SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1544512
METHOD RACE WHEEL QUALIFIER Only The Quickest Starts First By Dan Sanchez Photos by Get Some Photo The start of the SCORE 2026 World Desert Championship Season began with the Method Race Wheel Qualifier, which placed some of the desert’s fastest racers in a tough competition to start first overall at the King Shocks’ 39th SCORE San Felipe 250. All of the top Trophy Truck and Class 1 teams were able to start the race from their qualifying positions, which places the fastest teams and vehicles up front. Vildosola Racing’s Ricky Johnson finally achieved his goal of being the fastest qualifier for a SCORE race after several close attempts throughout the 2025 season. Johnson, the 1L co-driver, with Gus Vildosola Sr. as DOR, finished the 2.9-mile course in 3:139.177. “The ruts are big, and the silt is bad,” said Johnson about the qualifying course. “I missed a couple of turns and bicycled a little.” The first-place start for the 1L team marks the first time a SCORE Trophy Truck Legend truck will start the race ahead of a team in the SCORE Trophy Truck class. Being first off the starting line also means that the other fastest vehicles are right behind you. After qualifying, the fastest three SCORE Trophy Trucks were Luke McMillin in the No. 83 truck, followed by Alan Ampudia in the No. 1 truck, and Tavo Vildosola in the No. 21 truck. First to start off the race for the SCORE Trophy Truck 2WD Class was Rob MacCachren in the No. 11T truck, and first to start in the SCORE Trophy Truck Spec Class was Jason McNeil in the No. 234 truck. Starting first in Class 1 was Cody Parkhouse in the No. 127 buggy, followed by Cody Reid in the No. 168 buggy.SJ