Parker report

IRONMAN STEWART WINS FIFTH AT PARKER January 28, 1995 by Robert Heathcote

PARKER, Ariz. -- SpeedNet -- Ivan Stewart once again overcame the "handicap" of a V6 engine in a race of bigger motors and won the 197.29-mile season opener of the 1995 SCORE Tecate Trophy-Truck Series in the desert just east of the Colorado River resort of Parker.

Stewart, of Alpine, Calif., again lived up to his "Ironman" nickname. Driving a Toyota SR5 pickup, he defeated a SCORE Tecate Trophy-Truck record 20 of these high-tech unlimited production trucks, of which 13 made it to the finish. Stewart's winning time was 3 hours, 21 minutes, 43 seconds at an average speed of 58.683 miles per hour.

IndyCar star Robby Gordon held the early lead before the consistency of Stewart moved him passed and into the number one spot. Stewart then held on to win his 79th career victory and earn his fifth trip to the winners circle in the desert race held in Parker.

"On a track as short as this, I have to be careful not to make any mistakes," Stewart said. "I was concerned that some of the bigger V8 and V10 trucks might have the horsepower to get away from me in the washes. But my Toyota V6 ran well all day, never missing a beat."

Independent racer Jim Smith, Garden Grove, Calif., finished second and nearly three minutes behind Stewart. Defending SCORE Tecate Trophy-Truck champion Rob MacCachren of Las Vegas finished third, just seven seconds behind Smith. Smith drove a Ford F100 while MacCachren was behind the wheel of a factory-sponsored Ford F150.

Fourth place went to Curt Leduc and his Grand Cherokee, fifth was the Dodge 2500 of veteran Walker Evens, and rounding out the top six was early race leader Gordon, driving a Ford F150.

The Trophy-Truck race was held in conjunction with the 22nd Nature's Recipe SCORE Parker 400 desert race, the first event of the 1995 SCORE Desert Championship Series, which started just as the Trophy-Trucks were finishing.

Round number two of 1995 SCORE Desert Championship series will be March 11 in San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico.

..Robert Heathcote.......................AUTOSPORTS BBS..310-641-9627.. ..Email: HeathcoteR@aol.com...................Email: SpeedNet@aol.com..