SCORE Desert Series Point Leaders 4.13.09

SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Clark 702.735.7123



April 13, 2009



Wilsons 1, 2 in Class 1

After second in San Felipe, NASCAR’s R. Gordon maintains Overall

And SCORE Trophy-Truck point lead in 2009 SCORE Desert Series



Other class point leaders include St. John, Lawrence, Moss, Carr, Chamlee, H. Steele & Stacey

LOS ANGELES—Following his dominating season-opening victory at January’s 15th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge and a solid runner-up finish at March’s 22nd Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250, NASCAR Cup owner/driver Robby Gordon has kept himself at the top of a very crowded Overall leaderboard in the 2009 SCORE Desert Series point standings. With 125 points, Gordon, 40, who returns to his desert racing roots often, also leads the marquee SCORE Trophy-Truck class for high-tech, 800-horsepower, unlimited production trucks in his No. 77 Team Gordon Chevy CK1500.

With just 27 points separating the top 20 in 2009 SCORE Overall points, SCORE racers are now preparing for the 41st Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500, to be held in Ensenada, Mexico, June 5-7. The computerized drawing for starting positions, by class, for Round 3 of the World’s Foremost Desert Racing Series will be held at the SCORE headquarters in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 25.

Wilson Motorsports of Long Beach, Calif., currently leads two classes as well as being second and third in SCORE overall points after two races.

With two Class 1 open-wheel desert race cars and two Class 1-2/1600 open-wheel cars with 1600cc VW engines, Ronny Wilson, 46, the youngest of the three Wilson brothers, leads Class 1 and is second overall with 116 points while tied for the lead in Class 1-2/1600 and tied for third in overall points with 114 is Brian Wilson, 23, Ronny’s nephew and son of Rick Wilson, 52, the oldest of the three Wilson brothers. Brian Wilson is tied with Justin Smith, Capistrano Beach, Calif., who drives a Fraley-VW.

After a fourth place in Class 1 in Laughlin, Ronny Wilson drove his Chevy-powered Jimco to first place in San Felipe while finishing third overall. He leads his brother Randy Wilson, 50, by 13 points. Randy Wilson is 13th in overall points in another Jimco-Chevy.

With a fourth place class finish in Laughlin, followed by a second place in San Felipe in a Kreger-VW, Brian Wilson is a field superintendent for the family business-Norm Wilson & Sons, a prominent Southern California general contracting company. Wilson is receiving considerable help this season from veteran co-driver Sammy Ehbrenberg, Las Vegas, who splits the driving with Brian Wilson when not mentoring him in the sport.

Rick St. John, Encinitas, Calif., has won both SCORE Lite races this season in a Duvel-VW with help from Class 1-2/1600 regular Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad, Calif., to lead their class and rank fifth in the current overall point standings with 110. Pfankuch is currently eighth in Class 1-2/1600 points.

SCORE points are based on starting and finishing as well as the number of starters in each class and placement position in every race.

“I love SCORE desert racing and to be leading the overall and SCORE Trophy-Truck points is a huge bonus,” said Gordon, whose victory was his eighth in the 15-plus year history of the featured SCORE Trophy-Truck division. “Our Chevy truck has run flawless so far this season and our success against the best desert racers in the world helps our confidence level on the pavement in NASCAR Cup racing.”

While the top five in the 2009 SCORE Overall point standings are just 15 points apart, the second five is even closer with one driver with 107 points and four with 105 each.

After winning Class 10 in San Felipe in his Lothringer-VW, Mike Lawrence, Banning Calif., is leading the class he won the season championship in last year and stands sixth in SCORE overall points with 107.

After two rounds of the 2009 SCORE Desert Series, four drivers, including three class point leaders, are tied for seventh in the overall standings with 105 points each. Each starting with two class wins each, the three class point leaders are Donald Moss, Sacramento, Calif. (Class 3, Ford Bronco), Kevin

Carr, San Diego (Class 5, open VW Baja Bug) and Gavin Skilton, Anaheim, Calif. (Stock Mini, Honda Ridgeline).

Eric Duran, Tecate, Calif., is driver of record for his family team and is third in Class 1-2/1600 in addition to being part of the four-way tie for seventh in SCORE overall points in a Neth-VW.

One of three female regular racers this season, Heidi Steele, San Clemente, Calif., leads the Class 6 points in the Desert Assassins Ford Ranger. Steele’s husband Cameron Steele is ninth in SCORE Trophy-Truck points. Michelle Bruckmann, Lemon Grove, Calif., is third in SCORE Lite and Anna Cody, Simi Valley, Calif., and her all-female team, is second in the motorcycle Class 20 points.

Heidi Steele’s season point title last year was in Class 7SX and this year she is driving in two classes and also stands in third place in Class 7 in another Desert Assassins Ford Ranger.

Among the car and truck classes, other point leaders include: Jose Canchola Jr., Mexicali, Mexico. (Class 7, Ford Ranger), John Holmes, Olivenhain, Calif. (Class 7SX, Ford Ranger), Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Va.. (Class 8, Chevy Silverado), Alonso Angulo, Ensenada, Mexico (Class 5/1600, 1600cc VW Baja Bug) and Eric Solorzano, Tijuana, Mexico (Class 11, stock VW Sedan).

With motorcycles and ATVs racing in the three SCORE Baja races, the team of Kendall Norman, Santa Barbara, Calif./Tim Weigand, Santa Clarita, Calif., leads the open motorcycle Class 22 standings with 68 points after the Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 on the factory-supported No. 1x Johnny Campbell Racing Honda CRF450X.

Leading the overall motorcycle and Class 21 (250cc two-stroke or 450cc four-stroke) standings after one 2009 SCORE Baja race is the two-time defending season class point championship team of Carlos Casas/Noe Ibarra, Chula Vista, Calif., with 69 points on another Honda CRF450X.

The defending Class 25 open ATV championship team led by rider of record Wayne Matlock, El Cajon, Calif., on a Honda TRX700XX has 69 points and now has won four straight SCORE Baja races. Riding with Matlock to victory in San Felipe were Harold Goodman and Josh Caster.

Leading the overall ATV and the Class 24 point standings with 72 points is the team led by defending Class 24 season point champion Craig Christy, Burbank, Calif., on a Honda TRX450R.

Among the other motorcycle class point leaders are Jim O’Neal, Simi Valley, Calif. (Class 50, Honda CRF450X), Mike Johnson, El Paso, Texas (Class 30, Honda CRF450X), Brian Campbell, Bakersfield, Calif. (Class 40, KTM 450XCF) and Hector Castillo, Calexico, Calif. (Class 20, Yamaha WR250).

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 drivers who complete every required mile of the five-race season. Being presented by Toyota Motorsports for the 24th consecutive year, a total of 32 drivers remain eligible after Round 2 of the 2009 SCORE Desert Series.

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, Terrible Herbst Inc., Blue C Enthusiast Advertising, American Suzuki, SignPros, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie’s Performance Products and Advanced Color Graphics.

For more information regarding the series, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters 818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the 2009 SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com.



2009 SCORE Desert Series

Point Leaders (as of 4/13/09)

(Through: 23rd Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250-San Felipe, Mexico Remaining races: 41st Tecate SCORE Baja 500-Ensenada, Mexico, June 5-7; 14th SCORE Terrible’s Primm 300-Primm, Nev., Sept. 11-13; 42nd Tecate SCORE Baja 1000-Ensenada, Mexico, Nov. 19-23)


Top 20 Overall Cars and Trucks
(Position, Drivers, Vehicle-Engine, Class, Points)
1. Robby Gordon, Charlotte, N.C., Chevy CK1500 (SCORE Trophy-Truck), 125
2. Ronny Wilson, Long Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy (Class 1), 116

3. Brian Wilson, Long Beach, Calif., Kreger-VW (Class 1-2/1600), 114

3. Justin Smith, Capistrano Beach, Calif., Fraley-VW (Class 1-2/1600), 114

5. Rick St. John, Encinitas, Calif., Duvel-VW (SCORE Lite), 110

6. Mike Lawrence, Banning, Calif., Lothringer-VW (Class 10), 107

7. Donald Moss, Sacramento, Calif., Ford Bronco (Class 3), 105

7. Kevin Carr, San Diego, VW Baja Bug (Class 5), 105

7. Gavin Skilton, Anaheim, Calif., Honda Ridgeline (Stock Mini), 105

7. Eric Duran, Tecate, Calif., Neth-VW (Class 1-2/1600), 105

11. Mark Post, Laguna Beach, Calif., Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck), 104

11. Mario Gastelum, El Centro, Calif., Jimco-VW (Class 1-2/1600), 104

13. Randy Wilson, Lakewood, Calif., Jimco-Chevy (Class 1), 103

13. Adam Householder, Orange, Calif., Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy-Truck), 103

15. Cody Robinson, El Centro, Calif., TL-VW (Class 1-2/1600), 102

15. Jose Canchola Jr., Mexicali, Mexico, Ford Ranger (Class 7), 102

17. Ed Stout, Santa Ana, Calif., Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy-Truck), 101

18. Julio Herrera, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Jefferies-Chevy (Class 1), 100

18. Dave Caspino, Woodland Hills, Calif., Lothringer-VW (Class 1-2/1600), 100

20. Dan Chamlee, Carpenteria, Calif., Ford Ranger (Class 7), 98


2009 SCORE Desert Series
Class Point Leaders
(With Class wins in parenthesis)
Pro Cars and Trucks
SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK—1. Robby Gordon, Charlotte, N.C., Chevy CK1500 (1), 125; 2. Mark Post, Laguna Beach, Calif./Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Ford F-150, 104; 3. Adam Householder, Orange, Calif., Chevy Silverado, 103; 4. Ed Stout, Santa Ana, Calif., Chevy Silverado, 101; 5. Greg Nunley, Tulare, Calif., Chevy Silverado, 96; 6. Brian Collins, Las Vegas, Dodge Ram 1500 (1), 95; 7. B.J. Baldwin, Las Vegas, Chevy Silverado, 81; 8. Robbie Pierce, Santee, Calif., Chevy Silverado, 71; 9. Cameron Steele, San Clemente, Calif., Chevy Silverado, 68; 10. (TIE) Roger Norman, Reno, Nev./Larry Roeseler, Huntington Beach, Calif., Ford F-150 and Chet Huffman, Northridge, Calif./Jerry Whelchel, Portola Hills, Calif., Chevy CK1500, 64.

CLASS 1—1. Ronny Wilson, Long Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy (1), 116; 2. Randy Wilson, Lakewood, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, 103; 3. Julio Herrera, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Jefferies-Chevy, 100; 4. Dale Lenk, Newport Beach, Calif., Penhall-Chevy, 94; 5. Richard Boyle, Ridgecrest, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, 93; 6. Armin Schwarz, Germany, Jimco-BMW, 81; 7. Josh Rigsby, Santa Fe, N.M., Jimco-Chevy, 70; 8. Harley Letner, Orange, Calif., Alpha-Chevy, 69.

CLASS 1-2/1600—1. (TIE) 1. Justin Smith, Capistrano Beach, Calif., Fraley-VW (1) and Brian Wilson, Long Beach, Calif./Sammy Ehrenberg, Las Vegas, Kreger-VW, 114 ; 3. Eric Duran, Tecate, Calif., Neth-VW, 105; 4. Mario Gastelum, El Centro, Calif., Curry-VW, 104; 5. Dave Caspino, Woodland Hills, Calif., Lothringer-VW, 100. ALSO: 8. Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad, Calif./Steven Eugenio, El Centro, Calif., Mirage-VW (1), 75.

CLASS 3—1. Donald Moss, Sacramento, Calif., Ford Bronco (2), 105.

CLASS 5—1. Kevin Carr, San Diego, VW Baja Bug (2), 105.

CLASS 5/1600—1. Alonso Angulo, Ensenada, Mexico (1), 92.

CLASS 6—1. Heidi Steele, San Clemente, Calif./Ross Savage, Huntington Beach, Calif., Ford Ranger (1), 95; 2. Marc Burnett, Chula Vista, Calif., Ford Ranger (1), 65.

CLASS 7—1. Jose Canchola Jr., Mexicali, Mexico, Ford Ranger (1), 102; 2. Dan Chamlee, Carpenteria, Calif., Ford Ranger (1), 98; 3. Heidi Steele/Rene Brugger, San Clemente, Calif., Ford Ranger, 85.

CLASS 7SX—1. John Holmes, Olivenhain, Calif., Ford Ranger (1), 95; 2. Norman Turley, Long Beach, Calif., Ford Ranger, 65.

CLASS 8—1. Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Va., Chevy Silverado, 93; 2. Dave Crinklaw, Reedley, Calif., Ford F-150 (1), 65.

CLASS 9—1. Daniel Reyes Jr., Calexico, Calif., Venegas-VW (1), 65.

CLASS 10—1. Mike Lawrence, Sunset Beach, Calif., Lothringer-VW (1), 107; 2. Scott Gailey/Scott Whipple, Norco, Calif., GET-VW, 93; 3. Tito Robles/Lobsam Yee, Tijuana, Mexico, Jimco-Honda (1), 64.

SCORE LITE—1. Rick St. John, Encinitas, Calif./Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad, Calif., Duvel-VW (2), 110; 2. Brent Parkhouse, Long Beach, Calif./Chuck Sacks, Canyon Lake, Calif., Moulton, 94; 3. Michelle Bruckmann/Vic Bruckmann, Lemon Grove, Calif., Lothringer-VW, 59, 4. Lee Banning, Laveen, Ariz., Foddrill-VW, 57.

STOCK MINI—1. Gavin Skilton, Anaheim, Calif., Honda Ridgeline (2), 105.

CLASS 11—1. Eric Solorzano, Tijuana, Mexico, VW Sedan (1), 65.

STOCK FULL—1. Justin Matney, Bristol, Tenn., Dodge Ram1500, 60.

Pro Motorcycles

CLASS 22—1. Kendall Norman, Santa Barbara, Calif./Timmy Weigand, Santa Clarita, Calif., Honda CRF450X (1), 68; 2. Colton Udall, San Clemente, Calif./Quinn Cody, Los Olivos, Calif./Jeff Kargola, San Clemente, Calif., Honda CRF450X, 62; 3. Ivan Ramirez, Ensenada, Mexico/Brent Harden, Menifee, Calif./Jose Villalobos, Tecate, Mexico, Honda CRF450X, 58; 4. Cameron Corfman, El Centro, Calif./Jimmy Lopez, El Cajon, Calif./A.J. Stewart, Jamul, Calif., Beta RR525, 55; 5. Adam Thissen, Reno, Nev./Robert Underwood, Coleville, Calif., KTM XC505,53.

CLASS 21—1. Carlos Casas/Noe Ibarra, Chula Vista, Calif., Honda CRF450X (1), 69; 2. Ronnie Wilson, Glendale, Calif., Honda CRF450X, 63; 3. Jeremy Purvines/Ron Purvines, Henderson, Nev./Scott Glimp, Las Vegas, Honda CRF450X, 59.

CLASS 20—1. Hector Castillo, Calexico, Calif./Rene Pojodes, Mexicali, Mexico/David Gonzalez Jr., Chula Vista, Calif., Yamaha WR250 (1), 65; 2. Anna Cody, Simi Valley, Calif./Talya Dodson, Truckee, Calif./Cathy Duncan, Los Alamos, Honda CRF250X, 59; 3. Jesus Rios/Cuauhtemoc Beltran, Calexico, Calif./Edgar Espinoza, El Centro, Calif., Honda CRF250X, 55.

CLASS 30—1. Mike Johnson, El Paso, Texas/Rex Cameron, Albuquerque, N.M., Honda CRF450X (1), 67; 2. Jim O’Neal, Simi Valley, Calif./Tom Willis, Las Vegas/Derrick Paiement, Corona, Calif./Brian Sweany II, Lancaster, Calif., Honda CRF450X, 61; 3. Sean Bradley, Ridgecrest, Calif./Kyle Abney, Albuquerque, N.M., Kawasaki KX500, 57.

CLASS 40—1. Brian Campbell/Bill Cotton, Bakersfield, Calif./Pete Cochran, Laguna Beach, Calif., KTM 450XCF (1), 66; 2. Scott Myers, Menifee, Calif./Brett Helm, Poway, Calif./Lou Franco, Sherman Oaks, Calif.,/Jeff Kaplan, Thousand Oaks, Calif./Tim Withers, Pepeekeo, Hawaii, Honda CRF450X, 60; 3. Julio Abril/Oscar Hale/Mario Acosta, Ensenada, Mexico, Yamaha WR450, 56.

CLASS 50—1. Jim O’Neal, Simi Valley, Calif./Andy Kirker, Santa Ana, Calif./Dan Dawson, Agua Dulce, Calif./Tim Withers, Pepeekeo, Hawaii, Honda CRF450X (1), 65; 2. Charlie Marshall, Carmichael, Calif./Doug Smith, Upland, Calif./Dave Potts, Burbank, Calif./Chuck Sun, Las Vegas, KTM530XCW, 59.

CLASS 60—1. Ramon Isuarieta/Luis Zarate/Luis Farell/Manuel Cardona, Mexico City, Mexico, Honda CRF450X (1), 65.
Pro ATVs

CLASS 25—1. Wayne Matlock, El Cajon, Calif./Harold Goodman Jr., Brownstown, Mich./Josh Caster, El Cajon, Calif., Honda 700XX (1),69; 2. Felipe Velez, San Felipe, Mexico/Stefano Caputo, San Felipe, Mexico (Italy)/Heriberto Marquez, Ensenada, Mexico, Honda TRX450R, 63; 3. Santos Perez, Tijuana, Mexico/Juan Sanchez/Raul Cano, Chula Vista, Calif., KTM 450, 59.

CLASS 24—1. Craig Christy, Burbank, Calif./Steve Abrego, Covina, Calif./Dave Scott, Belen, N.M./Andy Lagzdins, Baltimore, Honda TRX450R (1), 72; 2. Victor Lopez/Jorge Lopez, San Felipe, Mexico/Gonzalo Curiel, Ensenada, Mexico, Honda TRX450R, 66; 3. Miguel Arellano/Adan Arellano/Bernardo Arellano, Tijuana, Mexico, Suzuki LTR450, 62.

CLASS 26—1. Reid Rutherford, Montrose, Colo./ Benn Vornadakis, Rico, Colo./Tony Valerio, Telluride, Colo., Arctic Cat (1), 65; 2. Rob Ransford, Downers Grove, Ill./Tim Winiarski, Carson, Calif./Joe Rice, Lomita, Calif., Can Am Renegade, 59.

Sportsman

SPT TRUCK—1. Nick Tonelli, Huntington Beach, Calif., Ford Ranger, 65.

SPT CAR—1. Peter Lang/Terry Cottar, Santa Rosa, Calif., Homebuilt-Chevy, (1), 80.

SPT UTV—1. Brian Hewett, Los Altos Hills, Calif., Yamaha Rhino, 35.

SPT M/C>250cc—1. Jeff Leonard, Bakersfield, Calif./Eugene Lane, Redondo Beach, Calif./Jack Cox, Oceanside, Calif., Honda CRF450X (1), 71.

SPT M/C<250cc—1. Humberto Valle, Tecate, Mexico/Javier Ochoa/Ivanhoe Ochoa, Tecate, Calif., Honda CRF450X (1), 73.

SPT ATV—1. Manuel Jimenez/Carlos Lopez/Carlos Castaneda, San Felipe, Mexico, Honda TRX450R (1), 75.
Manufacturers

Engine Builder—1. Major Performance, 125; 2. FAT Performance, 106; 3. Wiks, 86; 4. Menards, 50; 5. Montes, 45.

Original Buggy Chassis—1. Jimco, 91; 2. Lothringer, 44; 3. Duvel, 35; 4. Fraley, 30; 5.Bunderson, 29.