With that, they blazed vapor trails through the dust of the somber desert -- Red, White and Blue. Pit crews saluted her with greased and tear-laden cheeks. Racers wore her colors over their heart.

With stern determination, the race went on. Nothing changed. It was still the land of the Free and home of the Brave. America.

Rob MacCachren is on the way to a points championship in four different series. He's clinched his CORR championship last week.

Amidst the rising sun and a still-mourning gentle breeze, the 279-mile race course came alive with 139 starters and a back drop of patriotism deep enough to ignite the spirit within every man, woman and child present. They were there to witness to the 6th Annual SCORE Las Vegas Primm 300, Round 4 of the five-race 2001 Duralast SCORE Desert Series.

Flying the flag of freedom on top his unlimited Class 1 and the words "God Bless America" emblazoned across the side panels of the Ford-powered, Smithbuilt open-wheeled car, Troy Herbst triumphed through four 70-mile laps, to clinch the overall win with a time of four hours, 53 minutes and 29 seconds, averaging 57.08 miles per hour on his hometown turf. "With everything going on in America this week, it was really hard to stay focused today, and while I'm pleased to win, all the awards and trophies just don't seem to mean as much right now," said Herbst, 35, who will, like many racers, donate his purse and contingency to the American Red Cross.

Another one for consistency, George Seeley kept up the pace to place first in a showdown against Mike James in Class 5.

Planning to align his driving duties with the wily talent of legendary truck and motorcycle Champion, Larry Roeseler, in future endurance races, Herbst struggled to keep pace with the pack early in the race, posting seventh in position after the first lap.

But he worked his way up through the dueling pack and was able to lap traffic by the end of the second lap. After that, he never released his lead. Four-time defending SCORE Class 1 point champion Herbst kicked the throttle into an impressive fastest lap of race, clocking a time of one hour, 10 minutes and four seconds in the final lap, clinching his first win of season. It was a good way to prep for the 34th Annual Tecate Baja 1000 on November 8-11.

The Duralast Ford F-150 Trophy Truck of Dave Ashley/Dan Smith shot out of the chute like they were on for a repeat of their epic Baja 2000 victory, turning the best first lap of the field with a 1:10:59.

But sucking up the draft with his dusty wake, was a slew of Trophy Trucks and Class 1 cars, which included Brian Collins' Chevy Silverado TT (1:11:03) and a cluster of win-hungry Jimco Class 1 cars, including:

• Jeff Darland (1:11:08)
• Doug Fortin (1:11:29)
• Chuck Hovey (1:11:30)
• Ronny Wilson (1:12:07)
• Bob Lofton (1:12:38)
• Steve Sourapas (1:12:39).

And that's the short list. The pack was tightly
laced together by vapor trails and nerf bars,
providing some of the best racing of the year.

The Duralast Ford darted through the carnage and
dust of lap traffic in hopes of catching the
Herbst Class 1 entry, but the best they could reel
in was a second overall, (a first in the small
three-vehicle class) and a time of 4 hours, 56
minutes, 27 seconds and an average speed 56.51
MPH.

Bob Lofton of Westmoreland, California, drove his Chevy-powered Jimco to third overall, with a time of 4:57:59 and an average speed of 56.217 MPH.

Ronny Wilson of Long Beach, California, finished third in class and fourth overall with a time of 5:04:26 and an average speed of 55.026 MPH in his Chevy-powered Jimco.

Doug Fortin drove his Jimco to fifth overall with a time of 5:07:06 and an average speed of 54.549.

The Trophy Truck of Brian Collins finished second in class and eighth overall, with a time of 5:15:58 and an average speed of 53.018 MPH.

Troy Herbst's older brothers Tim and Ed Herbst hustled through the first half of the race leading by a healthy margin, but once again suffered transmission troubles for the second time this season in their Ford F-150 Trophy Truck.

Baja Pits worked their wonders on Class 11 wonder Eric Solorzano, who "never loses," to finish him first with a time of 7:38:00 and an average speed of 27 MPH.

"MacCrandon"

Although it was an extraordinary race up front, there was more to it than the gritty chase for first. Troy Herbst may have outdone everyone with his Primm 300 win in the desert thirty miles west of Vegas, but it was Rob MacCachren who cracked the whip, yet again, in his crusade to comandeer a first in off-road racing history, clinching a championship in each of four different series he competes in. He clinched his CORR championship last week.

At Primm, MacCachren once again railed his way into the spotlight, with a display of finesse and outright force that's launching him into off-road racing's history books, finishing with a time of 6:06:32 average speed of 45.703 MPH and a fast lap of 1:27:10 on his first lap. He extended his margin of victory to a full 22 minutes by days end, raising the eyebrows of other faster classes who could not post a better time.

"MacCrandon," as he's called back east for his Pro 4 Ford F-150 performing prowess in the CORR short course series, is on the verge of four different championship titles. One in CORR, another in SCORE and SNORE (Class1/2-1600) and the fourth in the Best In The Desert series (Stock Mini Ford Ranger).

PCI Race Radios' Scott Steinberger leaves no room in between himself and first in his ORC-backed Protruck.

PCI Race Radios', Scott Steinberger, left plenty of room between him and the field. He comfortably got first in his ORC-backed Protruck Ford F-150, posting an elapsed time of 5:41:58 and an average speed of 48.99 MPH. Ryan Herzog was the next best in class at more than an hour back.

Mini Metal = Big Bucks

The Stock-Mini Mini Metal Bash showcased one of the larger classes of competition for the weekend, with 21 starters and only seven finishers. Going home with the $10,000 supplemental purse was the defending Class 7S point champion Cory Susag, behind the wheel of his Chevy S-10, finishing with a time of 7:11:11 and average speed of 38.85 MPH.

Michael Coleman, La Jolla, California, and Steve Olliges, Las Vegas, teamed up to pilot their Ford Ranger to an elapsed time of 7:22:20 for a second place finish.

Craig Stewart hopped into the seat of his Ford Ranger to finish third in class with a
time of 7:32:39.

Miguel Alvarado, San Diego, tossed his Jeep Comanche into the mix of Blue Ovals to come up with a fourth for the day, with a time of 9:14:24.

Another Jeep Commanche, piloted by Cody Swanty, Kingman, Ariz., finished fifth with a time of 10:01:47.

Jim Wimme, Cerritos, California, in his Toyota SR5, finished sixth with a time of 10:43:34, and Jason Hutter of Snowmass, Colo. barely beat the clock in his Toyota SR5, with little more than four minutes to spare at 10:55:40.

The Fentons are the classic off-road family. With Old Glory raised up high, they man the checkpoints, pit the racers, keep the barbeque cooking and keep the ice chest chilled with plenty of cold ones.

Class 8 - Jones

The full-sized, two-wheel drive Class 8 trucks showed only four starters. The two finishers were both behind Chevy-powered rigs. Jesse Jones, Litchfield Park, Ariz., who's been tough to beat in any series, won the class once again in his C1500, with an elapsed time of 7:22:04 and an average speed of 37.90 MPH.

Nick Vanderwey, Buckeye, Ariz., piloted his Chevy Silverado, to a second place finish with a time of 7:35:49 in the "Cow" truck.

El Chivo de la Checkers, George Seeley of Glendale, Calif. went mano to mano with Class 5’s only other entry, finishing first with a time of 6:19:03 and average speed of 44.19 MPH for his second win of the season. The Fentons and one of ORC’s own helped with the duties of a few of his numerous flats throughout the race. Michael James of Alpine, Calif. 6:36:17 returned from the Baja 500 with a first in class but came up short at Primm, finishing with an elapsed time of 6:36:17 and averaged speed of 42.272 MPH.

Class 9

All-American girl during contingency riding amid Kevin Davis' 7s.

Cisco Bio of Spring Valley, California, claimed his
fourth win of the season in his Tubular Designs
Class VW-powered Class 9 car, completing the
mandatory three laps (209 miles) for an elapsed
time of 6:07:21 and average speed of 34.20 MPH.
The four-car class was rather small, as is usually
the case for the state-side races, but Bio's
competition ought to increase dramatically when
SCORE takes the race south of the border for the
1000.

Class 3

Billy Bunch drove his Walker Evans-built Jeep Cherokee to a Class 3 (short wheel base 4x4) win. The Jeep XJ was originally built for Jeepspeed races, but was given the boot after he re-worked the rear fender wells and slid the rear springs beneath the axle.

Other class winners include:

• Craig Turner, Yorba Linda,CA, in Class 7 (Ford Ranger)
• Japan's Ikuo Hanawa, in Class 3 (Mitsubishi Montero Sport)
• Chris Harrold, Chula Vista, CA., Class 10 (Jimco)
• Kory Halopoff, , CA., SCORE Lite (Comfort Chassis).