SCORE Journal

SCORE Journal Magazine’s 2019 “Ones To Watch” By SCORE Journal Staff PHOTOS BY JACK WRIGHT AND GETSOME PHOTO Each season brings new excitement to the SCORE World Desert Championship, with racers and teams that have positioned themselves as the ones to beat. Others have worked diligently to poise themselves to have a spectacular 2019 season and are ready to take on Baja and show what they can accomplish this year. Despite ongoing last-minute changes, new vehicles, and race schedules, there are some that we feel are the “Ones to Watch” for the 2019 race season, that will undoubtedly make for some great off-road racing. SCORE Trophy Truck Rob MacCachren It would definitely be a safe bet to say that Rob MacCachren, and the Rockstar Energy/Makita Tools team could win some, if not all, of the races during the 2019 SCORE World Desert Championship season. The team is one of the most consistent, and dominated the field last year finishing first, or in the top three, winning the SCORE Trophy Truck Championship, SCORE Manager of the Year, and SCORE Mechanic of the Year. Unless their Trophy Truck has problems during any of the four races this season, they’re going to be very hard to beat. If the team decides to compete in all four races this season, they have the greatest chance at winning another SCORE Trophy Truck Championship. Luke McMillin During the 2018 season, SCORE fans got to see the McMillin family back in action. At the forefront was Luke McMillin who had a spectacular year, demonstrating why this family has a rich racing tradition in Baja. Should McMillin again participate in all four races this season, he and his team are definitely poised to win some races and have a good chance at a SCORE Trophy Truck Championship. McMillin definitely has the vehicle, logistics, and experience to pull it off and will be one of the fan favorites this year. Dan McMillin Backing up the family presence, Dan McMillin had one of his best racing seasons in SCORE last year. He definitely proved that he and his team are also capable of taking on any of the four SCORE races and finishing them in the top five. The 2019 season could be one where he and the team take their 2018 experience and turn it into a winning season that could have him battling Luke between the number one and two positions at each race. Andy McMillin If Andy McMillin had the means and opportunity to participate in all four SCORE races this season, he would definitely cause the competition to rethink their game plan. McMillin is always a contender at the SCORE Baja 500 and SCORE Baja 1000. Winning these races, makes it harder for some teams to take home a championship. A fan favorite, McMillin has the experience and talent to win. Hopefully he will make an appearance again this year, and gain the notoriety and respect he’s earned over the years. Apdaly Lopez While Apdaly Lopez didn’t have a great 2018 season, he’s not one to stand by and let it happen again. Vehicle issues plagued Lopez all season long and with the backing of the RPM Off-Road team, he’s going to want to take back his championship title with a vengeance. Lopez has gained lots of experience winning three back-to-back SCORE Trophy Truck Championships, and will definitely utilize his knowledge and amazing driving skills to get back to the top. If the RPM Off-Road team has been able to fix the issues that kept him from winning last year, there’s no reason why he couldn’t be the 2019 champion and win every race this season. Cameron Steele Undoubtedly 2018 was Cameron Steele’s year with two wins and many close battles for first place. After making some changes over the past two years, Steele’s team has a renewed energy that’s clearly visible with their tactics and attention to details. The Desert Assassins have demonstrated they have all the right tools to win races and after tasting victory for more than a decade of effort, they’re extremely hungry for more. Steele has a knack for being in the right position on the course, and being fast enough to win, and SCORE fans can count on them to be a big part of the excitement this season. Ryan Arciero Everyone saw the Levis SCORE Trophy Truck of the Herbst/Smith racing team running with the top of the field this past season. Ryan Arciero’s experience and capabilities, combined with the capabilities of the Herbst/Smith Trophy Truck, he is definitely going to be a tough challenger during the SCORE 2019 season. Arciero can definitely finish in the top three, and if he competes at every race during the 2019 season, he can definitely come away with a 2019 SCORE Trophy Truck Championship. Bryce Menzies Although Bryce Menzies’ schedule doesn’t always let him compete at every SCORE race, he’s definitely one of the top racers to watch, especially during the 2019 season. Menzies signed with Toyo Tires and has a new all-wheel-drive Trophy Truck that, combined with his experience, can give him a win at the SCORE Baja 500, and SCORE Baja 1000. Last year he teamed up with Australian Toby Price (shown at left) at the SCORE Baja 1000, but had finished fifth. For SCORE fans, they have been watching all-wheel drive vehicles progress in the sport, and as many components become better and stronger, Menzies will definitely be one to watch during both of SCORE’s iconic races. Larry Connor Team C Team C owned by Larry Connor, started the 2018 season with a great start with Motocross Hall Of Famer Ricky Johnson sharing driving duties (shown on the left). While the team was working out some issues with its all-wheel drive SCORE Trophy Truck, they demonstrated what their potential could be when Johnson qualified first by a wide margin for the SCORE Baja 1000. Everyone will be watching Team C as they can slowly gain momentum and continue to perfect the new drivetrain until it’s unstoppable. Broc Dickerson Without a doubt, Broc Dickerson came into Class 10 in 2016 and immediately won two back-to-back class championships. For the 2019 season, Dickerson is moving into the SCORE Trophy Truck class, driving a Jimco race vehicle against some of the toughest off-road competitors in the world. This will be an exciting year to watch Dickerson compete, as he has the talent and speed to succeed if his team is also well organized and ready to take on a new challenge. Class 1 brad Wilson There’s no doubt that the Wilson team is a dominant force in Class 1. This two vehicle team of Brian and Brad Wilson, typically finish in the top three, but Brad took the 2018 Class Championship away from 2017 winner Brian Wilson, and is not ready to give that up just yet. Despite that honor, Brad Wilson definitely wants to win more than one race in 2019, and with his speed and capabilities, he can definitely pull it off. Brandon Bailey After a disappointing 2017 season, Brandon Bailey rose to the top of the Class 1 field to be the top challenger to Brad Wilson. Finishing in the top three of four races in 2018, he and his team have what it takes to win some races during the 2019 season. Furthermore, if Bailey continues to finish in the top four consistently, he also has a great chance at taking home a Class 1 Championship. Shelby Reid Everyone in Class 1 knows not to underestimate the experience and driving skills of Shelby Reid. The former Class Champion knows how to win races, and despite some difficulties with her vehicle the past couple of years, Class 1 racers can count on the fact that the Reid family has everything worked out with the vehicle and she’s ready to win some races and has a great chance at taking back the Class 1 crown in 2019. Morgan Langley Despite vehicle issues that kept him from finishing two of the four races last season, Morgan Langley finished third at the SCORE Baja 500 and first at the SCORE Baja 1000. The team is showing they are coming together to be a definite force in the class and have the potential to come out and win several races, and come off with a Championship season. With their efforts and experience in Baja, this team will definitely be worth watching to see how they will finish. Justin Davis The experienced veteran of the Green Army team started the 2018 season with two class wins in a row. Then experienced two DNFs with vehicle problems at the Lucerna Hotels & Resorts SCORE Desert Challenge and SCORE Baja 1000, keeping Justin Davis from potentially dominating the season. SCORE fans can expect they Green Army team will have all of the bugs worked out, leaving Davis to have a great 2019 season. Trophy Truck Spec William Hedrick Jr. As one of the classes where more experienced drivers are wanting to compete in, William Hedrick Jr. is a definite force in this class. He nearly stole the class championship away from Bryce Swaim last year and can definitely walk away with more wins and a championship if his luck holds out throughout the 2019 season. Elias Hanna Elias Hanna battled against Swaim and Hedrick Jr. all during the 2018 season. It seemed like he was the third wheel during the season but battled hard to finish third in class. Having won the class championship previously, SCORE fans will anxiously look to Hanna to see if his experience will provide a different course of action to stay ahead of his competitors this season and take home some important race wins and a possible championship. Bryce Swaim Not to be outdone, Bryce Swaim held on in 2018 to narrowly win the SCORE Trophy Truck Spec championship against some of the toughest and most experienced racers. SCORE fans got to see Swaim go head to head with Hedrick Jr, Elias Hanna and John Langley and pull out a first place finish at the SCORE Baja 500 and SCORE Baja 1000. It was Swaim’s second place at the San Felipe 250 that gave him the edge over the competition. His performance will definitely make it exciting to watch the SCORE Trophy Truck Spec division in 2019. Class 10 Cody Reid Last season Cody Reid started with a new vehicle and despite a couple of DNFs, he and his team have undoubtedly worked out all the issues for the 2019 race season. SCORE fans expect to see Reid at the top of his game again, as he has the experience and speed to beat Dickerson. If this holds true, the 2019 season could be a matchup between these two competitors, should their vehicles hold out throughout the season, making for a great Class 10 race all year long. Todd Winslow Let’s not count out the 2018 Class 10 champions, Todd and Matt Winslow. Their consistency is what kept that at the top of the points standings. With Class 10 racers dealing with vehicle issues all season long last year, the championship may once again come down to the team that finishes more consistently in the top five. Despite this, the Winslows remain confident they have the speed to match Reid and Dickerson, and expect to win more races in 2019. Pro UTV FI Wayne Matlock Although Wayne Matlock is at the top of his game entering into the 2019 season, his task at winning another Pro UTV Championship will be an uphill battle. But SCORE fans are rooting for Matlock who has a Polaris Razor that seems to keep getting faster every season, and has the driving skills to finish in the top two at every race. Matlock definitely set the bar high last season and has the means to do it again in 2019. Rhys Millen One of the toughest competitors in Pro UTV FI is Rhys Millen. He’s shown he can be incredibly fast, winning first place at the Lucerna Hotels & Resorts SCORE Desert Challenge, and finishing third at the SCORE Baja 1000 last year. SCORE fans expect he’s found a way to keep his Polaris Razor in top shape throughout the 2019 season and will give Wayne Matlock a run for the win and a championship season. Brandon Schueler Brandon Schueler had to sit back during the 2018 season and watch Wayne Matlock pull away and win. The experienced racer and UTV champion isn’t one to let this stand again, after narrowly losing the 2017 Pro UTV FI Championship to Marc Burnett. Schueler’s team is also very well equipped and will no doubt enter into the 2019 season with a faster vehicle that will put him at the top of the pack. Pro UTV NA Kristen Matlock Needless to say, the Pro UTV NA division belongs to Kristen Matlock. Despite having vehicle issues last year, there’s no doubt that she will have all of the issues worked out and be back on the top of her game during the 2019 race season. Matlock has proven she’s a top UTV competitor in any class and has won races overall in the UTV divisions, making her one of the top competitors in the sport. SCORE fans and racers adore her and hope to see her back with the checkered flag during the 2019 season. Kaden Wells Anyone racing in the same division as Kristen Matlock has to come out from her shadow and prove themselves in a big way. For Kaden Wells, he proved he could be just as fast and by consistently finishing in the top three during the 2018 season, he managed to walk away with the Pro UTV NA Championship. Knowing he has what it takes to win, SCORE fans are anxious to see him battle against Matlock and take home a back-to-back championship. Pro Moto Unlimited Santiago Creel The leader of the Monkey Business race team has been methodically winning races and championships in all but the Pro Moto Unlimited class. Despite the extreme high level of talent in this class, Santiago Creel has the speed, experience, logistics, and excellent riders of his own to make 2019 the year they add a Pro Moto Unlimited division championship to their achievements, and win some races along the way. Mark Samuels There’s no doubt that Mark Samuels is one of the most talented Pro Moto Unlimited riders in recent SCORE history. Aside from being on several championship teams, winning countless races and gaining the experience and respect of motorcycle riders worldwide, there’s no doubt that where ever he ends up during the 2019 season, SCORE fans will be cheering him and his teammates on. Samuels has always said, it’s difficult to put a team together and come up with the sponsorship money to make it happen. Despite where he ends up, he can pick up the number 1x plate this season and team up with just about anyone he asks and end up with another winning streak.

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