SCORE Journal

SCORE-Journal-March-2021

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

Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1352065

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 31 of 102

LOOKING FOR A FOURTH Three-Time SCORE Trophy Truck Champion Apdaly Lopez Returns To SCORE With A New Team By Dan Sanchez The 2020 SCORE season was difficult for many, and three-time SCORE Trophy Truck champion Apdaly Lopez spent most of it watching on the sidelines. At the beginning of the season, he had a deal with Smiley Motorsports but as soon as COVID hit, things changed. “Apart from the reasons that led us to cancel the 2020 season with the Smiley Motorsports team, the most difficult thing was learning to live with this new change that I think has affected us all in different ways,” said Lopez. At the end of the season, Lopez teamed up with Jax Redline at the SCORE Baja 1000, which also ended in disappointment after breaking down and not being able to finish the race. With the 2021 SCORE season starting at the 34th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE San Felipe 250 Presented by Ford in April, Lopez has a new team in which he and his father Juan Carlos Lopez have put together. “Since 2000, my dad has always had lots of support and with this team, we have the unconditional support from members of our family who are handling pits and logistics for us,” says Lopez. “We’ve done this many times, which makes me feel secure in this new stage as a driver and team manager. I believe we’ll have good results this year.” Lopez is still working on finalizing some of the team’s sponsors, but some of the initial ones include Raceline Wheels, KC Hilites, PIN Manufacturing, La Guarida Bar, Torco, Hotel Kumai Inn, Rugged Radios, Kaza Studios, and others. With the first race of the SCORE 2021 season happening in April, Lopez is confident but also knows it will take work to get this team into championship shape. “The hardest part for this season will be the competition and the course,” says Lopez. Also entering into the race are Lopez’s two sisters, Alexis and Jessica, who will also be racing in various SCORE races and off-road events in different classes. Alexis will be driving in the SCORE TT Spec class with Curry Chevrolet, while Jessica will be driving in the Pro UTV FI class in a Can-Am Maverick X3. “It would be good to have my sisters with me on the team and I am looking forward to teaching them as much as I can so they too can have a good race in San Felipe,” said Lopez. “We’re taking it one step at a time, much like we’ve done in the past. We need to see where we stand among the other competitors after the first race to plan where we need to improve for every race. Our objective is to win another championship and some races, but we know it will take a full season’s worth of work and it takes one to two months to properly prepare for each race.” SJ

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of SCORE Journal - SCORE-Journal-March-2021