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SCORE MEDIA
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January 16,
2007
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This weekend
in Laughlin, Nev.
Led by Steele in five classes, MacCachren in three, 19 racers
entered
In multiple classes for 13th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge
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Nearly 250 entries ready for six-race 2007 SCORE Desert Series
starts Thursday with $16,000 SCORE Laughlin Leap
LOS ANGELES—SCORE Trophy-Truck stars Cameron Steele, of Southern
California, in five vehicles and Las Vegas’ Rob MacCachren in three
will lead 19 racers entered in multiple classes in the race-record
field of nearly 250 heading to this weekend’s season-opening 13th
Annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge in Laughlin, Nev.
For the 13th straight year, motorsports fans and racers from 15
States, Mexico, Canada and New Zealand will flock to Laughlin, the
desert resort town along the shores of the Colorado River for the
vastly popular SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge. The first major U.S.
motorsports event of the year will launch the six-race 2007 SCORE
Desert Series, the world’s foremost desert racing series.
When late registration is complete, 250 expected entries will compete
for nearly $400,000 in prize money and contingency postings during the
four day SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge.
A total of 17 different Pro and two Sportsman classes for cars and
trucks will be split into eight groups in Laughlin, each running as
part of one of separate multiple-lap races over the much-abbreviated
6-plus-mile loop each day. Racing action runs from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday. The marquee racing division is SCORE
Trophy-Truck, featuring high-tech, 800-horsepower, unlimited
production trucks along with the unlimited Class 1 for open-wheel
desert race cars. Those two classes will run the final two races each
day, six laps each, with SCORE Trophy-Truck at 2:30 p.m., followed by
Class 1 at 3:45 p.m.
Daily general admission tickets for the primary infield stadium
grandstand seating, are $20 each for each day (Thursday, Saturday and
Sunday), children five and under are free. Daily VIP tickets are $40
each for each of the three days, good for admission to the Laughlin
Hospitality Chalet, including food beverage and special seating.
The stadium seating area will include the immensely popular
SCOREvision large-screen LCD display, showing live footage from nearly
95 percent of the race course.
Advance tickets for the Laughlin Events Park are on sale at
800.308.2253.
Tickets will also be available at the gate for the only other
spectator area for the event, the popular ‘SCORE Hill’, which
overlooks the infield, start/finish area and the main pits. The SCORE
Hill will have grandstands and standing room areas along with vendors,
concessions and other public safety services available. General
Admission tickets will be $5 per person.
One of the event's most popular features, the SCORE Laughlin Leap,
revs up the fun and gets the weekend off to a roaring start at 6 p.m.
on Thursday. Drivers and pit crews will share the spotlight at the
Laughlin Events Park, competing for a $16,000 purse and the honor of
being the 2007 champions. The SCORE Laughlin Leap, a dirt ramp built
into the middle of the stadium infield, challenges the most daring of
drivers. This year’s group will be hoping to break the SCORE Laughlin
Leap record set in 2004 by Mark Post in the Riviera Racing Ford F-150
(160’ 6”).
Because of the race format, several racers will compete in more than
one class. Leading the way will be TV motorsports and action sports
announcer Cameron Steele, San Clemente, Calif. Steele, who was voted
by the SCORE membership as the 2006 SCORE Person of the Year, will be
the driver of record in four classes and second-driver in one,
including the No. 16 Desert Assassins Ford F-150 in SCORE
Trophy-Truck.
“I love racing, plain and simple,” said Steele, San Clemente, Calif.,
whose day job will have him computing to Southern California during
the Laughlin event.
“It gives me more time on the track and makes me sharper,” Steele
added. “I train for motorcycles, so I don’t get very tired. On
Saturday, I will even ride shotgun for my wife in her race.”
Steele, 38, whose wife Heidi Steele will start first in Class 7SX in a
Ford Ranger, will also be the primary driver in Class 1, Class 10 and
SCORE Lite. Steele will split driving duties in Class 1, Class 10 and
SCORE LIte with fellow second-generation desert racers Darren Hardesty
in Class 1 and Kash Vessels in Class 10 and SCORE Lite. He is also
scheduled to drive one day in Class 10 for his Desert Assassin
teammate Brian Burgess.
A veteran TV sports announcer, Steele will pull double duty while in
Laughlin, flying by private plane on Saturday early evening from
Bullhead City, Ariz., to Fullerton, Calif., where he will broadcast
the Amp’d Mobile World Supercross Grand Prix event in Anaheim for the
title’s sponsor’s mobile network. He will leave right after the
Laughlin race for a week in Aspen, Colo., as part of the announce team
for the Winter X Games. He is also a pit reporter during Champ Car
World Series telecasts.
Las Vegas’ Rob MacCachren, a seven-time SCORE season point champion
who also won the 2001 SCORE Overall season point crown, is officially
entered in multiple classes this year for the fourth straight year.
MacCachren, who won two classes and finished second in another in the
2004 race, will drive one day in the No. 3 Riviera Racing Ford F-150
in SCORE Trophy-Truck for team owner Mark Post and will drive both
days in Class 1-2/1600 in a Fraley-VW and in Class 10 in Will Higman’s
Kreger-Honda.
“I hate sitting and watching races,” said MacCachren, 41, who was a
Valet Parking attendant at the Gold Coast Hotel prior to dedicating
his career in the early 1980s to becoming one of the very few desert
racers who have made the sport their primary livelihood. “There’s an
opportunity to run multiple classes and I nearly always accept the
offer. The more you race, the more you learn the course and, of
course, get race wins. When you desert race for a living like I do, it
also helps your resume and remind people that I’m still around. I have
raced in Class 1-2/1600 since I was a kid and it’s kind of extra
incentive when I can go back out there with the X generation and show
them that while this baby-boomer might not run in their class anymore,
I can still come back and spank them occasionally.”
MacCachren, who won three races and finished second in Class 1-2/1600
season points in 2005, was voted for the second time in his storied
career to the first team of the American Auto Racing Writers and
Broadcasters Association (AARWBA) All-American motorsports team in
2005 in the at-large category. He was previously selected to the First
Team in 2001 and the second team in 2004. He is one of only three
SCORE desert racers ever selected to the AARWBA All-America first
team, joining Ivan Stewart (1990, 1993, 1995) and Roger Mears (1985,
1991).
Post, San Juan Capistrano, Calif., has two career class wins in
Laughlin, one in Class 1 (1997) and the other in SCORE Trophy-Truck
(2003).
Steele and MacCachren aren’t the only SCORE Trophy-Truck drivers who
are racing in at least two vehicles.
Todd Wyllie, New River, Ariz., has also entered two classes, SCORE
Trophy-Truck and Class 8. Wyllie won the SCORE Class 8 season point
crown in 2004 and 2005.
Josh Baldwin is racing in SCORE Trophy-Truck and Class 1 as is Damen
Jefferies, Oak Hills, Calif. while Las Vegas’ Kory Scheeler is also
racing in the Sportsman Car class.
Among the other drivers entered in two vehicles are: Adam Pfankuch,
Carlsbad, Calif. (Class 1 and Class 1-2/1600), Darren Hardesty,
Ramona, Calif. (Class 10 and Class 1), Brian Burgess, Riverside,
Calif. (Class 10 and SCORE Lite.
Two teams that have entered two vehicles each and plan to switch
vehicles each day and will campaign the rest of the season together in
whichever vehicles does better in Laughlin are Las Vegas’ Sammy
Ehrenberg and L.J. Kennedy, Orange, Calif. in Class 1-2/1600 along
with San Diego’s Tim Noe and Tom Watson, El Centro, Calif., in SCORE
Lite.
Hoping to start the New Year just like they did last year, Las Vegas’
B.J. Baldwin in the featured SCORE Trophy-Truck division and Oregon’s
Gary Weyhrich in the unlimited Class 1 are both returning to defend
their titles in the top two classes in Laughlin.
Baldwin, 27, is the returning Overall and SCORE Trophy-Truck winner in
his No. 1 Chevy Silverado while Weyhrich, Troutdale, Ore., is the
defending champ in the unlimited Class 1 in his Chevy-powered Jimco
open-wheel desert race car.
A near race-record 31 vehicles have entered to date in the featured
SCORE Trophy-Truck division, including a total of seven former race
winners.
Besides B.J. Baldwin, the other returning SCORE Trophy-Truck Laughlin
winners are Las Vegas brothers Ed and Tim Herbst (1997, 1999, 2000),
Rob MacCachren (1996), Las Vegas’ Brian Collins (2001) and Mark Post
(2003).
Collins, a second-generation desert racer from Las Vegas, won the
SCORE Trophy-Truck division in the 2001 SCORE Laughlin Desert
Challenge and will team again this year with veteran Larry Ragland,
Cave Creek, Ariz., in the No. 12 Collins Motorsports Chevy Silverado.
Besides defending champ Gary Weyhrich, six other Laughlin Class 1
winners back this year are Las Vegas’ Troy Herbst (1999 and 2004,
Smithbuilt-Ford), Dale Ebberts, Canyon Lake, Calif. (2003, 2005, Jimco-Toyota),
John Herder, Tucson (1998, Jimco-VW), brothers Gary and Mark Weyhrich,
Troutdale, Ore. (2000, Chenowth-Chevy) and Steve Sourapas, Rancho
Santa Fe, Calif. (2001, Jimco-Chevy). Former Class 1 Laughlin winners
Ed Herbst (1995) and Mark Post (1997) are both now stars in the
marquee SCORE Trophy-Truck division.
Debuting his new No. 143 South Point Casino Chevy-powered Kreger
open-wheel desert race car in the unlimited class 1 will be Las Vegas’
Brendan Gaughan, a second-generation desert racer who is a NASCAR
Truck Series star driver. Gaughan, who last raced a SCORE event at the
2003 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, is in Miami this week testing for the
2007 NASCAR season and will arrive in Laughlin Friday morning.
At least five female drivers are primary drivers in this year’s race
as well: Jennifer Clemison, Cypress, Calif. (Class 1), Michelle
Bruckmann, Lemon Grove, Calif. (Class 5), Bekki Wik, Las Vegas (Class
10), Heidi Steele, San Clemente, Calif. (Class 7SX) and Kelley
Renezeder, Laguna Beach, Calif. (SPT Car).
Southern California’s Josh Baldwin and Arizona’s Byron Ashley received
the No. 1 starting positions in the top two classes in the
computerized draw for starting positions held, by class, at the SCORE
headquarters in Los Angeles on Dec. 28.
Josh Baldwin, 30, Newport Beach, Calif., a veteran SCORE desert racer
whose older brother and 2004 SCORE Trophy-Truck season point champion
Jason Baldwin died tragically in a 2005 airplane crash, will pilot the
No. 86 Baldwin Racing Ford F-150. Josh Baldwin was eighth in SCORE
Trophy-Truck points last year and third in 2005. He will also debut
his team’s new Jimco-Chevy in Class 1.
Bryon Ashley, 52, of Litchfield Park, Ariz., will drive a
Chevy-powered Tatum open-wheel desert race car.
With a total of 237 entries to date, Class 1 leads the way with 45
entries to date, followed by Class 1-2/1600 with 34, SCORE
Trophy-Truck with 31, SCORE Lite with 23, and Class 10 with 22.
Drawing the first starting positions in those high-entry classes were
Ashley (Class 1), Josh Baldwin (SCORE Trophy-Truck), Aaron Hawley, Las
Vegas (Class 1-2/1600), Randy Ross, Oak Hills, Calif. (SCORE LIte) and
David Reyes, National City, Calif. (Class 10). It is the second
straight year Reyes has drawn the first start in Class 10.
The Laughlin Events Park with grandstand seating, vendor’s village and
food court is just minutes from the destination's nine resorts and
includes an infield packed with switchbacks, woop-t-doos, minijumps
and the Laughlin Leap.
The 13th annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge is sponsored by the
Laughlin Tourism Committee, the Laughlin Visitors Bureau, and the Las
Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority in association with Las Vegas
Events. The race is sanctioned and produced by SCORE International of
Los Angeles.
Current SCORE official annual sponsors are: BFGoodrich Tires-official
tire, Sunoco Race Fuels/Bryant Petroleum-official fuel supplier,
Bilstein-official shock, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance-official
Mexican auto insurance, American Racing ATX Series-official wheel,
Slime-official tire sealant, Airstar America-official space lighting
provider and Red Bull,--official energy drink. Associate sponsors are:
Tecate Beer, Coca-Cola of Mexico, Las Vegas Events, Terrible Herbst
Inc., Blue C Communications, Kartek Off-Road, Fram, Autolite, Prestone,
Bendix, American Suzuki, SignPros, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie’s
Performance Products and Advanced Color Graphics.
More event information is available at
www.visitlaughlin.com.
For more information, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters
818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the 2007 SCORE Desert
Series at
www.score-international.com.
13th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge
Jan. 18-21, Laughlin, Nev.
Racers entered in multiple vehicles:
19 Total drivers racing in more than one class,
driving either one or both days:
5 entries:
-Cameron Steele, San Clemente, Calif.: No. 16 SCORE Trophy-Truck, No.
122 Class 1, No. 1011 Class 10 (Saturday), No. 1016 Class 10 (Sunday),
No. 1207 SCORE Lite. He will also ride shotgun for his wife Heidi
Steele, No. 741 Class 7SX (Saturday).
3 total entries:
-Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas: No. 3 SCORE Trophy-Truck, No. 1648 Class
1-2/1600, No. 1004 Class 10
2 total entries:
-Josh Baldwin, Newport Beach, Calif.: No. 86 SCORE Trophy-Truck, No.
144 Class 1
-Kory Scheeler, Las Vegas: No. 51 SCORE Trophy-Truck, 1407 SPT Car
-Damen Jefferies, Oak Hills, Calif.: No. 22 SCORE Trophy-Truck, No.
134 Class 1
-Todd Wyllie, New River, Ariz.: No. 85 SCORE Trophy-Truck, No. 802
Class 8
-Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad, Calif.: No. 103 Class 1, No. 1606 Class
1-2/1600
-Dan Myers, Newport Beach, Calif.: No. 126 Class 1, No. 1402 SPT Car
-Shawn Croll, Corona, Calif.: No. 131 Class 1, No. 1006 Class 10
-Larry Roeseler, Hesperia, Calif.: No. 100 Class 1, No. 703 Class 7
-L.J. Kennedy, Orange, Calif.: No. 1618 Class 1-2/1600, No. 1625 Class
1-2/1600
-Sammy Ehrenberg, Las Vegas: No. 1618 Class 1-2/1600, No. 1625 Class
1-2/1600
-Darren Hardesty, Ramona, Calif.: No. 1000 Class 10, No. 122 Class 1
-Brian Burgess, Riverside, Calif.: No. 1016 Class 10, No. 1219 SCORE
Lite
-Kash Vessels, Bonsall, Calif.: No. 1011 Class 10, No. 1207 SCORE Lite
-Kevin Derby, Encinitas, Calif.: No. 1015 Class 10, No. 1207 SCORE
Lite
-Tim Noe, San Diego: No. 1200 SCORE Lite, No. 1249 SCORE Lite
-Tom Watson, El Centro, Calif.: No. 1200 SCORE Lite, No. 1249 SCORE
Lite
-Raul Solano, Pomona, Calif.: No. 554 Class 5/1600, No. 1209 SCORE
Lite
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