LOS ANGELES—Moving out from the shadow of his father and his uncle’s experienced tracks, Southern California desert racer Cody Parkhouse has assumed the SCORE overall and unlimited Class 1 point lead after the first two rounds of the five-race 2012 SCORE Desert Series.  With the season’s last three races all to be run in Baja, Mexico, Cody Parkhouse, 24 of Long Beach, Calif., opened the season at the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge in mid-January by finishing second in the first round and winning the second in a Chevy-powered Jimco open-wheeled desert race car the following day.

A second-generation desert racer and the youngest of the three Parkhouse racers, Cody Parkhouse has 103 season points to help launch the 39th season of Sal Fish’s SCORE Desert Series, the world’s foremost desert racing series.

With Mexico’s Juan C. Lopez finishing second in both Laughlin races in the No. 18 RPM Off-Road Chevy Silverado to lead the featuring SCORE Trophy Truck division points, RPM leads the point standings in seven classes after the first two races of the five-race 2012 SCORE Desert Series. Lopez, of Tecate, Mexico, is also second overall in points with 101 heading into the upcoming 26th Annual MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250, to be held in San Felipe, Mexico, March 9-11.

The draw of starting positions, by class, will be held Saturday, Feb. 11 at the SCORE headquarters in Los Angeles.

SCORE points are based on starting, finishing, placement and number of official starters within each class.

With 11 racers winning their respective classes both days in Laughlin, third in overall points and second in SCORE Trophy Truck after ninth and first place finishes to open the season is Las Vegas’ Rob MacCachren, who has 94 points after two races in the No. 20 MasterCraft Racing Ford F-150. An eight-time SCORE season class point champion, MacCachren’s win in Round 2 in Laughlin was his 10th career race win in SCORE Trophy Truck, the marquee SCORE racing division for high-tech, 850-horsepower, unlimited production trucks.

Laughlin Desert Challenge Highlights

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With consistent Laughlin finishes of fourth and third, Steve Strobel, Clarks, Neb., is fourth in SCORE Overall points and third in SCORE Trophy Truck with 90 points in the No. 94 Strobel Motorsports Ford F-150 while rounding out the top five overall and second in Class 1 is Harley Letner, Orange, Calif., who has 90 points after his fourth and second-place finishes in Laughlin.

Cody Parkhouse’s father, Brian Parkhouse is third in Class 1 points while his uncle Brent Parkhouse is third in SCORE Lites points after the first two SCORE races of 2012.

The most extensive impressive team performance in Laughlin was recorded by RPM Off-Road of Bristol, Tenn.  While Justin Matney, one of the team’s primary drivers rehabs a bad back, team regular driver Clyde Stacy along with several other drivers, recorded 11 class wins among the nine vehicles RPM had entered in two Laughlin races.

RPM Off-Road earned 11 total class wins among their nine entries in each of the season-opening Laughlin races on the way to leading the points in an unprecedented seven SCORE classes. Besides Lopez in SCORE Trophy Truck, Stacy, Bristol, Va. leads both Class 5-1600 (1600cc VW Baja Bug) and Class 2 (PSD-Chevy), the other RPM class point leaders are Eduardo Laguna, Mexicali, Mexico (Class 6, Chevy Colorado), Rodolfo Iribe, San Ysidro, Calif. (Class 8, Chevy Silverado), Derek Fletcher, Abingdon, Va. (Class 4, PSD-Chevy) and Jim Bunn, Bristol, Va. (Sportsman Buggy, RGBuggy-Chevy). Stacy, Laguna, Iribe, Fletcher and Bunn each won their respective classes in both of the Laughlin races.

Besides RPM’s Stacy, Laguna, Iribe, Fletcher, Bunn, the other racers who won both races in Laughlin to open the season as point leaders in their respective class point standings are Dan Chamlee, Carpenteria, Calif. (Class 7, Ford Ranger), Donald Moss, Sacramento Calif. (Class 3, Ford Bronco), Kevin Carr, San Diego (Class 5, unlimited VW Baja Bug), Andy Bell, Long Beach California (Stock Mini, Toyota Tacoma) and Billy Wilson, Corpus Christi, Texas (Class 7-2, BajaLite-Chevy).

Besides Cody Parkhouse (Class 1) and Stacy (Class 5-1600), the other racers who lead the points in their respective class after winning one of the first two races are Cody Robinson, El Centro, Calif. (Class 1/2-1600, Romo-VW), Matt Cullen, Long Beach, Calif. (Class 10, AlumiCraft-Honda) and Otoneil Huerta, San Luis, Ariz. (SCORE Lites, Curry-VW). Tied for the point lead in Stock Full with one race win each are Wes Bevly III, Corpus Christi, Texas (Ford F-150) and Joe Bacal, Anthem, Ariz., (Lexus LX570).

Besides Bunn, the other Sportsman class point leader, who also won both Laughlin races, is Nick Tonelli, Huntington Beach, Calif. (SPT Truck, Ford Ranger).

In addition to season class point championships, the racers are also competing for part of the nearly $400,000 in cash purse and contingency postings each race. Drivers in the Pro car and truck classes are also attempting 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 27th consecutive year, a total of 61 drivers are still in the hunt for the awards for the 2012 SCORE Desert Series after the first two rounds in the five-race 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. All categories, except Engine Builder and Original Buggy Chassis Manufacturer, will be determined by public on-line voting while Engine and Buggy awards are determined by season points.

Tecate Beer is the title sponsor of the three SCORE Baja races.

MasterCraft Safety is co-title sponsor of the 26th MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250.
Official Sponsors of the SCORE Desert Series are:
-BFGoodrich Tires, Official Tire
-Volkswagen of America, Official Vehicle
-Sunoco Race Fuels, Official Race Fuel
-Slime, Official Tire Sealant
-Symons Ambulance Company, Official Ambulance
-Bilstein, Official Shock Absorber
-Instant Mexico Auto Insurance, Official Mexican Auto Insurance
Official Sponsors of the SCORE Baja 1000 are:
-Coca-Cola, Official Soft Drink
-Volaris Airlines, Official Airline
-Lightforce Performance Lighting, Official Driving Light

Additional SCORE Sponsors are – Proturismo Ensenada, Baja California Secretary of Tourism, COTUCO Mexicali/San Felipe, Las Vegas Events, Blue C Advertising, SignPros, PCI Race Radios, McKenzie’s Performance Products and Advanced Color Graphics.

For more information, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters 818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the 2012 SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com.
2012 SCORE Desert Series Point Leaders
(After SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge Rounds 1 and 2, Jan. 14-15; Remaining races: 26th MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250-March 9-11—San Felipe, Mexico; 44th Tecate SCORE Baja 500-June 1-3, Ensenada, Mexico; 45th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000-Nov. 17-20, Ensenada to La Paz, Mexico)
Top 20 Overall Cars and Trucks
(Position, Drivers, Vehicle-Engine, Class, Points)
1. Cody Parkhouse, Long Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy (Class 1), 103
2. Juan C. Lopez, Tecate, Mexico, Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy Truck), 101
3. Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy Truck), 94
4. Steve Strobel, Clarks, Neb, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy Truck), 90
5. Harley Letner, Orange, Calif., Alpha-Chevy (Class 1), 88
6. Gary Weyhrich, Troutdale, Ore., Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy Truck), 87
7. Brian Parkhouse, Long Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy (Class 1), 86
8. Brendan Gaughan, Las Vegas, Dodge Ram1500 (SCORE Trophy Truck), 84
8. Eduardo Laguna, Mexicali, Mexico, Chevy Colorado (Class 6), 84
10. Cody Robinson, El Centro, Calif., Romo-VW (Class 1/2-1600), 82
10. Damen Jefferies, Apple Valley, Calif., Jefferies-Chevy (Class 1), 82
12. Mark Weyhrich, Troutdale, Ore., Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy Truck), 80
12. Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Va., PSD-Chevy (Class 2), 80
12. Donald Moss, Sacramento, Calif., Ford Bronco (Class 3), 80
12. Derek Fletcher, Abingdon, Va., PSD-Chevy (Class 4), 80
12. Kevin Carr, San Diego, VW Baja Bug (Class 5), 80
12. Dan Chamlee, Carpenteria, Calif., Ford Ranger (Class 7), 80
12. Billy Wilson, Corpus Christi, Texas, BajaLite-Chevy (Class 7-2), 80
12. Rodolfo Iribe, San Ysidro, Calif., Chevy Silverado (Class 8), 80
12. Andy Bell, Long Beach, Calif., Toyota Tacoma (Stock Mini), 80

2011 SCORE Desert Series Class Point Leaders
(NOTE: Motorcycles, ATVs and SPT UTVs race in the three SCORE Baja races)
(With Class wins in parenthesis)
Pro Cars and Trucks
SCORE TROPHY TRUCK—1. Juan C. Lopez, Tecate, Mexico, Chevy Silverado, 101; 2. Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Ford F-150 (1), 94; 3. Steven Strobel, Clarks, Neb., Ford F-150, 90; 4. Gary Weyhrich, Troutdale, Ore., Ford F-150, 87; 5. Brendan Gaughan, Las Vegas, Dodge Ram1500, 84; 6. Mark Weyhrich, Troutdale, Ore., Ford F-150, 80; 7. Scott Whipple, Norco, Calif., Ford F-150, 76; 8. (Tie) James Bult, Monee, Ill., Dodge Ram2500 and Nick Vanderwey, Phoenix, Chevy Silverado, 70; 10. B.J. Baldwin, Las Vegas, Chevy Silverado (1), 68; 11; (Tie) Tim Herbst, Las Vegas, Ford F-150 and Ryan Arciero, Foothill Ranch, Calif., Chevy C1500, 66.

CLASS 1—Cody Parkhouse, Long Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy (1), 103; 2. Harley Letner, Orange, Calif., Alpha-Chevy, 88; 3. Brian Parkhouse, Long Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, 88; 4. Damen Jefferies, Apple Valley, Calif., Jefferies-Chevy, 82; 5. Steve Appleton, Boise, Idaho, Jimco-Chevy, 75; 6. (Tie) Steven Eugenio, Alpine, Calif./Adam Pfankuch, Oceanside, Calif., Jimco-Chevy (1) and Pete Sohren, Glendale, Calif., Geiser-Ford, 71; 8. Monica Greenhill, Crowley, Texas, Jimco-Chevy, 65; 9. Ronny Wilson, Long Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, 59; 10. Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Va., Geiser-Chevy, 51; 11. (Tie) Conan Barker, Whitter, Calif., Porter-Ford, Eric Hardin, Garden Grove, Calif., RPS-Chevy and Jaime Huerta, San Luis, Ariz., Porter-Chevy, 50.

CLASS 1/2-1600—1. Cody Robinson, El Centro, Calif., Romo-VW (1), 82; Robert Archibald, El Cajon, Calif., Mirage-VW (1), 78; 3. Brad Wilson, Long Beach, Calif., Kreger-VW, 65; 4. Jason Markham, Ventura, Calif., Lothringer-VW, 58; 5. (Tie) George Peters, Newbury Park, Calif., Lothringer-VW and Brian Wilson, Long Beach, Kreger-VW, 57.

CLASS 3—1. Donald Moss, Sacramento, Calif., Ford Bronco (2), 80.

CLASS 5—1. Kevin Carr, San Diego, VW Baja Bug (2),80.

CLASS 5-1600—1. Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Va., VW Baja Bug (1), 74; 2. Erich Reisen, VW Baja Bug (1), 59.

CLASS 6—1. Eduardo Laguna, Mexicali, Mexico, Chevy Colorado (2), 84; 2. Rene Brugger, San Diego, Ford Ranger 64; 3. Dan Holtz, Los Angeles, Ford Ranger, 63.

CLASS 7—1. Dan Chamlee, Carpenteria, Calif., Ford Ranger (2), 80; 2. Brandon Walsh, Encinitas, Calif., Toyota Tacoma, 49.

CLASS 7SX—1. (Tie) Jon Anderson, San Juan Capistrano, Calif., Toyota Tacoma, and Rich Severson, Tucson, Ariz., Ford Ranger, 64; 3. Elias Hanna, Ensenada, Mexico, Ford Ranger (1), 40.

CLASS 8—1. Rodolfo Iribe, San Ysidro, Calif., Chevy Silverado (1), 80.

CLASS 10—1. Matt Cullen, Long Beach, Calif., AlumiCraft-Honda (1), 71; 2. Peter Hajas, Wayzata, Minn., Kreger-Chevy, and Perry McNeil, Lemon Grove, Calif., Lothringer-VW, 62; 4. Mark Lawrence, El Monte, Calif., Lothringer-VW, 55; 5. Mike Lawrence, El Monte, Calif., Chenowth-Honda, 51; 6. Michael LaPaglia, Murrieta, Calif., Jimco-Chevy (1), 41.

SCORE LITES—1. Otoneil Huerta, San Luis, Ariz., Curry-VW (1), 76; 2. Rafael Navarro IV, Temecula, Calif./Vic Bruckmann, Lemon Grove, Calif., Jimco-VW (1), 72; 3. Brent Parkhouse, Long Beach, Calif./Brian Burgess, Riverside, Calif., Moulton-VW, 61; 4. Matt Laughlin, Laughlin, Nev., Penhall-VW, 59; 5. Jeff Sanca, Canada, Porter-VW, 54; 6. Lobsam Yee, Tijuana, Mexico, Curry-VW, 50.

STOCK FULL—1. (Tie) Wes Bevly III, Corpus Christi, Texas, Ford F-150 (1) and Joe Bacal, Anthem, Ariz., Lexus LX570 (1), 74; 3. Marc Stein, San Diego, Ford F-150, 60.

STOCK MINI—1. Andy Bell/Ted Moncure, Long Beach, Calif., Toyota Tacoma (2), .

CLASS 7-2—1. Billy Wilson/Wes Bevly IV, Corpus Christi, Texas, BajaLite-Chevy (2), 80; 2. (Tie) Dana Dague, Huntington Beach, Calif., Mason-Chevy, and Reid Rutherford, Montrose, Colo. Mason-Chevy, 64.

CLASS 4—1. Derek Fletcher, Abingdon, Va., PSD-Chevy (2), 370; 2. Mike Shaffer, Oakland, Calif., Custom-Chevy, 68.

CLASS 2—1. Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Va., PSD-Chevy (2), 80; 2. Jon Anderson, San Juan Capistrano, Calif., Toyota Tacoma, 68.
Sportsman

SPT TRUCK—1. Nick Tonelli, Huntington Beach, Calif., Ford Ranger (2), 80.

SPT BUGGY—1. Jim Bunn, Bristol, Va., RGBBuggy-Chevy (2), 80.