SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1384811
A SHOW OF STRENGTH Fearless women competing in the SCORE 2021 Season and who empower more to follow By Dan Sanchez There have always been women off-road racers who have proved they have what it takes to be SCORE Baja champions. Off-Road Motorsports Hall Of Fame inductee Judy Smith was one of the early SCORE racing women pioneers who raced the Baja 500 in 1971. Pro motorcycle rider Anna Cody, who finished second at the 1990 SCORE San Felipe 250 in the Pro class, led the first team of female motorcycle racers to finish the SCORE Baja 1000 that same year. She was also the first woman to solo and finish the SCORE Baja 1000 in 2006. Many other women followed suit and competed in SCORE, including Becky Wick Freeman, Heidi Steele, Jessica McMillin, Michelle Bruckmann, Monica Greenhill, Viry Felix, Paige Sohren, Julie Boyer, Jessie Combs, Sara Price, and a long list of others. Jumping Forward By far the most popular women racers during the SCORE 2021 season have been Kristen Matlock and Shelby Reid. Needless to say, Matlock has proven she’s one of the toughest competitors in off-road racing, often starting from the rear in the SCORE Pro UTV N/A class, driving solo, and winning. She’s even been the top Pro UTV Overall winner beating top competitors in other Pro UTV Classes including her husband, Wayne Matlock, who has a few SCORE Pro UTV Unlimited Championships under his belt. Reid is a SCORE Class 1 Champion who is also one of the most widely respected racers in modern SCORE history. Her racing skills and determination have perhaps inspired more women racers to compete in SCORE since she started racing in 2006, and who epitomizes what it takes to be a competitive racer, mom, entrepreneur and a humble human being. Empowered To Win There’s no doubt that women like Reid and Matlock are two “bad-ass” moms who put family first, are fast on the racecourse, and are the nicest people you would ever want to know. But their successes and determination has empowered other women to continue and in some cases, begin competing in SCORE Baja racing. At the 2021 BFGoodrich Tires 34th SCORE San Felipe 250, a slew of women racers emerged onto the scene, also ready to prove they can compete. Several women across SCORE classes from Pro Moto Unlimited, to Pro Quad, SCORE Trophy Truck Spec, 1/2-1600, and several Pro UTV classes, and Sportsman classes, showed up to compete and finish the race. Many are continuing to pursue their passion, while others are testing their abilities, and are eager to start their racing careers. SCORE Journal editors caught up with several women who have their own unique stories about how they got involved in racing, but all share a common goal or wanting to do what they love and win. Read on. SJ