stuck on the side of the hill. Just teetering on two wheels, but made it back. I had to come to a complete stop. Motor ran good, tranny ran good. It’s getting bad (the course), each lap you could see the difference and I can only imagine that tomorrow is going to be real rough. The course is evolving lap by lap. Tomorrow I put my fast driver in; Adam Pfankuch is driving, who just won 16’s this morning.


BILL HERNQUIST, No. 1201(sixth) – It’s rough. We were running really strong, I think we were the first car for the first three laps, and then I lose something in the motor. So I just nursed it for the last three. I have no idea (what the engine problem is). We’ll have it fixed for tomorrow.


CLASS 11
TODD LUCERO, No. 1102 (second) – No problems. Jake Mueller, right behind us in another class 11 car, hit us right in the corner. That was not very good. It bent the back bumper (but didn’t affect the handling). Basically I had no brakes at all, so I was doing a lot of shifting. The course is rough, but I thought it was going to be rougher than it was because all the SCORE Trophy-Trucks qualified yesterday. You can tell they smoothed some stuff out.


JAKE MUELLER, No. 1104 (third) – We (he and 1102) were running close all day, then our coil wire fell off. They started before us and on the second lap we passed behind him again and we were like bumper to bumper, and then our coil wire fell off.


STOCK FULL
JOHN GRIFFIN , No. 860 (first) – No problems. I stalled it at the start-finish for about 30 seconds but that was about it, on the second lap. I had to play catch-up. The course was fantastic.


SPORT TRUCK


DAN VANCE, No. 1548 (first) – There were no problems at all. The course is great, the truck ran good, everything was good. We’re going to do a little (shock) valving change because it’s going to get rougher. We’re going to stiffen it up a hair. I have to get a new Parker Pumper hose. I lost that on the first lap and it was a little hot in my helmet all day. That was the only problem I had. Other than that it was a beautiful race. There was a lot of traffic, but everybody passed clean and everybody stayed out of everybody’s way. It was a real good day.

[Blanco]

Its been raining hard all day here in L.A.

whats the weather like there? :confused:

[Salttoy]

Talked with Dave G a few minutes ago and he said it has been raining all day there and that there are huge puddles everywhere. It should be quite a mud fest for the TT and Class 1 buggies.

[Blanco]

Talked with Dave G a few minutes ago and he said it has been raining all day there and that there are huge puddles everywhere. It should be quite a mud fest for the TT and Class 1 buggies.

Being I love Mud Play, it would of made for a great show in my opinion. http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums/images/smilies/16.gif

[localmotion]

Some pics.....


http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/Mrslocalmotion/LDC021.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/Mrslocalmotion/LDC020.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/Mrslocalmotion/LDC019.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/Mrslocalmotion/LDC044.jpg

[localmotion]

video...


http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/Mrslocalmotion/th_LDC047.jpg (http://s78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/Mrslocalmotion/?action=view&current=LDC047.flv)

[Blanco]

:eek: What no video of MOSS? :confused:

[Blanco]

SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Clark, 702.735.7123

14th ANNUAL SCORE LAUGHLIN DESERT CHALLENGE

Round one of 2008 SCORE Desert Series

January 24-27, Laughlin , Nevada

Driver quotes after final day--Sunday, January 27



SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK

RICH RONCO, No. 45 (fourth on Sunday, first overall) – What a way to get started! We (Tatum Motorsports) built this for the Unique Whips show with Will Castro. We built it for him as kind of a thing on air. We did the whole thing on TV and when we were done it was time to race it. You couldn’t ask for a better day. This is the first complete SCORE Trophy-Truck we’ve built. Here is really the debut for it. How could you not be satisfied? What a way to get started. We’re going to look forward to San Felipe and see if we can’t back this up. There were not really any problems. There was something pounding in the back. We slowed down the last lap or two, just wanted to get it home. We knew they were going to start dropping. We had a lot of problems yesterday with people finishing so I figured we were going to have even higher attrition today and it all worked out in our favor. (Crew keeping you aware of Baldwin ?) Actually, no. We lost radio communications. He got by us when we started limping. We kind of saw him and how far he was getting out on us, but we figured if we break it we’re not going to do very well, so we left it up to them to see how they did. (Ran here last year in Class 1) This is really a buggy underneath. It’s a rear engine, transaxle. We just put a body on a buggy to see how it did.



B.J. BALDWIN , No. 97 (third on Sunday, second overall) – We just tried to bring it home on the last couple of laps. It was bouncing pretty hard on the rear pegs. (Yesterday) I lost a transmission at the end of the sixth lap and I drove the seventh lap and eighth lap in second gear, at like 30 miles an hour, just trying to get it around. It was slipping really bad. (Slow down last couple of laps?) We didn’t have a really good tire setup. I made some bad decisions on grooving tires. It was my fault. We couldn’t get any acceleration. (Different course than expecting) A couple billion gallons of water will do that. I made a bad decision on tires.



DAMEN JEFFERIES, No. 22 (fifth on Sunday, third overall) – It was muddy, real muddy. But I can’t complain. There was no dust all weekend. It was a great race. I like this race. We got third for the weekend, which is really good. This is definitely not where our truck belongs. Our truck is suited for the mountains in Baja, so we’re definitely happy with that. It was a great race. No problems, nothing. That was the ultimate test for our transmission. We’re an independent rear suspension. We’re one-wheel drive, which is very difficult. First and third place in SCORE Trophy-Truck we’re actually buggies, so figure that out.



BOBBY BALDWIN, No. 96 (sixth on Sunday, fourth overall) – It was a very tight race. The mud and the rain brought everybody close up. I, for one, did not get my truck running until mile four because I didn’t have enough heat in my tort converter. I wasn’t running enough RPM’s so I got passed by everybody, then I was able to get some people back. We had a blast, everybody had a blast. We had a safe race, nobody got hurt. Everybody is happy as a clam. Actually we could see because the rain quit right before the race started. So when you’d hit a puddle you kind of protected your shield and then when that went by you were good to go. No problems, I missed one turn, but other than that, no problems.



MARK POST, No. 4 (second on Sunday, DNF overall) – Rob MacCachren, co-driver: It was real fun. Yesterday we had some problems so we were down a couple of laps. We wanted to get some points for the rest of the year. I thought we needed a run to do good, and Brian Collins caught up to us and we kind of picked it up a little bit. We won the number one plate last year, so we wanted to make sure we finished, we want to stay in the points. We kind of took it a little bit easy. We kind of did the pace we thought would make it without breaking. It wasn’t what it took to win, but we probably ended up second for the day. I was in a mindset that we wanted to finish and not be parked on the side of the road. I asked Kelly (passenger) “what do you think, should we push it harder?” We just kept it the same the whole way – wanted to make sure we finished.



CARL RENEZEDER, No. 17 (first on Sunday, DNF overall) – I know both of us (with Robby Gordon) are smiling, we were both kind of waiting for the last lap. I knew he was going to charge at me at the end. It was a fun battle, we went back and forth and we were side by side pushing on each other. That was an awesome race. We were having a blast. It’s a fine line out there how hard you can push it because the bumps are so squared up. You’ve got to find the fine line to be fast enough but not too fast to break the truck. Yesterday I broke the ring and pinion. We had a good day today anyways. Anything can happen and usually does. The truck was awesome and everything was great and we had a great day; I’d like to have them all that way. It’s rough, the dust is bad, the mud is bad, you’ve got to drive a little different in each condition. Here it was important to take care of the truck.


CLASS 1



PAT DEAN, No. 107 (first on Sunday, first overall) – The funny part is, I sold my car three weeks ago and borrowed a car from a friend of mine, T.J. Flores, which only had a V6 instead of V8, so we were real skeptical. But it was awesome. It was a rocketship today and yesterday. We had a super simple weekend. When things come together it’s super easy. We had a perfect weekend. They’re hard to come by. We actually finished without the air cleaner yesterday. We were hoping the motor would make it and it obviously did. (When did you groove the tires?) This morning. I think it helped a lot. I don’t think they come this easy, actually. I think the conditions helped us, with a smaller motor. I think with the mud the big motors were all spinning their tires where this car just lugged around and took care of business. It was a simple day. I don’t think I’ve ever had a day like this. That was awesome. Luckily, we had a big lead, so we started slowing down. If there was big holes we slowed down and sped up in the fast (sections). It was super easy. It was a great day.



B.J. RICHARDSON , No. 118 (fourth on Sunday, second overall) – Very good weekend for the team. I want to congratulate my partner here (Pat Dean, 107), he did a great job. We ended up with a flat tire and had to go into the hot pits. I had to backtrack around to get back in. We were running one and two and then we had a couple cars in between us but I think we are still going to end up first and second for the weekend so I can’t complain about that. The flat was on the sixth lap, other than that no problems. The first couple laps were tough when there was traffic out there because we were getting pelted, we couldn’t see. The first couple laps were quite challenging.

T.J. FL:ORES, co-driver: All those SCORE Trophy-Trucks chewed it up pretty bad so we just tried to cruise around, see all the water bubbles and keep the car running. B.J. Richardson did an awesome job. We had a flat on lap five or six, but our pit took care of it real quick. We made up some time to get back up to the these cars that passed us. The guy that was in third (Dale Ebberts, 159), he dropped out, so it looks like our two cars were in first and second.



STEVE BARRY, No. 104 (fifth Sunday, third overall) – I feel good. It was a lot of fun out there. I fried my clutch. The last two laps I was in first and second the whole time, so I’m just kind of poking it the last couple of laps. I couldn’t get any speed down the straights at all, just trying to get to the finish. Yesterday was fun. There wasn’t as much mud and the holes weren’t so big. We weren’t sliding all over the place like today. Down the straight, I got up to almost 90 the first few laps and then I could hit maybe 55 or so on the last few laps, so it was quite a difference. I don’t think it hurt the engine. It was just the clutch.



CHUCK DEMPSEY, No. 130 (fifth on Sunday, third overall) – It (the race) was great, it was awesome, it was a lot of fun. It was real wet out there but it wasn’t too bad. The car was great. We’re somewhat of a new team and we’re trying real hard. We were in the top 10 in SCORE last year, we’re just trying to go up the ladder all year long. I was in Anaheim doing a pro lite race last night and I heard there were a lot of DNF’s yesterday. So I just tried to cruise the first half of it, and tried to pick up momentum in the second half and see if there was anyone breaking. Mark Levrett drove yesterday and did a great job, got us in the top 10. Today we just tried to move farther up the ladder.


CLASS 1-2/1600



CORY BOYER, No. 1649 (second on Sunday, first overall) – It was a little muddy. We worked on the motor all night and we don’t even know if what we did helped because the motor was bogging out and getting wet. You’d have to try to clear it out and as soon as the motor would start running good you’d hit a puddle and it would get wet again. So we just had to keep going, keep chugging. For the first three laps it was fine, no problems, we pulled away from everybody. I think everyone was having motor problems and we were fortunate enough to not have any. But I think then the silicone and stuff that we put on the motor started to wear off and the motor started getting wet. It would bog out and you’d have to try to clean it out. It would take about a half a lap to clean it out and then you’d hit another puddle and get the motor wet. We ust tried to keep going. There are a lot of people stuck out there; a lot of people stuck in the lines we wanted to take, too.



HIRAM DURAN, No. 1615 (first on Sunday, second overall) – A tough race, but a good race. It was cold, I was wet, I couldn’t see a thing the whole way. I just went off the course once though. I didn’t have any problems, but now it won’t start. It was a lot slower than yesterday, I think I took me about 15 minutes longer. I passed him (Dave Caspino, 1600) right here on the last lap in the infield. I finished third yesterday, but now it comes down to time.



ADAM PFANKUCH, No. 1609 (sixth on Sunday, third overall; was second, one second behind after Saturday) – I’m numb right now. The first lap I lost two cylinders. I had to get off the track (to avoid the holes), otherwise I would have been stuck.



DAVE CASPINO, No. 1600 (third on Sunday, fourth overall) – Great race but it was very muddy and miserable. I had no visor the whole way. Congratulations to Cory Boyer and the only guy (Hiram Duran) that passed me at the rim after I passed him. Good job to Sal (Fish) and all the SCORE officials.



CLASS 3


DONALD MOSS, No. 301 only starter in class) – We blew the drive shaft coming into the infield on the first lap. I could feel it vibrating all the way around and it popped out right here in the last turn right before the flag. With as muddy as it was we said there’s just no way we’re going to make it just front wheel drive so we had to stop and go ahead and change it out. That seemed like the only choice. It’s just brutal out there. It was a pretty good run, pretty quiet.



CLASS 5

CARLOS ALBANEZ, No. 500 (completed six of required seven laps on Sunday, DNF overall) – Luivan Voelker, co-driver: It was very fun. It was hard though, the mud makes it hard. My plan was just run, run, run. I cleaned my helmet over and over. Carlos Albanez drove yesterday, and I drove today. The motor was getting wet and was misfiring the last two laps. I got a late start because of my helmet that I brought.

CLASS 5-1600

MARCOS NUNEZ, No. 579 (second on Sunday, second overall) – No problems. Nothing.


CLASS 7



DAN CHAMLEE, No. 700 (completed four of required six laps on Sunday, DNF overall) – What a muddy mess. We got stuck in the mud once. We got a flat tire, I think everybody saw us change that in the infield. I don’t know how long I was driving on the flat. I think we got timed out before our last lap was finished. What a mess, that’s all I can say, but it was fun.


CLASS 7SX



JOHN HOLMES/MARK LANDERSMAN, No. 742 (DNF on Sunday, second overall) – Landersman drove Sunday and said: It was the toughest racing I’ve ever done. You just couldn’t see. We ran the last three laps with our light on because it was dropping cylinders, it blew a head gasket, and Tim ( Lawrence , No. 745) is just so tough. It was tough duty and we did our best. It’s always been a battle with him. It’s going to be close again. We blew a motor. The motor’s junk. It happened on lap three, about halfway around, the temperature light came on and it started dropping cylinders. The last two a half laps, the power would come and go and we were just trying to get it to the end. And you couldn’t see, that was the biggest problem. You couldn’t see bumps, big bumps, that were 30 or 40 feet in front of you. So you’re driving by Braille, you can’t drive very fast because you can’t read the terrain, and if you try to go fast you’re going to break the car. So my hat’s off to him (Tim). NOTE: When he spoke to the media Landersman was not aware his team was being scored as a non-finisher for the day.



HEIDI STEELE/TIM LAWRENCE , No. 745 (first on Sunday, first overall) – Lawrence drove Sunday and said: We were in bonzai mode. I couldn’t see a thing. I lost my brakes on the first lap. I couldn’t see anything, I couldn’t stop, I couldn’t steer. The holes are terrible out there and you couldn’t see under the water what type of hole it is until you hit it. We were one second apart last year. We got second by one second and I won on Sunday, like this. That was one of the toughest courses I’ve done, I don’t care if it was 30 miles or not. You can’t see, the holes are super deep and real sharp and you can’t steer and you can’t stop. It was fun, though. It’s an off-road race; that’s how it’s supposed to be, right? We had a good day. I’ve got to contribute some of it to these Yokohama tires. Right off the bat we were hooked up so I’ve got to think they had something to do with it.


CLASS 8



TODD WYLLIE, No. 803 (first on Sunday, DNF overall) – It was just a mud bath out there, that goes without saying. The key for us was to put on the BFGoodrich mud tires. They hooked up really well. Everybody was just spinning and spinning and we were just pulling away from them. We just put that windshield in this morning. We’ve used it before a little bit, just for some wind protection. We threw that in just to keep me a little bit drier than I would have been if it wasn’t in there. Saturday we came up about a half-mile short of the infield on the last lap. We were leading the race and we lost the rear third member. (Knowing probably can’t win, using race for practice?) Practicing for the SCORE Trophy-Truck, and I want to win. I don’t like this truck going out and not being in the front. My goal was to put it up in the front and make some kind of a statement.


CLASS 10



CHRIS HARROLD, No. 1007 (first on Sunday, first overall) – We had a little problem (with the motor). It worked really good the first lap. Then we were down to two and once in a while we’d get three and every once in a while it would clear out a little bit. It was kind of survival there, trying to get through the mud and be able to see. It was an adventure. It was fun. I was hoping to be able to get out front and keep moving. It got real deep out there, so it was easy to get stuck or tipped over. I just had to get through the thing and hopefully get the win.


SCORE LITE

RICK ST. JOHN/ADAM PFANKUCH, No. 1204 (first on Sunday, first overall) – Pfankuch drove Sunday and said: We ran out of towels and I had to drive with my shield open. (Driving in first group help?) No, not really. We just kept going, man; just kept going. (Co-driver was wife Laurie. They were celebrating their 1-month anniversary.)



TOM WATSON/ROB MAC CACHREN, No. 1200 (second on Sunday, second overall) – MacCachren drove Sunday and said: Tim Noe and Tom Watson let me drive their car today to get a few laps in before the SCORE Trophy-Truck race. The mud out there is unbelievable. There’s places where in first gear you can hardly move it at all, almost getting stuck. The water was really affecting the engine and we were down on like three cylinders most of the race, just really struggling. Adam (Pfankuch) did a heck of a job. I’m sure his motor ran great. That was the key, really. If your car ran properly, if your motor ran, you could go fast. Other than that … we were a little bit dead in the water today.



DAVID CALLAWAY/SCOTT MAPES, No. 1203 (third on Sunday, third overall) – Callaway drove Sunday and said: Man, what a race. Survival, that’s all that was; just survival and keeping it going forward, keeping it out of the water. We were definitely hitting the water. We lost a cylinder probably five percent of the time, but after about a mile it seemed like it would clear up and start running again, so it was all good. It was pretty muddy, pretty slippery. These things don’t have a whole lot of horsepower anyway and we were slipping and sliding. It was everything I could do just to keep it on the course. It was definitely interesting. (The first day) we blew a tranny. We put our desert tranny in today and it worked good. The car worked good.


CLASS 11



RAMON FERNANDEZ, No. 1100 (first on Sunday, first overall) – It’s pretty muddy, but we were cold; real cold. There were no problems, nothing (either day).



STOCK FULL

CHAD HALL, No. 861 (first on Sunday, first overall) – I tested at Parker a couple of weeks ago with the KN2 mud tire and decided to go ahead and run the Baja. I think the only thing we could have done better was run the KN2. It’s a great little truck. It ran great, ran flawlessly. It’s got a great electrical system. We had no electrical issues even though it was just pouring with water. Just a nice day. This is not what you’re screaming for, no way, but it worked out well. We ended up second Saturday and we were a little soft (in the suspension), so we went back and added some more wheel travel to the back and tuned it better. I think we could have run with John ( Griffin ) today anyway, but with two-wheel-drive ( Griffin ) you might as well just pull off. There’s no chance.


STOCK MINI

ROD HALL, No. 760 (first on Sunday, first overall) – That’s my windshield wiper (holds up a plastic scraper he was given by someone in staging). We went through all of our rags and we said, well, we’ve got that scraper (to clean his visor). It was a great trip out there. We had a problem right off the start. We had this big BANG and the thing just quit going. I figured I’m going to sit on this hill while everybody goes by. I backed off the hill, put it in reverse, and then it took off, so I did a couple of donuts out there. I don’t know what it was. My guess is we locked up the spider gears and it stopped us and when we backed up all the spider gears fell out and we just ran in two-wheel-drive. I had a lot of problems trying to keep it on the course. Truthfully it was hard to tell (if in 2WD) because it was so slick out there. It’ll be interesting to see what the big noise was. I just drive it, I don’t know how to make anything work. It’s getting to be harder days at the office. It’s going to be someone else’s turn eventually. We had a perfect run yesterday. It was good race with the boys in the Ranger (Steve Kovach). Truthfully, I just had more experience and got through the mud better than they did.


PRO TRUCKS



JASON VOSS, No. 235 (only starter in class) – It wasn’t a double points race for us, but I don’t know why there weren’t other Pro Trucks in this. We just wanted to make it to the finish, get around the track. We finished, that’s all that we wanted. You couldn’t see all the way around the track, so maybe that helped. This plastic bag (that he was wearing) didn’t help too much.


SPORTSMAN TRUCK



BRIAN FREEMAL, No. 1504 (first on Sunday, first overall) – Today we just came out and tried to have a good race. With everyone breaking out there all we had to do was finish today. I think that strategy won. This is a Chevy powered Trophy Light, a new series that is coming out this year – it’s the first one built, and there are 70 on backorder. You’re going to see a lot of these coming out. They are light, they’re agile, they’re economical.

[Blanco]

SCORE MEDIA OPERATIONS – Dominic Clark,


January 27, 2008





Round 1, 2008 SCORE Desert Series
14th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge Opens as 141 Starters in 17 Classes

SECOND DAY RACE RECAPS - Sunday, January 27, 2008


NOTE - Racers were divided each day into five different groups, by individual class, to race three, five, six, seven or eight laps over a 6.25-mile desert course. The competition starts and finishes with a stadium-style course in front of grandstand seating. Combined with the hillside viewing, the event VIP tent, and a one outlying spectator area, the daily-long rain showers significantly affected the Sunday’s crowd count while more than 10,000 spectators were on hand Saturday and nearly 5,000 attended Thursday’s SCORE Laughlin Leap competition (according to Laughlin Tourism Committee Officials). Racers had one-hour, 20 minutes (80 minutes) time limits from the time each started to complete the required laps each day to be an official finisher for that day. The event finishing order, by class, will be based on the combined two-day elapsed time of each racer and in order to be a finisher, each racer had to cover all required laps both days. Sunday’s start order was in the same order as they finished Saturday, except for those classes that had 10 or more finishers on Saturday. The top 10 finishers from each of those classes will have a drawing to determine their start order for Sunday. Also, SCORE Trophy-Truck started in the same order they finished on Saturday.



GROUP #1........... Classes 1-2/1600 (6 laps), 5/1600 (6), 11 (3), SPT Car (6), 38 Total Starters, 13 Finishers (14 Sunday)

· CLASS 1-2/16 00 (6 laps, 37.5 miles, Sunday, 75 miles overall, 16 total starters, seven overall finishers) - Fourteen (14) racers started Sunday with eight racers finishing the required six laps Sunday. Cory Boyer (1649 with Rick Boyer, Bakersfield, Calif., Lothringer, two hours, 54 seconds, 37.221 miles per hour), who led by a second over Adam Pfankuch (1609, Carlsbad, Calif., Mirage, 2:03:14, 36.516 mph) after Saturday’s competition, captured the title by edging Hiram Duran (1615, Chula Vista, Calif., Amplified, 2:01:43, 36.971) by 49 seconds. Duran, who was 54 seconds behind Boyer after Saturday’s race, had the best Class 1-2/1600 time Sunday at one hour, eight minutes, 29 seconds with Boyer five seconds behind. David Caspino (1600, Woodland Hills, Calif., Lothringer, 2:03:29, 36.442 mph), the 2007 SCORE Desert Series Class 1-2/1600 champion, placed fourth

· CLASS 5/1600 (1600cc VW Baja Bugs, 6 laps, 37.5 miles, Sunday, 75 miles overall, 13 total starters, two overall finishers) - With nine of the of the 13 racers completing the required six laps Saturday, only two racers finished Sunday’s required 37.5 miles. Marcos Nunez (579 with Norberto Rivera, Ensenada, Mexico, 2:15:21, 33.247 miles per hour), who had a 12 second lead Saturday, lost his advantage on Sunday’s first lap Sunday to Enrique Zazueta Jr. (555 with Enrique Zazueta Sr., La Paz, Mexico, 2:13:48, 33.632 mph). Zazueta gained a four-second lead after Sunday’s first lap and steadily increased his advantage over the next four laps to win the competition by 93 seconds. Raul Solano (565, Chino, Calif.), the 2007 Laughlin Class 5/1600 winner, led for the first four laps Saturday to have a 68-second advantage over Nunez on the first day. Solano did not complete his sixth lap Saturday and completed only four laps Sunday..

· CLASS 11 (Stock VW Sedans, 3 laps, 18.75 miles, Sunday, 37.5 miles overall, 4 total starters, three over finishers) - All three starters finished Sunday’s race with Ramon Fernandez (1100 with Jesus Aras, Ensenada, Mexico :1:27:36, 25.685 miles per hour) roared to a big edge after the first lap (one minutes, 43 seconds) to win Saturday’s race and maintained his dominance Sunday to win by almost nine minutes for the two days of racing. Fernandez was the 2007 SCORE Desert Series Class 11 champion. Todd Lucero (1102, Anaheim Hills , Calif. with Richard Nichols Jr., Placentia , Calif. 1:36:08, 23.405 mph) and Jake Mueller (1104 with Todd O’Dwyer, San Diego , 1:40:46, 22>329 mph) were second and third, respectively. The 2007 Class 11 Laughlin competition featured only one racer with no finishers.

· SPORTSMAN CAR (6 laps, 37.5 miles, Sunday, 75 miles overall, 5 total starters, 1 finisher) - After all five starters completed the required six laps Saturday, only Rory Ward (1449 with Tracy Ward, Mohave Valley, Ariz., Chenowth-Chevy, 2:07:43, 35.234 miles per hour) completed the required 37.5 miles Sunday. Ward started Sunday with a 25-second over Glenn Smith (1403, San Clemente , Calif. with Terry Collis, Carlsbad , Calif. , Raceco-VW), who completed only two laps Sunday. Peter Lang (1400, Santa Rosa, Calif. with Brian Jellison, Sebastapol, Calif., Homebuilt-Chevy), the 2007 SCORE Desert Series Sportsman car champion, was fifth Saturday and completed only three laps Sunday.



GROUP #2......... Classes 8 (6 laps), Protruck (6), 7 (6), 7SX (6), Stock Full (5), Stock Mini (5), Class 3 (5), SPTTruck(5),

.................................................. .................................................. ................................ 28 Total Starters, 9 finishers



· CLASS 8 (Full-sized two-wheel drive trucks, 6 laps, 37.5 miles, Sunday, 75 miles overall, 3 starters, 0 finishers) - Juan C. Lopez (802, Tecate, Mexico with Beny Canela, Indio, Calif., Ford F-150), who was the only racer to complete the required six laps Saturday, did not complete a lap Sunday. Todd Wylie (803, New River, Ariz., Chevy C1500), who led after five laps Saturday by 17 seconds before not completing his final lap, was the only race to complete six laps Sunday (1:05:17). Greg Adler (801, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Ford F-150), who placed third in the 2007 SCORE Desert Series Class 8 point standings, completed only two laps Saturday and five laps Sunday.

· PROTRUCK (Limited Production Trucks, 6 laps, 37.5 miles, Sunday, 75 miles overall, 1 starter, 1 finisher) - Jason Voss (235, Cupertino , Calif. , Ford F-1501:57:05, 38.434 miles per hour) was the only entry in the class. Voss is the 2007 SCORE Desert Series ProTruck champion.

· CLASS 7 (Open mini trucks, 6 laps, 37.5 miles, Sunday, 75 miles overall, 4 starters, 0 finishers) - Dan Chamlee (700 with Tom Chamlee, Carpenteria, Calif., Ford Ranger) was the only racer to complete laps Sunday (four) as the other three entries did not complete a lap Sunday. On Saturday, Chamlee (:53.58, 41.692 miles per hour) was in second place after two laps by a minutes behind A. J. Rodriguez (702 with Miguel Medina, Orange , Calif. , Ford Ranger, :55:59, 40.19 mph). But Rodriguez had troubles on the fourth lap as Chamlee took the lead. Chris Taylor (703, El Centro , Calif. with Josh Quintero, Imperial, Calif. , Ford Ranger, 1:16:38, 29.361 mph) was third. Chamlee, a three-time SCORE Desert Series Class 7 champion (2004, 2006 and 2007), did not complete the required Laughlin Class 7 laps last year.

· CLASS 7SX (Modified, open mini trucks, 6 laps, 37.5 miles, Sunday, 75 miles overall, 4 starters, 1 finisher) - Heidi Steele (745, San Clemente, Calif. with Tim Lawrence, Santee, Calif., Ford Ranger, 2:20:17, 32.078 miles per hour), who was third Saturday, was the only racer to complete the required six laps Sunday (1:16:44). John Holmes (742, Olivenhain, Calif. with Mark Landersman, Temecula, Calif., Ford Ranger, who finished fourth in the 2007 SCORE Desert Series Class 7SX standings and won the 2007 Laughlin Class 7SX title, had a two minute, 48 second lead over Steele entering Sunday’s final lap, but did not complete the final 6.25-mile circuit. Gerardo Novelo (758, San Ysidro , Calif. , Nissan Frontier), who was second Saturday, completed only three laps Sunday.

· STOCK FULL (Stock, Full-sized trucks, 5 laps, 31.25 miles, Sunday, 62.5 miles overall, 4 starters, 2 finishers) - After trailing by 98 seconds after Saturday’s race, Chad Hall (861, Reno, Nev., Hummer H3Alpha, 1:59:11, 31.464 mph) assumed control in the second lap Saturday to win the class by more than three minutes over six-time SCORE Desert Series Stock Full champion John Griffin (860, Mission Viejo, Calif. with Jeremy Spirkoff, El Cajon, Calif., Ford F-350, 2:03:18, 30.414 miles per hour). Griffin won the series Stock Full title five-straight years (2001-2005) before Terry Henn captured the 2006 class title. Griffin , who was third in Laughlin last year behind Josh Hall, regained the Stock Full SCORE Desert Series title in 2007. Josh Hall, who led Griffin by 32 seconds after two laps Saturday, did not complete required six laps on both Saturday and Sunday.

· STOCK MINI (Stock, Mini-sized trucks, 5 laps, 31.25 miles, Sunday, 62.5 miles overall, 2 starters, 2 finishers) - Both starters completed the required five laps on each day of racing as two-time SCORE Desert Series Stock Mini champion Rod Hall (760, Reno, Nev., Hummer H3, 2:11:46, 28.459 miles per hour) won the competition by more than 16 minutes over Steve Kovach (761, Tempe, Ariz. with Chip Carr, Gilbert, Ariz., Ford Ranger, 2:28:29, 25.255 mph). Hall was the defending Laughlin Stock Mini Champion.

· CLASS 3 (Short Wheelbase 4X4, 5 laps, 31.25 miles, Sunday, 62.5 miles overall, 1 starter, 1 finisher) - Donald Moss (301, Sacramento, Calif. with Ken Moss, Marysville, Calif., Ford Bronco, 2:12;06, 28.388 miles per hour) was the only entry in the class as he captured his sixth Laughlin Class 3 title (2002-2006). He was second in the 2007 Class 3 SCORE Desert Series point’s standings. Moss’ time Sunday was over 24 minutes slow than Saturday’s (:53:52).

· SPORTSMAN TRUCK (5 laps, 31.25 miles, Sunday, 62.5 miles overall, 9 starters, 2 finishers) - As first-day leaders Dan Vance (1548, Huntington Beach, Calif., Toyota Tacoma), Robert Anderson (1505, San Clemente, Calif. with Charles Anderson, Vista, Calif., Ford Ranger) and Mike Jenkins (1501, Foothill Ranch, Calif. with Sammy Navarro, San Juan Capistrano, Calif., Ford F-150) failed to complete the required laps Sunday, Brian Freemal (1504, Las Vegas, Trophy Lite-Chevy, 2:06:16, 29.699 miles per hour) and Keith Growe (1500 with Mark Growe, Placentia, Calif., Ford Ranger, 2:15:03, 27.767 mph) finished atop the standings. Jenkins was the defending Sportsman Truck Laughlin champion. Mark Growe is the SCORE Desert Series defending Sportsman Truck champion.



GROUP #3................................................ . Class 10 (7 laps), SCORE Lite (7), Class 5 (7), 24 Total Starters, 7 finishers



· CLASS 10 (Single or two-seaters to 1650cc, 7 laps, 43.75 miles, Sunday, 87.5 miles overall, 10 starters, 1 finisher) - Chris Harrold (1007, Chula Vista, Calif., AlumiCraft-Honda, 2:11:05, 40.051 miles per hour), who had almost a four-minute lead over Robert McBeath (1001 with Jessica McBeath, Las Vegas) entering Sunday’s race, was the only overall finisher in the class. McBeath did not complete a lap Sunday. Mike Lawrence (1005, Brea , Calif. with Chris Lawrence, Los Alamitos , Calif. , Lothringer-VW), who was third Saturday, completed three laps Sunday. Harrold, who was fourth in the Class 10 SCORE Desert Series standings last year, won his second Laughlin Class 10 title after capturing the 1999 class crown.



· SCORE LITE (VW-powered, Limited single-1776cc-or two-seaters-1835cc, 7 laps, 43.75 miles, Sunday, 87.5 miles overall, 11 starters, 5 finishers) - After leading the field Saturday, Tom Watson (1200, El Centro, Calif. with Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Prill, 2:13:14, 39.405 miles per hour) fell to second overall in the class as Rick St. John (1204, Encinitas, Calif. with Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad, Calif., Duvell, 2:11:11, 40.020 mph) captured the title after being in third on the first day by being 90 seconds behind the leader. Watson, who captured the SCORE Desert Series Score Lite point’s championship in 2004 and 2005, held the lead through the first three laps Sunday by 35 seconds, but fell behind St. John by 20 seconds after four laps Sunday. David Callaway (1203, Menifee, Calif. with Scott Mapes, Riverside, Calif., Dunrite, 2:17:17, 38.242 mph), who was second Saturday, placed third overall. Stan Potter (1209, San Marcos , Calif. with Dan Worley, Encinitas , Calif. ), the 2007 Laughlin Score Lite champion, entered this weekend’s races, but did not start Saturday or Sunday.



· CLASS 5 (Unlimited VW Baja Bugs, 7 laps, 43.75 miles, Sunday, 87.5 overall, 3 starters, 1 finisher) - After all three starters Saturday completed the seven required laps, Kevin Carr (502, San Diego, 2:23:30, 36.585 miles per hour) was the only racer to complete the 43.75-mile circuit Sunday. Carr was 89 seconds behind first day leader George Seeley (501, Glendale , Calif. ) after Saturday’s race. Seeley, who was seeking his eighth Laughlin Class 5 title, maintained an 86-second lead over Carr through three laps Sunday, but fell behind by 63 seconds after the fourth lap and failed to complete Lap No. 5 Sunday. Carlos Albanez (500, Calexico , Calif. with Luivan Voelker, Mexicali , Mexico ), who was second Saturday, completed only six laps Sunday. Seeley was third in the 2007 Class 5 SCORE Desert Series standings, which was won by Luivan Voelker with Carr second. Seeley is a nine-time SCORE Desert Series point’s champion (1993, 1997, 1999-2004, 2006)



GROUP #4........................ SCORE Trophy-Truck (8 laps, 50 miles, Sunday, 100 miles overall, 24 Starters, 5 finishers)



· Only five of the 24 racers completed the 16 required laps for two days of racing as Rich Ronco (45, Peoria, Ariz., Chevy Silverado, 2:12:57, 45.130 miles) won by 41 seconds over B.J. Baldwin (97, Las Vegas, Chevy Silverado, 2:13:38, 44.899), who was seeking his third-straight Laughlin SCORE Trophy-Truck title. Ronco started Sunday in second-place after finishing 44 seconds behind Gus Vildosola Jr. (4 with Gus Vildosola Sr., Mexicali , Mexico , Ford F-150). Vildosola, who held a 95-second lead over Ronco after three laps Sunday, did not complete his fourth lap. Ronco’s 1:11:57 time Sunday was the fourth best Sunday. B.J. Baldwin, who was 121 seconds behind Ronco after Saturday’s race, posted the third-best time Sunday (1:10:37) behind Carl Renezeder (17, Laguna Beach, Calif., Chevy Silverado, 1:07:18) and Mark Post (1, Laguna Beach, Calif. with Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Ford F-150, 1:09:32). Post is the defending SCORE Desert Series Trophy-Truck champion.



GROUP #5.............................................. Class 1 (8 laps, 50 miles, Sunday, 100 miles overall, 27 Starters, 6 finishers)



· For the second-straight day, Pat Dean (107, Las Vegas, Bunderson-Chevy, 2:08:29, 46.699 miles per hour) led the field over the eight-lap, 50-mile circuit. After holding a one second lead over B.J. Richardson (118 with John Gaughan, Las Vegas , Bunderson-Chevy, 2:13:32, 44.933 mph) after Saturday’s race, Dean had a five minute, two second lead over Richardson . Dean also becomes the first Class 1 overall winner since 2005 as he held a four minute, 28 second lead over SCORE Trophy-Truck winner Rich Ronco. Dale Ebberts (159, Wilton, Calif. with Brad Etter, Villa Park, Calif., Porter-Chevy), who won the Laughlin Class 1 titles in 2003 and 2005, completed only two laps Sunday after posting the third-best time (1:02:31) Saturday. Dean and Richardson finished 16th and seventh, respectively, in the 2007 SCORE Desert Series Class 1 point’s standings. John Herder, the 2007 Class 1 Laughlin winner did not compete this year.

[Blanco]

SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Clark


January 27, 2008



Ronco wins SCORE Trophy-Truck

Las Vegas’ Pat Dean captures Overall and unlimited Class 1 victory

Over soggy, rain-soaked field at 14th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge



Boyer claims Class 1-2/1600 as other class winners include Zazueta, R. Hall, C. Hall, Harrold, St. John, Chamlee, Fernandez



LAUGHLIN, Nev. —Capping off a great weekend of desert racing Sunday for the Las Vegas Dissemination Company team, determined home-state veteran Pat Dean won the Overall and the unlimited Class 1 victory at the season-opening 14th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge over a rain-soaked filed of 141 sturdy desert racers. The fastest finisher over 8 laps of the intensely rugged 6.25-mile course, Dean ran a combined total time of 2 hours, 8 minutes, 29 seconds, averaging 46.70 miles per hour in a V6 Chevy-powered Bunderson.

Veteran desert racer Rich Ronco made the debut of a made-for-TV Chevy Silverado a memorable one Sunday, finishing second Overall and winning the featured SCORE Trophy-Truck division.

The event featured 141 starters from 19 States , Mexico , Canada and New Zealand , who competed in 17 Pro and two Sportsman classes for cars and trucks for nearly $400,000 in prize money and contingency postings. The classes were split into five groups in Laughlin, each running as part of one of five races each day of three to eight laps over the rugged and challenging 6.25-mile race course.

As dry and dusty Saturday’s racing was, Sunday was just the opposite as extensive rain showers blanketed the Laughlin area for several hours during the event’s final day.

With a one-second lead over LVDC teammate B.J. Richardson after Saturday’s first half of the race, Dean took the lead on Sunday from the start, staying out front from the green flag to the checkered flag for his first SCORE overall win. Richardson finished third overall and second in Class 1, 5 minutes, 13 seconds behind Dean in a near identical Bunderson-Chevy.

“The funny part is, I sold my car three weeks ago and borrowed a car from a friend of mine, T.J. Flores, which only had a V6 instead of V8, so we were real skeptical” said Dean, pulling off his first SCORE Overall race win in a decade. “But it was awesome. It was a rocketship today and yesterday. We had a super simple weekend. When things come together its super easy. We had a perfect weekend. They’re hard to come by. We actually finished without the air cleaner yesterday. We were hoping the motor would make it and it obviously did.”

Ronco, Peoria, Ariz., was second after Saturday’s first 8 laps over the intensely-rugged 6.25-mile race course adjacent to the center of the Laughlin resort district, and with the attrition on the race course, his fourth-place result in Sunday’s 8 laps was enough for him to earn the victory in his No. 45 Tatum Motorsports SCORE Trophy-Truck, the featured SCORE racing division for high-tech, 800-horsepower, unlimited production trucks.

Originally built for the Unique Whips TV show, Ronco’s No. 45 Tatum Motorsports SCORE Trophy-Truck had a two-day combined time of 2:12:57, averaging a weather-effected 45.13mph.

Second overall, Ronco edged Las Vegas ’ B.J. Baldwin, who was going for his third straight win in Laughlin, by just 41 seconds. Baldwin finished fourth Overall and second in SCORE Trophy-Truck in his No. 97 Baldwin Motorsports Chevy Silverado.

Damen Jefferies, Apple Valley , Calif. , was fifth Overall and third in SCORE Trophy-Truck in his No. 22 HMS Motorsports Chevy Silverado, 2:06 behind Baldwin , and 2:47 back of Ronco.

Finishing eight overall and fourth in SCORE Trophy-Truck was B.J. Baldwin’s father Bobby Baldwin, a key executive with MGM/Mirage’s City Center project, 3:18 behind Jefferies.

The fifth and final finisher in SCORE Trophy-Truck was Robbie Pierce, Santee , Calif. , in the No. 35 Chevy Silverado, 3:23 back of Bobby Baldwin. Pierce was ninth in the final overall standings.

First-day overall and SCORE Trophy-Truck leader Gus Vildosola Jr., of Mexico, came on strong to start Sunday’s half of the race, leading for the first three laps of Sunday’s finale before engine failure put him on the sidelines.

Leading the field in Sunday’s second half of the race was champion short-course driver Carl Renezeder, Laguna Beach, Calif., but he only completed one lap Saturday so he was officially a did not finisher for the race.

With the attrition so high, only five SCORE Trophy-Trucks out of 24 starters were official finishers. Besides Vildosola Jr. and Renezeder, other prominent dnfs included NASCAR’s Robby Gordon, who finished 3 laps Saturday and 7 on Sunday, TV personality Jesse James (5, 6), reigning SCORE Trophy-Truck season point championsMark Post/Rob MacCachren (6, 8), four-time SCORE Trophy-Truck race winner Brian Collins (5, 2) and prominent short-course and veteran desert racer Josh Baldwin (5, 8).

The Stock Full and Stock Mini classes were a family affair for the second straight year as Chad Hall won Stock Full in a Hummer H3Alpha and his father Rod Hall won Stock Mini in a Hummer H3. For the successful Team Hummer based in Reno , Nev. , it was Rod Hall’s second straight win in his class while it was Chad Hall’s first win in Laughlin after his brother Josh won Stock Full last year.

In Class 1-2/1600, Corey Boyer, Bakersfield , Calif. , was the top finisher Saturday and was second Sunday in a Lothringer-VW to beat a field of 16 starters while earning a 49-second victory over Hiram Duran, Chula Vista, Calif., who drove a Amplified-VW to third place after the first day and first on Sunday.

Winning for the first time in a Pro class, Heidi Steele, San Clemente , Calif. /Tim Lawrence, Santee , Calif. , won Class 7SX in a Ford Ranger.

Donald Moss, Sacramento , Calif. (Class 3, Ford Bronco) won for the sixth time in seven years.

Among the other class winners crowned Sunday were: Rick St. John, Encinitas, Calif./Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad, Calif. (SCORE Lite, Duvell-VW), Chris Harrold, Chula Vista, Calif., (Class 10, AlumiCraft-Honda), Enrique Zazueta Jr., La Paz, Mexico (Class 5/1600, VW Baja Bug), Ramon Fernandez, Ensenada, Mexico (Class 11, VW Sedan), Jason Voss, Cupertino, Calif., (Protruck, Ford F-150), Kevin Carr, San Diego (Class 5, VW Baja Bug).

For all drivers of record, except Harrold, it was their first class win in this race. It was Harrold’s second, having won Class 10 in 1999 as well. St. John’s co-driver, Pfankuch, picked up his third class win, adding to his two Class 1-2/1600 victories in 2003 and 2005.

A total of just 40 of the 141 official starters finished the difficult challenge, for just a .284 finishing rate, one of the lowest in recent SCORE history.

Round 2 of the 2008 SCORE Desert Series will be the 22nd Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250, March 14-15, in Baja California , Mexico .

Current SCORE official annual sponsors are: BFGoodrich Tires-official tire, Sunoco Race Fuels/Bryant Petroleum-official fuel supplier, Bilstein-official shock, Volkswagen-official vehicle, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance-official Mexican auto insurance, Slime-official tire sealant, Red Bull--official energy drink and Bosch Power Tools-official power tool. Associate sponsors are: Tecate Beer, Coca-Cola of Mexico, Las Vegas Events, Terrible Herbst Inc., Blue C Enthusiast Advertising, Kartek Off-Road, Fram, Autolite, Prestone, Bendix, American Suzuki, Micron, NAPA Chassis, SignPros, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie’s Performance Products and Advanced Color Graphics.

Special sponsors for the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge are: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Las Vegas Events, Laughlin Tourism Committee and the Laughlin Chamber of Commerce.

For more information regarding the series, contact SCORE International at its Los Angeles headquarters (818.225.8402) or visit the official website of the 2008 SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com.



14th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge

Round 1, 2008 SCORE Desert Series


Jan. 24-27 - Laughlin, Nevada, 6.25 miles per lap

Total Starters: 141 Total Finishers: 40



TOP OVERALL FINISHERS



Rank, Driver(s), Manufacturer, Class, 16-lap, 100-mile time (miles per hour)

1. Pat Dean, Las Vegas, Bunderson-Chevy.Class 1, 2 hours, 8 minutes, 29 seconds (46.70 miles per hour)

2. Rich Ronco, Peoria , Ariz. , Chevy Silverado, SCORE Trophy-Truck, 2:12:57 (45.13mph)

3. B.J. Richardson /John Gaughan, Las Vegas , Bunderson-Chevy.Class 1, 2:13:32 (44.93mph)

4. B.J. Baldwin, Las Vegas , Chevy Silverado, SCORE Trophy-Truck, 2:13:38 (4.90mph)

5. Damen Jefferies, Apple Valley , Calif. , Chevy Silverado, SCORE Trophy-Truck, 2:15:44 (44.20mph)

6. Steve Barry, Jamul , Calif. , Jimco-Chevy.Class 1, 2:16:31 (43.95mph)

7. Chuck Dempsey, Oak Hills, Calif./Mark Levrett, Sparks, Nev., HMS-Chevy.Class 1, 2:18:24 (43.35mph)

8. Bobby Baldwin, Las Vegas , Chevy Silverado, SCORE Trophy-Truck, 2:19:02 (43.16mph)

9. Robbie Pierce, Santee , Calif. /Brent Gustin, Seal Beach , Calif. , Chevy Silverado, SCORE Trophy-Truck, 2:22:25 (42.13mph)

10. Dale Lenk/Brett Lenk, Costa Mesa , Calif. , Penhall-Chevy.Class 1, 2:23:47 (41.73mph)

11. James Scott, Hemet , Calif. , RPS-Chevy.Class 1, 2:26:30 (40.96mph)



SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge

All-Time Overall Winners



1995—Ivan Stewart, SCORE Trophy-Truck

Ed/Tim Herbst, Class 1

1996—Rob MacCachren, SCORE Trophy-Truck

Ryan Thomas, Class 1

1997—Ed/Tim Herbst, SCORE Trophy-Truck

Mark Post, Class 1

1998—David Ashley/Dan Smith, SCORE Trophy-Truck

1999— Troy Herbst, Class 1

2000—Gary/Mark Weyhrich, Class 1

2001—Steve Sourapas, Class 1

2002—Dale/Mike Dondel, Class 1

2003—Dale Ebberts, Class 1

2004—Gary Dircks, SCORE Trophy-Truck

2005—Dale Ebberts, Class 1

2006—B.J. Baldwin, SCORE Trophy-Truck

2007—Pat Dean, Class 1

[Blanco]

SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Clark

14th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge


Round 1, 2008 SCORE Desert Series

Jan. 26-27 - Laughlin, Nevada, 6.25 miles per lap

Total Starters: 141 Total Finishers: 40



TOP OVERALL FINISHERS



Rank, Driver(s), Manufacturer, Class, 16-lap, 100-mile time (miles per hour)

1. Pat Dean, Las Vegas, Bunderson-Chevy.Class 1, 2 hours, 8 minutes, 29 seconds (46.699 miles per hour)

2. Rich Ronco, Peoria , Ariz. , Chevy Silverado, SCORE Trophy-Truck, 2:12:57 (45.130)

3. B.J. Richardson/John Gaughan, Las Vegas , Bunderson-Chevy.Class 1, 2:13:32 (44.933)

4. B.J. Baldwin, Las Vegas , Chevy Silverado, SCORE Trophy-Truck, 2:13:38 (4.899)

5. Damen Jefferies, Apple Valley , Calif. , Chevy Silverado, SCORE Trophy-Truck, 2:15:44 (44.204)

6. Steve Barry, Jamul , Calif. , Jimco-Chevy.Class 1, 2:16:31 (43.951)

7. Chuck Dempsey, Oak Hills, Calif./Mark Levrett, Sparks, Nev., HMS-Chevy.Class 1, 2:18:24 (43.353)

8. Bobby Baldwin, Las Vegas , Chevy Silverado, SCORE Trophy-Truck, 2:19:02 (43.155)

9. Robbie Pierce, Santee , Calif. /Brent Gustin, Seal Beach , Calif. , Chevy Silverado, SCORE Trophy-Truck, 2:22:25 (42.130)

10. Dale Lenk/Brett Lenk, Costa Mesa , Calif. , Penhall-Chevy.Class 1, 2:23:47 (41.729)

11. James Scott, Hemet , Calif. , RPS-Chevy.Class 1, 2:26:30 (40.956)

OFFICIAL FINISHES

PRO CARS & TRUCKS

SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK (Unlimited Production Trucks, 16 laps, 100 miles) - 1. Rich Ronco, Peoria, Ariz., Chevy Silverado, 2 hours,12 minutes, 57 seconds (45.130 miles per hour); 2. B.J. Baldwin, Las Vegas , Chevy Silverado, 2:13:38; 3. Damen Jefferies, Apple Valley , Calif. , Chevy Silverado, 2:15:44; 4. Bobby Baldwin, Las Vegas , Chevy Silverado, 2:19:02; 5. Robbie Pierce, Santee, Calif./Brent Gustin, Seal Beach, Calif., Chevy Silverado, 2:22:25 (24 starters, 5 finishers).

CLASS 1 (Unlimited single or two-seaters, 16 laps, 100 miles) - 1. Pat Dean, Las Vegas , Bunderson-Chevy, 2:08:29 (46.699 miles per hour); 2, B.J. Richardson/John Gaughan, Las Vegas , Bunderson-Chevy, 2:13:32; 3. Steve Barry, Jamul , Calif. , Jimco-Chevy.Class 1, 2:16:31; 4. Chuck Dempsey, Oak Hills, Calif./Mark Levrett, Sparks, Nev., HMS-Chevy.Class 1, 2:18:24; 5. Dale Lenk/Brett Lenk, Costa Mesa , Calif. , Penhall-Chevy.Class 1, 2:23:47; 6. James Scott, Hemet , Calif. , RPS-Chevy.Class 1, 2:26:30 (27 starters, 6 finishers).

CLASS 1-2/1600 (VW-powered, single or two-seaters to 1600cc, 12 laps, 75 miles) - 1. Cory Boyer/Rick Boyer, Bakersfield , Calif. , Lothringer, 2:00:54 (37.221 mph); 2. Hiram Duran, Chula Vista , Calif. , Amplified, 2:01:43; 3.Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad , Calif. , Mirage, 2:03.14; 4. Dave Caspino, Woodland Hills , Calif. , Lothringer, 2:03:29; 5. Cody Robinson, El Centro, Calif./Roberto Romo, Mexicali, Mexico, Curry, 2:05:15; 6. Edgar Avalos, Horizon, Texas/Armando Avila, Cd. Juarez, Mexico, Kreger, 2:07:21; 7. Mike Simpson/Gary Messer, Kingman , Ariz. , Bunderson, 2:07:43 (16 starters, 7 finishers).

CLASS 3 (Short Wheelbase 4X4, 10 laps, 625 miles) - 1. Donald Moss, Sacramento, Calif./Ken Moss, Marysville Calif., Ford Bronco, :2:12:06 (28.388 miles per hour) (1 starters, 1 finisher).

CLASS 5 (Unlimited VW Baja Bugs, 14 laps, 87.5 miles) – 1. Kevin Carr, San Diego , 2:23:30 (36.585 miles per hour) (3 starters, 1 finisher).

CLASS 5/1600 (1600cc VW Baja Bugs, 12 laps, 75 miles) - 1. Enrique Zazueta Jr. /Enrique Zazueta Sr., La Paz , Mexico , 2:13:48.33.632 mph); 2. Marcos Nunez/Norberto Rivera, Ensenada , Mexico , 2:15:21 (13 starters, 2 finishers).

CLASS 7 (Open mini trucks, 12 laps, 75 miles) - (4 starters, 0 finishers).

CLASS 7SX (Modified, open mini trucks, 12 laps, 75 miles) - 1. Heidi Steele, San Clemente , Calif./Tim Lawrence, Santee , Calif. , Ford Ranger, 2:20:17 (32.078 mph) (4 starters, 1 finisher)..

CLASS 8 (Full-sized two-wheel drive trucks, 12 laps, 75 miles) - (3 starters, 0 finishers).

CLASS 10 (Single or two-seaters to 1650cc, 14 laps, 87.5 miles) – 1. Chris Harrold, Chula Vista , Calif. , AlumiCraft-Honda, 2:11:05 (40.051 miles per hour) (10 starters, 1 finisher).

SCORE LITE (VW-powered, Limited single-1776cc-or two-seaters-1835cc, 14 laps, 87.5 miles) - 1. Rick St. John, Encinitas, Calif./Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad, Calif., Duvell, 2:11:11 (40.020 miles per hour); 2. Tom Watson, El Centro, Calif./Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Prill, 2:13:14 (39.405 mph); 3. David Callaway, Menifee , Calif. /Scott Mapes, Riverside , Calif. , Dunrite, 2:17:17 (38.242 mph); 4. Steve Mamer, Holtville , Calif. , Raceco, 2:19:55 (37.522 mph); 5. Hector Garcia Jr., Chino , Calif. , BajaMotorsports, 2:22:00 (36.972 mph) (11 starters, 5 finishers)

CLASS 11 (Stock VW Sedans, 6 laps, 37.5 miles) - 1. Ramon Fernandez/Jesus Aras, Ensenada , Mexico , 1:27:36 (25.685 mph); 2. Todd Lucero, Anaheim Hills, Calif./Richard Nichols Jr., Placentia, Calif., 1:36:08; 3. Jake Mueller/Todd O’Dwyer, San Diego , 1:40:46 (4 starters, 3 finishers).

STOCK FULL (Stock, Full-sized trucks, 10 laps, 62.5 miles) - 1. Chad Hall, Reno , Nev. , Hummer H3Alpha, 1:59:11 (31.464 miles per hour); 2. John Griffin, Mission Viejo, Calif./Jeremy Spirkoff, El Cajon, Calif., Ford F-350, 2:03:18 (4 starters, 2 finishers).

STOCK MINI (Stock, Mini-sized trucks, 10 laps, 62.5 miles) - 1. Rod Hall, Reno, Nev., Hummer H3, 2:11:46 (28.459 miles per hour); 2, Steve Kovach, Tempe, Ariz./Chip Carr, Gilbert, Ariz., Ford Ranger, 2:28:29 (2 starters, 2 finishers).

PROTRUCK (Limited Production Trucks, 12 laps, 75 miles) - 1. Jason Voss, Cupertino , Calif. , Ford F-150, 1:57:05 (38.434 miles per hour) (1 starter, 1 finisher).

SPORTSMAN

SPORTSMAN CAR (12 laps, 75 miles) - 1. Rory Ward/Tracy Ward, Mohave Valley , Ariz. , Chenowth-Chevy, 2:07:43 (35.234 mph) (5 starters, 1 finisher).

SPORTSMAN TRUCK (10 laps, 62.5 miles) - 1. Brian Freemal, Las Vegas , Trophy Lite-Chevy, 2:06:16 (29.699 miles per hour); 2. Keith Growe/Mark Growe, Placentia , Calif. , Ford Ranger, 2:15:03 (9 starters, 2 finishers)

[localmotion]

:eek: What no video of MOSS? :confused:

Did not have it Saturday...she wanted it for the baby. And I did not attend Sunday.

[Rambo79]

Naw....just a off-road freak. I hate getting to a race event...thinking Iam early...and finding 50 cars inline in front of you. Besides I like to have first choice for spots to watch from.

Have to say Cougar Coral was best place to watch the race...other than from behind the wheel. Next weekend its off to parker.
we got there at 5:30 am and the there was still a huge line at least 20-25 trucks in front of me but that is a great spot to watch the race especially when you have Jesse James flying right towards you. I think I wet myself for a split second.:eek: Friday was better when you were allowed to park on the fence and wherever you wanted too, but it was good time.

[straightaxle]

You have already read the driver reports, the driveshaft u-joint bound up at one end of the travel when I was on the gas, and that bent or broke something. The vibration was pretty bad after that and I knew it would not last long. It was so muddy on Sunday that we knew there was probably no way we would make a lap without 4 wheel drive, so we went ahead and bolted in the spare.

It rained very hard early Sunday morning, there was mud running down the streets of Laughlin. By our race time it was not too bad, but the puddles were huge.

Rick (flyinbronco) shadowed us on the highway all the way from and back to Modesto. Had a good time, he was a great addition to the team. Saw the leap for the first time in 6 races that I have been to, although we about froze out there. Rick flogged his Bronco around with Craig and I as co-riders for the pre-run. There was no speed limit, and it was open for 4 or 5 hours! Rick's got a very capable pre-runner, and I confirmed once again that I am a terrible co-rider, begging to get out after only one lap.

Contingency on the pavement closer to the hotels was a good idea, but didn't take 10 minutes to get through, and not a single Tecate girl. The 6 mile course worked out better than I would have expected for the racer, not so good for the spectator. The new spot up by the high school looked like a good spot to watch the faster classes. The jumps back there were a little too big for us to take at speed. There was really no place that we could get up to more than secong gear speed. The hill looked like it might not have been too bad to watch from, but questionable that you would have to pay AND walk to the top with your stuff. The grandstands were not too bad, but kind of pricey, especially if you had kids. Same price for them unless they were under 5. The biggest factor I saw was the lack of people. Both entries and spectators were way down from what I remember from 2 years ago. Parking at the hotel was actually possible, we were able to get groups of 12 or 16 into the restaurants at night without a 2 hour wait, parking in the pits was easy, and you could even find a spot in the grandstand during the Trophy Truck race on Saturday. They did 8 laps, and with the 6 mile course, by the second lap there was non-stop action in the infield. Robby Gordon put on a show for the couple of laps before he killed the truck. We left immediately after our race on Sunday and did not get to see the mud fest with the big iron. There were about 7 hard core fans in the stands for our race in the rain. Of interest was that the Herbst's and Pflueger were no-shows.

[AngerIssues]

Congratulations on your HUGE win! he he. Man I'm mean. If you had DNF'd we'd all gotten together and beat you senseless!

I just sent a note to Ryan Millen asking him to bring that FJ to the Mint 400 and race with us... we miss not having an FJ to play with! Micael D. didn't take me up on racing the other one at Laughlin :o) "Two Roads to the MINT?"

[fj40]

Great you guys didin´t have mayor problems, congrats.

[petepecas]

Was looking at race results for this race, and, lot´s of no show,
and a lot of DNF´s.(40 finishers?)
I´ve never attended races in the States, but a 6 mile loop?
looks like it sucks.

[BADBONES]

WAY TO GO DON!!!!!!We were cheering for you every time you came by!!!!!
Nice meeting all of you,we had a bad weekend flipping our 1 car and ripping the trailing arm off,our 10 car flipped too!The filtech tt finished both days.
We parked next to you at edgewater and kepted a look out at night.Looks like we wont make it to parker.So see you at san felipe.Our class 3 is still in the works so dont count us out!

[chupakabras]

WAY TO GO DON!!!!!!We were cheering for you every time you came by!!!!!
Nice meeting all of you,we had a bad weekend flipping our 1 car and ripping the trailing arm off,our 10 car flipped too!The filtech tt finished both days.
We parked next to you at edgewater and kepted a look out at night.Looks like we wont make it to parker.So see you at san felipe.Our class 3 is still in the works so dont count us out!

hope your able to race at san felo, keep on working.. see yaah then, even if you're not racing. :D

[BADBONES]

hope your able to race at san felo, keep on working.. see yaah then, even if you're not racing. :D

I will see you there!

[straightaxle]

video...


http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/Mrslocalmotion/th_LDC047.jpg (http://s78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/Mrslocalmotion/?action=view&current=LDC047.flv)

That's a pretty wild video. I thought that would be a pretty good place to watch. We went through there a little, uh, slower........

[localmotion]

That's a pretty wild video. I thought that would be a pretty good place to watch. We went through there a little, uh, slower........

ya a little slower.....but you got some air under the tires. Cant blame ya. All you had to do to win is finish...so why break the truck right. Easy prep for the next race.:D