McMillins Master Field For Overall & Trophy Truck Win.
Gives Honda 15th Overall Motorcycle Title.
Appleton/Julson Win Class 1 Unlimited.
Matlock Captures Overall ATV Victory For The Second Time In Las Three
Years.
289 total starters enjoy SCORE Baja Adventure.
ENSENADA, Mexico—Continuing to add to the legacy of one of the sport’s
legendary family of racers, third-generation desert racer Andy McMillin
and his father Scott, of San Diego, split the driving in their No. 31
McMillin Realty Ford F-150 SCORE Trophy-Truck Saturday to master the
world’s best desert racers in the 42nd Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500.
Dicing over the rugged 438.81-mile with several of the top competitors
for the majority of the race, the McMillins stayed focused and
consistent to outlast all challengers in finishing the grueling test in
nine hours, 15 minutes and 13 seconds, averaging 47.20 miles per hour to
win the overall 4-wheel and the featured SCORE Trophy-Truck division,
which had a SCORE-record 39 of the 850-horsepower, high-tech, unlimited
production trucks leave the starting line Saturday morning in Ensenada.
Round 3 of the five-race 2010 SCORE Desert Series, the second-oldest
desert race in the world and part of the World’s Foremost Desert Racing
Series, was held in Ensenada, Mexico. Traditionally one of the most
popular events on the SCORE schedule, over 100,000 spectators enjoyed
the world’s best desert racers in action at the 42nd anniversary of the
Tecate SCORE Baja 500.
Entries came from 26 U.S. States from Hawaii to Connecticut along with
the additional countries of Mexico, Austria, Cambodia, Canada, Denmark,
England, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Uruguay and the U.S.
territory-Guam.
With racing continuing in the elapsed-time race that had a 22-hour time
limit until 9:20 a.m. Pacific Time Sunday, both the start and the finish
line were located in the heart of Ensenada, Mexico on Boulevard Costero
adjacent to the historic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center. It was
the third time in race history that the pre-race activities and the
finish were all held on this historic boulevard. SCORE officials
released the official results following complete data tracking review
Sunday morning after the course closed.
The total number of starters (289) was tied for the 12th highest total
with 2008 in the 42-year history of the popular race. The starting list
included 164 cars and trucks and 125 motorcycles and ATVs. The total of
192 finishers is the fourth-most number finishers in the event’s 42-year
history, for a tremendous 66.4 percent finishing rate.
Johnny Campbell Racing gave American Honda the top two overall
motorcycle finishing positions as Kendall Norman, Santa Barbara, Calif.,
and Quinn Cody, Buellton, Calif., gave Honda its 15th overall
motorcycle victory in the Tecate SCORE Baja 500 with their winning time
of 8:47:00 at 49.96mph on a JCR Honda CRF450X. In the elapsed-time race,
they edged the twin Honda CRF450X of teammates Colton Udall and Jeff
Kargola of San Clemente, Calif., by 5 minutes and 26 seconds.
It was the fourth overall victory in this race for Norman in the last
five years.
For the second time in three years, Wayne Matlock, El Cajon, Calif.,
rode the fastest ATV in the race, recording a winning time of 10:24:35
on a Honda TRX700XX. Sharing riding duties this year with him this year
were Josh Caster, also of El Cajon, and Wes Miller of Fallbrook, Calif.
Their average speed over the boulder-strewn course was 42.15mph.
Andy McMillin, the budding 23-year old superstar has now won three of
the last four SCORE races, the 2009 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 and this
Tecate SCORE Baja 500 with his father Scott, and this past January’s
SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge driving solo. This victory was also the
fourth career SCORE Trophy-Truck race win in his young desert racing
career. It was also Andy McMillin’s second class win in this race as he
won the unlimited Class 1 with his father in 2005.
For Scott McMillin, 50, who drove the second half of the race, the
victory earned him his sixth class win in this race and his third
overall victory have won the overall with his late father Corky McMillin
in 1983 and 1986 in Class 1. It was also Scott McMillin’s second career
SCORE Trophy-Truck race win, adding to the victory he had in last
year’s Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 with his son Andy.
After battling closely during the first half to three-quarters of the
race with several racers including Rob MacCachren, Robby Gordon and
Jesse Jones, the McMillins gradually pulled away and held off Gus
Vildosola Jr., B.J. Baldwin and Roger Norman at the end to earn their
overall four-wheel victory. The win gives BFGoodrich Tires is 50th SCORE
Baja overall race title.
“It was a smooth day, no problems,” said Andy McMillin at the finish
line waiting for his father to finish the race. “I just kind of followed
in the dust and waited for the dust to clear and waited for my
opportunities to open up. Sooner or later, I was the third truck on the
road behind Jesse (Jones) and Robby (Gordon) and Robby went down with a
tranny and I was behind Jesse, just trying to make up time on him and
get my dad in a good position to capitalize on whatever mistake Jesse
did make, if he made one. Jesse drove a stellar race up to where my dad
passed him – I think he had a flat or some issue and he was pulled over.
We’re starting to click as a team and I think we’re the team to beat if
we’re having a good day – and we’ve been having a lot of good days
lately.”
The only remaining undefeated car and truck class driver following his
third consecutive class win in the 2010 SCORE Desert Series was Dave
Caspino, Tarzana, Calif., in a Ford Ranger in Class 6.
Winning their respective motorcycle and ATV classes for the second of
three SCORE Baja races here were the teams led by: Matlock, Francisco
Septien, Ensenada, Mexico (Class 30, Honda CRF450X), Lou Franco, Sherman
Oaks, Calif. (Class 40, Honda CRF450X), Jason Trubey, Henderson, Nev.
(Class 20, Honda CRF250X), Jim O’Neal, Simi Valley, Calif. (Class 50,
Honda CRF450X) and Rob Ransford, Chicago (Class 26, Can-Am 4X4).
O’Neal now has 13 class wins in this race.
Winning the unlimited Class 1 and finishing fifth overall among
four-wheel vehicles was the team of Steve Appleton, Boise, Idaho and
Mike Julson, Santee, Calif., in a Jimco-Chevy.
This popular SCORE early summer race began in 1969 under the auspices of
a different organization and SCORE began its enduring run with it on
July 26, 1974. This year will be the 37th anniversary of the first SCORE
race in Baja.
In addition to season point class point championships, drivers in the
Pro car and truck classes are also racing to earn prestigious SCORE
Toyota Milestone Awards given to all car and truck class drivers who
complete every required mile of the five-race season. Being presented by
Toyota Motorsports for the 25th consecutive year, a total of 22 drivers
remain eligible after Round 3 of the 2010 SCORE Desert Series. Racers
are also competing for the annual SCORE Off-Roadsman of the Year awards,
including the MasterCraft Safety SCORE Rookie of the Year award.
Included in the nearly $300,000 in contingency posting and cash purse
for the race was the special $10,000 MasterCraft Safety cash contingency
bonus for qualified racers in the car and truck classes.
Round 4 of the five-race 2010 SCORE Desert Series will be the 15th SCORE
Terrible’s Primm 300 on Sept. 10-12 in Primm, Nev.
Current SCORE official annual sponsors are: BFGoodrich Tires-official
tire, Volkswagen of America-official vehicle, Sunoco Race Fuels-official
fuel supplier, Bilstein-official shock, Instant Mexico Auto
Insurance-official Mexican auto insurance, Slime-official tire sealant
and Red Bull-official energy drink. Associate sponsors are: Tecate Beer,
Coca-Cola of Mexico, Las Vegas Events, MasterCraft Safety, Blue C
Advertising, SignPros, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie’s Performance
Products and Advanced Color Graphics.
Additional sponsors in Baja are the Secretary of Tourism of Baja
California and ProTurismo de Ensenada.
In 2010, BFGoodrich Tires is proudly celebrating its 35th year of
competing in Baja with SCORE International.
Tecate SCORE Baja 500
All-time Overall winners
Year—DRIVERS/RIDERS, VEHICLE
1969--Bud Ekins/Guy Jones, Baja Boot-Olds
Doug Douglas/Jim McClurg, Ducati
1970--Parnelli Jones, Ford
Bill Silverthorn/Gene Fetty, Husqvarna
1971--Bobby Ferro, Funco-VW
Malcolm Smith/J.N. Roberts, Husqvarna
1972--Bobby Ferro, Sandmaster-VW
Gene Fetty/Bill Silverthorn, Honda
1973--Parnelli Jones, Ford
Howard Utsey/Mickey Quade, Husqvarna
1974--Bobby Ferro, Sandmaster-VW
Mitch Mayes/A.C. Bakken, Husqvarna
1975--Ivan Stewart, Funco-VW
Larry Roeseler/Bruce Ogilvie, Harley-Davidson
1976--Bobby Ferro/Ivan Stewart, Funco-VW
Larry Roeseler/A.C. Bakken, Husqvarna
1977--Ivan Stewart, Chenowth-VW
Larry Roeseler/Jack Johnson, Husqvarna
1978--Bud Feldkamp/Malcolm Smith, Funco-VW
Brent Wallingsford/Scot Harden, Husqvarna
1979--Malcolm Smith/Bud Feldkamp, Funco-VW
Jack Johnson, Husqvarna
1980--Bob Gordon, Chenowth-Chevy
Bruce Ogilvie/Chuck Miller, Yamaha
1981--Malcolm Smith/Bill Newbury, Chenowth-Chevy
Larry Roeseler/Bruce Ogilvie, Yamaha
1982--Larry Ragland, Funco-VW
Larry Roeseler/Chuck Miller, Yamaha
1983--Corky & Scott McMillin, Chenowth-VW
Dan Ashcraft, Husqvarna
1984--Larry Ragland, Chaparral-VW
Dan Smith/Dan Ashcraft, Husqvarna
1985--Ron Gardner/Bud Feldkamp, Funco-VW
Kurt Pfeiffer/Scot Harden, Husqvarna
1986--Corky & Scott McMillin, Chenowth-Porsche
Garth Sweetland/Scot Harden, Husqvarna
1987--Bob Gordon/Tim Crabtree, Chenowth-Porsche
Larry Roeseler/Ted Hunnicutt Jr., Kawasaki
1988--Mark McMillin, Chenowth-Porsche
Dan Ashcraft/Kurt Pfeiffer, Yamaha
1989--Robby Gordon, Ford
(no motorcycles)
1990--Robby Gordon, Ford
Larry Roeseler/Danny LaPorte, Kawasaki
1991--Ivan Stewart, Toyota
Garth Sweetland/Paul Krause, Kawasaki
1992--Ivan Stewart, Toyota
Larry Roeseler/T. Hunnicutt Jr./P. Krause, Kawasaki
1993--Ivan Stewart, Toyota
Danny Hamel/L. Roeseler/T. Hunnicutt Jr., Kawasaki
1994--Ivan Stewart, Toyota (Trophy-Truck)
Dave Ashley/Dan Smith, Ford
Paul Krause/Ted Hunnicutt Jr., Kawasaki
1995--Curt LeDuc, Jeep (Trophy-Truck)
Mike Julson/Bob Lofton, Jimco-VW
Paul Krause/Craig Smith, Kawasaki
1996--Rob MacCachren, Ford (Trophy-Truck)
Troy Herbst, Smithbuilt-Porsche
Paul Krause/Ty Davis, Kawasaki
1997--Ivan Stewart, Toyota (Trophy-Truck)
Mark McMillin, Jimco-Porsche
Johnny Campbell/Bruce Ogilvie, Honda
1998--Ivan Stewart, Toyota
Johnny Campbell/Bruce Ogilvie, Honda
1999--Ivan Stewart, Toyota
Jonah Street/Torsten Borstrom, Honda
2000--Larry Ragland, Chevy
Jonah Street/Steve Hengeveld, Honda
2001--Mark McMillin, Jimco-Chevy
Steve Hengeveld/Jonah Street, Honda
2002--Troy Herbst/Larry Roeseler, Smithbuilt-Ford
Steve Hengeveld/Johnny Campbell, Honda
2003--Troy Herbst/Larry Roeseler, Smithbuilt-Ford
Steve Hengeveld/Johnny Campbell, Honda
2004--Alan Pflueger, Chevy
Steve Hengeveld/Johnny Campbell, Honda
2005--Robby Gordon, Chevy
Mike Childress/Mouse McCoy, Honda
2006--Brian Collins/Larry Ragland, Chevy
Robby Bell/Kendall Norman, Honda
2007--Larry Ragland/Brian Collins, Chevy
Robby Bell/Kendall Norman/Steve Hengeveld, Honda
2008—B.J. Baldwin, Chevy
Robby Bell/Kendall Norman, Honda
2009—Rick D. Johnson, Ford
Bill Boyer/Donnie De Arman/Nicholas Blais/Rudy Iribe, Honda
2010—Andy McMillin/Scott McMillin, Ford
Kendall Norman/Quinn Cody, Honda
SCORE MEDIA CONTACT - Dominic Clark 702.735.7123