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Josh Daniel paces three RPM Racing drivers to top a sweep of the podium at Tijuana 21st SCORE Desert Challenge
SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Clark, dominiccnv@aol.com September 24, 2017 Next up-50th SCORE Baja 1000 Josh Daniel paces three RPM Racing drivers to top a sweep of the podium at Tijuana 21st SCORE Desert Challenge Round 3 of 4-race 2017 SCORE World Desert Championship was split-session, multi-lap Baja race; Hanna, Burnett, K. Matlock, Ostanik, Fiscal, Aguirre, Shelby Reid, Dickerson, Geiser all class winners in three-day desert racing event,Final results available at www.SCORE-international.com TIJUANA, Baja California, Mexico — A pulsating prelude to the spectacular season-ending 50th anniversary of the iconic BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000 in November, RPM Racing’s Josh Daniel played it straight and consistent to win the overall and SCORE Trophy Truck title at the internationally-televised Tijuana 21st SCORE Desert Challenge. Round 3 of the four-race SCORE World Desert Championship, the three-day race concluded on Sunday. Having held over 150 races in Mexico in the last 40-plus years, this is the first time that SCORE has held a race that has both started and finished in Tijuana. With entries from 15 U.S. States and 14 countries, the majority of the cars, trucks, UTVs, finished their race on Sunday after running the first half on Saturday. Motorcycles, quads and a few car/truck classes raced on Friday in two sessions to open the event. As a substitute driver for driver of record Justin Matney, co-owner of RPM Racing of Bristol, Tenn., Daniel started fourth in the first half of the elapsed-time race to hold off his teammates to hold the overall lead he earned in Saturday’s first half to earn his first career SCORE Trophy Truck victory. Driving in the No. 4 Geiser Bros-built 4-wheel drive Chevy Rally truck, Daniel, of Vista, Calif., covered the six 23-mile laps (138 miles total in a time of 1 hours, 38 minutes, and 16 seconds to pace the field of 124 starters . Growing into the most powerful racing team in the desert, RPM drivers swept the SCORE Trophy Truck and a fourth driver won the SCORE TT Legend class. The legendary BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500 celebratory festivities and intense race days will be held Nov. 14-18. The nearly 1,200-mile race will start in Ensenada, Baja California Norte, Mexico and finish n La Paz, Baja California Sur. START/FINISH The unique-format race was held at a spectator-friendly start/finish line and ‘hot pit’ area located on the southeast outskirts of Tijuana to the east of the popular Rancho Casian area off of Boulevard 2000 (Highway No. 201). DANIEL’S DANDY A delighted Daniel said afterwards during the RPM Racing finish line celebration, “We're here number one. We drove for Justin Matney. It's his truck, he couldn't make it this weekend. He's my partner for the BFGoodrich Tires 50th SCORE Baja 1000 and I'm stoked to be here for RPM Racing and put it together. I had to keep a tight pace with Apdaly. He's super good, he's super fast. He's a champion. He's a champ for a reason so you just can't let him run away with it. He had to put three minutes on us today. He could do that, not easily, but he could. I knew that unless he had a problem I wasn't going to catch him.” “I knew he was going to run hard. I figured I would, probably, have clean air all day. If I did catch his dust, I was just going to sit there because anybody behind me had to catch us and put time on us. It's almost impossible to catch anybody here. I knew I just had to sit there and be patient. He didn't make any mistakes, he did a great job. He couldn't have done any better. He beat us for today’s half. I had to conserve and not make any mistakes. He drove exactly perfect. He had to make up that time and any more lollygagging by us and he might have done it. It really wasn't lollygagging. It was intentional. We didn't want to tear the truck up. It was as smooth as it could be for a really rough course.” MORE CLASS WINNERS Among the car, truck and UTV class winners Sunday were: Marc Burnett, Lakeside, Calif. (Pro UTV FI, Can-Am Maverick X3), Kristen Matlock, Alpine, Calif. (Polaris RZR XP4 1000), Noah Ostanik, Carlsbad, Calif. (Class 8, Ford F-150), Cesar Fiscal, Tijuana, Mexico (Class 1/2-1600Romo-VW), Rafael Aguirre, Monterrey, Mexico (SCORE Lites, Foddrill-VW), Elias Hanna, Ensenada, Mexico (Trophy Truck Spec, Chevy 1500), Broc Dickerson, Brawley, Calif. (Class 10, Alumi Craft-Chevy), and Shelby Reid, Apple Valley, Calif. (Class 1, Jefferies-Chevy). SPECIAL FORMAT Unique for SCORE, the 21st the SCORE Desert Challenge is using a race format that has all classes racing in five different groups for a total of six laps over a surprisingly rugged 23-mile race course (138 total miles) split into two, three-lap sessions. TV TIME The race was filmed to air on a later date as a one-hour special on the El Rey Network as well as syndicated internationally. RPM’S ROARING LIONS Finishing second and third on the overall and in SCORE Trophy Truck were Carlos ‘Apdaly’ Lopez, Tecate, Mexico in the No. 1 RPM Racing Chevy Rally Truck and Eduardo ‘Lalo’ Laguna, Mexicali, Mexico, in the No. 9 RPM Racing Chevy Silverado as a substitute driver for Germany’s Armin Schwarz. Winning the SCORE TT Legend class was Jeff Geiser, Phoenix, as a substitute driver for RPM co-owner Clyde Stacy, in the No. 5 RPM Racing Chevy Silverado. All four of the RPM Racing trucks were built by Geiser Bros of Phoenix. THE COURSE Running predominately on land owned by prominent developer Grupo Musquis, this year’s 23-mile loop course was extremely beautiful and picturesque but as brutally rugged as any SCORE Baja long course. Around four miles was actually part of last year’s course that started and finished just south of Rosarito Beach. The course ran in a counterclockwise direction with two checkpoints. Checkpoint 1 was at race mile 12.05 and Checkpoint 2 was at race mile 17.8. Most of the terrain for this race course was on mountains, hills, valleys and local trails. In addition to Grupo Musquis land, the course also ran through areas like La Nopalera, Los Pancho’s and Ejido Mesa Redonda. WHERE THEY CAME FROM With 124 official starters, there were entries from 15 U.S. States and 14 countries. Nations were USA, host nation Mexico along with Austria, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Guatemala, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and Switzerland. States with entries so far are Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming. HISTRIONICS With less than two months remaining before the historic 50th anniversary race of the iconic BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000, the City of Tijuana and the Tijuana tourism groups has given SCORE a multi-year contract that moved this race from nearby Rosarito Beach where it was held last year. While this is the first time in Tijuana, the SCORE Desert Challenge has been held 20 previous times since it first began in 1995. It was held in Laughlin, Nev., USA, from 1995 through 2012, in Plaster City, Calif., USA, in 2014 and in Rosarito Beach, Baja California, Mexico in 2016. In 1967, the first SCORE Baja 1000 (then called the Mexican 1000) started at the bull ring in Tijuana and the 1995 SCORE Baja 1000 started in the wash near the Hotel Lucerna in Tijuana but no SCORE race has ever finished in Tijuana before this year. In addition to the two starts in Tijuana, SCORE Baja races have been held numerous times in Ensenada and San Felipe, several times in La Paz, a few times in Mexicali, Santo Tomas, Ojos Negros and Cabo San Lucas, and once each in Loreto and Rosarito Beach. SCORE SPONSORS… Official SCORE Sponsors: BFGoodrich Tires-Official Tire, Title Sponsor of this year’s SCORE Baja 1000 and a top sponsor of the 50th SCORE Baja 500 in 2018, Monster Energy-Official Energy Drink, King Shocks-Official Shock Absorber, RACELINE Wheels-Official Wheel, Axial R/C-Official R/C Vehicle, El Rey Network-Official Television Partner, Wide Open Excursions-Official Arrive and Drive Company, Crystal Bay Casino-Official Casino. SCORE Official Partners: PCI Race Radios, 4 Wheel Parts, The Satellite Phone Store, Satellite Del Norte, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance, CETTO Vineyards. Additional SCORE Associate Partners: Proturismo Ensenada, Baja California Secretary of Tourism, Baja California Sur State Government, Baja California Sur Secretary of Tourism, Mexicali Ayuntamiento, COTUCO Mexicali/San Felipe, Cruz Roja Mexicana, Corporate Helicopters, McKenzie’s Performance Products, Advanced Color Graphics. Tijuana SCORE Desert Challenge Special Partners: XXII Ayuntamiento de Tijuana, Baja California Secretary of Tourism, Tijuana Comite de Turismo and Convenciones, Comite de Marcadotecnia Turistica, Asociacion de Hoteles del Noroeste. For more information regarding SCORE, visit the official website of the SCORE World Desert Championship atwww.SCOREInternational.com. SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Clark, SCORE Media Operations Director Sept. 24, 2017 Tijuana 21st SCORE Desert Challenge Sept. 22-24, 2017— Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico Round 3 of four-race 2017 SCORE World Desert Championship 138 miles (6 laps, 23-mile loop course) (Motos, Quads, select Cars, Trucks raced Sept. 22, Cars, Trucks, UTVs raced Sept. 23-24) TOTAL STARTERS (All Classes): 124; TOTAL FINISHERS: 70 (56.5 Percent) TOTAL 4-WHEEL STARTERS: 84; TOTAL 4-WHEEL FINISHERS: 40 TOTAL M/C, QUAD STARTERS: 40; TOTAL M/C, QUAD FINISHERS: 30 (from 15 U.S. States, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Guatemala, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland) OFFICIAL CAR/TRUCK & UTV FINISHERS Pro Cars, Trucks & UTVs (raced Sept. 23-24) Postion, Driver(s), Manufacturer, Class, 6 laps, 138-mile time (miles per hour) SCORE TROPHY TRUCK (Unlimited Production Trucks)—1. 4 Josh Daniel, 42, Vista, Calif. (DOR-Justin Matney, 31, Bristol, Tenn.), Chevy Rally Truck, 3:13:47 (42.73 miles per hour); 2. 1 Carlos ‘Apdaly’ Lopez, 22, Tecate, Mexico, Chevy Rally Truck, 3:16:07; 3. 9 Eduardo ‘Lalo’ Laguna, 26, Mexicali, Mexico (DOR-Armin Schwarz, 53, Austria (Germany), Chevy Silverado, 3:19:33; 4. 16 Cameron Steele, 49, San Clemente, Calif., Chevy Silverado, 3:27:04; 5. 15 Billy Wilson, 32, Corpus Christi, Texas, Ford Raptor, 3:38:12. (6 Starters, 5 Finishers) SCORE TT LEGEND (Unlimited Production Trucks, Drivers over 50 years old)—1. 5L Jeff Geiser, 52, Phoenix(DOR-Clyde Stacy, 72, Bristol, Va.), Chevy Rally Truck, 3:39:18 (37.76 mph) (1 Starters, 1 Finishers) CLASS 1 (Unlimited open-wheel single or two-seaters)--1. 168 Shelby Reid, 49, Apple Valley, Calif./Danny Ebberts, 35, Menifee, Calif., Jefferies-Chevy, 3:38:11 (37.95 mph); 2. 138 Brian Wilson, 32, Lakewood, Calif./Kyle Quinn, 29, Irvine, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, 3:45:48; 3. 114 Al Torres, 32, Imperial Valley, Calif./Rogelio Ruiz, Mexicali, Mexico, Jimco-Chevy, 3:55:46. (7 Starters, 3 Finishers) TROPHY TRUCK SPEC (unlimted Truck/SUV, stock, sealed V8s)—1. 274 Elias Hanna, 34, Ensenada, Mexico, Chevy 1500, 3:27:55 (39.82 mph); 2. 229 Brian Goldstein, 29, Beverly Hills, Calif./Matt McBride/Max McBride, Mason-Chevy, 3:37:46; 3. 200 Chad Broughton, 22, Scotts Valley, Calif./Paul Broughton, 50, Scotts Valley, Calif., BajaLite-Chevy, 3:39:42; 4. 226 Neal Drickey, 39, Crescent, Iowa/Andy Raymond, 38, Crescent, Iowa, Ford F-150, 3:42:10; 5. 299 Charles Dorrance, 42, Austin, Texas/Dylan Herman, 27, Reno, Nev./Larry Job, 55, Henderson, Nev., Ford Raptor, 3:45:08; 6. 227 Jonathan Brenthel, 38, Newport Beach, Calif./Jordan Brenthel, 29, Newport Beach, Calif., Brenthel-Chevy, 3:54:35. (9 Starters, 6 Finishers) HAMMER TRUCK UNLIMITED (Unlimited Rock Crawler/Hammer Truck)—1. (2 Starters, 0 Finishers) CLASS 10 (Single or two-seaters to 1650cc)—1. 1023 Broc Dickerson, 16, Brawley, Calif./Jeff Dickerson, 42, Brawley, Calif., Alumi Craft-Chevy, 3:25:42 (40.25 mph); 2. 1000 Rafael Navarro IV, 24, Temecula, Calif./Rafael Navarro III, 48, Temecula, Calif., Alumi Craft-Chevy, 3:36:08; 3. 1092 Reinaldo Varela, 58, Brazil/Gustavo Gugelmin, 35, Brazil, ESM-Honda, 3:36:53; 4. 1068 Cody Reid, 25, Apple Valley, Calif./Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad, Calif., Alumi Craft-Chevy, 3:47:59. (7 Starters, 4 Finishers) CLASS 8 (Full-sized two-wheel drive trucks)—1. 844 Noah Ostanik, 45, Carlsbad, Calif./David Dinsmore, 39, Vista, Calif., Ford F-150, 4:16:31. (2 Starters, 1 Finisher) CLASS 1/2-1600 (VW-powered, single or two-seaters to 1600cc)—1. 1644 Cesar Fiscal, 33, Tijuana, Mexico/Fabian Fiscal, 32, Tijuana, Mexico/Carlos, Suarez, 38, Tijuana, Mexico, Romo, 3:56:28 (35.02 mph);2. 1625 Eric Pavolka, 48, Sonoita, Ariz./David Ramsze, 57, Sonita, Ariz., Foddrill, 4:05:42; 3. 1603 Oscar Alvarez, 41, McAllen, Texas/Fernando Alvarez, 36, San Antonio, Texas/Ruly Palacios, 36, Monterrey, Mexico/Oscar Alvarez Ortiz, 73, McAllen, Texas, Romo, 4:08:09; 4. 1601 Roberto Romo, 36, Mexicali, Mexico/Ramon Perez, 34, Mexicali, Mexico, Romo, 4:15:40. (5 Starters, 4 Finishers) SCORE LITES (VW-powered, Limited single-1776cc-or two-seaters-1835cc)—1. 1222 Rafael Aguirre, 38, Monterrey, Mexico/Felipe Martinez, 37, Monterrey, Mexico, Foddrill, 3:57:02 (34.93 mph); 2. 1205 Javier Buelna, 33, Mexicali, Mexico/Luivan Voelker, 44, Mexicali, Mexico, Jimco, 4:09:00. (4 Starters, 2 Finishers) CLASS 5 (Unlimited VW Baja Bugs)—1. 501 Mark McNeil, 23, Tijuana, Mexico/Perry McNeil, 67, El Cajon, Calif., 4:06:56 (33.53 mph); 2. 549 Ruben Hernandez, 43, Rosarito Beach, Mexico/Antonio Delgado, 34, Rosarito Beach, Mexico/Daniel Gandara, 37, Rosarito Beach, Mexico, 4:30:01.(2 Starters, 2 Finishers) CLASS 7 (Open, production mini trucks)—1. 719 Mark Johnson, 58, Riverside, Calif./Norris Brown, 59, Jackson, Wyo./John Lee, 58, Morena Vally, Calif., Honda Ridgeline, 4:16:28 (32.28 mph). (3 Starters, 1 Finishers) PRO UTV FI (Forced Induction, 4-wheel Utility Vehicle)—1. 2905 Marc Burnett, 46, Lakeside, Calif./Fernando Flores, 35, Ensenada, Mexico, Can-Am Maverick X3, 3:47:17 (36.43 mph); 2. 2966 Rhys Millen, 45, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (New Zealand)/Tony Hartley, 45, Great Britain, Polaris RZR XP4 Turbo, 3:59:19; 3. 2919 Brandon Schueler, 28, Phoenix/Pat Stone 48, Payson, Ariz., Polaris RZR XP4 Turbo, 4:18:33; 4. 2904 Scott Sappington, 53, Glendale, Ariz. (DOR-Cory Sappington, 52, Peoria, Ariz.)/Jason Flanders, 38, Phoenix, Ariz., Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo, 4:51:27. (13 Starters, 4 Finishers) PRO UTV (Naturally Aspirated, Stock 4-wheel Utility Vehicle)—1. 1954 Kristen Matlock, 36, Alpine, Calif./Josh Row, 28, Lakeside, Calif., Polaris RZR XP4 1000, 4:00:22 (34.45 mph); (7 Starters, 1 Finishers) BAJA CHALLENGE (Spec, Subaru-powered Baja Touring Cars)—(1 Starter, 0 Finishers) Pro Cars, Trucks (raced Sept. 22) CLASS 5-1600 (1600cc VW Baja Bugs)— 1. 555 Tomas A. Fernandez, 45, Laredo, Texas (Mexico)/Adrian Saucedo, 26, Monterrey, Mexico/Alejandro Guevara, 35, Ensenada, Mexico/Joaquin Fernandez, 34, Chihuahua, Mexico, 4:18:06; 2. 567 Ernie Negrete, 44, San Diego/Luis Herrera/Christian Ortiz/Jorge Torres, 4:23:29; 3. 551 Francisco Reynoso, Tijuana, Mexico/Juan Sanchez, 18, Tijuana, Mexico, 4:23:49; 4. 550 Hector Hurtado, 38, Tijuana, Mexico/Sergio Lopez, 48/Fernando Flores/Oscar Shacon, 4:28:55. (7 Starters, 4 Finishers) CLASS 7SX (Open, production mini trucks)—(1 Starter, 0 Finishers) CLASS 11 (stock VW sedan)—1. 1121 Armando Salazar, 31, Ensenada, Mexico (ROR-Dennis Hollenbeck, Ensenada, Mexico)/Luis Vasquez, 25, Ensenada, Mexico, 5:12:15 (26.52 mph).(4 Starter, 1 Finisher) SPORTSMAN SPT TRUCK—(2 Starters, 0 Finishers) SPT CAR—1. 1504 Ricardo Rodriguez, 61, Ensenada, Mexico, Custom, 5:00:37 (27.54 mph) (1 Starter, 1 Finishers) Tijuana 21st SCORE Desert Challenge Sept. 22-24, 2017— Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico Round 3 of four-race 2017 SCORE World Desert Championship 138 miles (6 laps, 23-mile loop course) Top Overall Finishers Postion, Driver(s), Manufacturer, Class, 6 laps, 138-mile time (miles per hour)
- 4 Josh Daniel, 42, Vista, Calif. (DOR-Justin Matney, 31, Bristol, Tenn.), Chevy Rally Truck, 3:13:47 (42.73 miles per hour) (SCORE Trophy Truck)
- 1 Carlos ‘Apdaly’ Lopez, 22, Tecate, Mexico, Chevy Rally Truck, 3:16:07 (42.22 mph) (SCORE Trophy Truck)
- 9 Eduardo ‘Lalo’ Laguna, 26, Mexicali, Mexico (DOR-Armin Schwarz, 53, Austria (Germany), Chevy Silverado, 3:19:39 (41.47 mph) (SCORE Trophy Truck)
- 1023 Broc Dickerson, 16, Brawley, Calif./Jeff Dickerson, 42, Brawley, Calif., Alumi Craft-Chevy, 3:25:42 (40.25 mph) (Class 10)
- 16 Cameron Steele, 49, San Clemente, Calif., Chevy Silverado, 3:27:04 (39.99 mph) (SCORE Trophy Truck)
- 274 Elias Hanna, 34, Ensenada, Mexico, Chevy 1500, 3:27:55 (39.82 mph) (Trophy Truck Spec)
- 1000 Rafael Navarro IV, 24, Temecula, Calif./Rafael Navarro III, 48, Temecula, Calif., Alumi Craft-Chevy, 3:36:08 (38.31 mph) (Class 10)
- 1092 Reinaldo Varela, 58, Brazil/Gustavo Gugelmin, 35, Brazil, ESM-Honda, 3:36:53 (38.18 mph) (Class 10)
- 229 Brian Goldstein, 29, Beverly Hills, Calif./Matt McBride/Max McBride, Mason-Chevy, 3:37:46 (38.02 mph)
- 168 Shelby Reid, 49, Apple Valley, Calif./Danny Ebberts, 35, Menifee, Calif., Jefferies-Chevy, 3:38:11 (37.95 mph)
- 15 Billy Wilson, 32, Corpus Christi, Texas, Ford Raptor, 3:38:12 (37.95 mph) (SCORE Trophy Truck)