SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/631836
fans out there who wanted it as much as I did." Those millions of fans know that Lopez's championship season is much more than the crowning glory to a long racing season for the RPM Off-Road racing team of Justin Matney and Clyde Stacy. The Mexican people have been wanting their own hero for a sport that began and has its roots set deep in Mexican soil. For most, the cost required to race and win in a SCORE Trophy Truck is a huge hurdle, but it's one that Lopez proved can be achieved with the right attitude and people willing to provide the support. Lopez's journey towards becoming a champion wasn't a long one. At age 21, he's won the 47th Bud Light SCORE Baja 500 and was recently crowned Univision's Extreme Sports Athlete of 2015. In 2014, he won the Stadium Super Truck gold medal during the 2014 X-Games and finished second in the points standings for the SCORE Desert Racing Championship season. Although these are fantastic accomplishments for a young driver, Lopez doesn't necessarily fit the mold of your average extreme sports athlete. He's not out promoting an energy drink or gaining notoriety by attending Hollywood parties and hob-knobbing with movie stars and models. He's a quiet and reserved man that swept in under the radar and proved that a combination of driving skills and teamwork can really pay-off. It was early on that Matney and Stacy saw the potential in three Mexican nationals, Lopez, his dad Juan Carlos Lopez, and teammate Lalo Laguna. For the 2015 season, both Lopez and Laguna were given their own SCORE Trophy Trucks to pilot, and all three have done extremely well for the team this year. "Without the support of our friends, families, chase crews, prep team, and sponsors, none of this would be possible," says RPM Off-Road owner Justin Matney. "This year has been something for the record books. My two teammates were able to each win a SCORE race and the SCORE championship for the year. It is impressive what Apdaly, Juan and Lalo have been able to do this year, and I can't wait to see what happens in 2016." Much of Lopez's introduction into racing comes from his dad, Juan Carlos. At the age of five, Apdaly followed his dad's lead racing motorcycles until age 15 when he jumped into a Class 10 vehicle with RPM Off-Road. From there it was a fast trip to the top of the SCORE Trophy Truck category when he co-drove with Stacy and finished second overall in points during the 2014 season. "I am very proud of Apdaly and look forward to seeing him win many races and hopefully become a legend in off-road racing," says Stacy. "This has been a great year for RPM, and Apdaly Lopez has had a spectacular year. With the help of our sponsors and fans, Apdaly was able to make history." "Winning this championship with the help of Clyde and Justin is something that I appreciate and they have trusted me since I started racing," says Lopez. "So winning this championship for their team fills me with a "FINALLY TO SEE MY SON OBTAIN EVERYTHING HE HAS IN ONLY TWO YEARS IS WHAT I CALL A REAL FEAT, BECAUSE HE LEARNED VERY QUICK, AND THIS IS THE RESULT!" - JUAN CARLOS LOPEZ 015 SCORE JOURNAL