SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
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PARTNERS IN PRECISION McMillin And MacCachren Conquer The Baja 1000, Again! By Micah Anderson Photos by Get Some Photo Luke McMillin and Rob MacCachren delivered an unforgettable performance at the BFGoodrich Tires 57th SCORE Baja 1000. The duo, racing in the No. 83 The Beast Unleashed Trophy Truck, claimed the Overall and SCORE Trophy Truck class win displaying flawless teamwork, preparation, and execution. This victory adds another prestigious chapter to their Baja racing legacy, with McMillin and MacCachren proving again why they are among the best in off-road racing. The 864.13-mile loop race, starting and finishing in Ensenada, was the final event of the 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship Season and featured a brutal mix of technical sections, fast-paced desert runs, and rugged coastal terrain, demanding precision and endurance from all competitors. This win marks McMillin’s fourth SCORE Baja 1000 triumph in the last five years, a streak fueled by his relentless drive to succeed. “This race has been an obsession of mine my entire life,” McMillin said. “It’s hard to put into words what it means to stand on top again after such a challenging season.” Throughout 2024, McMillin experienced highs and difficult lows with a second-place finish in the SCORE San Felipe 250, struggling at the SCORE Baja 500 to finish 13th, a DNF at the SCORE Baja 400, followed by a big grand victory at the SCORE Baja 1000. A Winning Formula The No. 83 team’s SCORE Baja 1000 success began long before race day. The 2024 team partnership between McMillin and MacCachren came about as a handshake deal at last year’s finish line to commemorate the third occasion they would team up for the big race. “Once we locked it in, from there, it is pretty much 365-day plan to get the ball rolling,” MacCachren explained. In preparation for this year’s competition, the effort included meticulously planning every detail of their strategy and weeks of pre-running the course with MacCachren taking the first leg and McMillin the final stretch. Their goal was simple, keep the truck fast, clean, and in contention. MacCachren started the race second on the road and wasted no time establishing a steady, calculated pace. The early miles were critical, as the course’s tight, technical switchbacks and rocky sections served punishing results from even the smallest mistake. MacCachren held it down and drove with precision, handing the truck over to McMillin at race mile 460 in pristine condition and with the lead firmly in hand. “My job was to give Luke a truck he can win with,” MacCachren explained. “No mistakes, no damage—just keep it moving.” McMillin took the reins for the final leg, navigating the notorious San Felipe whoops and pushing the truck to its limit while fending off hard-charging competitors like Toby Price in the No. 46 truck. Despite a minor issue with the speed limiter during a highway section, McMillin maintained his lead and brought the truck across the finish line with an elapsed time of 15 hours, 53 minutes, and 52.779 seconds. The team did not suffer a single flat tire, a testament to the highly engineered BFGoodrich tire technology. “This race was about preparation, trust, and keeping it clean,” McMillin said. “Rob brought the truck to me in the lead, flawless, just as you’d expect, and we never looked back. Today, the truck felt good—an effortless flow. As Larry Roeseler says, you just gotta flow and keep momentum.” A Pivotal Third Wheel Jason Duncan, McMillin’s trusted navigator, played a pivotal role in the event preparation and throughout the race itself. “Duncan is one of the best co-drivers in the game,” McMillin said. “He rode the entire race from start to finish—over 15 hours—helping Rob and me keep the truck on pace and avoid costly mistakes.” “Jason doesn’t just navigate—he’s part of the planning,” MacCachren said. “He keeps everything sharp, which is key when the stakes are this high.” The level of competition in the SCORE Trophy Truck division remains incredibly high, with top teams separated by mere seconds at the finish and single-digit point margins in the championship. This year’s race highlighted the importance of preparation, strategy, and seamless teamwork, all of which were on full display in McMillin and MacCachren’s victory. Rob MacCachren: Pre-running with Purpose For both racers, the road to Baja victory began weeks before the green flag dropped. In preparation for the 2024 SCORE Baja 1000, MacCachren logged over 2,000 miles behind the wheel of his pre-runner, meticulously studying every detail of the course. McMillin mirrored the effort to meet his own needs. This program exemplifies the level of preparation needed to win one of off-road racing’s most demanding events. Pre-running in Baja is as much about strategy as it is about survival. With temperatures swinging wildly—from foggy mornings in the low 50s along the Pacific coast to blistering afternoons nearing 100 degrees in Cataviña—MacCachren experienced the full spectrum of Baja’s challenges. “It’s wild, unpredictable, and stunning all at once,” he said. Magnifico Curso The race course captured the essence and pure magic of untamed Mexico which provided moments of reflection and awe. “We knew it was going to be a loop race, and I was hoping we were going to get a coastal section,” MacCachren admitted. “That is always fast and fun. Once the course came out, it was pretty vague and generalized, but I just started “geeking out” and visualizing where checkpoints will be, planning out logistics for the crews, and just putting the chess pieces together.” One of the highlights came near Cataviña, a section MacCachren described as otherworldly. “At one point, we were jamming south along the Pacific Ocean. After we turned inland, the sun was setting behind us, lighting up the mountains ahead with pure yellow Baja gold. It almost looked like the mountaintop was on fire. Everything on the ground ahead was in shadow. The cactus formations, still catching light looked like something out of Dr. Seuss, and the contrast of light and dark was just breathtaking. Duncan pulled out his phone and started filming the whole wild scene around us while we blasted through it.” This reverence for Baja’s beauty fuels MacCachren’s dedication. Every mile of pre-running and racing is a total immersion in the terrain that has defined his career. “It’s a reminder of why we love racing here. It’s about respect—respect for Baja, the race, and what it takes to win here,” he said. A Legacy of Excellence This 2024 SCORE Baja 1000 victory marks McMillin’s fourth in the last five years and MacCachren’s can now claim seven class wins in this legendary motorsport competition. What is even more amazing, looking at the official time from 2023, McMillin is just shy of 79 seconds away from winning five SCORE Baja 1000 races in a row. Both racers credit their success to the unwavering support of their team and sponsors. “The McMillin family, Rob MacCachren Motorsports, BFGoodrich Tires, Method Race Wheels—they’re all part of this,” McMillin said. “It’s not just one driver or co-driver; it’s an entire team effort that makes these wins possible.” For MacCachren, the win also underscores the enduring allure of SCORE Baja racing and one that he does not take lightly. “It’s the challenge, the scenery, the teamwork—it’s what keeps us coming back year after year,” he said. “It is an honor to get to do this with a team like the McMillins. Corky (grandfather of Luke and Dan McMillin) would be very proud of everything the family has done. The whole team, the McMillin family, Mark, Luke, Dan, Andy, and all the guys too, they’re super fun to be around, very respectful to everyone, and they make us feel like family. It was just awesome being with them. I am grateful just for the opportunity that they allowed me to race with them and get three more SCORE Baja 1000 wins under my belt. It’s definitely because of them.” As the dust settles on the 2024 SCORE Baja 1000, the No. 83 team’s victory stands as a testament to the skill, dedication, precision, and unyielding spirit that define the pinnacle of off-road racing. SJ Video: Luke McMillin & Rob MacCachren On Winning The SCORE Baja 1000 Overall