SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
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THE HARD FIGHT TO THE FINISH Veteran Trophy Truck And Class 1 Racers Moved Up From The Rear Of The Pack By Dan Sanchez Photography By Get Some Photo The SCORE Trophy Truck field had a heck of a time on the course in San Felipe. According to most veteran racers, the plan usually involves trying to get ahead in time within the first 10-miles of the race and hold on to the lead. The difference in this year’s race was that the course was now nearly 100 miles longer, and the rocky Summit that had most of the Trophy Trucks struggling to get across. The race for the SCORE Trophy Truck class win began with six-time SCORE San Felipe winner Rob MacCachren starting first and setting a fast pace. Shortly into the race, however, MacCachren slowed down and realized there was a problem. “We started first off the line until mile market 80 or 85 we started having a torque converter run really hot,” said MacCachren. “I tried to baby it but it got worse and we finally had to roll it into the pits at race mile 138.” Despite losing the chance to win the race three times in a row, the Rockstar Energy Team showed why they are considered one of the best, by replacing the entire transmission and getting MacCachren back on the course to finish in 18th position. Ryan Arciero Ahead Of The Pack Ryan Arciero in the Herbst/Smith Levis Trophy Truck didn’t mind that he started in second place and passed MacCachren early on to get clean air on the course. Arciero had pre-run the course extensively and ran a nearly flawless race, staying in the physical lead ahead of most of the competition. Eventually, those that started behind Arciero including Apdaly Lopez, Gary Magness, Tavo Vildosola, and Chris Miller, slowed or were out for one reason or another. This left Zack Langley of the Cops racing team, along with Luke McMillin, who moved up quickly from mid-pack to challenge Arciero’s lead. What no-one expected, however, is when some of Baja’s young veterans began plowing through the SCORE Trophy Truck field from the rear of the pack. Dan McMillin came up to the lead truck’s times after starting 37th and was having a spectacular race. It was the same for Bryce Menzies who started in 40th place and moved up the course at a blistering speed, and with a time that could beat everyone else’s on the course. Andy McMillin started in 27th place, and also began blowing past the competition, but knew Arcerio was farther ahead and had the pressure of Dan McMillin and Menzies moving up behind him. Threat From The Last Place Starters With the lead on time changing hands several times, the race came down to Arciero, Langley, and Menzies, as well as Dan, Andy, Luke McMillin all volleying for the win. Ryan Arciero crossed the finish line first but knew that Langley and the McMillin’s were also coming in fast and Menzies time looked like he could beat them all. After suffering a roll-over Andy McMillin pushed hard and crossed the finish line thinking his cousin Dan or Bryce Menzies would have a better time. But after penalties were assessed, Andy McMillin was the penalty-free Overall Winner and the SCORE Trophy Truck Overall Winner. Ryan Arciero who had a fantastic race finished in second place. “This was probably the hardest race I’ve done,” said Arciero, who dedicated the finish to his hurt crew chief Chris Crampton. “The truck did a phenomenal job and the number of bumps that this course was absolutely relentless.” Dan McMillin ended up finishing in third place with a phenomenal race coming from the back of the pack. “I’m exhausted,” said McMillin at the finish. “I never got a flat tire and never got out of the truck. My BFGoodrich tires were awesome and my Fox Shocks were great!” Zack Langley and co-driver Kyle Jorgensen also had a fantastic race, finishing in fourth place. “We were seeing trucks fall off left and right,” said Langley. “The course was really tough and we were holding on for dear life.” Despite a blistering pace that could have won him the race, Bryce Menzies had a flat only a few miles from the finish line and ended up finishing in 11th place. Brad Wilson Conquers The Longer Course In Class 1, Brad Wilson started in 12th position from a field of 19, to ultimately win the overall class in San Felipe. The race was just as brutal for the Class 1 vehicles which lost half the field along the course, and the pressure of NASCAR racer Brendan Gaughan getting back into SCORE racing in this class. As the dust kicked up on the course, the race for a Class 1 victory came between Shelby Reid and her co-driver Dale Ebberts, against the Wilson team of Brad Wilson and Justin Munyon. After starting in fourth place, the Reid team took the lead for most of it and crossed the finish line ahead of the Wilson team. “We pushed hard all day,” said Shelby Reid. “That was a rough course and the last forty miles of whoops were brutal.” Wilson drove the car to the finish line despite having a flat that tore away a brake line. After repairs and pushing hard to the end, the Wilson team discovered their time was fast enough to take the class win. “We took our time going over the summit,” said Wilson. “I’m a rock guy so I loved it. This is our second race with this new Jimco vehicle and we couldn’t be happier with the finish.” Finishing third in Class 1 was Justin Davis who also had a fantastic race despite a broken shifter and only seven cylinders. “When I was going up the summit the whole shifter broke off, so I only had third gear,” said Davis. “Halfway through the summit, the engine started doing some weird stuff so we got through and finished the race with one cylinder out. We’ll take it as it puts us in a good starting position for the SCORE Baja 500.” SJ