SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1332112
2020 SCORE Trophy Truck Spec Champion Santiago Creel’s Double-Duty In SCORE Pro Moto And TT Spec By Larry Saavedra Photos By Get Some Photo At the beginning of the 2020 season, SCORE Pro Moto racer Santiago Creel had double-duty racing motorcycles and a Jeffries-built Trophy Truck Spec. No one knew what to expect from the Monkey Business Race team leader, not even Creel himself who said he was ready to put the hammer down on the 525 horsepower Chevy-powered beast. He figured, at best, 2021 would be his first “competitive season” on four-wheels. To no one’s surprise, he blazed to a first-place finish at the 52nd SCORE Baja 500, presented by 4 Wheel Parts. The race was followed by a respectable eighth-place finish at the 53rd SCORE Baja 1000, where Creel’s short-lived time on four-wheels suddenly took life, and with it, the SCORE TT Spec Class Championship title. But it wasn’t easy. SCORE BaJa 500 Creel had qualified fifth during the SCORE Trophy Truck Spec qualifying runs. It was a starting position he had not wanted, but was determined to make the best of it, believing he had an advantage over top competitor Clay Lawrence, even if his starting position wasn’t ideal. “Actually racing bikes gave me a feel for the dirt that you don’t get on four wheels,” said Creel. Apparently, it worked because he hit every checkpoint and made no mistakes. “It went very smooth,” he told SCORE Journal back in the October 2020 issue. “We saw we had a chance to win the race so we kept pushing. At mile marker 430, we made a pass for the win.” With the first-place finish, Creel now had the upper hand on the final race of the season. SCORE BaJa 1000 Even after it was called one of the most challenging courses in Baja history, Creel felt great while leading the first third of the course. But a rollover ensued due to a GPS failure making his chances of taking the championship unlikely at the time. “I figured it was over after that incident happened,” he said. While Creel was able to get back on course and gain some ground, he had lost five hours to the leaders and rolled across the finish in eighth place, feeling frustrated but not defeated. “The team did the math and thought we still had a chance at the championship title,” he said. As it turns out their math skills were good. He didn’t give up and won the SCORE Trophy Truck Spec Championship. “I’ll defend the title in Trophy Truck Spec in2021,” said Creel. “I may even tackle Pro UTV. Not sure if I’ll get back on a bike. I haven’t decided yet.” SJ