NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.—BFGoodrich Tires, KTM, tire rep Jeff Cummings, racer Steven Strobel, and mechanic Mike Stapleton were among the big winners Saturday night as SCORE International officially concluded the five-race 2012 SCORE Desert Series with the annual SCORE Awards Night in SoCal at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Newport Beach.

SCORE Off-Roadsman of the Year awards were presented in 11 categories along with the 16 winners of the SCORE Toyota Milestone Awards and the class and overall point champions of Sal Fish’s five-race 2012 SCORE Desert Series.

In front of an enthusiastic crowd of nearly 400 and a worldwide audience via the live webcast of the festivities, the evening was also a celebration of 39 years of SCORE championship desert racing.  Following the lengthy salute to the stars of the 2012 SCORE Desert Series, SCORE President/CEO Sal Fish officially ended the historic evening by formally turning over the original SCORE International, founded in 1973, to new SCORE owner Roger Norman.

BFGoodrich Tires, the official tire of SCORE for 37 years was honored as the 2012 SCORE Contingency Company of the Year and the 2012 SCORE Pit Support Team of the Year. It was the 22nd time BFGoodrich Tires has been voted the SCORE Contingency Company of the Year and it was the 24th time that BFGoodrich Tires has been voted the SCORE Pit Support Team of the Year.

The SCORE Off-Roadsman awards were determined for the second straight year by a public, online vote. Among the other honorees were the top point leaders from the 2012 SCORE Desert Series, the World’s Foremost Desert Racing Series. Several thousand votes were cast in the month-long voting window in November and December following the season-ending 45th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 race down Mexico’s Baja California peninsula from Ensenada to La Paz.

KTM Motorcycles, which fielded a factory team in the 2012 SCORE Desert Series led by rider of record Kurt Caselli that finished second in Class 22 points and won the overall at the MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250, was honored for the first time as the SCORE Motorcycle Manufacturer of the Year.

Cummings, based out of Las Vegas, is a long-time BFGoodrich Tires desert racing support coordinator, was voted as the 2012 Sal Fish SCORE Person of the Year. It was his first selection to this honor. Previous BFGoodrich Tires personnel who have been voted winner of this award are Athene Karis (1982), Frank DeAngelo (1985), Dan Newsome (1992, 1996, 1998) and Debbie Dickerhoof (2001).

“Like a vintage wine with great flavor that is enhanced with time, this year’s SCORE Off-Roadsman Awards have been earned by very special companies and people, who are all part of the foundation of this great racing organization,” commented SCORE’s Sal Fish. “This evening with all its memories and accolades will be cherished forever by myself and my wife Barbara, who has seen me through every bit of my long and dusty journey to this touching farewell evening.”

With very tight voting in most categories, Strobel, of Clark’s Neb., was selected as the 2012 SCORE Rookie of the Year after his sterling season in the featured SCORE Trophy Truck division for high-tech, 850-horsepower unlimited production trucks. Driving the No. 94 Strobel Motorsports Ford F-150, Strobel finished fourth in SCORE Trophy Truck season points while finishing in the top seven in four of the five races, including a season high of third place in Round 2 at the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge.

Stapleton, the crew chief of the prominent Wilson Motorsports team of Long Beach, Calif., was voted the SCORE Mechanic of the Year for the third time.  He previously won the award both in 2001 and 2009.

“BFGoodrich Tires has been supporting all of desert racing, especially SCORE, for 37 years,” said Fish, during his final official appearance as the SCORE owner. “To win the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 once is a major feat, but to capture the world’s most prestigious desert race 20 straight years (1986-2005) and 25 times all together is unbelievable.  BFGoodrich Tires are the most dominant desert racing tires in the world and we are privileged to be able honor them.  BFGoodrich Tire’s grassroots support of desert racers is unparalleled. I am personally deeply humbled to have had the relationship with BFGoodrich Tires that I have had for nearly four decades. No motorsport has a more involved nor a more committed sponsor, contingency donor and pit support group than SCORE has in BFGoodrich Tires.”

Mike Julson, of Santee, Calif., who is a SCORE regular co-driver in both SCORE Trophy Truck and the unlimited Class 1, saw his Jimco open-wheel desert race cars win the 2012 SCORE Original Buggy Chassis Manufacturer point championship for the 19th time and 18th straight.

Kroyer Racing Engines of Las Vegas captured the 2012 Engine Builder point championship for the third straight year.

A rugged group of 16 SCORE racers from 10 Pro classes for cars and trucks  were also honored as 2012 SCORE Toyota Milestone Award winners after finishing all 1,920.19 race miles during the season. Joining Fish in presenting the prestigious awards were Les Unger, Toyota’s National Motorsports manager along with former champion Toyota desert racer Ivan Stewart. This was the 27th consecutive year that Toyota has presented these unique awards.

Veteran journalist Jim Ryan, publisher of Dirt Sports Magazine, was honored for the first time as the Judy Smith SCORE Journalist of the Year, while My Baja Photo (Alexander Ponce) earned the Jim Ober SCORE Photographer of the Year honors for the second straight year while winning the Blue C SCORE Videographer of the Year award for the second straight year was Mexico’s Cactus Films (Esteban Flores).

Leading the parade of 2012 SCORE Desert Series point champions were the three overall titlists—Las Vegas’ B.J. Baldwin. (Overall and SCORE Trophy Truck in the No. 97 Monster Energy Baldwin Motorsports Chevy Silverado), Jeff Kaplan, Thousand Oaks, Calif. (Overall motorcycle and Class 40 on a Honda CRF450X) and Rafael Torres, San Felipe, Mexico (Overall ATV and Class 24 on a Honda TRX450R).

For Baldwin, who had two race wins and two seconds in 2012 along with one unusual ‘did not finish’, it was his first SCORE Overall and third SCORE Trophy Truck season point championship. As for his ‘dnf’, Baldwin was battling for the lead on the second lap of Round 2 of the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge when he pulled off the course to assist his father (Bobby Baldwin) who suffered a medical issue while racing and had pulled off the course.

For Kaplan, who won Class 40 in all three SCORE Baja races, it was his first SCORE Overall Motorcycle and 12th class point title and first SCORE Overall ATV and first class season win for Torres, who had two victories and one fourth place finish in 2012 in Class 24.

Emcees for the evening were prominent racer/action sports TV announcer Cameron Steele and Jim Riley, CEO of Intersect Beverage and Azunia Tequila.

Special presenters for the transition segment for Fish and Norman, were public relations executive Marty Fiolka and former champion desert racer Ivan Stewart.

The live webcast of the special show was produced by SCORE Media House in association with Curbsyde Productions.

MOVING FORWARD
The new SCORE International opens its three-race 2013 SCORE Desert Series with the 27th MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 in Baja California, Mexico, March 8-10.

The original SCORE International founded in 1973 by the late Mickey Thompson and headed by Sal Fish since 1974, continues today as the premier sanctioning body in the sport of desert racing. SCORE races feature 36 Pro and five Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs competing in the races in Mexico. Fish transferred ownership of SCORE International to Norman on Dec. 20, 2012.

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

MasterCraft Safety is co-title sponsor of the MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250.

Official Sponsors of the 45th SCORE Baja 1000 and the SCORE Desert Series are:
-Tecate Beer, Official Beer
-BFGoodrich Tires, Official Tire
-Graham Watchmakers, Official Timekeeper
-Red Bull, Official Energy Drink
-Volkswagen of America, Official Vehicle
-Sunoco Race Fuels, Official Race Fuel
-Coca-Cola, Official Soft Drink
-Slime, Official Tire Sealant
-Symons Ambulance Company, Official Ambulance
-Bullet Liner, Official Spray-On Bedliner
-SatellitePhoneStore.com-Official Satellite Phone Rental Company
-Volaris Airlines, Official Airline
-Fox Car Rental, Official Rent-A-Car
-Lightforce Performance Lighting, Official Driving Light
-Maxtrax, Official Vehicle Recovery Device
-Azunia Tequila, Official Tequila
-Bilstein, Official Shock Absorber
-Instant Mexico Auto Insurance, Official Mexican Auto Insurance

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

For more information, visit the official website of the new SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com.

2012 SCORE Off-Roadsman of the Year Award Winners
SCORE Contingency Company of the Year—BFGoodrich Tires
SCORE Motorcycle Manufacturer of the Year—KTM Motorcycles
SCORE Mechanic of the Year—Mike Stapleton, Wilson Motorsports
SCORE Pit Support Team of the Year—BFGoodrich Tires
Judy Smith SCORE Journalist of the Year—Jim Ryan, Dirt Sports Magazine
Jim Ober SCORE Photographer of the Year—My Baja Photo (Alexander Ponce)
Blue C SCORE Videographer of the Year—Cactus Films (Esteban Flores)
SCORE Rookie of the Year—Steve Strobel, SCORE Trophy Truck
Sal Fish SCORE Person of the Year—Jeff Cummings, BFGoodrich Tires
*SCORE Original Buggy Chassis Manufacturer—Jimco (Mike Julson)
*SCORE Engine Builder—Kroyer Racing Engines (Kevin Kroyer)

*Determined by points; others-public, online voting

All-time SCORE Off-Roadsman Award Winners
Current Awards (1974 thru 2010, voted by SCORE membership, since 2011 public, online voting)
SCORE CONTINGENCY COMPANY of the Year
1977—NGK Spark Plugs
1978—Pennzoil
1979—BFGoodrich Tires
1980—Rough Country
1981—Bridgestone
1982—BFGoodrich Tires
1983—BFGoodrich Tires
1984—BFGoodrich Tires
1985—TIE-BFGoodrich Tires
& Yokohama Tires
1986—Yokohama Tires
1987—BFGoodrich Tires
1988—Yokohama Tires
1989—Yokohama Tires
1990—Yokohama Tires
1991—Yokohama Tires
1992—Yokohama Tires
1993—BFGoodrich Tires
1994—BFGoodrich Tires
1995—BFGoodrich Tires
1996—BFGoodrich Tires
1997—BFGoodrich Tires
1998—Duralast Batteries
1999—BFGoodrich Tires
2000—BFGoodrich Tires
2001—BFGoodrich Tires
2002—BFGoodrich Tires
2003—BFGoodrich Tires
2004—BFGoodrich Tires
2005—BFGoodrich Tires
2006—BFGoodrich Tires
2007—BFGoodrich Tires
2008—Volkswagen of America
2009—BFGoodrich Tires
2010—Sunoco
2011—BFGoodrich Tires
2012—BFGoodrich Tires

SCORE MOTORCYCLE MANUFACTURER of the Year
1974—Husqvarna
1975—American Honda
1976—Husqvarna
1977—Husqvarna
1978—Husqvarna
1979—Husqvarna
1980—Yamaha
1981—American Honda
1982—American Honda
1983—American Honda
1984—American Honda
1985—American Honda
1986—American Honda
1987—American Honda
1988—American Honda
1989—Kawasaki
1990—Kawasaki
1991—Kawasaki
1992—Kawasaki
1993—Kawasaki
1994—Kawasaki
1995—Kawasaki
1996—Kawasaki
1997—American Honda
1998—American Honda
1999—American Honda
2000—American Honda
2001—American Honda
2002—American Honda
2003—American Honda
2004—American Honda
2005—American Honda
2006—American Honda
2007—American Honda
2008—American Honda
2009—American Honda
2010—American Honda
2011—American Honda
2011—KTM

SCORE MECHANIC of the Year
1974—Scott McKenzie
1975—Dick Russell
1976—Jim Fueling
1977—Scott McKenzie
1978—Scott McKenzie
1979—Scott McKenzie
1980—Bill Stroppe
1981—Tom Strong
1982—Bill Stroppe
1983—Bill Stroppe
1984—Bill Stroppe
1985—Bill Stroppe
1986—Randy Anderson
1987—NONE SELECTED
1988—Jon Nelson
1989—Russ Wernimont
1990—Call Wells III
1991—Ivan Scoppertone
1992—Russ Wernimont
1993—Russ Wernimont
1994—Russ Wernimont
1995—Curt LeDuc
1996—Steve Silverthorn
1997—NONE SELECTED
1998—Mike Smith
1999—Mike Smith
2000—Mike Smith
2001—Mike Stapleton
2002—Barry Beacham
2003—Mike Smith
2004—John Hoffman
2005—Mark Cowan
2006—Rick Geiser
2007—Jim Blackmore
2008—Andy McGaw
2009—Mike Stapleton
2010—Rick Geiser
2011—Jeff Geiser
2012—Mike Stapleton

SCORE PIT SUPPORT TEAM of the Year
(PIT CREW CHIEF—1974-76)
1974—Bill Mears
1975—Jack Miller
1976—Steve Kassanyi
1977—Checkers
1978—F.A.I.R.
1979—Checkers
1980—Budweiser
1981—Budweiser
1982—BFGoodrich Tires
1983—Checkers
1984—BFGoodrich Tires
1985—TIE-Checkers & F.A.I.R.
1986—Spirit Racing
1987—BFGoodrich Tires
1988—BFGoodrich Tires
1989—BFGoodrich Tires
1990—Sage Council
1991—BFGoodrich Tires
1992—BFGoodrich Tires
1993—Checkers
1994—BFGoodrich Tires
1995—BFGoodrich Tires
1996—BFGoodrich Tires
1997—BFGoodrich Tires
1998—BFGoodrich Tires
1999—BFGoodrich Tires
2000—BFGoodrich Tires
2001—BFGoodrich Tires
2002—BFGoodrich Tires
2003—BFGoodrich Tires
2004—BFGoodrich Tires
2005—BFGoodrich Tires
2006—BFGoodrich Tires
2007—BFGoodrich Tires
2008—BFGoodrich Tires
2009—Baja Pits
2010—BFGoodrich Tires
2011—Baja Pits
2012—BFGoodrich Tires

MASTERCRAFT SAFETY SCORE ROOKIE of the Year
1974—Frank Vessels
1975—Carroll Ditson
1976—Jackie Thomison
1977—Jerry Boone
1978—Jim Jacobus
1979—Dixie Hawkins
1980—Ray Encabo
1981—Malcolm Vinje
1982—Roger Mortenson
1983—Mike Falkosky
1984—John Clark Gable
1985—Rob Tolleson
1986—Brian Stewart
1987—Robby Gordon
1988—Doug Fortin
1989—Scott Reams
1990—Charlie Townsley
1991—Dan Smith
1992—Brian Goodrich
1993—Ricky Johnson
1994—Tom Rusich
1995—Jimmie Johnson
1996—TIE-Chuck Harris
& Tom Dittfield
1997—John Herder
1998—Bekki Freeman
1999—Jared Hardin
2000—Jeremy Spirkoff
2001—Jason Hunter
2002—Alan Pflueger
2003—Brian Ickler
2004—Andy McMillin
2005—Caleb Gaddis
2006—Garron Cadiente
2007—Eric Chase
2008—Lee Banning
2009—Brian Wilson
2010—Luke McMillin
2011—Bryce Menzies
2012—Steve Strobel

SCORE PERSON of the Year
1974—Walt Lott
1975—Doc Sauers
1976—Ivan Stewart
1977—Jim McCullick
1978—Quico Santana
1979—Hal Harris
1980—Malcolm Smith
1981—Joe MacPherson
1982—Athene Karis
1983—Walker Evans
1984—Ivan Stewart
1985—Frank DeAngelo
1986—Walker Evans
1987—Bob Steinberger
1988—Walt Lott
1989—Evan Evans
1990—Michael Gaughan
1991—Peri Comb
1992—Dan Newsome
1993—Michael Gaughan
1994—Jimmy Smith
1995—Danny Hamel
1996—Dan Newsome
1997—Joe MacPherson
1998—Dan Newsome
1999—Larry Roeseler
2000—Bob Steinberger
2001—Debbie Dickerhoof
2002—Jeff Quinn
2003—TIE-Mike Julson
& Corky McMillin
2004—Ed Herbst
2005—Corky McMillin (posthumously)
2006—Cameron Steele
2007—Cameron Steele
2008—Rob MacCachren
2009—Robby Gordon
2010—Robbie Pierce
2011—Johnny Campbell
2012—Jeff Cummings

JUDY SMITH SCORE JOURNALIST of the Year
1975—Jean Calvin
1976—Sam Wilshire
1977—Sam Wilshire
1978—Judy Smith
1979—Steve Kassanyi
1980—Judy Smith
1981—Jean Calvin
1982—Judy Smith
1983—Jean Calvin
1984—Jean Calvin
1985—Jean Calvin
1986—Jean Calvin
1987—Jim Short
1988—Jean Calvin
1989—Jean Calvin
1990—Jean Calvin
1991—Judy Smith
1992—Judy Smith
1993—Tony Tellier
1994—Jean Calvin
1995—NONE SELECTED
1996—Judy Smith
1997—Jean Calvin
1998—Judy Smith
1999—Judy Smith
2000—Judy Smith
2001—Judy Smith
2002—Judy Smith
2003—Judy Smith
2004—Judy Smith
2005—Judy Smith
2006—Marty Fiolka
2007—Judy Smith
2008—John Calvin
2009—Tim Sanchez
2010—Tim Sanchez
2011—Gabriel Garcia
2012—Jim Ryan

JIM OBER SCORE PHOTOGRAPHER of the Year
1975—Dave Cody
1976—Trackside
1977—Ariz. Comp. Photos
1978—Trackside
1979—Trackside
1980—Trackside
1981—Action Photo
1982—Trackside
1983—Trackside
1984—Trackside
1985—Trackside
1986—Trackside
1987—ESPN
1988—Trackside
1989—Trackside
1990—Carrera
1991—Carrera
1992—Carrera
1993—Carrera
1994—Carrera
1995—NONE SELECTED
1996—Carrera
1997—Carrera
1998—Carrera
1999—Carrera
2000—Trackside
2001—Carrera
2002—Trackside
2003—Trackside
2004—Trackside
2005—Trackside
2006—HighRev Photo
2007—Trackside Photo
2008—Durka Durka Photo
2009—HighRev Photo
2010—HighRev Photo
2011—My Baja Photo
2012—My Baja Photo

Blue C SCORE Videographer of the Year
2011—Cactus Films
2012—Cactus Films

SCORE ORIGINAL BUGGY CHASSIS MANUFACTURER of the Year
1974—Funco
1975—Hi-Jumper
1976—Chenowth
1977—Chenowth
1978—Chenowth
1979—Funco
1980—Funco
1981—Funco
1982—Raceco
1983—TIE-Chenowth & Raceco
1984—Raceco
1985—Raceco
1986—Raceco
1987—Raceco
1988—Chenowth
1989—Chenowth
1990—Chenowth
1991—Chenowth
1992—Jimco
1993—Mirage
1994—Chenowth
1995—Jimco
1996—Jimco
1997—Jimco
1998—Jimco
1999—Jimco
2000—Jimco
2001—Jimco
2002—Jimco
(By Points since 2003)
2003—Jimco
2004—Jimco
2005—Jimco
2006—Jimco
2007—Jimco
2008—Jimco
2009—Jimco
2010—Jimco
2011—Jimco
2012—Jimco

SCORE ENGINE BUILDER of the Year
1974—Lee Leighton
1975—Brian Skipper
1976—Lee Leighton
1985—FAT Performance
1986—Keith Black
1987—Louis Unser
1988—Mike Evans
1989—Mike Evans
1990—FAT Performance
1991—FAT Performance
1992—Major Performance
1993—FAT Performance
1994—Wik’s Racing
1995—FAT Performance
1996—FAT Performance
1997—FAT Performance
1998—Wik’s Racing
1999—Wik’s Racing
2000—Wik’s Racing
2001—Wik’s Racing
2002—Dave Bonner
(By Points since 2003)
2003—Major Performance
2004—FAT Performance
2005—FAT Performance
2006—Major Performance
2007—Major Performance
2008—Major Performance
2009—FAT Performance
2010—Kroyer Racing Engines
2011—Kroyer Racing Engines
2012—Kroyer Racing Engines