SCORE Journal

SCORE-Journal-Feb-2021

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

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SCORE Journal Magazine’s 2021 “Ones to Watch” By SCORE Journal Staff Photos by Get Some Photo and Jack Wright nMedia3 Every season, the SCORE World Desert Championship introduces new racers, challenges veterans, and lays the groundwork for those destined to become legendary. With new faces taking championship titles during the 2020 SCORE WDC season, the new 2021 season will surely shake-up a variety of racing classes with familiar faces and teams eager to participate in a full SCORE four-race season. This early in the 2021 season, many of the teams have not yet been finalized, vehicles are still being built, and sponsorships have not been signed, but based on 2020 and past year performances, here are some racers that—if they return—will make an impact and are the “Ones to Watch” for the SCORE 2021 season. Trophy Truck Aaron and Alan Ampudia There’s no doubt that over the past few years, the Ampudia brothers have climbed their way to the top of the SCORE Trophy Truck. After proving themselves by winning the 2019 SCORE Baja 1000, they’ve been extremely competitive ever since, finishing fourth at the SCORE Baja 500 last season and nearly winning the SCORE Baja 1000 battling against Luke McMillin. There is no stopping the Ampudia’s momentum and they are hungry for another victory. Luke McMillin Finishing in the top three over the past three seasons, one of the most consistent drivers in the SCORE WDC, Luke McMillin, finally had his day winning the 2020 SCORE Baja 1000 and the Trophy Truck Championship. McMillin is rumored to have an AWD truck ready along with his 2WD truck that is also being prepared for some of this year’s courses. No matter what truck they race, Luke and the entire McMilliln clan are poised to dominate the SCORE Trophy Truck class given the opportunity. Dan McMillin The 2020 SCORE WDC season was one of the best for Dan McMilliln. He won the SCORE Baja 500 and was doing well in the Baja 1000 before his new AWD truck had some problems. McMilllin has previously finished in the top five and has been continuously working to improve. McMillin has proven himself as a top contender, and he will be a hurdle for anyone wanting to win a SCORE race in this division. Andy McMillin Although Andy McMillin chose not to race this past season with his vehicle, he partnered with Bryce Menzies (driver of record) at the SCORE Baja 1000 and finished third in class. McMillin is regarded as one of the top contenders in this class, and although he’s always rooting for his cousins Dan and Luke, he will continue to push hard in every race this season. His AWD Trophy Truck is fine-tuned to be dominant on any Baja course, and with it, McMillin is almost certain to take home another race win and possibly another championship in the SCORE Trophy Truck class. Bryce Menzies With talent and a polished and perfected AWD SCORE Trophy Truck, Bryce Menzies is always a tough competitor to beat in any race. Last year, he teamed up with Andy McMillin to lead much of the SCORE Baja 1000, but ultimately finished third. As he gains more experience with his AWD truck, Menzies has become more of a challenge to the class and will more than likely win a race or two during the 2021 season. Larry Roeseler What more can you say about “Mr. Baja” that everybody doesn’t already know? The legendary racer has more overall race wins in the SCORE Baja 500 and SCORE Baja 1000 than anyone else in SCORE’s history. Coming off the SCORE Baja 1000-win last year, Roeseler will once again compete in the SCORE Trophy Truck class and be a major competitor for all the top contenders. With a great ability to read the terrain, manage his race vehicle, and have incredible speed, there’s no doubt SCORE fans will see Roeseler add more race wins to his incredible racing career. Rob MacCachren Although Rob MacCachren would say he didn’t have such a great season in 2020, he did manage to come from the rear of the SCORE Trophy Truck class to finish second at the SCORE Baja 1000 last year. It’s clear that MacCachren’s driving skills are as sharp as ever, and given the chance, the SCORE 2021 WDC season will see him win races and bring his son Cayden more experience in Baja racing. But the former SCORE Trophy Truck Champion is hardly ready to slow down anytime soon, and will undoubtedly add more wins this season to his renowned career. Robby Gordon One of the most loved SCORE Trophy Truck racers by SCORE fans and racers alike, Robby Gordon is coming off an impressive 2020 SCORE WDC season finishing at the top of the class in both races. Gordon’s impressive “Unicorn” AWD truck continues to get faster and faster and has led to greater consistency from this veteran racer. For the 2021 season, we expect Gordon will be in top form with a very fast truck and with a win that will add to his legendary status within the sport. We also hope to see his new SPEED UTV compete in SCORE and see more of his son Max in the Baja competition. Tim Herbst During the 2020 SCORE WDC season, SCORE fans saw a re-energized and competitive Tim Herbst finish second in the SCORE Baja 500, and fifth at the SCORE Baja 1000. Perhaps he had to show he was still the boss to his sons Pierce and Thor Herbst, who competed in the SCORE TT Spec class, but SCORE fans were ecstatic to see Herbst demonstrate he’s still a top contender in the class. There’s no doubt Herbst can win a race during the 2021 season and is willing to continue showing the younger generation how it’s done. Cameron Steele Joining the SCORE 2020 season at the SCORE Baja 1000, Cameron Steele finished fourth in the race and demonstrated that he and the Desert Assassins will be strong in 2021. Steele’s last overall race win in the SCORE Trophy Truck class was at the 2018 SCORE Baja 1000, but he’s ready and primed for another win. While he and the team have also been busy working with Ford on the Bronco R team, we still expect to see Steele cross the finish line with a win during the 2021 season and continue to be a driving force and spokesperson for SCORE racing and Baja tourism. Class 1 Cody Parkhouse Sweeping the 2020 SCORE WDC season in Class 1, Cody and Brian Parkhouse have moved into the top position in the class. With the kinks worked out on their Buggy, the team is faster than ever and is ready to retain their title in what are expected to be four tough races of the 2021 season. Parkhouse is ready, and this team is the one to beat this season. SCORE fans are prepared for some head-to-head racing in Class 1, as Parkhouse will have to face some new competitors and some veterans with new AWD vehicles making their way into this class. Brad and Brian Wilson The Wilson team has been a dominant Class 1 fixture for several years. Although they sat out from the 2020 SCORE WDC season, they will no doubt be coming back with a vengeance in 2021. Equipped with a new Jimco AWD car, the Wilson’s have been testing and winning some state-side races with it and are ready to prove how well they can do in Baja to reclaim a championship title. Gabriel Torres Proving himself a force in Class 1, Gabriel Torres came to the SCORE 2020 WDC and finished sixth at the SCORE Baja 500, and second at the SCORE Baja 1000. This great effort nearly won him the Class 1 Championship. If he can continue with his performance, Torres may find himself on the podium again in 2021 and gain a well-deserved win for his efforts. Brendan Gaughan The NASCAR racer who returned to his roots in off-road racing is no newcomer to the sport. He won the class in 2019 at the SCORE Baja 1000 and has finished at the top of the class ever since. Last season he finished second at the SCORE Baja 500 and sixth at the SCORE Baja 1000 after mechanical difficulties. Despite not winning a race last season, Gaughan is a top contender in this class and only narrowly missed winning the class championship. Gaughan is excited to be back racing in Baja and has the car and team to take another victory this year. Broc Dickerson One of the youngest racers in SCORE, Broc Dickerson took home Class 10 wins and a championship before moving into Class 1 last season. Although he had a rocky start, he led races until mechanical issues slowed him down, but still managed to finish in the top five at the SCORE Baja 500 and Baja 1000 races. Dickerson has plenty of talent to win and with a fine-tuned vehicle, it’s only a matter of time before we see him on the podium with a win and a possible championship. Shelby and Cody Reid SCORE’s favorite mom and son team, Shelby and Cody Reid sat out the 2020 season after losing their Class 1 buggy in a fire early before the start of the season. With a new car being built, the Reid team will be back in 2021 in top form to be extremely competitive in Class 1 once again. Justin Davis Although Justin Davis has won many races in Class 1, he decided to sit out the 2020 season until his younger brother Jeremy wanted him to co-drive with him in Class 10 during the SCORE Baja 1000. Davis has been a solid racer in Class 1 and we expect he and the Green Army team to be back in full force for the 2021 season to take a race win and show they can make 2021 a championship season. Trophy Truck Spec Santiago Creel The Pro Moto Unlimited racer turned Trophy Truck driver stunned the competition when he won the 2020 Class Championship. Finishing first at the SCORE Baja 500, Creel had mechanical issues at the SCORE Baja 1000, yet finished the race in eighth place to win the championship by one point. This unrelenting and multi-talented racer is destined to be one of SCORE’s most unique racers who is breaking new ground on what a Baja team is capable of with great leadership. We expect Creel to be just as competitive in 2021 and expect to see him on the podium. William Hedreck Jr. One of SCORE Trophy Truck Spec’s most consistent racers, William Hedreck Jr. is always a tough competitor. Finishing in the top four last season, Hedreck Jr. has put his dues into this class and is bound to win more races during the 2021 season. His experience, combined with a fast truck keeps Hedreck Jr. as one of the top competitors in this class that is hard to beat. Pierce And Thor Herbst The sons of veteran SCORE Trophy Truck racer Tim Herbst proved their worth during the 2020 season. With Pierce as DOR, they nearly won the class championship and finished in the top four, and were comfortable leading races. Considering last year was their first in this class, the Herbst brothers have the family’s winning ways in their blood. We expect they will be on the podium this season and will show they have the potential to start their class dominance given the opportunity. Jeff Bader Some might think it was good luck that Jeff Bader entered the 2020 SCORE WDC season in this class for the first time and won the championship. The fact is, that the guy has lots of unharnessed talent displayed in his tenacity and consistency, ultimately leading to his championship form. With more experience under his belt, if he returns to SCORE for the 2021 season, Bader can easily shake-up the class and become a top contender taking home a win or two. Class 10 Jeremy Davis Another one of SCORE’s younger racers, Jeremy Davis is the little brother of Class 1 racer Justin Davis. With the support of the Davis family and the Green Army team, Davis entered last year’s SCORE Baja 1000 and won the class with his brother co-driving. With great skills and a solid team behind him, Davis is poised to earn more victories during the 2021 season and could take home a championship. Chase Warren Consistency led Chasse Warren to a 2020 SCORE Class 10 Championship. If he comes back for the 2021 season, Warren has a good chance at winning some races and retaining his championship title. His last big win was at the 2019 SCORE Baja 1000, proving he has the skills to win and be considered one of the best drivers in the class. Rafael Aguirre Aguirre finished second at last year’s SCORE Baja 1000 and nearly won the Class 1 Championship. During the 2019 season, Aguirre finished in the top three of the class, and if he returns this season, he could take a race win and earn a season championship in the process. We expect to see some great racing action between Aguirre and the rest of the Class 1 competitors this season. Pro UTV FI Wayne Matlock Perhaps one of the most experienced racers in Pro UTVs, 2020 just wasn’t Wayne Matlock’s best season, but no smart racer would count him out as a contender for any Baja race. Matlock’s Polaris RZR is the cutting-edge of UTV racing technology and as his vehicle progresses and his team irons out any bugs, Matlock may be an unstoppable force to be reckoned with. We have yet to see where he’ll make his mark this season. Either way, he will continue to be one of the driving forces in UTV racing and we won’t be surprised to see him on the podium with a win. matt Burroughs While it was no surprise to Matt Burroughs of the Monster Energy Pro UTV team, he stunned the field of veteran racers with first and second place wins at the SCORE Baja 500 and SCORE Baja 1000 last year. Burroughs and the team worked hard to get into championship form and were rewarded with the 2020 SCORE Championship and an Overall SCORE WDC Points Championship. With Can-Am having one of its best years in off-road racing, there’s no doubt Burroughs will be difficult to beat and is one of the top competitors in this class. Jason Murray Another Can-Am factory racer, Jason Murray has been consistently fast, finishing second in class at the SCORE Baja 500 last year. The Murray team has been involved in SCORE for quite some time and were the 2016 SCORE Pro UTV Champions. They are ready to win some races and are primed for making 2021 a championship season. Marc Burnett The 2015 SCORE Pro UTV champion has struggled over the past few years, but since the 2019 season, Marc Burnett has been very consistent, and nearly won the championship that year. Last season he sat out on the SCORE Baja 500 but competed at the SCORE Baja 1000 to finish third in class. As an experienced veteran, we expect to see him win more races in 2021 and he also has a good chance to take another Pro UTV Championship. Brandon Schueler Another one of SCORE’s amazing Pro UTV veterans, Brandon Schueler, sat out on last season’s SCORE Baja 500, but competed at the SCORE Baja 1000 and finished in the top ten. In previous seasons, Schueler has been and continues to be a top competitor that can win races and championships with the Jagged X racing team. There’s no doubt that his participation during the 2021 season will have a big impact on the competition, and we expect to see Schueler on the podium more than once. Wes Miller Another of Polaris’ factory race team members, Wes Miller has come on strong over the past few seasons to be a top contender in the SCORE Pro UTV FI class. In 2019, he won the SCORE Baja 400 and finished fourth at the SCORE Baja 1000. Last season, he finished first at the SCORE Baja 1000, and if it weren’t for some mechanical issues at the SCORE Baja 500 last year, Miller could have walked away with the class championship. If he competes in 2021, he will certainly be a strong competitor for the championship and based on his performances, we also expect to see him several times on the podium. Pro UTV NA Kristen Matlock It’s a good bet that the Queen of SCORE’s Pro UTV classes will be a force in Baja. There’s not much that can stop Kristen Matlock from driving solo and winning races. Given the opportunity, the 2020 Pro UTV NA Champion said she’s looking to win the Pro UTV Overall in every race, and with her skill, we may see her do it during the SCORE 2021 season. With a new navigator, motorcycle racer Max Eddy, she’s gained even more confidence and will no doubt be a very difficult competitor to beat. Kaden Wells The 2019 SCORE Pro UTV NA Champion is also one of the biggest threats to any UTV racer in this class. Finishing in the top three during the 2020 SCORE WDC Wells is fast and consistent enough to win more races during the 2021 season, and perhaps another class championship. His experience and fast Polaris RZR are seemingly all he needs to make this next season his year. Francisco Arredondo The 2016 SCORE Pro Moto Unlimited Champion Arredondo is a racer at heart and has enough determination to win at anything he sets his eyes on. He surprised the class last season by showing up with a new Chris Haines prepared Honda Talon to the SCORE Baja 1000 and winning the race. Arredondo has what it takes to win in this class and a possible championship. If he and the Haines team decide to participate in a full 2021 race season, the veterans in Pro UTV NA will have their hands full trying to get around Arredondo. Pro Moto UNLTD Mark Samuels, Justin Jones, Justin Morgan Mention these three guys and it’s “enough said.” The real question is if they can be beaten. The facts are that the three-time class champions have won every SCORE Pro Mot Unlimited race since 2017, and are working on making their names legendary among riders like Johnny Campbell, Larry Roeseler, Robby Bell, and many others. Hopefully, the team will be able to participate during the 2021 season and continue to stun the off-road motorsports community with their amazing talent and hard work. Santiago Creel Perhaps one of the hardest working guys in off-road motorsports, Santiago Creel came off winning a 2020 SCORE Trophy Truck Spec Championship and finishing in second place in the Pro Moto Unlimited Points Championship. Although Creel shifts back and forth from both teams, he also has a talented list of riders who can help him win a championship in 2021 in the Pro Moto Unlimited class. Colton Udall This former SCORE Pro Moto Champion had to learn to ride again after recovering from some severe injuries. Amazingly, he has consistently finished in the top three since returning in 2019 and is ready for a comeback in 2021. Udall also has the team and logistical skills to round up some talented riders to his aid, and we expect to see him challenge the reigning 1x team and even surprising the class with an upset. Pro Moto 30 Francisco Septien One of the most dominant riders in SCORE’s Pro Moto 30 and Pro Moto Ironman classes, Franciso Septien is a veteran racer who continues to win. After switching back to the class from Ironman in 2019, Septien won three of four races that season but lost the championship. He came back in 2020 to take the class championship in an undefeated season. If he’s not tired of winning and competes again in this class in 2021, there’s no doubt he’ll repeat for another championship and continue to inspire and awe SCORE fans with his riding talent. Jano Montoya Always a tough competitor, Jano Montoya is another veteran of the Pro Moto 30 class that is consistent and can pull off a race win. Montoya finished second at the SCORE Baja 1000 last season and presented a challenge for the championship. We expect to see Montoya at the top of the class again during the SCORE 2021 WDC season. Pro Moto 50 Larry Janesky Over the past few years, the Pro Moto 50 division has become very competitive with extremely talented racers like Larry Janesky. Janesky’s first SCORE race was in Pro Moto Ironman, later racing with his son Tanner who won the Championship in 2017. Janesky moved to Pro Moto 50 and finished third at the SCORE Baja 500. With lots of riding experience, Janesky brings his talent and a big challenge to other riders in this class, which makes it much more exciting to watch. If he competes during the 2021 season, we expect to see Janesky on the podium winning races as well as a championship. Vance Kennedy Sweeping the competition with two first-place wins during the 2020 season, Vance Kennedy added his riding talents to the class. If he competes again in 2021, he will be difficult to beat and we expect to see him on the podium again, and perhaps repeat with a second championship. Giovanni Spinali The 2019 SCORE Pro Moto 50 champion finished second in the championship points during the 2020 season. Spinali finished second in every race last season and is most likely not happy with the result. Should he come back for the 2021 season, Spinali will surely make it difficult for the class of talented riders to win any of the SCORE races this season. He’s also primed for taking back the class championship and has everything he needs to make that happen.

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