SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1476729
ROB MACCACHREN’S VP RACING FUEL MOMENT Ask someone who is the G.O.A.T. of the NBA, and most people will immediately proclaim its Michael Jordan. In the NFL, it’s indubitably Tom Brady. Opinions about Major League Baseball are a bit more equivocal, but in the world of off-road racing, however, there is no disputing that Rob MacCachren, who has been racing SCORE since 1986 and has 314 career race wins to his name, stands on his own Mount Olympus among the pantheon of off-road motorsport’s all-timers. MacCachren has a long-standing relationship with VP Racing Fuels that dates back a decade, when he started using VP racing fuel in his SCORE Trophy Truck. Always looking for an advantage, he recently switched his fuel from VP’s Late Model Plus to the new VP Trophy Truck fuel and promptly captured the 2022 SCORE Baja 500 the first time he ran with it. In his quest to fend off the pack of hungry competitors and remain king of the desert, he has added Stay Frosty Race-Ready Coolant and Pro Grade 15W50 Racing Engine Oil to his arsenal within the last two years. “As stiff and tough as the competition is, you have to have everything running in tip-top shape and have no worries,” says MacCachren. As racing enthusiasts know, the rigors of desert racing require immense physical and mental stamina, adept driving, and the best performance products, lubricants, and fuel to maximize the odds of successfully advancing across a vast wasteland. The point is further magnified due to a change in racing strategy. MacCachren says drivers used to run around 70-percent during most of a race. Stiffer competition and a more extensive field of drivers, however, have now forced off-road racers to go pedal-to-the-metal at first sight of the green flag, creating additional stress on their vehicles. VP’S RACE OIL SAVES AN ENGINE The change in fuel and motor oil as an advantage to the tougher competition, lead MacCachren and his team to the 2022 SCORE Baja 500 win. He is more adamant about using VP’s Racing Oil, especially after a situation that could have destroyed his newly built Kroyer Racing engine at a 2021 state-side off-road race. “On the last lap, we were leading by about a minute when a rock came up and got inside the dry sump pump belt and broke it,” said MacCachren. “We had no oil pressure for 25 seconds, which was verified by Kevin Kroyer, [MacCachren’s engine builder] through electronically recorded data in the vehicle.” Despite the setback, MacCachren quickly outfitted his truck with a new oil pump belt and finished the race in fourth place. Following the event, they removed the motor and sent it to Kroyer Racing. After seeing the data, Kroyer was confident the 850 hp small block Ford engine would be damaged and need rebuilding. When he and his team looked inside, however, they were shocked that there was no damage to the engine at all. Upon seeing the internals, MacCachren was in disbelief, stating that there was no way the engine could have run that long without oil pressure, because the engine looked so good internally. Kroyer exclaimed, “Everything is still good, and it did run for 25 seconds with no oil pressure. The data doesn’t lie.” “We put that motor right back in the truck and ran the 2022 SCORE San Felipe 250, finishing in fourth place, and then won the 2022 SCORE Baja 500 with that same engine,” said MacCachren. “I don’t think many people can say they ran for 25 seconds with no oil pressure and had no issues with their motor. We think that’s a testament to the VP Racing oil that we run in the race truck. I’ve learned that if you surround yourself with positive people and good products, you’ll be successful.” MacCachren also reports that he has yet to experience any heating issues since switching to Stay Frosty Race-Ready coolant despite the difficulties presented by the recent go-all-out racing style. When asked what VP has meant to him, MacCachren said, “VP is top notch and has given us chances to win championships and races.” The opposition is still waiting for its chance. SJ