SCORE Journal

SCORE-Journal-November-2020

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

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Jax Redline At Age 16, Redline is the youngest SCORE Trophy Truck racer this season By Dan Sanchez Photos Courtesy Jax Redline One of the youngest racers to drive a SCORE Trophy Truck at a SCORE race, Jax Redline is only 16-years old and already has the racing experience many off-road racers would love to have. This includes winning national dirt bike events, UTV racing, Pro Lites, go-karts, indy-karts, and spec-trucks, as an example. As you would imagine, Redline started at a very early age. “ When I was two and a half years old, my dad got me a dirt bike, and I began to ride,” says Redline. “I couldn’t stop on my own so my dad had a rope tied to the back of the bike to help me stop.” As Redline progressed in his riding skills, he began racing and moved up the ranks. “At the Loretta Lynn Nationals in Tennessee, I was the fastest 6-year old on a dirt bike,” says Redline. “As I got older I got into Enduro and so many other types of racing including go-karts on dirt tracks, mini sprints, and more.” Redline soon looked into UTV racing and began with a humbling experience. “When I got interested in trying UTV racing, we went to a local Polaris dealer and picked up an RZR,” said Redline. “At our first desert race, I went wide around a corner and hit a cement block that blew the front end off the car. After we fixed it, we finished sixth at another race and I had to learn how to handle whoops sections.” With the experience he gained racing UTVs off-road, Redline teamed up with Chap Racing and drove the 2017 SCORE Baja 500 in the team’s Can-Am. “That was our first experience in SCORE, and I got really into the UTVs and loved it,” he said. That was the last time Redline raced in SCORE as he began the UTV circuit until he got into a Trophy Truck Spec. “We had been racing UTVs, and I kept breaking them. So we stepped into a Brenthel Trophy Truck Spec to try, and I loved it,” said Redline. “We raced that for about a year.” Redline moved into a Brenthel Gen3 Trophy Truck and competed in other state-side races, but always wanting to return to SCORE. “An opportunity came to get Apdaly Lopez’s old Geiser RPM Off-Road truck and we decided to prepare for the SCORE Baja 1000.” The truck was prepared and Redline began testing. “I messaged Apdaly through Instagram to see if there was even a chance he’d be interested in racing the SCORE Baja 1000 with me,” said Redline. “He responded and here we are, ready to take on the 52nd BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000 Presented by 4 Wheel Parts.” Redline is extremely happy to have a three-time SCORE Trophy Truck champion co-drive with him at this race. “I have learned so much from Apdaly already,” says Redline. “He comes from racing quads, so he’s on and off the throttle all the time to help keep momentum and to use the power when it’s needed. I’ve fortunately picked that up and have learned to keep the front end up instead of letting the truck buck too hard. The truck works good, and Geiser did a great job in prepping it. We feel confident about pushing the truck hard and finding its limits.” The 16-year-old also learned the limits of his body after testing and hitting a rock that ended up breaking his collar bone. “It’s been a month after I’ve had surgery on it, and it feels fine now, but the experience humbles you,” he said. “You learn to watch out for them much better. I’ve come close to winning some state-side races in the Trophy Truck. We finished third in the last one, but I want everything to come together at the SCORE Baja 1000.” The plan, according to Redline, will have him starting the SCORE Baja 1000 and driving the first half, then handing the truck over to Lopez to finish the race; both will be using Brian Hanson as their navigator. “I love-off road racing, and when I first started, I used to love watching videos of Ivan Stewart. I also look up to guys like Bryce Menzies and Rob MacCachren. I want to be at their level, and now I’ll at least be able to race them on the same platform. That’s truly exciting for any racer, and I want to learn and get faster.” SJ

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