SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1332112
2020 SCORE Open Wheel & Class 1 Champion Cody Parkhouse Finds The Right Tune By Dan Sanchez Photos By Get Some Photo Cody Parkhouse and his dad Brian started the 2020 season with a five-year-old car, but with a renewed confidence in the vehicle after they had re-tuned its suspension. “We had been messaging the suspension four or five different times, and this last change made for the SCORE Baja 500 had a big impact,” said Parkhouse. “It’s amazing how such a small change made the car more compliant and easier to drive.” The car gave Parkhouse the confidence to keep the car “on-the-edge” but under control. “There’s a thin level of how hard you can push a vehicle, but the car was now less violent at high speed and it was more comfortable to keep it there,” he said. That was enough for Parkhouse to finish and win Class 1 at the 52nd BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500 Presented by 4 Wheel Parts. The team beat out top contenders in their class and finished fifth overall ahead of several SCORE Trophy Trucks. “This was one of our best races,” said Parkhouse after the race. “It was very smooth and we made quick driver changes and stopped only twice the entire race for fuel and tires.” With one of two wins necessary to secure the season championship, Parkhouse and his team were anxious to get to the SCORE Baja 1000 and try to repeat by running their own race. They had planned on not focusing on winning the championship, but running their plan and executing it. After the start at the 53rd BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000 Presented by 4 Wheel Parts, the Parkhouse team rocketed to the front and began passing some of the SCORE Trophy Truck Legend racers. It wasn’t until a slower section of the course that Parkhouse began to have problems. “One of the TT Legend trucks ‘rabbited’ on us and we ran into him and folded a wheel,” said Parkhouse. Class 1 competitors passed but Parkhouse and his team changed the wheel and tire and got back on the course, running down the competitors until they pitted, and they were back in first place. Parkhouse’s dad Brian, drove the car without any issues, as did co-driver Roger Starkey Jr. for their sections of the nearly 900-mile loop course. The team made it to the finish first in class and cemented their victory and season championship. “Sweeping the series means a lot more with two wins,” said Parkhouse. “Our goal was to win both races of this two race series, and the Class 1 Championship was a byproduct of it.” Parkhouse has already determined he will race the SCORE 2021 season and defend his championship crown.