SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
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THREE JEWELS IN THE CROWN Carlos Apdaly Lopez talks about winning the SCORE Desert World Championship for his third time in a row By Dan Sanchez Photos by Get Some Photo A young man with the maturity of a veteran makes for an unstoppable race driver, especially when it comes to the SCORE Desert World Championship Series. For Carlos Apdaly Lopez, he’s proven he’s the guy to beat and finished the 2017 season winning his third consecutive SCORE Desert World Championship, and topped it off by winning the 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000 race. For other off-road racers it’s reckoning time, knowing that this 22-year-old from Tecate, Mexico is well on his way to becoming another one of SCORE’s many legendary racers who has only just begun to put his name in the record books. Lopez’s thoughts on winning the, 2015, 2016 and 2017 Overall SCORE Championships and the Trophy Truck division championships offers SCORE fans a unique perspective into a young man who remains humble and extremely thankful for all of the opportunities he’s been given. SCORE Journal: What does winning the 2017 SCORE Overall championship mean to you at this point in your career? Did you ever imagine you would win three in a row? Apdaly Lopez: It is something very emotional. It wasn’t planned, but it was something that we fought for race by race, for the last three years. SJ: From the time you were considered a "rookie" to today, do you feel you've matured as a racer, and is there still much more you want to accomplish in off-road motorsports? Lopez: Definitely I’ve been learning so many things race by race. For sure I’m still considered a rookie, as I’ve only been racing in this class for four years. SJ: At the SCORE San Felipe 250, you finished the race in third place. Did that first race of 2017 have any effect on how you think the rest of the season would play out? Lopez: We always look for the win, but for the last three years, we’ve finished in the same place during the SCORE San Felipe 250. So it for me, it wasn’t a bad start to the 2917 season. We just keep looking forward towards a championship. SJ: At the SCORE Baja 500, you finished fifth behind the McMillin's, Rob MacCachren, and Justin Matney. Did you think your season would not turn out for the best at that point? What happened and what would you have done differently in that race? Lopez: We had mechanical problems that held us back and made us finish in fifth place. So at that point, it made us think it was going to be a little bit more difficult to achieve our third championship. SJ: What changed in your driving, attitude or vehicle, at the Tijuana Desert Challenge that helped you get a second place finish? Was that a turning point in the season? Lopez: Simply put, I was just having a great day without any problems. That’s what really helped us! SJ: You finished first at the 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000. How difficult was it and were you determined to win it and the championship, or did you just want to finish the race? Lopez: Winning the 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000 wasn’t that easy as it may have appeared. The course was a challenge, and so were the competitors. But we started with the principal objective to win the race and the championship. In the end, we managed to beat the course and the rest of the competition. I’m also very happy that I was able to share that with my father, Juan Carlos Lopez. SJ: What do you think led you towards winning the championship again this season? Was it inspiration from your family, dad, the RPM team or something else? Lopez: It was all of those people and more that make up the great teamwork. The truck prep at the Geiser’s shop was also great and helped us the entire season with minimal problems. In addition, the support of the RPM Off-Road team of Clyde Stacy and Justin Matney, and the help of my dad, Juan Carlos, his co-driver, and my co-driver Luis Omar. SJ: What did the SCORE Baja 1000 win and Championship season mean to you and your fans in Mexico. How important is it for Mexicans to have their own SCORE Champion? Lopez: It’s a special thing to win it in your own country. It’s simply great to share this championship with all Mexicans and fans who have supported me and the RPM team all season. SJ: Now that you’ve won the SCORE World Desert Championship three times in a row, do you feel you have an advantage over the other Trophy Truck racers in SCORE? What do you think you do differently than other racers? Lopez: Definitely not. Each driver has their own style of driving, and all of the trucks are very fast. The difference is in some of the individual components and how the trucks are prepped. In the long-run, that usually makes the difference between our RPM Geiser built trucks and our competitors. SJ: Your Geiser Trophy Truck is lighter than most of the other trucks in the field. Do you think this has been an advantage throughout your Trophy Truck career? Lopez: I can’t give away too many of our secrets about the truck, but I can say that I definitely believe that Geiser builds the best race trucks. SJ: What changes, if any, are being made to the RPM Off-Road team for 2018, and will you stay with the same truck or get a new one? Lopez: We can’t say for now. We’re still in the planning stages for the 2018 season. But we’ll know soon. SJ: Now that you've won the SCORE Baja 1000 race and a third championship, what more do you hope to accomplish in SCORE for the 2018 Season? Lopez: I would really like to win the SCORE San Felipe 250 and try to repeat the win on the SCORE Baja 500 and 1000 and for sure another championship. SJ: When you first started racing with Clyde Stacy, did you ever think back then that you could win three SCORE Championships? Lopez: Clyde Stacy always gave me the best opportunities, so I knew that I gave it all my effort I could achieve all the things I have done so far. SJ: Who has been some of your best inspiration and mentor throughout your career and what have they taught you? Lopez: My dad, Juan Carlos Lopez. He’s taught me almost everything I know. SJ: Many race fans see you as a young leader in the sport of off-road racing, but what do you want people to know about Apdaly Lopez? What message do you want to give to other young people who want to reach their dreams too? Lopez: Very simple. With hard work, effort, dedication, and love for what you do, you can realize your dreams.