SCORE Latest News
Online Racer Registration Open for 36th SCORE San Felipe 250
SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Clark, Dominic@SCORE-International.com
February 13, 2023
‘Celebrating 50 Years of Desert Racing Excellence’
Fueled by Baja Vida Snacks
Online Racer Registration now open for
King Shocks 36th SCORE San Felipe 250
Season opener of four-race 2023 SCORE World Desert Championship,
Online racer registration for San Felipe closes on Thursday, March 16;
Event dates March 28-April 2 in San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico
Qualifying- for SCORE Trophy Truck, SCORE TT Legend,
and Trophy Truck Spec on Wednesday, March 29
NOTE: King Shocks 36th SCORE San Felipe 250, fueled by Baja Vida, Schedule of Events at bottom of text
ENSENADA, Baja California, Mexico – ‘Celebrating 50 Years of Desert Racing Excellence’ this year, online racer registration is now open for the upcoming King Shocks 36th SCORE San Felipe 250, Fueled by Baja Vida. Round 1 of the four-race 2023 SCORE World Desert Championship will be held March 28-April 2 in the quaint, peaceful village of San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico.
Pre-race Contingency and Tech Inspection and the start/finish line compound will be located on the picturesque El Malecon in San Felipe along the inspiring azure waters of the Sea of Cortez.
Seeing if one racer can win the overall title for the seventh time, one racer win a class for the 20th time and another racer win the overall for the second straight time are just three of the story lines awaiting racers from around the world as online racer registration is now open for the popular ‘Spring Break’ race.
San Felipe is 125 miles south of the U.S. Border at Calexico, Calif. on the eastern side of the Baja peninsula along the azure waters of the Sea of Cortez. All four 2023 SCORE races will be held on Mexico’s magnificent Baja California peninsula for the eighth consecutive year.
THREE DECADES-PLUS
Celebrating the 36th anniversary of the youngest of the three legendary SCORE Baja races, sometimes referred to as the SCORE ‘Baby Baja’, entries are being accepted on the SCORE website under Race Info at www.SCOREInternational.com for Pro and Sportsman entries for cars, trucks, UTVs, motorcycles and quads.
ENTRY DEADLINES
The deadline to enter in time to be included in the SCORE San Felipe 250 Race Day program is 5 p.m. PT on Friday March 10.
The deadline to apply online and be included in the drawing for starting positions within each class is 5 p.m. PT on Thursday, March 16. Starting positions for the classes that aren’t qualifying will be determined by a random drawing after the close of online racer registration. Results of the start draw will be posted on the SCORE website by 6 p.m. PT on Friday, March 17.
Late entries may register in person at the SCORE Ensenada office will have until 5 p.m. PT on Friday, March 24. Those late entries, however, will not be included in the start draw.
Late, on-site entries will receive the next starting position within the class entered.
Questions should be directed to Shannon Lund, SCORE Registration and Membership Director at 775.852.8907 or registration@SCORE-International.com.
QUALIFYING
For just the fourth time in the history of this popular ‘Spring Break’ race, SCORE will hold a qualifying session starting at 7 a.m. PT on Wednesday, March 29 to determine the starting positions within each class for the SCORE Trophy Truck, SCORE TT Legend and Trophy Truck Spec classes. The starting order for qualifying in each class will be the order in which they entered the race.
Entries received in the qualifying classes received after Friday, March 24 will be given then next available starting slot within their respective classes.
Start order for qualifying will be determined by the date and time that they are received.
The first-time qualifying was held for this race was in 2017 when Rob MacCachren, Cameron Steele and Carlos ‘Apdaly’ Lopez were the top three qualifiers in the marquee SCORE Trophy Truck division for high-tech, 1000-horsepower, unlimited custom trucks.
In 2021, Bryce Menzies was the fastest qualifier followed by Andy McMillin and his cousin Luke McMillin. At the finish of the race Menzies was the winner, L. McMillin was second and A. McMillin finished in third place.
In 2022, Menzies was the fastest qualifier followed by Justin Lofton and L. McMillin. At the finish, L. McMillin was the winner, Menzies was second at the team of Mike Walser/Jax Redline finished in third place.
Qualifying is not open to the public and will be held on a five-mile course that is not part of the official race course.
DEFENDING CHAMPS
Expected back to defend their overall race wins from 2022 are San Diego’s Luke McMillin in SCORE Trophy Truck and the motorcycle team led by Juan Carlos Salvatierra of La Paz, Bolivia.
Turning the tables on the 2021 race results, third-generation desert racer Luke McMillin topped Las Vegas' Bryce Menzies in 2022, roaring through the Baja desert to defeat a voluminous 273 starters in the King Shocks 35th SCORE San Felipe 250.
Luke McMillin, drove solo to power his stunning No. 83 Mason-built all-wheel drive Chevy 1500 to lead the third-largest number of starters in race history to an inspiring error-free, penalty-free winning time of four hours, 25 minutes and 21 seconds over the sun-drenched, rock-filled, silt-strewn 277.00 miles for a remarkable average speed of 62.63 miles per hour.
Switching from the unique Pro Moto Ironman class for solo riders after winning two straight season class point championships, Bolivia's legendary athlete/statesman and Dakar Rally veteran Juan Carlos Salvatierra teamed up with Mexico's Arturo Salas and USA's Shane Logan and the three-nation team was the Overall Motorcycle and Pro Moto Unlimited Class winner in last year's King Shocks SCORE San Felipe 250.
With Salas starting, Logan, of San Diego, taking the second section, Salvatierra, 40, finished up for the impressive victory on his KTM 450SX-F.
Logan crashed on his section and Salvatierra rode the final section of the race course without a seat.
SCORE TRIPLE CROWN OF BAJA
Together, the SCORE San Felipe 250, SCORE Baja 500 and SCORE Baja 1000 are the three traditional SCORE Baja races that form the coveted SCORE Triple Crown of Baja award given to racers who have won the overall in each of these massive events.
The nine racers who have won the overall victory in all three of these races are David Ashley, Robby Gordon, Rob MacCachren, Andy McMillin, Scott McMillin, Larry Ragland, Dan Smith, Ivan Stewart and Gustavo Vildosola Jr.
SIX-TIMER
While three racers have three overall victories in the SCORE San Felipe 250, Las Vegas’ Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee Rob MacCachren might have set a standard that will last for awhile, unless he breaks his own record of six overall and SCORE Trophy Truck wins.
MacCachren, admired as the G.O.A.T. of off-road racing, he won the overall in San Felipe in 2018 to give him 10 class wins in this race, earned his first SCORE Trophy Truck overall in this race in 2003 when he split the driving with Mexico’s Gustavo Vildosola Sr and his second in 2007 when he split the driving with Mark Post.
MacCachren earned back-to-back wins in 2011 and 2012 driving solo and won his fifth in 2017 and his sixth in 2018 driving solo again in his No. 11 MacCachren Motorsports Ford F-150.
THREE TIMERS
Three active racers have won three overall victories each in the SCORE San Felipe 250.
The most recent racer to win overall three times in San Felipe was Mexico’s Gustavo ‘Tavo’ Vildosola Jr, who won three straight (2013, 2014, 2015). Vildosola Jr is tied with two other Las Vegas racers with three overall wins each in this race.
A second-generation Mexican desert racer, Vildosola Jr of Mexicali has five class wins in this race in the No. 21 Vildosola Racing Ford Raptor SCORE Trophy Truck.
Vildosola Jr, with help from his father Gustavo Sr, in 2013 won his first overall. He drove solo the next two years to tie the record in 2015 of three straight overall wins set by Las Vegas racing brothers Ed Herbst and Tim Herbst who won three straight in 1999, 2000 and 2001 in the No. 19 Monster Energy Terrible Herbst Motorsports Ford F-150.
There is one more Southern Nevada driver with three overall wins in San Felipe but not three straight.
Las Vegas’ Brian Collins, who is no longer racing, won his first San Felipe Overall in 1990 in Class 1 while splitting driving time with SCORE Baja motorcycle racing legend and Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Famer Jack Johnson, also of Las Vegas. Collins later captured two straight driving solo in SCORE Trophy Truck in 2008 and 2009.
MOTORCYCLE MAGIC
Among the SCORE Overall motorcycles winners at the SCORE San Felipe 250 no one has done it any better than SCORE Baja legend Johnny Campbell who recorded seven overall motorcycle victories for Honda (1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2008).
One motorcycle star with five SCORE Overall Motorcycle wins in the SCORE San Felipe 250 is Colton Udall (2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016).
Two other motorcycle aces with four SCORE Overall Motorcycle wins each are Steve Hengeveld (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004) and Mark Samuels (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) while with three SCORE San Felipe 250 Overall wins were Danny Hamel (1994, 1995, 1996) and Robby Bell (2006, 2007, 2008).
GLORY ROADS
History clearly shows that the SCORE San Felipe 250 has been a major building block for many of the world’s all-time greatest desert racers in addition to being the lovable baby brother of the three traditional SCORE Baja races.
Host to the biggest and brightest stars in the history of desert racing, legends like Ivan Stewart, Walker Evans, Roger Mears, Rod Hall, Larry Ragland, Brian Collins, Dan Smith, Curt LeDuc, Jack Johnson, Danny Hamel, Johnny Campbell, Juan Carlos Ibarra, Steve Hengeveld, Robby Bell and Greg Row all are part of the foundation of this rustic race.
Also adding to the fantastic fabric of this iconic SCORE Baja racing tapestry have been active racers like Rob MacCachren, Larry Roeseler, Andy McMillin, Daniel McMillin, Luke McMillin, Gus Vildosola Jr, the Herbst Brothers Ed, Tim and Troy, the Wilson family (Randy, Rick, Ronny, Brad and Brian), Robby Gordon, B.J. Baldwin, Robby Bell, Colton Udall, Justin Morgan, Mark Samuels, Wayne Matlock, Billy Wilson, Adam Pfankuch, Donald Moss, Santiago Creel, Jano Montoya, Giovanni Spinali and Jim O’Neal.
HOUR GLASS
This is a tale of a race told in two parts. It was first run in 1982 for three years through 1984.
It was not held during the first five years in the seven-year run of the combined HDRA/SCORE Desert Racing Series as it resumed in 1990. It almost disappeared after the 1993 race when the combined series split and the SCORE San Felipe 250 had just 82 total starters.
It bounced back though, as all good things in Baja do, climbing to 250 or more starters eight times, including twice with over 300 starters.
The largest starting field was 394 in 2007 when then SCORE President Sal Fish had to move the race to Ensenada less than two weeks before the race because of disputes between land owners and government officials. That race started in Ensenada and finished in Santo Tomas, south of Ensenada.
The largest starting field for the race when it was run in San Felipe was 2006 when 341 vehicles left the start line.
The most finishers in this shortest of the three traditional SCORE Baja races were in 2007 when 288 completed it and 2006 when 220 crossed the finish line within the time limit.
Like all the SCORE Baja race courses, the SCORE San Felipe 250 has always featured some of the most start, dramatic and awe-inspiring terrain and scenery in the world. Infamous for its punishment to racer and vehicle, part of the courses has included a whoop section of over 25 miles virtually like driving over a washboard.
Over the years, this race has seen parts of its courses go through several of the legendary Baja washes like Matomi, Huatomote, Chanate, Azufre, Cuevitas and Amarillas.
For many years, the start and finish line areas were beneath the fabled San Felipe Arches landmark on the outskirts of town. From 2016 through 2019, the start/finish line was on El Malecon along the Sea of Cortez in the heart of town and in 2021 the start/finish line area was on the grounds of the El Dorado Rancho just north of town. The race was not held in 2020 because of the global health pandemic.
The start/finish line compound returned to El Malecon in 2022.
MULTI WINNERS
The all-time leader in class wins in the SCORE San Felipe 250 is motorcycle age-group racer Jim O’Neal who has competed in all 35 previous SCORE San Felipe races, winning his class a record 19 times.
Second in class wins is Eric Solorzano who has won 11 times in Class 11 (stock VW Sedan) while third is MacCachren with10 class wins and fourth is Donald Moss who won nine times in 10 years in Class 3 in his sturdy Ford Bronco (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013).
Tied for third in class wins with eight each are SCORE Baja motorcycle racing legend Johnny Campbell and Dan Smith who first won in 1984 on a motorcycle and won his final one in 2002 in SCORE Trophy Truck, teaming with David Ashley.
VIVA GANADOR MEXICANO
Juan C. Ibarra became the first Mexican national to win a SCORE Trophy Truck race when he won his class in 1998 while finishing second overall to the Class 1 team of Mark Post/Jerry Whelchel in the SCORE San Felipe 250.
EL BANCO
For over three decades, the annual motorsports festival that has brought the largest economic impact of any single event held annually in this lightly-populated portion of the rugged, rough and bountifully beautiful Baja peninsula has been the SCORE San Felipe 250.
MANUFACTURER CHAMPS
In the battle of manufacturers, several categories are represented.
Leaders in overall truck wins are Ford Truck (18), Chevy Truck (5), Dodge Truck (2) and Jeep and Toyota with one win each.
Leaders in overall cars wins are Chenowth (4) Jimco (2) Raceco (1) and Riviera (1).
Leaders in overall Tire manufacturers’ wins for cars/trucks are BFGoodrich Tires (30), Callahan Tires (2), Goodyear Tires (1) and Toyo Tires (1).
The leaders in overall motorcycle wins are Honda (23), Kawasaki (7), KTM (4) and Husqvarna (1).
The leaders in overall engine wins for cars and trucks are Ford (18), Chevy (7), Porsche (3), Dodge (2), Volkswagen (2), BMW (1), Jeep (1) and Toyota (1).
BFGOODRICH TIRES UNMATCHED
BFGoodrich Tires, the official tire of SCORE for 47 years, voted the 2022 SCORE Contingency Company of the Year for the 32nd time.
BFGoodrich Tires has been the choice of 34 of the 54 overall winners of the popular SCORE Baja 500 and 33 of the 55 overall winners of the legendary SCORE Baja 1000. BFGoodrich Tires is also the title sponsor of both of these iconic races again in 2023.
BFGoodrich Tires also has been the choice of 30 of the 35 overall winners of the SCORE San Felipe 250, all three SCORE Desert Challenge races in Baja, the SCORE Challenge of Champions in San Felipe, the one SCORE Baja Sur 500 and one out of the three SCORE Baja 400 races.
SCOREstory
The original SCORE International was founded in 1973 by the late Mickey Thompson and headed by Sal Fish from 1974 until Fish sold SCORE International on Dec. 20, 2012. SCORE continues as the premier sanctioning body in the sport of desert racing. SCORE races feature classes for Pro and Sportsman cars, trucks, UTVs, motorcycles and quads competing in the internationally-televised four-race SCORE World Desert Championship.
SCOREscope
2023 GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY SCHEDULE
Here are the dates for the four-race 2023 SCORE World Desert Championship Golden Anniversary season, ‘Celebrating 50 Years of Desert Racing Excellence’, which will be held totally in Baja California, Mexico for the eighth consecutive year:
- King Shocks 36th SCORE San Felipe 250, fueled by Baja Vida—
March 28-April 2, San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico
- BFGoodrich Tires 55th SCORE Baja 500, presented by 4 Wheel Parts—
May 31-June 4, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
- 4th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing Fuels—
September 12-17, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
- BFGoodrich Tires 56th SCORE Baja 1000, presented by 4 Wheel Parts—
November 13-18, La Paz, Baja California Sur to Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
SCORE SPONSORS…
Official SCORE Sponsors: BFGoodrich Tires-Official Tire and Race Title Sponsor, 4 Wheel Parts-Official Off-Road Retailer and Race Presenting Partner, Ford-Official Truck and SUV, King Shocks-Official Shock Absorber and Race Title Sponsor, Polaris RZR-Official UTV, VP Racing Fuels-Official Fuel and race presenting sponsor, Baja Vida-Official Snacks and race presenting sponsor, Optima Batteries-Official Batteries, Wide Open Excursions-Official Arrive and Drive Company, Crystal Bay Casino-Official Casino and PCI Race Radios.
SCORE Official Partners: The Satellite Phone Store, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance, Lucerna Hotel.
Additional SCORE Associate Partners: Baja California Secretary of Tourism, MEXICO Secretary of Tourism, San Felipe Foundational Municipal Council, Ensenada Municipal Government, San Felipe Marketing Tourism Committee, Ensenada Marketing Tourism Committee, Ensenada Hotel and Motel Association, Proturismo Ensenada and Cruz Roja Mexicana.
For more information regarding SCORE, visit the official website of the SCORE World Desert Championship at www.SCORE-International.com.
‘Celebrating 50 Years of Desert Racing Excellence’
King Shocks 36th SCORE San Felipe 250, Fueled by Baja Vida
Round 1 of 4-race 2023 SCORE World Desert Championship
March 28-April 2 - San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico
Schedule of Events (All Times are Pacific Time)
Tuesday, March 28, 2023 (Times are PT)
By Appt. Chassis Inspection—Qualifying teams call 619.572.8245
2pm-6pm Media Registration Centro Comercial Plaza Armex No. 1--
Avenida Mar de Cortez Sur No. 39
2pm-8pm Qualifying Teams Registration Centro Comercial Plaza Armex No. 1
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 (Times are PT)
By Appt. Chassis Inspection call 619.572.8245
7am Qualifying-SCORE Trophy Truck, SCORE TT Legend, Trophy Truck Spec—Location TBA
9am-8pm Racer Registration (no new entries after 7pm) Centro Comercial Plaza Armex No. 1
1pm-5pm Media Registration Centro Comercial Plaza Armex No. 1--
Thursday, March 30, 2023 (Times are PT)
By Appt. Chassis Inspection call 619.572.8245
9am-5pm Contingency Row El Malecon
9am-5pm Media Registration Centro Comercial Plaza Armex No. 1
9am-6pm Tech Insp/Transponder Ck/Stella Install End of El Malecon
9am-8pm Racer Registration (no new entries after 7pm) Centro Comercial Plaza Armex No. 1
Friday, March 31, 2023 (Times are PT)
8am-5pm Racer Registration (no new entries after 4pm) Centro Comercial Plaza Armex No. 1
8am-5pm Contingency Row El Malecon
8am-6pm Tech Insp/Transponder Ck/Stella Install End of El Malecon
9am-5pm Media Registration Centro Comercial Plaza Armex No. 1
6pm Mandatory Aircraft Pilot Safety Meeting Pavilion at El Dorado Ranch
7pm Mandatory Racers Meeting Pavilion at El Dorado Ranch
Saturday, April 1, 2023 (Times are PT)
5:30a-11p SCORE Media Center Open SECTURE Office, 614 Mar de Cortez
START/FINISH LINE- El Malecon – Approx. 260-mile race course
6am RACE START: MOTORCYCLES/QUADS (subject to change)—
Pro Moto Unltd, Pro Moto 30, Pro Moto Ltd, Pro Moto 50, Pro Moto 40, Pro Moto Ironman, Pro Moto 60, Pro Quad, Pro Quad Ironman, Pro Baja-e Moto/Quad, SPT Moto, SPT Quad
(Start Intervals: Pro Moto Unlimited-60 second split, all other classes start one every 30 seconds)
GAP –a minimum of 2 1/2 hour gap between M/C, Quad start and car/truck/utv start
8:30am Opening Ceremonies
9am RACE START CARS/TRUCKS/UTVS (subject to change)—
TT/TT Legend, 1, TT Spec, 10, Pro UTV Open, Pro UTV FI, 7, SL, Pro UTV NA, 1/2-1600, PT, Pro UTV Stock, 8, HM, 4700, 3700, 1700, 2700, Hammer Truck, 5, 3, 5-1600, BC, Stock Mid-Size, 7F, 7SX, SF, TL, Baja-e Truck, Baja-e Car, Baja-e UTV, 2, 11, SPT Truck, SPT Open-Wheel, SPT UTV
(TT, TT Legend, 1, TT Spec one every 60 seconds. All other car/truck/UTV classes start 30-second splits)
TIME LIMIT: All classes have 14 hours from time each vehicle starts to complete the course
Sunday, April 2, 2023 (PT)
5 am Posting of unofficial results online www.score-international.com
7am-8:30am Results inquiry/protest period Pavilion at El Dorado Ranch
8am-11 SCORE Media Center Pavilion at El Dorado Ranch
9:30am Posting of official results Pavilion at El Dorado Ranch
10am-Noon Awards Celebration Pavilion at El Dorado Ranch