SCORE INTERNATIONAL

SCORE Journal Issue 5

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

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F or decades, SCORE desert racing has been the proving grounds for drivers seeking to challenge their abilities in one of the toughest races in the world. For those who have become successful at it, and have their heart in the right place, they can become an icon of the sport. With a huge fan base and loved by his team and competitors, there's no doubt that Rob MacCachren fits these qualifications. His achievements and long history in desert racing are well known, but it's his love for the challenge and his willingness to share his experience with new and upcoming racers that makes him a true leader of the sport. Most of SCORE's newest Unlimited Trophy Truck drivers admire MacCachren and have followed his long racing career. Many ask for his advice and MacCachren is always willing to give it. But any SCORE race is still a competition, and MacCachren realizes that his competitors, and the level of their abilities, are ever increasing. So as he prepares for the 47th Bud Light SCORE Baja 500, MacCachren describes his unique way of determining who his competition really is. This helps him determine how his team will set up the vehicle, how he will drive the race, and what he needs to do to win. "The competition level in SCORE has gone up every year," says MacCachren. "I typically look at the entry list and I see who has a chance of winning the race. In the past, I could pretty much whittle it down to about five people, but lately, the list is getting bigger and bigger. For this SCORE Baja 500, I've come up with about 15 teams that could win this race." MacCachren wants to win the Baja 500 badly. His last SCORE win was the 2014 Baja 1000, in which he teamed up with Jason Voss, Andy McMillin, and about 100 team members to make it a success he says he'll never forget. For this year's SCORE Baja 500, MacCachren believes his best chances for winning come down to vehicle preparation and pre-running the course. "The Unlimited Trophy Trucks haven't changed much over the years. They're pretty much the same as far as power and capabilities. So it ultimately comes down to those teams that take the time to properly prep the vehicle and pre-run the course," says MacCachren. "Once you know where you can pass, where are the best places for a pit stop, and having the crew ready for anything, then your chances of winning are greater. I believe we can prepare our truck set- up better, and are in tune to what the race course is, such as graded roads, river washes, fast areas, etc. So overall, we try to beat our competition by having a better truck and pit strategy." While the pressure of competition is greater, especially for this race, MacCachren also points out that sometimes it's best to run at a steady pace, rather than to go all out. "A lot of drivers think that with the competition level so strong, you need to push hard. But that can sometimes put you in jeopardy. Although I need to maintain a fast pace for the Baja 500, I like to put it this way; I go as slow as I possibly can to win. Over the years I've learned to drive smart not fast, pace myself, stay in line, and not make any mistakes." AS A TEAM OWNER MACCACHREN RELIES ON HIS TEAM TO MAKE THINGS RUN SMOOTHLY FROM CONTINGENCY, TO PRE-RUNNING THE COURSE AND IN THE PITS.

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