Baldwin, Pfankuch Win Day 1 of SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge

After posting the fastest time in Trophy Truck qualifying yesterday, BJ Baldwin kicked off the SCORE racing season with a win at the first of two races at the Laughlin Desert Challenge. Starting in front he hoped to keep a moderate pace, but with Rob MacCachren behind him off the line and putting the pressure on him, Baldwin had to push it.

“We were going to try and go slow for the first three laps because it is so hard on equipment, but Rob MacCachren just wouldn't let us do that,” Baldwin said at the finish line. “He was catching me a second a lap and then on one of the laps I put three seconds on him and then the next lap he got a flat. To lose to Rob would be awesome, but to beat him is even better.”

Baldwin showed up to Laughlin just after the recent announcement of his new sponsor Toyo Tires. He addressed changes to the team just after the race as well.

“I made a personal commitment to myself and my team at the end of 2011 to never let anything get in the way of pursuit of a victory,” he said. “Running our race team like a business has sometimes gotten in the way of that and I'm over it, my team's over it and we are done losing. 2012 is going to be our best year.”

Baldwin said his new tires worked well on the rough course and was motivated for tomorrow’s race.

“I couldn’t be happier about the tires, and the tires have actually helped us make adjustments to the truck so they can handle better and be faster,” he said.

When asked if he planned to take it easy and try to earn a decent finishing spot to keep himself in the all-important point’s battle, his response shows that he doesn’t want to take the conservative approach. “I’m done with that,” he said. “I’m going to beat everyone’s ass again hopefully. We do everything we can to win.”

Finishing in second place was Juan Carlos Lopez, while Gary Weyrich earned the final podium spot in third. Although he finised in ninth,MacCachren was happy with the way his truck performed on the increasingy rougher course. “We ran as hard as we could,” he said. “There are a lot of berms out there that you're really driving hard so you are bouncing and banking of them. There's some pretty square-edged stuff out there too. I was driving really, really hard and just had a tire go down on the sixth lap or so. We tried to limp it around but it was better to stop and get it changed. The truck was awesome and I think this is the first one (flat tire) that we've had with this truck.”

In Class 1, Adam Pfankuch took the win after starting 13th off the line and moving all the way up to finish as the third car across the line. Pfankuch and teammate Steven Eugenio will split duties this weekend, with Eugenio taking the wheel for Sunday’s race.

Finishing in second place was Cody Parkhouse, who was the first truck across the line. Third place went to Derrick Sproule. Be sure to check back for more on the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge on Off-Road.com.

2012 Laughlin Desert Challenge Photo Highlights

SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge  - Saturday Official Finishrs
SCORE TROPHY TRUCK
(Unlimited Production Trucks, 8 laps, 50 miles, 22 Starters, 15 Finishers)
1. B.J. Baldwin/Bobby Baldwin, Las Vegas, Chevy Silverado, 53 minutes, 45 seconds (55.81 miles per hour)
2. Juan Carlos Lopez, Tecate, Mexico/Justin Matney, Bristol, Tenn., Chevy Silverado, 54:51
3. Gary Weyhrich, Troutdale, Ore., Ford    F-150, 55:16
4. Steven Strobel, Clarks, Neb., Ford F-150, 55:38
5. Mark Weyhrich, Troutdale, Ore., Ford F-150, 56:18
6. Brendan Gaughan/Brian Collins, Las Vegas, Dodge Ram1500, 56:50
7. Bobby Baldwin, Las Vegas, Chevy Silverado, 57:38
8. Scott Whipple/Scott Gailey, Norco, Calif., Ford F-150, 57:51
9. Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Ford F-150, 58:03
10. Pete Sohren, Glendale, Ariz., Ford F-150, 58:51
11. James Bult, Monee, Ill/Jacob Bult, Sand Point, Idaho, Dodge Ram2500, 1:00:12
12. Nick Vanderwey, Phoenix/Larry Vanderwey, Litchfield Park, Ariz., Chevy Silverado, 1:03:38
13. Tim Herbst, Las Vegas, Larry Roeseler, Boulevard, Calif., Ford F-150, 1:08:39
14. Ryan Arciero, Foothill Ranch, Calif., Chevy CK1500, 1:16:48; 15. Ken Losch, Tempe, Ariz./John Pickett, Tulare, Calif., Chevy Silverado, 1:22:45.

CLASS 1
(Unlimited single or two-seaters, 8 laps, 50 miles, 20 Starters, 14 Finishers)
1. Adam Pfankuch, Oceanside, Calif., (Steven Eugenio, Alpine, Calif., driver of record) Jimco-Chevy, 56:12 (53.38 mph)
2. Cody Parkhouse, Long Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, 57:22
3. Brian Parkhouse, Long Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, 58:00
4. (Tie) Ronny Wilson, Long Beach, Calif./Randy Wilson, Lakewood, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, and Harley Letner, Orange, Calif., Alpha-Chevy, 59:17
6. Mike Julson, Santee, Calif., (Steve Appleton, Boise, Idaho, driver of record) Jimco-Chevy, 59:30
7. Damen Jefferies, Apple Valley, Calif./Rob Bruce, Turner, Ore.., Jefferies-Chevy, 1:00:09
8. Conan Barker, Whittier, Calif./Scott Zeppenfeldt, Brea, Calif., Porter-Chevy, 1:00:12
9. Eric Hardin/Jared Hardin, Garden Grove, Calif., RPS-Chevy, 1:01:29
10. Michael LaPaglia, Murrieta, Calif., 1:02:05
11. Pete Sohren, Glendale, Ariz., Geiser-Ford, 1:05:58
12. Louie Serna/Antoinette Serna, Grand Canyon, Ariz., Tatum-Chevy, 1:06:13
13. Kevin Thompson, Seguin, Texas/Dana Pearce, Thousand Oaks, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, 1:13:40
14. Monica Greenhill/David Greenhill, Crowley, Texas, Jimco-Chevy, 1:20:52.

CLASS 1/2-1600
(VW-powered, single or two-seaters to 1600cc, 6 laps, 37.5 miles, 9 Starters, 9 Finishers)
1. Cody Robinson, El Centro, Calif./Roberto Romo, Mexicali, Mexico, Romo, 49:40 (45.30 mph)
2. Andrew Myers/Steve Myers, Newport Beach, Calif., Lothringer, 50:38
3. Mike Meecham, El Cajon, Calif., (Robert S. Archibald, El Cajon, Calif.,driver of record) Mirage, 50:46
4. Brad Wilson, Long Beach, Calif./Justin Munyon, San Clemente, Calif., Kreger, 51:26
5. Brian Wilson/Kyle Quinn, Irvine, Calif., Kreger, 52:03
6. George Peters, Newbury Park, Calif./Ignacio King, Ensenada, Mexico, Penhall, 53:48
7. Jason Markham, Ventura, Calif., Lothringer, 54:22
8. Jesus Velez, Mexicali, Mexico, Curry, 54:38; 9. J.J. Schnarr, Reno, Nev.,Levco, 55:14
 
CLASS 3
(Short wheelbase 4X4, 5 laps, 31.25 miles, 3 Starters, 2 Finishers)
1. Donald Moss, Sacramento, Calif., Ford Bronco, 44:45 (41.90 mph)
2. Billy Bunch, La Quinta, Calif., Jeep Wrangler, 45:17.
 
CLASS 5
(Unlimited VW Baja Bugs, 7 laps, 43.75 miles, 2 Starters, 1 Finisher)
1. Kevin Carr, San Diego, 1:00:48 (43.17 mph)
 
CLASS 5/1600
(1600cc VW Baja Bugs, 6 laps, 37.5 miles, 2 Starters, 1 Finisher)
1. Thomas Fernandez, Ensenada, Mexico (Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Va., driver of record) 1:02:23 (36.07 mph)
 
CLASS 6
(Unlimited, production mini trucks, 6 laps, 37.5 miles, 9 Starters, 6 Finishers)
1. Eduardo Laguna, Mexicali, Mexico/Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Va., Chevy Colorado, 43:25 (51.82 mph)
2. Alex Almaraz, Tijuana, Mexico (Javier Manzo, Tijuana, Mexico, driver of record) Ford Ranger, 47:28
3. Rene Brugger, San Diego, Ford Ranger, 47:38
4.  Elias Hanna, Ensenada, Mexico, Ford Ranger. 50:48
5. Dan Holtz, Los Angeles/Rick McGeorge, Garden Grove, Calif., Ford Ranger, 53:41
6. Elias Canchola Jr, Mexicali, Mexico, Ford Ranger, 56:46
 
CLASS 7
(Open, production mini trucks, 6 laps, 37.5 miles, 3 Starters, 2 Finishers)
1. Dan Chamlee, Summerland, Calif./Tom Chamlee, Carpenteria, Calif., Ford Ranger, 48:48 (46.11 mph)
2. Brandon Walsh, Encinitas, Calif., Toyota Tacoma, 52:36
 
CLASS 7SX
(Modified, open mini trucks, 6 laps, 37.5 miles, 3 Starters, 3 Finishers)
1. John Holmes, Olivenhain, Calif., (Justin Fisher, San Ysidro, Calif., driver of record) Ford Ranger, 53:54 (41.74 mph)
2. Rich Severson, Tucson, Ariz., Ford Ranger, 56:22; 3. Jon Anderson, San Juan Capistrano, Calif./Brandt Anderson, Ladera Ranch, Calif./Mike Horner, Mission Viejo, Calif., Toyota Tacoma, 57:16
 
CLASS 8
(Full-sized two-wheel drive trucks, 6 laps, 37.5 miles, 1 Starter, 1 Finisher)
1. Rodolfo Iribe, San Ysidro, Calif./Justin Matney, Bristol, Tenn., Chevy Silverado, 47:10 (47.70 mph)
 
CLASS 10
(Single or two-seaters to 1650cc, 7 laps, 43.75 miles, 5 Starters, 5 Finishers)
1. Matt Cullen, Long Beach, Calif./Chuck Sacks, Canyon Lake, Calif., AlumiCraft-Honda, 53:48 (48.79 mph)
2. Perry McNeil, Lemon Grove, Calif., Lothringer-VW, 56:16
3. Mark Lawrence, El Monte, Calif., Lothringer-VW, 58:31
4. Peter Hajas, Wayzata, Minn./Steven Hajas, Delano, Minn., Kreger-Chevy, 1:00:35
5. Mike Lawrence, El Monte, Calif., Chenowth-Honda, 1:00:55.

SCORE LITES
(VW-powered, Limited single-1776cc-or two-seaters-1835cc, 7 laps, 43.75 miles, 6 Starters, 6 Finishers)
1. Rafael Navarro IV, Temecula, Calif./Vic Bruckmann, Lemon Grove, Calif., Jimco, 54:25 (48.24 mph)
2. Otoneil Huerta, San Luis, Ariz., Curry, 54:27
3. Matt Laughlin, Laughlin, Nev., Penhall, 57:00
4. Jeff Sanca/Herb Ruppe, Canada, Porter, 59:01
5. Brent Parkhouse, Long Beach/Brian Burgess, Riverside, Calif., Moulton, 1:02:28
6. Lobsam Yee, Tijuana, Mexico, Curry, 1:09:17.
 
STOCK FULL
(Stock, Full-sized trucks, 5 laps, 31.25 miles, 3 Starters, 3 Finishers)
1. Wes Bevly III, Corpus Christi, Texas, Ford F-150, 48:10 (38.93 mph)
2. Joe Bacal, Anthem, Ariz., Lexus LX570, Lexus, 48:50
3. Marc Stein, San Diego, Ford F-150, 57:32.

STOCK MINI
(Stock, mini trucks, 5 laps, 31.25 miles, 1 Starter, 1 Finisher)
1. Ted Moncure, Long Beach, Calif., Andy Bell, Long Beach, Calif., driver of record)/ Toyota Tacoma, 1:09:20 (27.04 mph)
 
CLASS 7-2
(Unlimited Mini-Truck, 2.2/2.4-Liter Ecotec engine, 5 laps, 31.25 miles, 3 Starters, 3 Finishers)
1. Billy Wilson/Wes Bevly IV, Corpus Christi, Texas, BajaLite-Chevy, 49:23 (45.56 mph)
2. Dana Dague, Huntington Beach, Calif./Harley Letner, Orange, Calif., Mason-Chevy, 49:43
3. Reid Rutherford, Montrose, Colo., Mason-Chevy, 51:29
 
CLASS 4
(Unlimited open-wheel car, 2.2/2.4-Liter Ecotec engine, 7 laps, 43.75 miles, 2 Starters, 2 Finishers)
1. Derek Fletcher, Abingdon, Va., PSD-Chevy, 56:20 (46.60 mph)
2. Mike Shaffer, Oakland, Calif./Shawn Twitchell, Nampa, Idaho, Custom-Chevy, 1:00:40
 
CLASS 2
(Unlimited open-wheel, car/truck, 3.5-Liter Turbo or supercharged, 6 laps, 37.5 miles, 2 Starters, 2 Finishers)
1. Steven Arlia, Phoenix (Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Va., driver of record) PSD-Chevy, 50:00 (45.0 mph)
2. Jon Anderson, San Juan Capistrano, Calif./Scott Anderson, Sandy, Utah/Brandt Anderson, Ladera Ranch, Calif., Toyota Tacoma, 1:05:25

SPORTSMAN
SPT BUGGY, 6 laps, 37.5 miles
(1 Starter, 1 Finisher)
1. Jim Bunn/John Matney, Bristol, Va., RGBuggy-Chevy, 50:24 (44.64 mph)
 
SPT TRUCK, 5 laps, 31.25 miles
(2 Starters, 1 Finisher)
1. Nick Tonelli, Huntington Beach, Calif., Ford Ranger, 43:25 (43.19 mph)