SCORE Journal

score-journal-JAN-2020

SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing

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Night Of Champions 2019 SCORE Champions are crowned By Dan Sanchez Photos by Jack Wright Racers and sponsors were recognized for their achievements throughout the 2019 World Desert Championship Season, at the SCORE Awards Night, held at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, January 11, 2020. The gathering of nearly 500 in attendance were there to celebrate the crowning of the various class champions and honor those who have made a lasting impact in SCORE racing. SCORE Marketing and Sales Director Jim Ryan announced Hall as the second recipient of this award, for his unrelenting support of off-road racing throughout his career, and for his inspirational efforts in SCORE as being the only person who raced in every SCORE Baja 1000 since its inception in 1968, and participating in his 50th race during the 50th Anniversary of the SCORE Baja 1000 in 2017. Hall’s sons Josh and Chad accepted the award and hoped that his legacy could be appreciated by all in attendance, as well as future racers who would hear about his accomplishments. International Achievements SCORE’s President and Race Director, Jose A. Grijalva, along with SCORE General Manager Juan Tintos Funke, spoke to the crowd on the significant changes this year. Along with adding mileage to the San Felipe 250, the inaugural Lucerna SCORE Baja 400, and the torrential rains that required a 24-hour delay to the SCORE Baja 1000, Grijalva and Tintos also pointed out the significant changes to SCORE’s continual partnership with the Mexican government and the country’s department of tourism. To the credit of those involved with these changes, several Mexican dignitaries, including Mayor of Mexicalli Maria Del Pilar, were recognized and given awards of appreciation. This led up to the announcement of Mexico’s Gerardo Novelo as SCORE “Person Of The Year,” who helped make some of the most significant changes in this area. Novelo was given the honor for his efforts for working within the Mexican government to pursue acknowledgement and additional promotion of SCORE races throughout the entire country of Mexico. This led to the signing of a Strategic Tourism Alliance between SCORE International and the Mexican government which will improve tourism, for Baja California and further improve SCORE’s relationship with the government, business, tourists and the people of Baja. Honoring The 2019 Champions The evening’s emcees, Rat Sult and Cameron Steele presented the 2019 season winners which included those that won the Rod Hall Milestone Award Presented by VP Fuels. A total of 47 racers completed the 2,025.43 miles of all four races combined to win this prestigious award. In addition to these winners, Overall Champions were recognized, including Andy McMillin who won the 2019 SCORE Overall Points Championship and SCORE Trophy Truck Class Championship, for the first time in his career. Wayne Matlock won the Overall UTV and Pro UTV FI Championships earning his seventh season class point championship. Hiram Duran won the SCORE Overall Open-Wheel and Class 10 Championship, making it his second class title in his SCORE career. Justin Morgan was also celebrated for winning the SCORE Overall Motorcycle and Pro-Moto Unlimited championship. This was Morgan’s third class title earning it with the help of his team of co-riders Mark Samuels, and Justin Jones, who was a part of the 1x team but was injured all season. Morgan also enlisted the help of various riders throughout the season, including David Kamo, Max Eddy Jr., and Shane Espositio. The SCORE Rookie of the Year was given to A.J. Jones, the 23 year-old son of SCORE Trophy Truck racer Jessie Jones. A.J. competed in the SCORE Trophy Truck Spec class winning two races and taking two fourth-place finishes to the start of an impressive career. As the SCORE community honored each of the class champions, as well as second and third place class finishers in each racing category, many were already planning for the 2020 season which, according to some racers, will bring more high-tech vehicles and an increase in competition that will make winning a SCORE World Desert Championship a goal that won’t be easily achieved.

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