SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1342270
THE 2020 HONOR ROLL SCORE International Honors The People, Sponsors, And Companies Who Helped Make The 2020 Season Possible By Dominic Clark, and SCORE Journal Staff The 2020 SCORE World Desert Championship season was one of the most difficult on record, but despite the COVID-19 pandemic and race schedule changes, the organization managed to produce the SCORE Baja 500 and SCORE Baja 1000 races. President /Race Director Jose A. Grijalva, and SCORE General Manager Juan Tintos Funke worked diligently with the Mexican government and city officials to implement all of the country’s pandemic protocols, which helped make the 2020 SCORE season successful. As a result of the two-race season, the 2020 champions in each racing division have been crowned (see SCORE Journal January 2021 issue) but the winners were asked to send in acceptance videos which were gathered together for everyone to enjoy. At the end of each racing season, SCORE also honors the individuals who are nominated for a variety of awards that are voted by SCORE members and fans. SCORE SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS SCORE General Manager Juan Tintos Funcke presented five SCORE Special Achievement awards to Mexican officials who all orchestrated and oversaw so many details to allow SCORE to hold its two major races in 2020. Receiving the awards were Marina del Pilar Avila Olmeda, Mayor of Mexicali, Armando Ayala Robles, Mayor of Ensenada, Mario Jesus Escobedo Carignan, Secretary of Sustainable Economy and Tourism of Baja California, Dr. Alonso Oscar Perez Rico, Secretary of Health for Baja California and Dr. Aaron Urena Zaragoza, SCORE Health Consultant. ELIOTT WATSON SCORE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR With just two races on his SCORE resume, Eliott Watson, age 20, drove the new No. 1893 Honda Talon 1000R Turbo UTV. In his first SCORE race as driver of record, Watson finished second in his class in last September’s SCORE Baja 500 before winning his growing class at last year’s SCORE Baja 1000. Watson started his short-course racing career at age 10, and as time went on, he took on management roles on his team shouldering sponsorship and engineering responsibilities. He won his class again this season in the Lucas Oil Off-Road Series, winning eight of 10 races. He is part of the factory-backed Honda Off-Road Racing Team led by Class 7 racer Jeff Proctor. Eliott’s father, Tom Watson, had a winning career in SCORE desert racing, teaming with Tim Noe to win the SCORE Lites season point championship for four consecutive years (2004 - 2007). SCORE MEDIA AWARDS Dan Sanchez, Editor of SCORE Journal digital magazine during its six-year existence and SCORE race programs, was voted as the SCORE Journalist of the Year. GetSomePhoto (Art Eugenio) earned the SCORE Photographer of the Year honors for the sixth time in the last seven years. Winning the SCORE Videographer of the Year award for the first time was Caleb Norman (McMillin Racing). CONTINGENCY AND PIT SUPPORT BFGoodrich Tires, the official tire of SCORE for 45 years, received two awards. BFGoodrich Tires was honored as the SCORE Contingency Company of the year, as well as being voted the SCORE Pit Support Team of the Year. ALL 2020 SCORE OFF-ROADSMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS 2020 SCORE Mechanic of the Year: Rogelio Pereira McMillin Racing 2020 SCORE Contingency Company of the Year: BFGoodrich Tires 2020 SCORE Journalist of the Year: Dan Sanchez, SCORE Journal 2020 SCORE Photographer of the Year: Art Eugenio, GetSomePhoto 2020 SCORE Videographer of the Year: Caleb Norman, McMillin Racing 2020 SCORE Team Manager of the Year: Chris Olimon, McMillin Racing 2020 SCORE Engine Builder of the Year: Kroyer Racing Engines (Kevin Kroyer) 2020 SCORE Original Truck Chassis Manufacturer of the Year: Geiser Bros (Jeff and Rick Geiser) 2020 SCORE Motorcycle Manufacturer of the Year: KTM North America 2020 SCORE UTV Manufacturer of the Year: Polaris Industries Off-Road 2020 SCORE Pit Support Team of the Year: BFGoodrich Tires 2020 SCORE Original Open-Wheel Chassis Manufacturer of the Year: Jimco Racing (Robbie Pierce)