SCORE INTERNATIONAL

SANCHEZ REPEATS CLASS 8 VICTORY Dominating Class 8 all season long, team Ampudia decided to compete in the Trophy Truck division at the SCORE Baja 1000 race. That decision led to a roll- over, leaving them completely out of the race. For Rick Sanchez out of San Vicente, Mexico, this allowed him and co-driver Enrique Lara to have a great Baja 1000 race and win Class 8 two years in a row. "We are so happy to win the SCORE Baja 1000," said Sanchez. "I'm happy with the team and all of the guys did a great job. Winning the SCORE Baja 1000 was one of those dreams I had when I started racing off- road. It was my ultimate goal." Although the Ampudias didn't participate in Class 8 during the SCORE Baja 1000, they ultimately earned enough points to win the Class Championship, which will add to the team's overall accomplishments throughout the season. VW CLASSES BRING TOUGH COMPETITION Although the VW powered vehicles are some of the oldest in SCORE racing history, the competition is still strong and demonstrates the dedication it takes to compete in Baja. Considered a "driver's class" nine 1/2-1600 competitors participated at this year's SCORE Baja 1000. By the end of the race, David Ruvalcaba, aided by Esteban Cruz and Marcos Nunez in the number 1609 car, won the class. The 1/2-1600 season points leader, Ramon Bio, finished in second place at the race but managed to finish the season winning the class points championship. Bio's race at the "1000," was a team effort consisting of co-drivers Cisco Bio, Viry Felix, and Pancho Bio. With a course that had already been battered by a number of competitors ahead of them, the other VW powered vehicles had a difficult time maneuvering through deep silt and rocky terrain. In the SCORE Lites class, Rich Roberts in the number 1208 two-seater won the class at the SCORE Baja 1000 race, with the help of co-drivers Kirk Kontilis, and Rob Martensen. Class 5 had Victor Cesena and Gerardo Iribe finish the race first in their class, and capping off a class championship season and winning every class race in 2016. Meanwhile, in Class 5-1600, Gustavo Avina, with the help of family members Gabriel and Gustavo Jr., and Erik Rivera, won the class in their number 578 car, against eight other competitors at the race. Considered one of the hardest vehicles to race in Baja, six Class 11 drivers took on the challenge and in the end, Noe Gutierrez, with the help of Sergio Fabela, Oscar Beltran, and Jorge Maldonado was the only team left to win the class. TRUCK CLASSES TAKE ON THE PUNISHMENT Knowing how tough the SCORE Baja 1000 race course can be on stock and modified trucks, this didn't deter competitors from entering into a variety of unlimited, full-size and mini- truck classes. Repeating a Class 2 victory at the SCORE Baja 1000 last year was Class 2 winners Jeff Proctor, Jason LaFortune, and Jeff Mortise in their factory sponsored Honda Ridgeline. Hammer Truck Unlimited saw rock crawling champion Shannon Campbell and Wayland Campbell as the SCORE Baja 1000 class winners. In the Heavy Metal Class, Ivan Rivera with Marco Rivera, Javier Pacheco, and Jorge Rivas Jr. won the class in their Chevy Silverado, while Ryan Lewis won the Trophy Lite class with the help of Brad pace, Casey Adkisson, and Eric Sheets. Class 7 saw Aaron Celiceo in the number 704 Toyota Tacoma win the class with the help of co-drivers Kevin Adler, Adrian Celiceo, Mario Melgar Sr., Mario Melgar Jr., and Pedro Mercado. Meanwhile, race spectators were impressed with the Class 3 entry of Donald Moss, who won the class in a Ford Bronco that was co-driven by Ken Moss. With a field of 10 starters, everyone in the Baja Challenge finished the 49th SCORE Baja 1000. The winner of the class, however, was Bill Weber in the BC2 car, co-driven by Jay Jakupa, Rich Minga, Mike Johnson, Larry McRae, and Lance Clifford. A little less competition came from the Sportsman Classes, in which Jim Bunn won the SPT Unlimited Truck Class in a Chevy Silverado that was also co-driven by Raymon Fernandez. The SPT Unlimited Buggy Class was won by Ricardo Rodriguez with the help of co-drivers Luis Magana, and Rogelio Robles. ROD HALL EARNS 25 CLASS WINS AND MORE… Rounding out the field of four- wheel truck classes was the Stock Full class winner Rod Hall in his H1 Hummer, who has competed in every SCORE Baja 1000 race. Hall earned a race record 24 class wins (including one overall win in 1972). This milestone SCORE Baja 1000 win was aided by his 045 SCORE JOURNAL

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