SCORE JOURNAL
29
MECHANIC OF THE YEAR
ASSEMBLY
REQUIRED
MCMILLIN RACING'S
ROGER PEREIRA
VOTED 2020 SCORE
MECHANIC OF THE
YEAR
BY DAN SANCHEZ
PHOTOS BY CALEB NORMAN
I
t's not always easy being the team
mechanic, but it's one of the jobs
that is just as important to a race
team as the person behind the
steering wheel. When Luke McMillin
won the 2020 SCORE Baja 1000
and the SCORE Trophy Truck Class
Championship, Roger Pereira knew his
efforts were not in vain.
As the team mechanic, Pereira
believes the role takes more than
simply making sure bolts are properly
torqued and that parts have been
disassembled, cleaned, and put back in
order. "I believe team members need
to take pride in their work, and that's
what makes a difference in winning,"
says Pereira.
Being mechanically inclined since
his youth, Pereira became a mechanic
when he was 15 years-old working at
a prep shop with off-road racer Mark
Cowan. "I learned a lot when I was
there, moved on to other shops, and
then progressed in the industry," said
Pereira. "A friend of mine was working
on Luke McMillin's team and notified
me there was an opportunity there. I
met with Luke and have been with the
team now for three years."
