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SCORE Laughlin Final Results Story

January 25, 2009



Anderson wins Class 1

NASCAR’s R. Gordon dominates field to capture Overall victory

And SCORE Trophy-Truck at 15th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge



Pfankuch captures two wins, other class winners include:

Moss, Chamlee, H. Steele, R. McBeath, Holmes, Adler



LAUGHLIN, Nev.—Starting his new racing year on a high note, NASCAR owner/Driver Robby Gordon returned to his racing roots Sunday to easily dominate the field to capture the Overall and SCORE Trophy-Truck victory at the season-opening 15th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge. With the race split into two days of 8 laps each of an intensely rugged 6.25-mile course, Gordon ran a combined total time of 1 hour, 57 minutes, 54 seconds, averaging 50.89 miles per hour in his No. 77 Team Gordon Chevy CK1500.

Second after the opening 8 laps by just 13 seconds, Gordon easily retook the lead both physically and on corrected time on the first lap as all of his challengers fell by the wayside.

The event featured 103 starters from 12 States, Mexico, Germany and New Zealand, who competed in 16 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. The event was Round 1 of the 2009 SCORE Desert Series.

Las Vegas’ Danny Anderson, driving for teammate Pat Dean who is recovering from shoulder surgery, overcame a first-half deficit of 51 seconds to win the unlimited Class 1 and finish fourth overall in a time of 2:07:05, averaging 47.21mph in the Las Vegas Dissemination Bunderson-Chevy. Dean was the defending overall and Class 1 champion in this race and the driver of record this year. Anderson will receive credit for the class win, his third in this race, but will receive no SCORE championship points because the driver of record did not start or finish as required by SCORE rules.

Racing in comfortable weather with slight breezes, mild temperatures, under mostly sunny skies, Gordon started from the pole on Saturday and the outside position and physically led all 16 laps over the weekend. On Saturday, however, Gordon, Charlotte, N.C., trailed Mexico’s Gus Vildosola Jr. by 13 seconds midway through the race on corrected-time in the elapsed time race.

Gordon took the lead on corrected-time on the first lap Sunday, pulling away from the 19-truck field for his eighth career race win in the marquee SCORE Trophy-Truck division for high-tech, 800-horsepower unlimited production trucks and first since the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 in November of 2006. After running the fast lap of the day to start Sunday’s half of the race at 7:07, Gordon ran consistent victory laps of 7:15, 7:25, 7:32, 7:29, 7:33, 7:25 and 7:23.

For the second straight year, Vildosola’s No. 4 Vildosola Racing Ford F-150 broke as attrition also hit also hit Saturday’s other top challengers: B.J. Baldwin, Robbie Pierce, and Justin Lofton.

At the checkered flag and the dust settled, Gordon’s victory margin was a comfortable 4:13 over the runner-up team of Cameron Steele/Justin Smith, San Clemente, Calif., who each drove one day in the No. 16 Dessert Assassins, Chevy Silverado SCORE Trophy-Truck.

Third in SCORE Trophy-Truck was the No. 13 Stout Industries Chevy Silverado of Ed Stout, Santa Ana, Calif., who was 5:17 behind Gordon.

For both Steele and Stout, it was their first podium finishes. Steele couldn’t drive Sunday because he had to return to his ESPN XGames announcing position in Aspen, Colo., and Stout drove both days. Steele

“After qualifying first on Friday, I knew we had a truck that could dominate and we were able to do just that although we did cruise a bit too much on Saturday,” said Gordon, who finished third last weekend in the Dakar Rally in Argentina and Chile. “This was our first win at the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge and it was about time. We came in with a new race strategy and it ended up working out well. We have a busy year ahead with our NASCAR schedule, but I always enjoy coming back to the SCORE Desert Series. This win solidifies our plan more to run for the SCORE Trophy-Truck season point championship.”

Surviving the attrition on Sunday, finishing fifth overall and fourth in SCORE Trophy-Truck was Adam Householder, Orange, Calif., in the No. 24 Householder Motorsports Chevy Silverado.

Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad, Calif., earned a pair of class wins on Sunday, winning Class 1-2/1600 as the driver of record and SCORE Lite where he drove Sunday for driver of record Rick St. John, Encinitas, Calif.

In Class 1-2/1600, defending SCORE season point champion Pfankuch, Carlsbad, Calif., increased his two-second lead to a final victory margin of 30 seconds over Brian Burgess, Riverside, Calif., who drove a Seagrove-VW.

In defeating a field of 18 starters in Class 1-2/1600, Pfankuch earned his fifth career class win in this race in a Mirage-VW. Steven Eugenio, El Centro, Calif., drove Saturday’s half of the race for Pfankuch while Las Vegas’ Aaron Hawley drove Burgess’ car on Saturday.

St. John, the defending SCORE Lite season point champion, drove to a six-second lead in SCORE Lite on Saturday before turning over a Duvel-VW to Pfrankuch. Pfankuch padded St. John’s lead by covering the course the fastest on Sunday for a 46-second victory over the husband and wife team of Michelle and Vic Bruckmann, Lemon Grove, Calif., who split the driving in their Lothringer-VW.

With his twin class wins, Pfankuch joined Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, as the only drivers to win two classes in the same SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge.

Donald Moss, Sacramento, Calif. (Class 3, Ford Bronco) won for the seventh time in eight years. His win ties him for the most class wins in the history of this race with George Seeley. It was also the 31st career race win for Moss, a six-time SCORE class season point champion.

Among the other class winners crowned Sunday were: Robert McBeath, Las Vegas (Class 10, Jimco-Honda), Dan Chamlee, Carpenteria, Calif. (Class 7, Ford Ranger), John Holmes, Olivenhain, Calif., Ford Ranger (Class 7SX, Ford Ranger), Heidi Steele, San Clemente, Calif. (Class 6, Ford Ranger), Greg Adler, Manhattan Beach, Calif. (Class 8, Ford F-150), Gavin Skilton, Anaheim, Calif. (Stock Mini, Honda Ridgeline), Alonso Angulo, Ensenada, Mexico (Class 5/1600, 1600cc VW Baja Bug) and Kevin Carr, San Diego (Class 5, unlimited VW Baja Bug).

It was the second class win for Steele, Holmes and Carr and first for McBeath, Chamlee, Adler, Skilton and Angulo.

Sportsman Car race winner was Rory Ward, Mohave Valley, Ariz. (Chenowth-Chevy) and Sportsman Truck winner was Gary Messer, Kingman, Ariz., Trophy Lite-Chevy.

Also of note, the four-vehicle Wilson Motorsports team of Long Beach, Calif., saw brothers Randy and Ronny finish third and fourth in Class 1 and seventh and eighth overall while second generation Wilson desert racers Brian and Brad finished fourth and 15th respectively in Class 1-2/1600.

A total of 59 of the 103 official starters finished the challenge, for a .57.3 finishing rate.

Round 2 of the 2009 SCORE Desert Series will be the 22nd Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250, March 13-15, in Baja California, Mexico.

The 15th annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge is sponsored by the Laughlin Tourism Commission, the Laughlin visits 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, 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, Off-Road, American Suzuki, SignPros, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie’s Performance Products and Advanced Color Graphics.

For more information regarding the series, contact SCORE International 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 Laughlin Desert Challenge

Round 1, 2008 SCORE Desert Series

Jan. 22-25 - Laughlin, Nevada, 6.25 miles per lap

Total Starters: 113 Total Finishers: 59 57.3 Percent

TOP OVERALL FINISHERS

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

1. Robby Gordon, Charlotte, N.C., Chevy CK1500, SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK, 1 hour, 57 minutes, 54 seconds (50.891)

2. Cameron Steele/Justin Smith, San Clemente, Calif., Chevy Silverado, SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK, 2:02:07 (49.133)

3. Ed Stout, Santa Ana, Calif./Trigger Gumm, Mission Viejo, Calif., Chevy Silverado, SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK, 2:03:11 (48.708)

4. Danny Anderson, Las Vegas, Bunderson-Chevy, Class 1, 2:07:05 (47.213)

5. Adam Householder, Orange, Calif., Chevy Silverado, SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK, 2:08:32 (46.680)

6. Harley Letner, Orange, Calif., Alpha-Chevy, Class 1, 2:09:54 (46.189)

7. Randy Wilson, Lakewood, Calif./Rick Wilson, Long Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, Class 1, 2:10:32 (45.965)

8. Ronny Wilson/Rick Wilson, Long Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, Class 1, 2:10:53 (45.842)

9. Enrique Bujanda, El Paso, Texas, Porter-Chevy, Class 1, 2:12:53 (45.152)

10. Roger Norman, Reno, Nev., Ford F-150, SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK, 2:13:31 (44.938)

11. Greg Nunley, Tulare, Calif., Chevy Silverado, SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK, 2:14:16 (44.687)

12. Julio Herrera, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Jefferies-Chevy, Class 1, 2:17:20 (43.689)

13. Richard Boyle, Ridgecrest, Calif./Ron Brant, Oak Hills, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, Class 1, 2:19:14 (43.093)

14. Brian Parkhouse, Bell Gardens, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, Class 1, 2:19:33 (42.995)

15. Rick Romans/Jerry Bennett, Big Bear Lake, Calif., Jefferies-Chevy, Class 1, 2:24:28 (41.532)

16. Dale Lenk/Brett Lenk/Grant Lenk, Costa Mesa, Calif., Penhall-Chevy, Class 1, 2:25:41 (41.185)

17. Mark Post, Laguna Beach, Calif./Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Ford F-150, SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK, 2:25:50 (41.743)



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—B.J. Baldwin, SCORE Trophy-Truck

2008—Pat Dean, Class 1

2009—Robby Gordon, SCORE Trophy-Truck

’09 General Tire Mint 400 Tech/Contingency Inspection Expanded thru the Fremont Street Experience

09 General Tire Mint 400 Tech/Contingency Inspection

Expanded thru the Fremont Street Experience


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:


The General Tire Mint 400 off-road race, which returned after a 21-year hiatus last year, will be back bigger and better than ever complete with Tech/Contingency Inspection Friday, March 27 utilizing the Fremont Street Experience in its entirety from Main Street to Eighth Street, as well as the Fremont East Entertainment District, after being held only on Fremont East in 2008.

Presented by the Southern Nevada Off Road Enthusiasts (SNORE), Tech/Contingency Inspection of vehicles entered in the event will line up from Main Street to Eighth Street under the world-renowned Fremont Street Experience Canopy, according to SNORE Contingency Director Jamie Fagan. The expansion of Tech/Contingency Inspection will now include the entire length of the Fremont Street Experience canopy, which has been heralded world-wide for its colorful presentations, as well as will cross over Las Vegas Boulevard and include the Fremont Street Entertainment District. “This is an incredible opportunity for the City of Las Vegas, the people of Las Vegas and businesses located in the downtown corridor, as this is an event that has been recognized throughout the world in years past. I am very proud to be working with the City of Las Vegas government and municipalities, our Mayor and the properties located along the Fremont Street corridor in getting this event off the ground and to be a part of history once again in the making. I can’t thank everyone enough for their unyielding support and trust throughout this incredible journey and history lesson,” said Ms. Fagan.

Additionally, the world’s oldest off-road race will be run Saturday, March 28 northeast of Las Vegas on the grounds of the old Mint 400 with the start/finish line located in the vicinity of the Fireworks stand/plaza on the Moapa Indian Reservation about 8 miles west of Glendale, NV, near State Route 168 and I-15.

“Tech Inspection is back where it belongs,” said K.J. Howe, who was the event’s Race Director beginning in 1973. “In its heyday, the Mint 400 Tech Inspection was so popular that kids were even cutting school to gather on Fremont Street and I think the latest development will generate the same enthusiasm again.”

SNORE President Don Wall joined Howe in lauding the expansion of Tech/Contingency Inspection on Fremont Street, “In its heyday, we would have as many as 500 cars lined up on Fremont Street for the Mint 400,” said Wall, “It was almost like a county fair with off-road cars and it drew thousands of people every year. We should see the same thing happening again with the expansion of Tech Inspection to include all of Fremont Street.”

Last year’s event signaled the return of the Mint 400, which had last been staged in 1988. Run on one of the original courses south of Las Vegas in an area near Primm in 2008, last year’s event was won by Trophy Truck drivers Brian Collins of Las Vegas and Chuck Hovey of Oceanside, California.

SNORE will open its 2009 season with the Battle of Primm Feb. 13-15, with a record entry to date of 277 cars with 3 weeks until race day.

Following the General Tire Mint 400, the remainder of the 2009 schedule will include the Dusty Times Caliente 250 May 8-10; the KC HiLiITES Midnight Special July 25; the South Point SNORE 250 Oct. 2-4 and the Kartek Western Challenge Dec. 12.

Further information regarding the 2009 SNORE Kartek Championship Series can be found at www.snoreracing.net or call (702) 452-4522.


Contact: Mike Henle,(702) 279-3483

Vildosola Racing Leads after Day #1

Vildosola Racing Leads after Day #1

After the first day of competition, the Vildosola/Red Bull/BFGoodrich #4 takes the lead



Laughlin Nevada, Jan 24 2009 for immediate release

After one day of intense battle, Mexicali Driver Tavo Vildosola, leads the race in the inaugural event of the 2009 season, the Laughlin Desert Challenge. Vildosola’s Ford F-150 sporting the legendary #4 started the race on the fourth row, with Roger Norman on his side.



During the drag race at the start, Norman was fighting with Tavo all the way down the first left hand side turn, later on during the race the red & white Trophy truck #4 edged Norman and never looked back. The race strategy was an important part of the event, after some changes and a good qualifying position, a good result was expected for the first day of competition.



Lap after lap, Tavo was gaining time, good laps around 7 minutes gave Tavo a good cushion from his competition, in the front of the pack, racers started to develop some issues and Tavo’s pace was steady and fast. Around lap 6 of 8, the Vildosola Racing Red Bull/Ford F-150 was at mere seconds of the lead time imposed by Robby Gordon, Tavo knowing we still have one more day to compete, pushed only enough to keep the pace of the Nascar superstar.



“We know at the end of Lap 7 we have the lead of the race, that gave me the confidence to continue running at the same pace we did at the start of the race, the track was awesome, some rough spots here and there to worry about. Our mission was to finish and tomorrow we start from zero again and we hope we can keep going and carry this all season long” Tavo stated.



Now the team is working to check the truck, inch by inch, side by side, preparing for every possible scenario for tomorrows race, we have a lot work to do, this race is only half way finished.



Vildosola Racing would like to thank their sponsors for their continuous support: Mexicana Logistics, Red Bull, Águilas Del Desierto, BFGoodrich Tires, Mastercraft, PIAA Lights, MSD Ignitions, Papas & Beer, Chase Cams, OGIO, MOMO Italy & NTR Films.


To check out pictures, videos, previous press releases, the team’s progress in 2008 and other information go to www.vildosolaracing.com; for the latest videos of the team visit their YouTube site at www.youtube.com/vildosolaracing


For additional info on Vildosola Racing, contact Victor Gasca – Media Consultant at vgazca@vildosolaracing.com or USA (858) 689-0444, Mexico (686) 119-0460.

SCORE Laughlin Sunday Recaps

SCORE MEDIA CONTACT - Dominic Clark, 702.735.7123



January 25, 2009


Round 1, 2009 SCORE Desert Series

15th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge Concludes as 113 Vehicles Compete in 16 Classes
SECOND DAY RACE RECAPS - Sunday, January 25, 2009



NOTE - Racers divided into five different groups, by individual class, to race 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, more than 20,000 spectators viewed the three days of racing (according to Laughlin Tourism Commission 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, the racer must finish 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 had a drawing to determine their start order for Sunday. Because they qualified for starting positions, SCORE Trophy-Truck started Sunday in the order they finished Saturday.



GROUP #1...................... Classes 1-2/1600 (6 laps), 5/1600 (6), SPT Car (6), 21 Total Starters, 17 Finishers

· CLASS 1-2/1600 (6 laps, 37.5 miles) - Eighteen (18) of the 19 entries started Sunday with 15 finishers as Adam Pfankuch (1600, Carlsbad, Calif. with Steven Eugenio, El Centro, Calif., Mirage, 52 minutes, 35 seconds ,42.789 miles per hour) won the Class 1-2/1600 racing for the second-straight day to capture his second Laughlin Desert Challenge title as the lead driver and third overall. He won the Class 1-2/1600 crown in 2005 and teamed with Eric Allen to win in 2003. Pfankuch’s two-day, 12-lap time was 1 hour, 44 hours, 6 seconds (43.228 miles per hour). Pfankuch was the 2008 SCORE Desert Series Class 1-2/1600 season champion with two event wins. Pfankuch finished third in the 2008 Laughlin Desert Challenge Class 1-2/1600 race before teaming with Rick St. John to win the SCORE Lite title.. Brian Burgess (1603, Riverside, Calif. with Aaron Hawley, Las Vegas, Seagrove, 1:44:36 overall time, 43.021 mph) was second followed by Cody Robinson (1616 with Roberto Romo, El Centro, Calif., Curry, 1:46:45 overall time, 42.155 mph). Pfankuch entered Sunday with a two second lead as Burgess became the overall leader by a second after the day’s first lap. Pfankuch regained the lead on Sunday’s second lap and steadily built his final 30-second win over Burgess. The Boyers (1612, Rick Boyer/Cory Boyer, Bakersfield, Calif., Lothringer, 1:50:22 overall time, 40.773 mph), the defending Laughlin Class 1-2/1600 champions and second-place finishers to Pfankuch on the season list, finished fourth Sunday to place 11th overall by being over six minutes behind the leader.

· CLASS 5/1600 (1600cc VW Baja Bugs, 6 laps, 37.5 miles) - With only two entries, one racer started and finished Sunday as Alonso Angulo (552 with Roberto Escobedo, Ensenada, Mexico) completing the required six laps in 1 hour, 4 minutes, 38 seconds (34.811 miles per hour). Angulo’s two-day time total for 12 laps was 2 hours, 10 minutes, 30 seconds (34.483 miles per hour). Angulo was third on the 2008 SCORE Desert Series Class 5/1600 points list.

· SPORTSMAN CAR (6 laps, 37.5 miles) - Only two of the three entries started Sunday with only Rory Ward (1401 with Tracy Ward, Mohave Valley, Ariz., Chenowth-Chevy, 55 minutes, 44 seconds, 40.370 miles per hour) finishing the required six-lap, 37.5-mile circuit. Ward’s two-day total for 12 laps was 1 hour, 49 minutes, 32 seconds (41.083 miles per hour). The Wards won the 2008 Laughlin Desert Challenge sportsman car with a time of 2 hours, 7 minutes, 43 seconds (35.23 miles per hour). Louie Serna (1403, Flagstaff, Ariz., Tatum-Chevy, 51 minutes, 3 seconds, 44.074 miles per hour), who led from the start Saturday to capture the first-day race, led the Wards by 4 minutes, 18 seconds entering Sunday’s last lap, but did not complete the final circuit around the 6.25-mile Laughlin course. The Wards are the defending Laughlin Sportsman car champions. Peter Lang (1400, Santa Rosa, Calif. Homebuilt-Chevy), the 2007 and 2008 SCORE Desert Series Sportsman car champions, did not complete a lap Saturday and did not race Sunday.

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

.................................................................................................................................. 22 Total Starters, 16 finishers



· CLASS 8 (Full-sized two-wheel drive trucks, 6 laps, 37.5 miles) - With two entries, both starters Saturday and Sunday finished the required six laps each day. Greg Adler (802, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Ford F-150, 1 hour, 45 minutes, 26 seconds, 42.681 miles per hour) posted a 23-plus minute win over Clyde Stacy (801, Bristol, Va. with Justin Matney, Bristol, Tenn., Chevy Silverado, 2:08:36, 34.992 mph). Adler’s time Sunday was 54 minutes, 51 seconds (41.020 mph) as comparted to Stacy’s 58 minutes, 5 seconds (38.737). Adler placed third in the 2007 SCORE Desert Series Class 8 point standings and did not complete the required two-day lap total in the 2008 Laughlin Class 8 competition.

· CLASS 6 (Unlimited, production mini trucks, 6 laps, 37.5 miles) - With only one entry, Heidi Steele (601, San Clemente, Calif. with Ross Savage, Huntington Beach, Calif., Ford Ranger, 2 hour, 13 minutes, 18 seconds, 33.758 miles per hour) completed the required 12 laps for two days. Two miles into the last lap Saturday, Steele’s car broke an axle and Savage completed the last four miles as the driver as the vehicle finished nearly four minutes ahead of the course cut-off. On Sunday, Steele bettered the Saturday time by over 19 minutes with a time of 57 minutes, 8 seconds (39.381 mph). Steel won the Class 7SX Laughlin title last season with Tim Lawrence (Santee, Calif.) in a Ford Ranger.

· CLASS 7 (Open mini trucks, 6 laps, 37.5 miles) - With seven entries and six starters, three racers finished the required 12 laps for two days of racing. After finishing third Saturday, Dan Chamlee (700 with Tom Chamlee, Carpenteria, Calif., Ford Ranger, 1 hour, 51 minutes, 1 second, 40.534 miles per hour) captured Sunday’s six-lap race by over three minutes to win the 2009 Laughlin title. Chamlee is a four-time SCORE Desert Series Class 7 champion (2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008). Jose Canchola Jr. (703, Mexicali, Mexico, Ford Ranger, 1 hour, 57 minutes, 27 seconds, 38.314 mph), who won Saturday’s race by a minute over A.J. Rodriguez (704, Perris, Calif., Ford Ranger, completed only one lap Sunday), placed second after placing third Sunday behind Chris Taylor (719, El Centro, Calif. with Josh Quintero, Imperial, Calif., Ford Ranger, completed only five laps Saturday). Taylor had Sunday’s best time for six laps at 53 minutes, 24 seconds (42.134 mph). Taylor placed third for the season in 2008 with Rodriguez fifth.

· CLASS 7SX (Modified, open mini trucks, 5 laps, 31.25 miles) - With only one entry, John Holmes (759, Olivenhain, Calif. with Mark Landersman, Temecula, Calif., Ford Ranger, 1 hour, 46 minutes, 25 seconds, 35.239 miles per hour) completed the required five laps each day. Sunday, Holmes bettered his Saturday time by nearly two minutes as he posted a 52 minute, 13 second time Sunday after being clocked at 54 minutes, 12 seconds the first day. Holmes has finished fourth and second in the 2007 and 2008 SCORE Desert Series Class 7SX standings. He won the 2007 Laughlin Class 7SX title and did not complete the required laps in 2008.

· STOCK FULL (Stock, Full-sized trucks, 5 laps, 31.25 miles) - With only one entry, Justin Matney (861, Bristol, Tenn. with Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Va., Dodge Ram 2500, did not finish) completed only two of the required five laps Sunday. Co-driver Stacy was third on the 2008 SCORE Desert Series Stock Full standings for the season. Matney and Stacy also did not complete the required Laughlin laps in 2008.

· STOCK MINI (Stock, Mini-sized trucks, 5 laps, 31.25 miles) - With one entry, Gavin Skilton (779, Anaheim, Calif., Honda Ridgeline, 1 hour, 57 minutes, 36 seconds, 31.888 miles per hour) completed the required five laps on both Saturday (58 minutes, 50 seconds) and Sunday (58 minutes, 46 seconds). Skilton placed second to Rod Hall on the Stock Mini 2008 SCORE Desert Series standings for the season.

· CLASS 3 (Short Wheelbase 4X4, 5 laps, 31.25 miles) - Donald Moss (300, Sacramento, Calif. with Ken Moss, Marysville, Calif., Ford Bronco, 1 hour, 45 minutes, 32 seconds, 35.534 miles per hour) was the only entry in the class. After completing the five required laps in 51 minutes, 23 seconds Saturday, the Moss crew posted a 54 minute, 9 second time Sunday with a 34.626 miles per hour. Moss has now captured seven Laughlin Class 3 titles (2002-2006, 2008-2009). Moss also captured the 2008 Class 3 SCORE Desert Series point’s title.

· SPORTSMAN TRUCK (5 laps, 31.25 miles) - While eight of the 10 entries that started Saturday finished the required five laps, only six racers completed the requirement on Sunday. First-day leader Gary Messer (1506 with Mike Simpson, Kingman, Ariz., Trophy Lite 2008-Chevy, 1 hour, 33 minutes, 24 seconds, 40.150 miles per hour) placed third Sunday (47 minutes, 38 seconds), but was able to maintain his overall lead to finish over two minutes ahead of the second finisher. Rob Anderson (1503, San Clemente, Calif., Ford Ranger, 1:35:47, 39.151 mph), who was third Saturday, out-raced Chris Shive (1548 with Dennis Sprong, Ramona, Calif., Ford F-150, 1:40:05, 37.469 mph) and Messer on Sunday with a five-lap time of 47 minutes, 38 seconds. Shive placed third overall after finishing 67 seconds behind Anderson Saturday. Jonathon Libby (1502 with John Libby Jr., Dillingham, Alaska, Toyota Tundra, did not finish), who was a second behind Messer Saturday, led for the first two laps Sunday before breaking on the third lap.



GROUP #3............................................... Class 10 (7 laps), SCORE Lite (7), Class 5 (7), 17 Total Starters, 12 finishers



· CLASS 10 (Single or two-seaters to 1650cc, 7 laps, 43.75 miles) - With nine entries, only four of the nine starters completed the required seven laps Saturday with five of Sunday’s eight starters finishing. Despite finishing fourth Sunday with a seven-lap time of 1 hour, 2 minutes, 20 seconds (42.112 mph), Robert McBeath (1003 with Jessica McBeath, Las Vegas, Jimco-Honda, 2 hours, 1 minute, 21 seconds, 43.263 miles per hour) won the completion by 64 seconds over Mikey Lawrence (1000, Sunset Beach, Calif., Lothringer-VW, 2:02:25, 42.886 mph). Lawrence won the Class 10 SCORE Desert Series points standings in 2008. Scott Gailey (1004 with Patrick Gailey, Norco, Calif., GET-VW, 2:03:41, 42.447 mph) finished third. Adam Wik (1010, Las Vegas, Bunderson-Honda, did not complete 14 laps), who completed only one lap Saturday, had Sunday’s best time of 58 minutes, 17 seconds (45.038 mph) with Lawrence second (1 hour, 43.750 mph) and Gailey third (1:01:24, 42.752).

· SCORE LITE (VW-powered, Limited single-1776cc-or two-seaters-1835cc, 7 laps, 43.75 miles) - While all eight entries started and finished Saturday’s required seven laps, Sunday saw only five of the eight starters complete the competition with 14 total laps. Rick St. John (1200, Encinitas, Calif. with Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad, Calif., Duvel, 1 hour, 58 minutes, 28 seconds, 44.316 miles per hour) entered Sunday with a six-second edge over Dan Worley (1201, Encinitas, Calif. with Stan Potter, San Marcos, Calif., Jimco, 2:04:30, 42.169 mph). With Worley nearly six minutes behind St. John Sunday for the seven-lap race, St. John had a nine-second edge over Michelle Bruckmann (1206 with Vic Bruckmann, Lemon Grove, Calif., Lothringer, 1:59:14, 44.031 mph) Sunday (58 minutes, 23 seconds, 44.961 mph) to win the two-day competition by 46 seconds. St. John was the 2008 SCORE Desert Series Score Lite champion as he opened the season by winning the Laughlin race with Pfankuch, who won the Class 1-2/1600 race earlier Sunday to increase his Desert Challenge win count to five. Bruckmann was third entering Sunday, but finished second as she covered Sunday’s seven laps in 58 minutes, 32 seconds (44.846 mph). Brent Parkhouse (1208, Long Beach, Calif. with Chuck Sacks, Canyon Lake, Calif., Moulton, 2:02:41, 42.793 mph) was third with Worley fourth overall. Worley and Potter were the 2007 Laughlin Score Lite champions.

· CLASS 5 (Unlimited VW Baja Bugs, 7 laps, 43.75 miles) - Both starters completed the seven laps Sunday after two of the three entries and starters finished Saturday’s seven required laps. Kevin Carr (500, San Diego, 2 hour, 7 minutes, 57 seconds, 41.032 miles per hour) led from the start on both Saturday and Sunday to win his second-straight Laughlin Class 5 title. Carr was the 2008 SCORE Desert Series Class 5 champion as he won three races last season. Carlos Albanez (501, Calexico, Calif., with Luivan Voelker, Mexicali, Mexico, 2:16:51, 38.363 mph) was second.



GROUP #4........................................................................ SCORE Trophy-Truck (8 laps), 18 Total Starters, 9 finishers

· After 19 of the 22 entries started the race Saturday with 14 finishers, 18 competitors began Sunday’s race with nine racers completing eight laps each on the final day. For the two days, seven racers completed the required 16 laps led by Robby Gordon (77, Charlotte, N.C., Chevy CK1500, 1 hour, 57 minutes, 54 seconds, 50.891 miles per hour). After finishing 13 seconds behind first-day leader Gus Vildosola Jr. (4 with Gus Vildosola Sr., Mexicali, Mexico, Ford F-150, completed only 12 of 16 laps), Gordon posted Sunday’s best time of 59 minutes, 9 seconds (50.718 miles per hour) for 50 miles of racing to edge Brian Collins (12, Las Vegas, Dodge Ram1500, completed four laps Saturday) by 50 seconds. It was Gordon’s eighth SCORE Trophy-Truck win and first since November 2006 in Baja. Vildosola, who also led after the first-day of racing at the 2008 Laughlin race, slowed during Sunday’s third lap and failed to complete his fifth lap on the final day of racing. Cameron Steele (16 with Justin Smith, San Clemente, Calif., Chevy Silverado, 2:02:07, 49.133 mph) finished second followed by Ed “Clyde” Stout (13, Santa Ana, Calif. with Trigger Gumm, Mission Viejo, Calif., Chevy Silverado, 2:03:11, 48.708 mph). Stout (1:00:44, 49.396) was third for Sunday’s racing with Justin Smith, who was driving for Steele, placing fourth (1:01:00, 49.180). Two-time Laughlin winner B.J. Baldwin (1, Las Vegas, Chevy Silverado) completed only seven laps Sunday due to gear problems. Baldwin, who finished second in Laughlin last year after capturing titles in 2006 and 2007, was the 2008 SCORE Desert Series Trophy-Truck points champion. Vildosola Jr. was 15th last season while Gordon was 24th.



GROUP #5............................................................................................ Class 1 (8 laps), 16 Total Starters, 10 finishers

· With 21 entries, 19 racers started Saturday with 14 finishing. Sunday, 16 racers started and 10 finished as Danny Anderson (109, Las Vegas, Bunderson-Chevy, 2 hours, 7 minutes, 5 seconds, 47.213 miles per hour) won the daily competition to post the best two-day total. Anderson, who was subbing for Pat Dean (recovering from shoulder surgery), covered the eight laps Sunday in 1 hour, 4 minutes, 9 seconds (46.765 mph) to edge Ronny Wilson (120 with Rick Wilson, Long Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, 2:10:53, 45.842 mph) for daily honors. Dean, who was seventh overall last season in Class 1, was the defending Laughlin champion. Anderson made up the 51 second difference from first-day leader Harley Letner (118, Orange, Calif., Alpha-Chevy, 2:09:54, 46.189 mph) by defeating his rival by nearly four minutes Sunday. Letner continued to lead the race after the first lap Sunday, but had a flat tire on the second lap to lose his lead. Letner still placed second with Randy Wilson (102, Lakewood, Calif. with Rick Wilson, Long Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, 2:10:32, 45.965 mph) was third followed by Ronny Wilson. Letner was 12th on the 2008 SCORE Desert Series Class 1 standings

SCORE Laughlin Sunday Quotes

SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Clark, 702.735.7123



15th ANNUAL SCORE LAUGHLIN DESERT CHALLENGE

Round one of 2009 SCORE Desert Series

January 22-25, Laughlin, Nevada

Driver quotes after second round of races Sunday, January 25



SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK

ROBBY GORDON, No. 77 (First on Sunday, first in class and first overall. This was Gordon’s eighth career SCORE Trophy-Truck victory and his first since the 2006 Baja 1000.) – Yeah, we were (on cruise control). We’ve come here for many years and we’re normally fast here at Laughlin but we don’t win so this year, I came with a little different strategy. We’d sit and ride the first race. Laps four, five and six here, I backed off quite a bit. I knew I had a minute and 45 on B.J. (Baldwin) and I knew he was up on me by 30 seconds but I was cool with it because the most important thing for us to do is win with this Monster Chevrolet. It’s always fun to win – it doesn’t matter where it’s at. I’m glad we did it here at Laughlin and we’ll be back next year.

CAMERON STEELE/JUSTIN SMITH, No. 16 (Fourth on Sunday, second in class and second overall. Steele drove Saturday and Smith drove Sunday.) – Smith said: I had a great time out there. This is my first time ever in a Trophy-Truck this weekend. He had me qualify for him and we came out in sixth place and he got sixth place (Saturday) and here we are and hopefully we’re in the top three. I’ve always raced limited buggies and I’ve done my fair share of riding in Trophy-Trucks with Cameron and Clyde Stout and those guys. It was pretty nice. Clyde and I did some battling and he made a little mistake trying to push too hard and it feels pretty good to beat him to the finish line. I just tried to keep my mind off being nervous and on other things. (On lap 7, he was on the infield straightaway three-wide with Bill McBeath and Stout) I came on the inside of Bill McBeath and I didn’t even know that Clyde was coming. I knew he was there, but I didn’t know how close he was. He put some time on me when I slowed up from McBeath, trying to be polite, then Clyde came in and decided that he wanted to go three wide. I let Clyde go out there and get by us and then he bobbled in front of me and blew a corner and I got my chance to get back, so I took it. I was really excited for all my driving. I think I did a pretty good job. You’ve got all the big dogs out here and to come out and battle with all those guys, it’s awesome.

ED “CLYDE” STOUT, No. 13 (Third on Sunday, third in class and third overall.) – We had a good run. We finished eighth (Saturday) and our motor is about 620 to 630 horsepower. This one here, K Tech built it and Red Line tuned it and, man, they’re good guys. But I think we’re about 120 to 150 down in horsepower from these guys and we rattled them. This is an incredible truck. (On getting passed by Justin Smith in the No. 16 for second place) I was going down to this fast section where you kick it sideways and you drop it to second ... and on the last lap I came over and the edge grabbed and pushed my truck to the right so I had to pop over the berm and he got by me.

ADAM HOUSEHOLDER, No. 24 (Fifth on Sunday and fourth in class) – There was not one issue. In testing, we broke a motor and went to a small-horsepower backup motor and there was not one issue. We’re down probably 250-300 horsepower and it was tough passing people. We just had to carry more momentum than everyone else. I didn’t get passed too much. I let them work for it just like I had to. We saw people ahead of us and they were broke down and we just picked them off one by one.

ROGER NORMAN/LARRY ROESELER, No. 8 (Sixth on Sunday, fifth in class. Norman drove Saturday and Roeseler drove Sunday.) – Roeseler said: Roger had a heck of a run yesterday and we’re a team and we talked about it and he said, ‘It’s your turn to drive today.’ I wanted to make the team proud. Things started off pretty good but then we started having power steering problems about the third lap so it was pretty tough to manipulate this course without power steering. We had to stop and put about two quarts in it and oil was flying into our face. It was tough just to get those last few laps in. We’ve had rougher days, but to get all eight laps in on Saturday and all eight laps in on Sunday and leave here with a fifth-place finish ... we’re not out of it.

GREG NUNLEY, No. 11 (Seventh on Sunday, sixth in class.) – It was a little bit rougher than yesterday, a little soft in the back. We just wanted to finish – that was our goal today. We didn’t have any problems at all. We didn’t have to pull into the hot pit at all, not one time. It went really good today. We finished yesterday in 1:06 and today in 1:07 so we were pretty consistent. I had a really good time.

B.J. BALDWIN, No. 1 (DNF on Sunday after finishing fifth on Saturday. Baldwin lost all forward gears early on his seventh lap and tried, but failed, to finish the final lap in reverse.) -- It’s all about persistence. I’ve heard it over the radio for the last 20 minutes that we are THE fastest truck at the Laughlin Desert Challenge in reverse, so I’m pretty proud of that. We gave it our all. It looks like we lost all forward gears in the family (father Bobby also DNF with gearbox woes). The only gears that worked were reverse and park. We did the best we can. I went as fast as I could in reverse for you guys to try to put on a show. I was going to get some momentum for the Leap but I didn’t even know it was coming up. We were making a little bit of time on Robby (Gordon). I think he was playing it a little conservative today, but we were really going for it. We did the best we could. I think we lost all forward gears. (What’s it like driving in reverse?) It’s entertaining – and weird. I’m going as fast as I can in reverse. You see all the other guys coming this way (toward you) and their wheels are working and they’re going just 110 percent trying to get around you. (Co-driver) Mike Lucey is telling me where to go and I’m peeking out (the window).

BRIAN COLLINS, No. 12 (Second on Sunday, but DNF because he finished only four of the required eight laps on Saturday.) – Yesterday we broke the front end off on the fourth lap and rolled the truck. It was really frustrating because we were running so well. I think we were even ahead of Gordon, time-wise. So we just recouped and tried to get it done today. The last two years I’ve had DNFs both days and that’s a tough way to start the season. When the truck runs, I don’t think there’s a better truck out there.



CLASS 1

PAT DEAN/DANNY ANDERSON, No. 109 (First on Sunday, first in class and fourth overall. Anderson drove both days for driver of record Pat Dean, who was unable to drive because of a shoulder injury.) – Anderson said: I’d have to say today old age and treachery overcame youth and skill. My plan was to let Harley (Letner, who was first on Saturday) go. I knew I wasn’t going to beat him by 50 seconds so I just let him go do his thing. About the third lap we come around and he had a flat tire and that was pretty much it. We just took it easy on the car and the car was awesome. Butch Dean and P.J. Flores are unbelievable prepping this Bunderson car. That’s two years in a row for these guys as champions. I knew I wasn’t going to beat him (Letner) by a minute if he had a clean run -- no way. The only chance I had was to let him do his thing and hope something happened to him and it worked. We just kept the same pace and tried not to tear up the car. We knew we were only racing Harley today and we had to get it around for eight laps. It was good.

HARLEY LETNER, No. 118 (Eighth on Sunday, second in class.) – It didn’t go exactly as I had planned. We had one flat, one setback, but a strong finish will keep us up there in points, hopefully. That was the only problem we had. It happened on the beginning of the second lap, about mile 2, and I had to just limp it in the rest of the way and trying not to bend the wheel over the caliper. We got it changed and I tried to make up some time but I don’t think I made up enough. The car was running real good. I was pushing it down a little further after I got my flat. I was quite upset, but I was just trying to keep it in one piece and make it to the finish line.

RANDY WILSON, No. 102 (Fourth on Sunday, third in class.) – It was a lot of fun. It’s great. All four (team) cars finished this weekend so we’ll go to San Felipe (for the 23rd Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 March 13-15) in the top 10 in points in all the classes, so it will be good. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season. (He and brother Ronny ran second and third physically most of the day, with Ronny finishing in that spot) My co-driver said, ‘They’re right behind you.’ He’s hunting me. I blew two or three turns. It’s easier to be the hunter. But they were going faster than I was. We worked on the cars a little bit last night. This really isn’t our forte, you know. These are good San Felipe cars. We had no hiccups. We were a little bit light in the front end yesterday, suspension-wise, we were bottoming out really bad. Today was better.

RONNY WILSON, No. 120 (Second on Sunday, fourth in class.) – We had a great time today. The cars ran great all day and I have to thank Mike Stapleton and Adam Wik and Fortin and BFG – we had no problems with the tires – and I can’t wait to go to San Felipe. The track is going away real bad, but SCORE did a great job and the flagmen out there are slowing people down out there. It’s great. We came here to finish and get the finishing points and get down to Mexico. It was a lot of fun out there today. We diced it for about three or four laps and it was just a lot of fun. It’s a great way to start out the season; we’re probably in the top five in points. We had no problems. Yesterday, I was just off my game a little bit and I just didn’t push it like I was supposed to. But that’s all right. We’ll be all right. You’re just supposed to survive Laughlin and we did.

ENRIQUE BUJANDA/HECTOR TRILLO, No. 113 (Fifth on Sunday, fifth in class. Bujanda drove both days but Trillo served as the spokesman for the team.) – Trillo said: Enrique drove both days and we had no problems at all. We had a real good race. The course was hard – very hard. Now we’ll go to San Felipe. We got fourth last year so we’re hoping to get first this year.

JULIO HERRERA, No. 121 (Ninth on Sunday, sixth in class.) – Our suspension was too soft and we were all over the place all the way around the course. The steering also was off. Yesterday, the course was a lot rougher. But, you know, it’s good for my first race, my first race with SCORE and the first time in Laughlin. I race a lot in Cabo (San Lucas), but this is my first time in Laughlin. The plan is to race the whole year with SCORE in Class 1 and teaming up with Damen Jefferies in a Trophy-Truck. We hope we can make it a whole season.

BRIAN PARKHOUSE, No. 107 (Third on Sunday, eighth in class.) – We were doing the last three laps in only fifth gear. We were fine all day and I don’t know what happened. I was in fourth and went to go down to third. It waned. I brought it back up to fourth and had fourth for a little while, then no fourth. We had a good time. The car ran good. It’s just about getting across the line here. I put the car on its side Saturday. It just tucked under on me and went over on its side. We still had a pretty good finish.

RICK ROMANS, No. 122 (Tenth on Sunday, ninth in class.) – I’m not too sure if the fuel is bad or what, but we didn’t run too well. We had a pretty good time. We had a lot of fun. Jefferies Racing put together a pretty nice car and we didn’t have any problems here today. We had a good run. No problems; just that the motor wasn’t running very good. But we got it here (to the finish).


CLASS 1-2/1600

ADAM PFANKUCH/STEVE EUGENIO, No. 1600 (First on Sunday, first in class. This was the fourth Laughlin Desert Challenge victory for Pfankuch, who also won in 2003 and 2005 in 1-2.1600 and last year in SCORE Lite. Pfankuch drove Sunday and Eugenio drove Saturday.) – Pfankuch said: We had the lead the first day and all we had to do was go out there and hold it. (Second-place Steve Burgess was on your bumper the whole day) Yeah, all you can do is turn around and smile because he couldn’t get by me. It made for a fun day. It’s good to be back. We had about a three-second lead on top of Burgess and we started side-by-side, so the strategy was just to stay right with him or stay ahead of him and it ended up being a pretty good cruise. I just got by on a couple of turns. He was a little slower in one turn, I carried some momentum and just got by him and then after I pulled ahead a little bit, just cruised. But it was pretty much hammer down all day. Not a bad way to start 2009.

BRIAN BURGESS/AARON HAWLEY, No. 1603 (Second on Sunday, second in class. Hawley drove Saturday and Burgess drove Sunday.) – Burgess said: This course has a lot of sharp edges and it’s really, really pounding. You feel it through the steering wheel; you feel it on your head and everywhere. I want to thank Aaron Hawley for doing such a good job yesterday (Saturday), and congratulations to Adam on the win. We fought a carburetor issue all weekend. We fixed it a little bit today, but it still wasn’t 100 percent and when you’re racing Adam you’ve got to have your game on top. When you’d get off the gas at start-finish it was stalling. I think this is rougher than San Felipe because of the sharp edges. There’s no way to set up a car for it. It’s just hold on and pound through it.
CODY ROBINSON/ROBERTO ROMO, No. 1616 (Seventh on Sunday, third in class. Robinson drove Saturday and Romo drove Sunday.) – Romo said: It went bad for me. We had a left-rear flat on the second flat and that cost us the race right there. That was the only problem we had. That cost us maybe a minute or so – it happened about race mile 3.5 and we went all the way to the pits. It only took them about a minute to change it. We are the first two-seater on the finish line. It’s way different between single-seater and two-seaters.



CLASS 3

DONALD MOSS, No. 300 (First on Sunday, first in class. This was Moss’ seventh Laughlin Desert Challenge victory in the past eight years.) – That was a pretty good run. It was a lot tougher out there today. We took it a little easier today; this thing just doesn’t do as well with the big holes and there was really nowhere to open it up. Our laps were a little slower today but it was still a lot of fun. This was our seventh win here. (What’s the key to your success here?) We just know the vehicle real and we don’t push it beyond its limits. We just basically take it easy and don’t tear it up. Take care of the equipment, that’s the main thing.



CLASS 5

KEVIN CARR, No. 500 (First on Sunday, first in class.) – It was nice today. It looked like they bladed a lot of the course so it was nice and smooth. It was really soft. I think we had a bit of advantage over Carlos because we’ve got more low-end torque and the big BFGoodrich tires in the back just helps a lot with sand. The car ran beautifully. It’s the second time we’ve won here and I’m high as a kite.



CLASS 5/1600

ALONSO ANGULO, No. 552 (First Sunday, first in class. First career SCORE victory) – Muy bien! Perfecto! No problems today, no flat tires. It was pretty easy (today). We had some problems (Saturday) but nothing today. The course was harder today.



CLASS 6

HEIDI STEELE/ROSS SAVAGE, No. 601 (First on Sunday, first in class. Steele drove Saturday and Savage drove Sunday.) – Savage said: I just came aboard with the team Tuesday night. It was kind of a last-minute deal. Heidi drove the truck for her first time Friday; she did three laps. She drove (Saturday) and did a phenomenal job. Unfortunately, we lost an axle. We were able to finish and we were able to play a little bit more today. (Being the only car in the class) You’ve got to drive smart. You want to finish, you want to get your points, but at the same time you’re out there with the (class) 7s, you’ve got a reputation and you don’t want to have a bad lap time. It’s kind of a pride thing. You’ve got to find a happy medium. Don’t push it too hard, don’t take yourself out, but go out there and have fun and show them what the truck can do.



CLASS 7

DAN CHAMLEE, No. 700 (Second on Sunday, first in class.) – The BFG tires were really hooked up. We never had a traction problem. It was awesome. We collapsed a trailing arm (on the passenger side on the second lap). It was hitting hard out there because of it, but this truck never comes apart, it just keeps going. It was more of a miss that I was fighting with that made me slow down, and it was hitting real hard on the bumps and I didn’t want to break it. This old beater truck – I’m down on horsepower and it’s breaking and falling apart, but it just keeps going. This truck always gets me through. It’s the low-budget, never quits.

CHRIS TAYLOR/JOSH QUINTERO, No. 719 (First on Sunday. Completed five of six required laps Saturday and was a DNF in class. Taylor drove Saturday and Quintero drove Sunday.) -- Quintero said: We broke the center out of the wheel with a mile to go (on Saturday). He (Taylor) blew a turn and stuffed it and just broke the center right out. We put a new wheel on it and finished (but not within the time limit). We came out today and showed them we can do it. I think we took the overall for today. We pretty much figured we weren’t (in contention for an overall class win), but we came out for the fans, to redeem ourselves.

JOSE CANCHOLA JR., No. 703 (Third on Sunday, second in class. Canchola was first on Saturday and, despite getting stuck briefly on lap 2, was leading Sunday when he pulled into the hot pits on the last lap.) -- We didn’t know it was the last lap. We had a fuel pump problem. We changed it. We thought we had to make another lap. It was a mess. We had some problems with communications.



CLASS 7SX

JOHN HOLMES/MARK LANDERSMAN, No. 759 (First on Sunday, first in class. Holmes drove Saturday and Landersman drove Sunday.) – Landersman said (tongue in cheek): It was a tight race all day. We battled all day. It was tough. They had us at one point, but we pushed it pretty hard to get back in front and we brought home the first place, and we were the only ones in our class so it was a lot of fun. (Turning serious, he added:) We just took it easy and shook the truck down and it was all good. We just used it as a test. We tested a couple of different setups in the tire and a couple of different setups in the suspension and made some minor changes. This is a great opportunity under race conditions to see how everything handles and what you might not try normally you can try sometimes. John stopped every lap yesterday and took a look at it. I just cruised around and I don’t think the wheels ever left the ground.



CLASS 8

GREG ADLER, No. 802 (First on Sunday, first in class.) – The course was a little rougher today; it was pretty chewed up. We just kind of picked our way through after we built up enough of a lead. As we started getting further into the race, we knew we had a pretty good lead so we just didn’t want to break it. This was a good weekend for us. It was fun. (Are you going to run for the points title?) We’re going to figure that one out. This certainly gives us a good start. Hopefully, there’s enough competition at some of the other races, too, that makes it worthwhile to do.



CLASS 10

ROBERT McBEATH/JESSICA McBEATH, No. 1003 (Fourth on Sunday, first in class.) – I had a three-minute and 16-second lead coming in so my goal was just to keep the cars in sight and not break and bring the car home. That’s basically what we did. We gave up about 35 seconds to them and concentrated on not breaking the car. It looks like we lost our alternator but on a short course like this it’s not a disadvantage. We ran hard yesterday and did what we needed to do and today we just wanted to bring it home. There’s a strategy that’s involved: The guys that are behind have to race hard, push hard, to catch up and they’re more likely to break. We had a good time out there today.

MIKEY LAWRENCE, No. 1000 (Second on Sunday, second in class.) – I guess I did one thing well: I kept all four wheels down today. Yesterday, I was battling with Bryce Menzies and having fun and I came into a turn a little too hot and tipped it over. It took us a couple of minutes to tip it back over and we finished third. There were no problems, no flats, nothing (today). We lost a little oil, so we put a little oil in it this morning and that was it. It’s (Class 10) a tremendous class; I’m loving it.

SCOTT GAILEY/SCOTT WHIPPLE, No. 1004 (Third on Sunday, third in class. Whipple drove Saturday and Gailey drove Sunday.) – Gailey said: Scott Whipple’s stepson, Johnny, rode with me for the first time and did an excellent job. There were no problems, none at all. This is a new car, so it’s built to the new rules. We’re a couple hundred pounds heavier than the rest of the vehicles and we’re down on the Hondas in horsepower, so it’s a battle. You have to do everything you can with air pressure in the tires and make sure you’re on your game. Like we’ve always said: If you’re not there at the finish, you can’t win. We’re at the finish and we had an incredible weekend.

ADAM WIK, No. 1010 (First on Sunday but failed to complete all seven required laps on Saturday.) – We had a great day. Everything worked perfect for us today. Yesterday we had some issues. Yesterday we had a tranny get stuck in gear. We fixed that, then we had a power steering pulley break and that put us out. So we just decided to try and go through the whole car and get it ready for today and everything worked out great. No issues at all. Started dead last and just tried to pick my way through the pack and everything worked out good. (Wik is an engine builder. He said McBeath and Freemal in Class 10 were among 10 or 11 drivers using his motors here.) This is advertising, yeah, but we race. I love racing; that’s how I got into building engines. If anything, I’d rather be a racecar driver than an engine builder, but that just doesn’t work out sometimes, so I’ve got to build motors to pay for my racing.



SCORE LITE

RICK ST. JOHN/ADAM PFANKUCH, No. 1200 (First on Sunday, first in class. Fifth career Laughlin title for Pfankuch, who also won today in Class 1-2/1600. St. John drove Saturday and Pfankuch drove Sunday.) – Pfankuch said: It feels really good. I wish I could have gone a little faster because I had someone right on my tail but that’s how the (Class) 10 cars come and affect us in front of us. But I couldn’t ask for anything more than a 1-2 finish. (Vic Bruckmann was within seconds of you all day long. How was that?) I felt really good. Every time I turned around I saw them back there and then I’d get stuck behind a 10 car and he’d reel me in and then he had to deal with it, too. The last lap, I had to deal with one 10 car and he didn’t so he pulled a lot of time on me but it all worked out, so I’m happy. It was fun out there. The course was really chewed up today.

MICHELLE BRUCKMANN/VIC BRUCKMANN, No. 1206 (Second on Sunday, second in class. Michelle drove Saturday and Vic drove Sunday.) – Vic said: It got pretty rough. I wasn’t expecting it to be that rough but it was fun – a lot of fun. Michelle drove yesterday and finished third. I just drove as hard as I could today. The only problem I had today was the Class 10 cars, which should have been way faster than us. It was hard to get around them. Other than that, it was great.

DAN WORLEY/STAN POTTER, No. 1201 (Fifth on Sunday, fourth in class. Worley, who took last year off from racing, drove both days.) – It was rough. We tried to keep up with those young kids. We’re in it for the year so we had to finish today. If you start off with a DNF here, it’s hard to recover. We gave it all I had for the first couple of laps and then we held back a little bit and put it in cruise mode but then we had fuel issues on the last lap. We switched fuel pumps and fixed that. We haven’t driven in a year so this was the first time in a car in a year. It felt good, like an old comfortable friend. I’ll probably be a little sore tomorrow but I’ll start riding a bike and get back into shape.

BRENT PARKHOUSE/CHUCK SACKS, No. 1208 (Third on Sunday, third in class. Parkhouse drove Saturday and Sacks drove Sunday.) Sacks said: It was a good day. It was bit rough out there. We hunted our way through trying to find lines. It was pick and choose every lap, looking for something to smooth it out any way we could, and spent most of the day in the air. It was tough. It didn’t help at all trying to make up time. It was slim pickings for anything smooth out there at all. The car ran like a champ. I’d have liked maybe another 450 horsepower.



STOCK MINI

GAVIN SKILTON, No. 779 (First on Sunday, first in class.) – The course was a lot rougher today, but another great day. Sal (Fish) always puts on a great race with SCORE. Laughlin is really great because everyone gets to see so much of the action, the crews get to hang out and see the action; they’re not driving all night across thousands of miles of desolate roads. It was a fun day. The weather was great and the Ridgeline performed smooth as ever and absolutely no problems all weekend. The course definitely gets a lot rougher it was a good day of racing. We were running consistent lap times – believe it or not, a little faster than yesterday, which is shocking. My team did a great job ... we didn’t really turn a wrench on the Ridgeline all weekend. It’s been a really nice, pleasant weekend for the team, so we had a lot of fun. We’re going to be here for the whole series. We’re chasing a championship and the Milestone and just trying to show people how tough this truck really is.

SCORE Laughlin Official Finishers

SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Clark, 702.735.7123


15th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge

Round 1 of 5 race 2009 SCORE Desert Series

Jan. 22-25 - Laughlin, Nevada, 6.25 miles per lap

OFFICIAL ENTRIES-113 (from 12 States, Mexico & Germany)

Total Starters: 103, Total Finishers: 59 (57.3 percent)



TOP OVERALL FINISHERS



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

1. Robby Gordon, Charlotte, N.C., Chevy CK1500, SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK, 1 hour, 57 minutes, 54 seconds (50.891)

2. Cameron Steele/Justin Smith, San Clemente, Calif., Chevy Silverado, SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK, 2:02:07 (49.133)

3. Ed Stout, Santa Ana, Calif./Trigger Gumm, Mission Viejo, Calif., Chevy Silverado, SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK, 2:03:11 (48.708)

4. Danny Anderson, Las Vegas, Bunderson-Chevy, Class 1, 2:07:05 (47.213)

5. Adam Householder, Orange, Calif., Chevy Silverado, SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK, 2:08:32 (46.680)

6. Harley Letner, Orange, Calif., Alpha-Chevy, Class 1, 2:09:54 (46.189)

7. Randy Wilson, Lakewood, Calif./Rick Wilson, Long Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, Class 1, 2:10:32 (45.965)

8. Ronny Wilson/Rick Wilson, Long Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, Class 1, 2:10:53 (45.842)

9. Enrique Bujanda, El Paso, Texas, Porter-Chevy, Class 1, 2:12:53 (45.152)

10. Roger Norman, Reno, Nev., Ford F-150, SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK, 2:13:31 (44.938)

11. Greg Nunley, Tulare, Calif., Chevy Silverado, SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK, 2:14:16 (44.687)

12. Julio Herrera, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Jefferies-Chevy, Class 1, 2:17:20 (43.689)

13. Richard Boyle, Ridgecrest, Calif./Ron Brant, Oak Hills, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, Class 1, 2:19:14 (43.093)

14. Brian Parkhouse, Bell Gardens, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, Class 1, 2:19:33 (42.995)

15. Rick Romans/Jerry Bennett, Big Bear Lake, Calif., Jefferies-Chevy, Class 1, 2:24:28 (41.532)

16. Dale Lenk/Brett Lenk/Grant Lenk, Costa Mesa, Calif., Penhall-Chevy, Class 1, 2:25:41 (41.185)

17. Mark Post, Laguna Beach, Calif./Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Ford F-150, SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK, 2:25:50 (41.743)



OFFICIAL FINISHERS



SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK (Unlimited Production Trucks, 16 laps, 100.0 miles) - 1. Robby Gordon, Charlotte, N.C., Chevy CK1500, 1 hour, 57 minutes, 54 seconds, 50.891 miles per hour; 2. Cameron Steele/Justin Smith, San Clemente, Calif., Chevy Silverado, 2:02:07, 49.133 mph; 3. Ed Stout, Santa Ana, Calif./Trigger Gumm, Mission Viejo, Calif., Chevy Silverado, 2:03:11, 48.708 mph; 4. Adam Householder, Orange, Calif., Chevy Silverado, 2:08:32, 46.680 mph; 5. Roger Norman, Reno, Nev., Ford F-150, 2:13:31, 44.938 mph; 6. Greg Nunley, Tulare, Calif., Chevy Silverado, 2:14:16, 44.687 mph; 7. Mark Post, Laguna Beach, Calif./Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Ford F-150, 2:25:50, 41.743 mph (22 entries, 19 starters, 7 finishers).



CLASS 1 (Unlimited single or two-seaters, 16 laps, 100.0 miles) -1. Danny Anderson, Las Vegas, Bunderson-Chevy, 2 hours, 7 minutes, 5 seconds (47.213 miles per hour; 2. Harley Letner, Orange, Calif., Alpha-Chevy, 2:09:54, 46.189 mph; 3. Randy Wilson, Lakewood, Calif./Rick Wilson, Long Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, 2:10:32, 45.965; 4. Ronny Wilson/Rick Wilson, Long Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, 2:10:53, 45.842; 5. Enrique Bujanda, El Paso, Texas, Porter-Chevy, 2:12:53, 45.152; 6. Julio Herrera, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Jefferies-Chevy, 2:17:20, 43.689; 7. Richard Boyle, Ridgecrest, Calif./Ron Brant, Oak Hills, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, 2:19:14, 43.093; 8. Brian Parkhouse, Bell Gardens, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, 2:19:33, 42.995; 9. Rick Romans/Jerry Bennett, Big Bear Lake, Calif., Jefferies-Chevy, 2:24:28, 41.532; 10. Dale Lenk/Brett Lenk/Grant Lenk, Costa Mesa, Calif., Penhall-Chevy, 2:25:41, 41.185 (21 entries, 19 starters, 10 finishers).



CLASS 1-2/1600 (VW-powered, single or two-seaters to 1600cc, 12 laps, 75.0 miles) - 1. Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad, Calif./Steven Eugenio, El Centro, Calif., Mirage, 1 hour, 44 minutes, 6 seconds, 43.228 miles per hour; 2. Brian Burgess, Riverside, Calif./Aaron Hawley, Las Vegas, Seagrove, 1:44:36, 43.021 mph; 3. Cody Robinson/Roberto Romo, El Centro, Calif., Curry, 1:46:45, 42.155 mph; 4. Brian Wilson, Long Beach, Calif./Sammy Ehrenberg, Las Vegas, Kreger, 1:47:35, 41.828 mph; 5. Dave Caspino, Woodland Hills, Calif./Mike Malloy, Las Vegas, Lothringer, 1:47:42, 41.783 mph; 6. Mario Gastelum, El Centro, Calif., Curry, 1:47:46, 41.757 mph; 7. Justin Davis, Chino Hills, Calif./Rino Navera, Orange, Calif., Seagrove, 1:47:54, 41.705 mph; 8. Eric Duran/Evan Duran, Tecate, Calif., Neth, 1:48:36, 41.436 mph; 9. Justin Smith, Capistrano Beach, Calif./Cameron Steele, San Clemente, Calif., Fraley, 1:50:16, 40.810 mph; 10. Rick Boyer/Cory Boyer, Bakersfield, Calif., Lothringer, 1:50:22, 40.773 mph; 11. Hiram Duran/Evan Duran, Tecate, Calif., Neth, 1:51:10, 40.480 mph; 12. Mike Simpson, Kingman, Ariz., Bear, 1:54:53, 39.170 mph; 13. Joe Sheble, Fort Mohave, Ariz., Fraley, 1:54:55, 39.159 mph; 14. Samuel Araiza, La Paz, Mexico, Fraley, 1:57:38, 38.254 mph; 15. Brad Wilson, Long Beach, Calif., Penhall, 2:06:17, 35.634 (19 entries, 18 starters, 15 finishers).

CLASS 3 (Short Wheelbase 4X4, 10 laps, 62.5 miles) - 1. Donald Moss, Sacramento, Calif./Ken Moss, Marysville, Calif., Ford Bronco, 1 hour, 45 minutes, 32 seconds, 35.534 miles per hour (1 entry, 1 starter, 1 finisher).



CLASS 5 (Unlimited VW Baja Bugs, 14 laps, 87.5 miles) - 1. Kevin Carr, San Diego, 2 hour, 7 minutes, 57 seconds, 41.032 miles per hour; 2. Carlos Albanez, Calexico, Calif./Luivan Voelker, Mexicali, Mexico, 2:16:51, 38.363 mph (3 entries, 3 starters, 2 finishers).



CLASS 5/1600 (1600cc VW Baja Bugs, 12 laps, 75.0 miles) - 1. Alonso Angulo/Roberto Escobedo, Ensenada, Mexico, 2 hours,10 minutes, 30 seconds, 34.483 miles per hour (2 entries, 2 starters, 1 finisher).



CLASS 6 (Unlimited, production mini trucks, 12 laps, 75.0 miles) - 1. Heidi Steele, San Clemente, Calif./Ross Savage, Huntington Beach, Calif., Ford Ranger, 2 hour, 13 minutes, 18 seconds, 33.758 miles per hour (1 entry, 1 starter, 1 finisher).



CLASS 7 (Open, production mini trucks, 12 laps, 75.0 miles) - 1. . Dan Chamlee/Tom Chamlee, Carpenteria, Calif., Ford Ranger, 1 hour, 51 minutes, 1 second, 40.534 miles per hour, 2. Jose Canchola Jr., Mexicali, Mexico, Ford Ranger, 1:57:27, 38.314 mph; 3. Heidi Steele/Rene Brugger, San Clemente, Calif., Ford Ranger, 2:14:29, 33.461 mph (7 entries, 6 starters, 3 finishers).



CLASS 7SX (Modified, open mini trucks, 10 laps, 62.5 miles) - 1. John Holmes, Olivenhain, Calif./Mark Landersman, Temecula, Calif., Ford Ranger, 1 hour, 46 minutes, 25 seconds, 35.239 miles per hour (1 entry, 1 starter, 1 finisher).



CLASS 8 (Full-sized two-wheel drive trucks, 12 laps, 75.0 miles) - 1. Greg Adler, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Ford F-150, 1 hour, 45 minutes, 26 seconds, 42.681 miles per hour; 2. Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Va./Justin Matney, Bristol, Tenn., Chevy Silverado, 2:08:36, 34.9992 mph (2 entries, 2 starters, 2 finishers).



CLASS 10 (Single or two-seaters to 1650cc, 14 laps, 87.5 miles) - 1. Robert McBeath/Jessica McBeath, Las Vegas, Jimco-Honda, 2 hours, 1 minute, 21 seconds, 43.263 miles per hour; 2. Mikey Lawrence, Sunset Beach, Calif., Lothringer-VW, 2:02:25, 42.886 mph 3. Scott Gailey/Patrick Gailey, Norco, Calif., GET-VW, 2:03:41, 42.447 mph (9 entries, 8 starters, 3 finishers).



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., Duvel, 1 hour, 58 minutes 28 seconds, 44.316 miles per hour; 2. Michelle Bruckmann/Vic Bruckmann, Lemon Grove, Calif., Lothringer, 1:59:14, 44.031 mph; 3. Brent Parkhouse, Long Beach, Calif./Chuck Sacks, Canyon Lake, Calif., Moulton, 2:02:41, 42.793 mph; 4. Dan Worley, Encinitas, Calif./Stan Potter, San Marcos, Calif., Jimco, 2:04:30, 42.169 mph; 5. Matthew Kupiec/Kurtis Kupiec, Palos Verdes, Calif., Kreger, 2:05:02, 41.989 mph (8 entries, 8 starters, 5 finishers).



STOCK FULL (Stock, Full-sized trucks, 10 laps, 62.5 miles) - No finishers (1 entry, 1 starter, 0 finishers).



STOCK MINI (Stock, Mini trucks, 10 laps, 62.5 miles) - 1. Gavin Skilton, Anaheim, Calif., Honda Ridgeline, 1 hour, 57 minutes, 36 seconds, 31.888 miles per hour (1 entry, 1 starter, 1 finisher).



SPORTSMAN



SPORTSMAN CAR (12 laps, 75.0 miles) - 1. Rory Ward/Tracy Ward, Mohave Valley, Ariz., Chenowth-Chevy, 1 hour, 49 minutes, 32 seconds, 41.083 miles per hour (4 entries, 3 starters, 1 finisher).



SPORTSMAN TRUCK (10 laps, 62.5 miles) - 1. Gary Messer/Mike Simpson, Kingman, Ariz., Trophy Lite 2008-Chevy, 1 hour, 33 minutes, 24 seconds, 40.150 miles per hour; 2. Rob Anderson, San Clemente, Calif., Ford Ranger, 1:35:47, 39.151 mph; 3. Chris Shive/Dennis Sprong, Ramona, Calif., Ford F-150, 1:40:05, 37.469 mph; 4. Reid Rutherford, Montrose, Colo., 1:48:32, 34.552 mph; 5. Nick Tonelli, Huntington Beach, Calif., Ford Ranger, 1:51:24, 33.662 mph; 6. Joe Aguayo, San Jacinto, Calif., Ford F-150, 1:57:07, 32.038 mph (10 entries, 10 starters, 6 finishers).

15th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge Opens as 113 Vehicles Entered in 16 Classes

SCORE MEDIA CONTACT - Dominic Clark (dominiccnv@aol.com), 702/298-2242, Room 2720 January 24, 2009


Round 1, 2009 SCORE Desert Series

15th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge Opens as 113 Vehicles Entered in 16 Classes
FIRST DAY RACE RECAPS - Saturday, January 24, 2009



NOTE – Racers divided 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, more than 7,000 spectators were on hand for the first of two days of racing (according to Laughlin Tourism Commission 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, the racer must finish all required laps both days. Sunday’s start order will be 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. Because they qualified for starting positions, SCORE Trophy-Truck will start Sunday in the order they finished Saturday.



GROUP #1......................................... Classes 1-2/1600 (6 laps), 5/1600 (6), SPT Car (6), 23 Total Starters, 20 Finishers

· CLASS 1-2/1600 (6 laps, 37.5 miles, 18 Total Starters, 17 finishers) - Eighteen (17) of the 19 entries started Saturday with 17 finishers led by Adam Pfankuch (1600, Carlsbad, Calif. with Steven Eugenio, El Centro, Calif., Mirage, 51 minutes, 31 seconds ,43.675 miles per hour), the 2008 SCORE Desert Series Class 1-2/1600 season champion with two event wins. Pfankuch finish third in the 2008 Laughlin Desert Challenge Class 1-2/1600 race. Brian Burgess (1603, Riverside, Calif. with Aaron Hawley, Las Vegas, Seagrove, :51;33 (43.646 mph) was second followed by Cody Robinson (1616 with Roberto Romo, El Centro, Calif., Curry, :52:16, 43.048 mph). Pfankuch was down seven seconds to Burgess after four laps and tied his rival after five laps to post a two-second advantage on the sixth and final lap. The Boyers (1612, Rick Boyer/Cory Boyer, Bakersfield, Calif., Lothringer, ;56;42, 39.682 mph), the defending Laughlin Class 1-2/1600 champions and second-place finishers to Pfankuch on the season list, were 14th Saturday by being over five minutes behind the leader.

· CLASS 5/1600 (1600cc VW Baja Bugs, 6 laps, 37.5 miles) - With only two entries, two racers started Saturday with one finishing as Alonso Angulo (552 with Roberto Escobedo, Ensenada, Mexico) completing the required six laps in 1 hour, 5 minutes, 52 seconds (34.160 miles per hour). Angulo was third on the 2008 SCORE Desert Series Class 5/1600 points list.

· SPORTSMAN CAR (6 laps, 37.5 miles) - All thre entries started Saturday with only two finishing Saturday’s six-lap, 37.5-mile circuit. Louie Serna (1403, Flagstaff, Ariz., Tatum-Chevy, 51 minutes, 3 seconds, 44.074 miles per hour) led from the start to best Rory Ward (1401 with Tracy Ward, Mohave Valley, Ariz., Chenowth-Chevy, :53:48, 41.822 mph). The Wards are the defending Laughlin Sportsman car champions. Peter Lang (1400, Santa Rosa, Calif. Homebuilt-Chevy), the 2007 and 2008 SCORE Desert Series Sportsman car champions did not complete a lap Saturday.



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

.................................................................................................................................. 23 Total Starters, 19 finishers



· CLASS 8 (Full-sized two-wheel drive trucks, 6 laps, 37.5 miles) - With two entries, both starters Saturday finished the required six laps with Greg Adler (802, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Ford F-150, 50 minutes, 35 seconds, 44.481 miles per hour) finishing first followed by Clyde Stacy (801, Bristol, Va. with Justin Matney, Bristol, Tenn., Chevy Silverado, 1:10:31, 31.907 mph). Adler placed third in the 2007 SCORE Desert Series Class 8 point standings and did not complete the required two-day lap total in the 2008 Laughlin Class 8 competition.

· CLASS 6 (Unlimited, production mini trucks, 6 laps, 37.5 miles) - With only one entry, Heidi Steele (601, San Clemente, Calif. with Ross Savage, Huntington Beach, Calif., Ford Ranger, 1 hour, 16 minutes, 16 seconds, 29.540 miles per hour) completed the required six laps. Two miles into the last lap, Steele’s car broke an axle and Savage completed the last four miles as the driver as the vehicle finished nearly four minutes ahead of the course cut-off.

· CLASS 7 (Open mini trucks, 6 laps, 37.5 miles) - With seven entries and six starters, four racers finished the required six laps as Jose Canchola Jr. (703, Mexicali, Mexico, Ford Ranger, 52 minutes, 5 seconds, 43.200 miles per hour) holds a one minute lead over A.J. Rodriguez (704, Perris, Calif., Ford Ranger, :53:05, 42.386 mph). Dan Chamlee (700 with Tom Chamlee, Carpenteria, Calif., Ford Ranger, :54:00, 41.666 mph) finished the first day in third-place. Chris Taylor (719, El Centro, Calif. with Josh Quintero, Imperial, Calif., Ford Ranger) had a 1 minutes, 43 second lead after five laps before breaking a spindle on the last lap. Chamlee is a four-time SCORE Desert Series Class 7 champion (2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008). Taylor placed third for the season in 2008 with Rodriguez fifth.

Round 1, 2009 SCORE Desert Series

15th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge

FIRST DAY RACE RECAPS - Saturday, January 24, 2009, Page 2



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

.................................................................................................................................. 23 Total Starters, 19 finishers



· CLASS 7SX (Modified, open mini trucks, 5 laps, 31.25 miles) - With only one entry, John Holmes (759, Olivenhain, Calif. with Mark Landersman, Temecula, Calif., Ford Ranger, 54 minutes, 12 seconds, 34.594 miles per hour) completed the required five laps. Holmes has finished fourth and second in the 2007 and 2008 SCORE Desert Series Class 7SX standings. He won the 2007 Laughlin Class 7SX title and did not complete the required laps in 2008.

· STOCK FULL (Stock, Full-sized trucks, 5 laps, 31.25 miles) - With only one entry, Justin Matney (861, Bristol, Tenn. with Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Va., Dodge Ram 2500, 1 hour, 4 seconds, 31.215 miles per hour) completed the required five laps. Co-driver Stacy was third on the 2008 SCORE Desert Series Stock Full standings for the season. Matney and Stacy did not complete the required Laughlin laps in 2008.

· STOCK MINI (Stock, Mini-sized trucks, 5 laps, 31.25 miles) - With one entry, Gavin Skilton (779, Anaheim, Calif., Honda Ridgeline, 58 minutes, 50 seconds, 31.870 miles per hour) completed the required five laps Saturday. Skilton placed second to Rod Hall on the Stock Mini 2008 SCORE Desert Series standings for the season.

· CLASS 3 (Short Wheelbase 4X4, 5 laps, 31.25 miles) - Donald Moss (300, Sacramento, Calif. with Ken Moss, Marysville, Calif., Ford Bronco, :51 minutes, 23 seconds, 36.490 miles per hour) was the only entry in the class. He is seeking his seventh Laughlin Class 3 title (2002-2006, 2008). He captured the 2008 Class 3 SCORE Desert Series point’s title.

· SPORTSMAN TRUCK (5 laps, 31.25 miles) - Eight of the 10 entries that started Saturday finished the required five laps led by Gary Messer (1506 with Mike Simpson, Kingman, Ariz., Trophy Lite 2008-Chevy, 45 minutes, 46 seconds, 40.968 miles per hour) with a one second lead over Jonathon Libby (1502 with John Libby Jr., Dillingham, Alaska, Toyota Tundra, :45:47, 40.954 mph). Rob Anderson (1503, San Clemente, Calif., Ford Ranger, :49:23, 37.968 mph) was third. Libby held a 54-second lead after the first lap, 75-second edge after two laps and 76 seconds after three laps. Messer made up the deficit on the fourth lap to take a five second lead with Libby making up four seconds on his final lap.



GROUP #3............................................... Class 10 (7 laps), SCORE Lite (7), Class 5 (7), 19 Total Starters, 14 finishers



· CLASS 10 (Single or two-seaters to 1650cc, 7 laps, 43.75 miles) - With nine entries, only four of the nine starters completed the required seven laps Saturday led by Robert McBeath (1003 with Jessica McBeath, Las Vegas, Jimco-Honda, 59 minutes, 1 second, 44.478 miles per hour). McBeath was fourth after the first three laps and gained the lead when Larry Job (1007, Las Vegas with Bryce Menzies, Henderson, Nev., Jimco-Honda) could not complete the final lap. Job held a 51-second lead entering the last lap over McBeath. Scott Gailey (1004 with Patrick Gailey, Norco, Calif., GET-VW, 1:02:17, 42.146 mph) finished second followed by Mikey Lawrence (1000, Sunset Beach, Calif., Lothringer-VW, 1:02:25, 42.056 mph). Lawrence won the Class 10 SCORE Desert Series points standings in 2008. Brian Freemal (1005, Las Vegas with Dave Deatley, Mohave Valley, Ariz., Jimco-Honda, 1:18:09, 33.589 mph) held 75 and 98 second leads over Lawrence and McBeath after the first three laps, but had mechanical problems on his fourth lap where he posted a time of 28 minutes, 29 seconds.

· SCORE LITE (VW-powered, Limited single-1776cc-or two-seaters-1835cc, 7 laps, 43.75 miles) - All eight entries started and finished Saturday’s required seven laps. Rick St. John (1200, Encinitas, Calif. with Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad, Calif., Duvel, 1 hour, 5 seconds, 43.689 miles per hour) hold a six-second edge over Dan Worley (1201, Encinitas, Calif. with Stan Potter, San Marcos, Calif., Jimco, 1:00:11, 43.616 mph). Michelle Bruckmann (1206 with Vic Bruckmann, Lemon Grove, Calif., Lothringer, 1:00:42, 43.245 mph) is third. Jake Jones (1203, Aliso Viejo, Calif., Henry) held a 40 second lead over St. John entering the seventh lap, but did not finish the last lap. Entering the last of seven laps, St. John was only one second ahead of Worley, who had led Saturday’s winner through five laps as both racers were trailing Jones. St. John was the 2008 SCORE Desert Series Score Lite champion as he opened the season by winning the Laughlin race. Worley and Potter were the 2007 Laughlin Score Lite champions.

· CLASS 5 (Unlimited VW Baja Bugs, 7 laps, 43.75 miles) - Only two of the three entries and starters finished Saturday’s seven required laps. Kevin Carr (500, San Diego, 1 hour, 2 minutes, 31 seconds, 41.988 miles per hour) led from the start to become the first day leader over Carlos Albanez (501, Calexico, Calif., with Luivan Voelker, Mexicali, Mexico, 1:03:59, 41.026 mph). Carr was the 2008 SCORE Desert Series Class 5 champion as he won three races last season, including the Laughlin Desert Challenge title.

Round 1, 2009 SCORE Desert Series

15th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge

FIRST DAY RACE RECAPS - Saturday, January 24, 2009, Page 3



GROUP #4...................................................................... SCORE Trophy-Truck (8 laps), 19 Total Starters, 14 finishers



· Nineteen of the 22 entries started the race Saturday with 14 finishers led by Gus Vildosola Jr. (4 with Gus Vildosola Sr., Mexicali, Mexico, Ford F-150, 58 minutes, 32 seconds, 51.253 miles per hour) followed by Robby Gordon (77, Charlotte, N.C., Chevy CK1500, :58:45, 51.063 mph) and Justin Lofton (20, Westmorland, Calif., Chevy Silverado, 1:00:06, 49.916 mph). Gordon led for the first six laps with a 10-second edge over Vildosola, who gained the advantage on the seventh lap by posting a seven minute, 20 second lap as compared to Gordon’s :07:41. While Gordon has won seven SCORE Trophy-Truck races, Vildosola is seeking his first SCORE Trophy-Truck title. His father won once in 2003 at San Felipe. Roger Norman (8, Reno, Nev., Ford F-150, 1:06:54, 44.843 mph) and Brian Collins (12, Las Vegas, Dodge Ram1500, completed four laps) posted the best lap times of seven minutes, two seconds. Both Norman and Collins were tied for the lead after three laps, with Norman leading after four laps with a 14 second edge over Gordon. Vildosola Jr. was also the first day leader at the 2008 Laughlin Desert Challenge, but failed to finished the required laps the next day. Two-time Laughlin winner B.J. Baldwin (1, Las Vegas, Chevy Silverado, SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK, 1:00:31, 49.573 mph) was fifth after Saturday’s racing. Baldwin, who finished second in Laughlin last year after capturing titles in 2006 and 2007, was the 2008 SCORE Desert Series Trophy-Truck points champion. Vildosola Jr. was 15th last season while Gordon was 24th.



GROUP #5............................................................................................ Class 1 (8 laps), 19 Total Starters, 14 finishers



· With 21 entries, 19 racers started Saturday with 14 finishing led by Harley Letner (118. Orange, Calif., Alpha-Chevy, 1 hour, 2 minutes, 5 seconds, 48.322 miles per hour) with Pat Dean (109 with Danny Anderson, Las Vegas, Bunderson-Chevy, 1:02:56, 47.669 mph) 51 seconds behind. Armin Schwarz (104, Germany with Martin Christensen, Escondido, Calif., Jimco-BMW, 1:04:57, 46.189 mph), who struggled with a broke spindle on the left front wheel near the finish line) was third. Letner was 12th on the 2008 SCORE Desert Series Class 1 standings. After Letner led the first lap, Dale Ebberts (114, Wilton, Calif. with Danny Ebberts, Canyon Lake, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, 1:05:31, 45.789 mph) led for the next six laps as he built a 17 second lead. However, Ebberts posted an :11:35 time on the last lap, driving the last three-quarters of a mile in reverse because he lost all gears except reverse. Dean, who was seventh overall last season in Class 1, is the defending Laughlin champion. Ebberts was sixth overall last season in Class 1 while Schwarz was third.