SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1468297
THE GRANDEST OF GRAND MARSHALS When it comes to desert racing there is only one ‘Ironman’ standing at the top of the list of solo drivers/riders. San Diego’s iconic Ivan ‘Ironman’ Stewart has been named by SCORE as the Grand Marshal for the upcoming BFGoodrich Tires 54th SCORE Baja 500, presented by 4 Wheel Parts. The legendary racer and Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Inductee will also be celebrating his 77th birthday during race week, all part of the celebrations going on at this year’s event. In 2009, Stewart was also inducted into the San Diego Hall of Champions Breitbard Hall of Fame, and in 2020, he was inducted into the prestigious Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. Stewart retired in 2000 but began racing in 1973 winning 10 Baja 500 races Overall during his career. He joined the Toyota factory racing team in 1983 with Cal Wells at Precision Preparation Inc. (PPI) and had a total of 84 career off-road race victories in stadium, short-course, and desert racing. Stewart has a record 17-wins in the Mickey Thompson Entertainment Groups (MTEG) stadium series, 17 SCORE Baja 500 class wins, and three SCORE Baja 1000 wins, along with five SCORE Season class points titles including SCORE Overall Points Championships in 1990 and 1993. “My career has deep roots in SCORE racing, especially in Baja, Mexico, and it’s great to return as the Grand Marshal of this year’s SCORE Baja 500, the race that always falls around my birthday,” said Stewart. “With 10 overall victories and 17 class wins, it’s easy to say that I have had more success in the SCORE Baja 500 than any other race in my long career. I appreciate the fact that SCORE would remember me in this way and I am looking forward to seeing a lot of old friends and competitors and I will be shaking a whole lot of hands.”SJ