SCORE Primm 300 Results Story

September 13, 2009





Defeats field of 109 starters

NASCAR’s R. Gordon declared Overall/SCORE Trophy-Truck winner;

Schwarz/Christensen top Class 1 at 14th SCORE Terrible's Primm 300



Smith, Lawrence, R. Wilson, Skilton Bros, Chamlee, also class winners

At Round 4 of the five-race 2009 SCORE Desert Series



PRIMM, Nev.—When the dust all settled and the time adjustments were made following data tracking review of each vehicle that was completed Sunday morning, NASCAR Cup team owner/driver Robby Gordon was declared the overall and SCORE Trophy-Truck winner at Saturday’s 14th Annual SCORE Terrible’s Primm 300 desert race.

Earning his ninth career SCORE Trophy-Truck race win and his second in this race, Gordon’s adjusted time in his No. 77 Team Gordon Chevy CK1500 over the challenging 276-mile race was 4 hours, 49 minutes and 18 seconds, averaging a ground-pounding 57.24 miles per hour while covering the four laps over the rugged 69-mile desert race course in Primm, Nev., 45 miles south of Las Vegas.

Gordon, whose roots are in SCORE desert racing and now lives in Charlotte, N.C., started fifth in the star-studded field of 23 starters in SCORE Trophy-Truck in the elapsed-time race and led physically for most of the race, edging hometown racer Rob MacCachren of Las Vegas, by just one minute, two seconds as MacCachren covered the course in the No. 20 MasterCraft Racing Chevy Silverado in an adjusted time of 4:50:20.

Despite following heavy dust through the first lap before taking the physical lead, Gordon, 40, who is still recovering from a serious accident he had during a desert testing session last week, ran consistent laps with adjusted times of 1:12:57, 1:13:21, 1:10:37 and 1:12:23. He now has two wins, one second and one seventh in the four SCORE races so far this season.

SCORE officials reviewed the data in the ‘black boxes’ that each entry is required to use during the race and which are provided by Southern California’s International Racing Consultants into the early-morning hours on Sunday, and issued time penalties to numerous racers for speeding on a short, paved section of the official race course.

Keeping SCORE Trophy-Trucks from sweeping the podium for the second straight year was the All German Motorsports unlimited Class 1 BMW-powered Jimco open-wheel desert race car driven by Germany’s Armin Schwarz and Martin Christensen of Escondido, Calif. With Schwarz starting and driving the first half of the race and Christensen bringing their car across the finish line in third place overall with an adjusted time of 5:00:08, averaging 55.18 mph.

It was the first Class 1 win of the year for Schwarz, a former World Rally Championship series star, and Christensen, a veteran SCORE desert racer.

SCORE’s 36th anniversary season continued with 72 survivors out of 109 starters, competing in 18 Pro and 2 Sportsman classes for cars and trucks finishing within the seven-hour time limit in the elapsed-time race.

Round 4 of the five-race 2009 SCORE Desert Series, the world’s foremost desert racing series, featured racers from 15 States and six countries racing on a typically rugged Southern Nevada race course under brilliantly sunny skies with a light northerly wind and temperatures in the low 100s.

“It was rough,” said Gordon, who turned his NASCAR Cup ride for Saturday night’s race in Richmond, Va. to David Gililand said afterwards. “Every time I would G-out hard, I would hurt my neck so I kind of cruised all day. I was sure we were going to get beat here but the big picture is I think the SCORE Overall season point championship is about done. When it was all said and done, though, we got the win and added to our overall and SCORE Trophy-Truck season point lead. We made one fuel stop and (changed) two tires but no flat tires – never got out of the car. We just changed the tires because we were in the pit and those are our most vulnerable (tires). I couldn’t afford to hurt myself so I had to cruise all day. We ran about 75 percent. We just didn’t G-out – anytime there were bumps we just slowed down to almost crawl speed. We tested a lot faster than we raced here. It didn’t hurt my vision any; it was all my left top shoulder and neck.”

Gordon returned to the SCORE Terrible’s Primm 300 for the first time since the inaugural event in 1996, where he also won the overall and SCORE Trophy-Truck title.

Using his home-desert knowledge to his benefit, MacCachren nearly pulled off the victory Saturday. MacCachren started 21st in SCORE Trophy-Truck, and finished second physically behind Gordon and after the data tracking review fell just over a minute short of the win.

Behind Schwarz/Christensen, fourth overall and second in Class 1 was Harley Letner, Orange, Calif., with a penalty-free time of 5:10:49 in a Alpha-Chevy while fifth overall and third in Class 1 was the Las Vegas team of Pat Dean/Danny Anderson, who finished with an adjusted time of 5:18:02 in a Bunderson Chevy.

SCORE Trophy-Trucks, the marquee SCORE racing division captured five of the top 10 finishing positions with Class 1 claiming three and Class 10 the other two spots. SCORE Trophy-Trucks have now won 10 overall titles in this race, including the last seven straight. Class 1 has won the other four overalls.

The sixth through 10th place overall finishers in Primm were: Roger Norman, Reno, Nev. (third in SCORE Trophy-Truck, Ford F-150), Jesse Aschcraft, San Marcos, Calif. (fourth in SCORE Trophy-Truck, Ford F-150), Mike Lawrence, Banning, Calif. (first in Class 10, Lothringer-VW), Mark McMillin, El Cajon, Calif./Brian Ewalt, Bonita, Calif., (fifth in SCORE Trophy-Truck, Ford F-150) and Corey Keysar, Colorado Springs, Colo. (second in Class 10, Jimco-Honda).

For the eighth consecutive year, the race was split into two groups with the limited classes running in the morning. SCORE Trophy-Truck division along with the unlimited Class 1 open-wheel class, raced in the afternoon.

Lawrence, the reigning SCORE Class 10 season point champion, won for the third time this season, and was the fastest during the morning section of the race, winning Class 10 in a penalty-free 5:30:09, for an 11-second win over Keysar’s adjusted time of 5:30:20.

Brothers Gavin and Darren Skilton each won their respective classes on Saturday. Both pulling a family double for the second straight race, Gavin, of Anaheim, Calif., drove a Honda Ridgeline to remain undefeated in 2009 with his fourth win in Stock Mini while Darren, of Orange, Calif., won Class 3 piloting a Jeep Wrangler. Darren won his class in this race for the fifth time and first since 2000, while Gavin won for the second straight year. Both had penalty-free races.

Justin Smith, of Capistrano Beach, Calif., started last, defeated a 16-car field in a Fraley-VW in Class 1-2/1600. Drivng solo, Smith also finished 16th overall with his penalty-free race.

In the nine-car SCORE Lite class, Ronny Wilson, Long Beach, Calif., drove the first lap and L.J. Kennedy, Orange, Calif., the final three to a class win and 19th overall in a Jimco-VW. Wilson also raced in Class 1 as did his brother Randy and Wilson Motorsports overall had five vehicles competing in the event. Randy finished sixth in Class 1 and Ronny completed three of the four laps and was officially a did-not-finish.

Third generation desert racers, cousins Brad and Brian Wilson raced in Class 1-2/1600, finishing third and fourth respectively in the very competitive Class 1-2/1600.

Brad, Randy and Brian Wilson finished 25th, 26th and 27th overall respectively in the race.

Norman Turley, Long Beach, Calif., won Class 7SX in a Ford Ranger for his second win in the 2009 SCORE Desert Series.

Other class winners included Carlos Albanez, El Centro, Calif. (Class 5, VW Baja Bug), Alonso Angulo/Mario Reynoso, Ensenada, Mexico (Class 5/1600, VW Baja Bug), Dan Chamlee, Carpenteria, Calif. (Class 7, Ford Ranger), Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Va. (Class 8, Chevy Silverado), Justin Matney, Briston, Tenn., (Stock Full, Dodge Ram 2500), Rob Reinertson, Woodside, Calif. (Protruck, Ford F-150) and Mike Shaffer, Dayton, Nev. (Class 17, Jeep Cherokee).

The win for Chamlee, who also raced penalty-free, was his third of the season.

The fastest Sportsman class vehicle in the race was the Homebuilty-Chevy driven by Peter Lang, Santa Rosa, Calif.

The stage is now set for the season-ending 42nd anniversary of the legendary Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race to be held November 18-22 in Baja California, Mexico. The world’s most popular desert race will start and finish in Ensenada.

The 2009 SCORE Desert Series also includes the quest for the Toyota Milestone Awards for car and truck racers who complete every required mile of the season. After the SCORE Terrible’s Primm 300, a total of 19 drivers still remain eligible.

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.

Co-title sponsors for the 14th SCORE Terrible’s Primm 300 were Las Vegas Events, Primm Valley Resorts and Terrible Herbst Inc.

For more information, 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.



14th SCORE Terrible’s Primm 300

Round 4 of five-race 2009 SCORE Desert Series

Saturday, September 12, 2009 Primm, Nev.

Total Distance – 276 miles (4 laps, 69-mile course)



TOP OVERALL FINISHERS

(After complete tracking review)

1. Robby Gordon, Charlotte, N.C., Chevy CK1500 (SCORE Trophy-Trucks), 4:49:18 (57.24 miles per hour)

2. Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy-Trucks), 4:50:20 (57.24 mph)

3. Armin Schwarz, Germany/Martin Christensen, Escondido, Calif. (Denmark), Jimco-BMW (Class 1), 5:00:08 (55.175 mph)

4. Harley Letner, Orange, Calif., Alpha-Chevy (Class 1), 5:10:49 (53.28 mph)

5. Pat Dean/Danny Anderson, Las Vegas, Bunderson-Chevy (Class 1), 5:18:02 (52.07 mph)

6. Roger Norman, Reno, Nev., Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Trucks), 5:26:21 (50.74 mph)

7. Jesse Ashcraft, San Marcos, Calif., Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Trucks), 5:27:54 (50.50 mph)

8. Mike Lawrence, Banning, Calif., Lothringer-VW (Class 10), 5:30:09 (50.16 mph)

9. Mark McMillin, El Cajon, Calif./Brian Ewalt, Bonita, Calif., Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Trucks), 5:30:10 (50.16 mph)

10. Corey Keysar, Colorado Springs, Colo., Jimco-Honda (Class 10), 5:30:20 (50.13 mph)

11. Kory Scheeler, Las Vegas, Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy-Trucks), 5:30:43 (50.07 mph)

12. Marc Ewing, Glncoe, Ill., Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy-Trucks), 5:31.12 (50.00 mph)

13. Cameron Steele, San Clemente, Calif., Rick Geiser, Phoenix, Ariz., GMC Sierra (SCORE Trophy-Trucks), 5:47:26 (47.66 mph)

14. Brian Collins, Las Vegas, Dodge Ram 1500 (SCORE Trophy-Trucks), 5:47:50 (47.61 mph)

15. Scott Gailey/Scott Whipple, Norco, Calif., GET-VW (Class 10), 5:50:08 (47.30 mph)

16. Justin Smith, Capistrano Beach, Calif., Fraley (Class 1/ 2-1600), 5:52:42 (46.95 mph)

17. Bekki Wik/Adam Wik, Las Vegas, Bunderson-Honda (Class 10), 5:54:12 (46.75)

18. Shawn Croll, Corona, Calif., Porter-Ford (Class 1), 5:54:57 (46.65 mph)

19. Ronny Wilson, Long Beach, Calif./L.J. Kennedy, Orange, Calif., Jimco (SCORE Lite), 5:55:23 (46.60 mph)

20. Jose Lynch/Jason DeFalco, Tustin, Calif., AlumiCraft-VW (Class 10), 6:00:54 (45.88 mph)

21. Cody Robinson, El Centro, Calif./Roberto Romo, Mexicali, Mexico, Romo (Class 1/2-1600), 6:04:10 (45.47 mph)

22. Rick St. John, Encinitas, Calif./Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad, Calif.), Duvel (SCORE Lite), 6:06:20 (45.20 mph)

23. Brian Parkhouse, Bell Gardens, Calif./Tom Ridings, Los Alamitos, Calif. Jimco-Chevy (Class 1), 6:10:40 (44.68 mph)

24. Brent Parkhouse, Long Beach, Calif./Brian Burgess, Riverside, Calif., Moulton (SCORE Lite), 6:11:40 (44.56 mph)

25. Brad Wilson, Long Beach, Calif./Justin Munyon, San Clemente, Calif., Penhall (Class 1/2-1600), 6:13:14 (44.37 mph)



SCORE Terrible’s Primm 300

ALL-TIME OVERALL WINNERS

1996--Robby Gordon, Orange, Calif., Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)

1997--Curt LeDuc, Cherry Valley, Calif., Jeep Grand Cherokee (SCORE Trophy-Truck)

1998--Ed and Tim Herbst, Las Vegas, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)

1999--Troy Herbst, Las Vegas, Smithbuilt-Ford (Class 1)

2000--Steve Sourapas, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., Jimco-Chevy (Class 1)

2001--Troy Herbst, Las Vegas, Smithbuilt-Ford (Class 1)

2002--Mike Julson, Santee, Calif./Bob Lofton, Westmorland, Calif., Jimco-Chevy (Class 1)

2003--Tim Herbst/Ed Herbst, Las Vegas, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)

2004--Alan Pflueger, Honolulu, Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy-Truck)

2005--Brian Collins, Las Vegas/Larry Ragland, Cave Creek, Ariz., Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy-Truck)

2006—Bob Shepard, Phoenix, Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy-Truck)

2007—Garron Cadiente, Mesa, Ariz., Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)

2008—Roger Norman, Reno, Nev./Larry Roeseler, Irvine, Calif., Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)

2009—Robby Gordon, Charlotte, N.C., Chevy CK1500 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)