Baja 500: Series round three event report

289 total starters enjoy SCORE Baja adventure

McMillins master field for Overall, SCORE Trophy-Truck title
Appleton/Julson win Class 1 at 42nd Tecate SCORE Baja 500

Kendall/Cody earn Honda's 15th overall motorcycle title with 26-second win over JCR teammates; Matlock and team capture overall ATV victory for the second time in last three years

ENSENADA, Mexico--Continuing to add to the legacy of one of the sport's legendary family of racers, third-generation desert racer Andy McMillin and his father Scott, of San Diego, split the driving in their No. 31 McMillin Realty Ford F-150 SCORE Trophy-Truck Saturday to master the world's best desert racers in the 42nd Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500.

Dicing over the rugged 438.81-mile with several of the top competitors for the majority of the race, the McMillins stayed focused and consistent to outlast all challengers in finishing the grueling test in nine hours, 15 minutes and 13 seconds, averaging 47.20 miles per hour to win the overall 4-wheel and the featured SCORE Trophy-Truck division, which had a SCORE-record 39 of the 850-horsepower, high-tech, unlimited production trucks leave the starting line Saturday morning in Ensenada.

Round 3 of the five-race 2010 SCORE Desert Series, the second-oldest desert race in the world and part of the World's Foremost Desert Racing Series, was held in Ensenada, Mexico. Traditionally one of the most popular events on the SCORE schedule, over 100,000 spectators enjoyed the world's best desert racers in action at the 42nd anniversary of the Tecate SCORE Baja 500.

Entries came from 26 U.S. States from Hawaii to Connecticut along with the additional countries of Mexico, Austria, Cambodia, Canada, Denmark, England, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Uruguay and the U.S. territory-Guam.

With racing continuing in the elapsed-time race that had a 22-hour time limit until 9:20 a.m. Pacific Time Sunday, both the start and the finish line were located in the heart of Ensenada, Mexico on Boulevard Costero adjacent to the historic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center. It was the third time in race history that the pre-race activities and the finish were all held on this historic boulevard. SCORE officials released the official results following complete data tracking review Sunday morning after the course closed.

The total number of starters (289) was tied for the 12th highest total with 2008 in the 42-year history of the popular race. The starting list included 164 cars and trucks and 125 motorcycles and ATVs. The total of 192 finishers is the fourth-most number finishers in the event's 42-year history, for a tremendous 66.4 percent finishing rate.

Johnny Campbell Racing gave American Honda the top two overall motorcycle finishing positions as Kendall Norman, Santa Barbara, Calif., and Quinn Cody, Buellton, Calif., gave Honda its 15th overall motorcycle victory in the Tecate SCORE Baja 500 with their winning time of 8:47:00 at 49.96mph on a JCR Honda CRF450X. In the elapsed-time race, they edged the twin Honda CRF450X of teammates Colton Udall and Jeff Kargola of San Clemente, Calif., by just 26 seconds.

It was the fourth overall victory in this race for Norman in the last five years.

For the second time in three years, Wayne Matlock, El Cajon, Calif., rode the fastest ATV in the race, recording a winning time of 10:24:35 on a Honda TRX700XX. Sharing riding duties this year with him this year were Josh Caster, also of El Cajon, and Wes Miller of Fallbrook, Calif. Their average speed over the boulder-strewn course was 42.15mph.

Andy McMillin, the budding 23-year old superstar has now won three of the last four SCORE races, the 2009 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 and this Tecate SCORE Baja 500 with his father Scott, and this past January's SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge driving solo. This victory was also the fourth career SCORE Trophy-Truck race win in his young desert racing career. It was also Andy McMillin's second class win in this race as he won the unlimited Class 1 with his father in 2005.

For Scott McMillin, 50, who drove the second half of the race, the victory earned him his sixth class win in this race and his third overall victory have won the overall with his late father Corky McMillin in 1983 and 1986 in Class 1. It was also Scott McMillin's second career SCORE Trophy-Truck race win, adding to the victory he had in last year's Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 with his son Andy.

After battling closely during the first half to three-quarters of the race with several racers including Rob MacCachren, Robby Gordon and Jesse Jones, the McMillins gradually pulled away and held off Gus Vildosola Jr., B.J. Baldwin and Roger Norman at the end to earn their overall four-wheel victory. The win gives BFGoodrich Tires is 50th SCORE Baja overall race title.

"It was a smooth day, no problems," said Andy McMillin at the finish line waiting for his father to finish the race. "I just kind of followed in the dust and waited for the dust to clear and waited for my opportunities to open up. Sooner or later, I was the third truck on the road behind Jesse (Jones) and Robby (Gordon) and Robby went down with a tranny and I was behind Jesse, just trying to make up time on him and get my dad in a good position to capitalize on whatever mistake Jesse did make, if he made one. Jesse drove a stellar race up to where my dad passed him -- I think he had a flat or some issue and he was pulled over. We're starting to click as a team and I think we're the team to beat if we're having a good day -- and we've been having a lot of good days lately."

The only remaining undefeated car and truck class driver following his third consecutive class win in the 2010 SCORE Desert Series was Dave Caspino, Tarzana, Calif., in a Ford Ranger in Class 6.

Winning their respective motorcycle and ATV classes for the second of three SCORE Baja races here were the teams led by: Matlock, Francisco Septien, Ensenada, Mexico (Class 30, Honda CRF450X), Lou Franco, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (Class 40, Honda CRF450X), Jason Trubey, Henderson, Nev. (Class 20, Honda CRF250X), Jim O'Neal, Simi Valley, Calif. (Class 50, Honda CRF450X) and Rob Ransford, Chicago (Class 26, Can-Am 4X4).

O'Neal now has 13 class wins in this race.

Winning the unlimited Class 1 and finishing fifth overall among four-wheel vehicles was the team of Steve Appleton, Boise, Idaho and Mike Julson, Santee, Calif., in a Jimco-Chevy.

This popular SCORE early summer race began in 1969 under the auspices of a different organization and SCORE began its enduring run with it on July 26, 1974. This year will be the 37th anniversary of the first SCORE race in Baja.

In addition to season point class point championships, drivers in the Pro car and truck classes are also racing to earn prestigious SCORE Toyota Milestone Awards given to all car and truck class drivers who complete every required mile of the five-race season. Being presented by Toyota Motorsports for the 25th consecutive year, a total of 22 drivers remain eligible after Round 3 of the 2010 SCORE Desert Series. Racers are also competing for the annual SCORE Off-Roadsman of the Year awards, including the MasterCraft Safety SCORE Rookie of the Year award.

Included in the nearly $300,000 in contingency posting and cash purse for the race was the special $10,000 MasterCraft Safety cash contingency bonus for qualified racers in the car and truck classes.

Round 4 of the five-race 2010 SCORE Desert Series will be the 15th SCORE Terrible's Primm 300 on Sept. 10-12 in Primm, Nev.

-source: score