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Score Desert Championship 2024: Las Vegas’ ‘Los Terribles’ reign in SCORE overall points standings
- Thor/Pierce first, EJ/Ryan Millen in seventh
- 15 of top 26 overall point leaders from Trophy Truck Spec class
ENSENADA, Baja California, Mexico –Las Vegas’ third-generation desert racer Thor Herbst, 25, is extending the legacy of the Terrible Herbst Motorsports family in desert racing, based on victories and podiums.
As the current overall leader of the 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship, the excitement has been palpable every second, with riders battling for every mile and every point at stake, all hoping to claim glory, especially with November’s iconic BFGoodrich Tires 57th SCORE Baja 1000 approaching—a legendary desert race that will “close the curtain” on this season.
Thor, along with his brother Pierce Herbst, 21, are the drivers of the Trophy Truck Spec No. 219 Nine Industries-Chevy Terrible Herbst Motorsports team, accumulating a total of 384 points after the first three races of the year, all held in Baja California, making it to the podium in each of those SCORE rounds.
First, Thor Herbst won his class in the King Shocks 37th SCORE San Felipe 250, followed by a second place in the BFGoodrich Tires 56th SCORE Baja 500, and finished with a third place in the 5th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing. As a result, he is not only the overall leader of the 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship, but also the leader in the Trophy Truck Spec class.
ANOTHER ‘TERRIBLE’
Las Vegas’ EJ Herbst, 23 (cousin of Thor and Pierce), along with additional driver Ryan Millen, of New Zealand, is fourth in Trophy Truck Spec and seventh in SCORE overall points in his No. 263 1 Nine Industries-Chevy of the Terrible Herbst Motorsports Team.
This season he has two sixth place and one eighth place finish in his massive class for 350 total points.
MORE SCORE TROPHY TRUCK SPECS
Justin Davis, 31, Chino Hills, California, is second in SCORE Overall and in the Trophy Truck Spec class with 366 points, driving his No. 285 TSCO-Chevy Green Army Motorsports team. He has achieved a couple of podium finishes at the SCORE San Felipe 250 and SCORE Baja 500.
Davis placed second in the SCORE San Felipe 250, then won the SCORE Baja 500, but struggled to finish in 18th place at the SCORE Baja 400, which means he will need to carefully prepare his strategy for the upcoming BFGoodrich Tires 57th SCORE Baja 1000, taking place from Nov. 11-17 in Ensenada, Baja California.
Michael Marsal, 36, Millbrook, N.Y., is fourth overall in SCORE and third in the Trophy Truck Spec class with 359 points, behind the wheel of his No. 236 Brenthel-Chevy. He is in search of his first podium this season, having finished fifth in the SCORE San Felipe 250, fourth in the SCORE Baja 500, and fourth in the SCORE Baja 400.
TOP 3 OVERALL FOR “MINI MAC”
The third overall spot in the 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship so far is Las Vegas’ Cayden MacCachren, 22, who has 363 points, thanks to three consecutive victories in his No. 1821 UTV Polaris RZR Pro R. He is also the leader of the Pro UTV Open class as part of Team Polaris.
‘Mini Mac’ is the son of Rob ‘The G.O.A.T’ MacCachren, the most successful driver in off-road racing history, and has a streak of four consecutive victories that began in November 2023 with his Pro UTV Open victory at the SCORE Baja 1000, which started in the port of La Paz, Baja California Sur, and finished in Ensenada, Baja California.
Cayden's evolution in the deserts of Mexico has been tremendous, year after year, as he emulates his father's feats in this sport, perhaps at an even faster pace. Therefore, this coming November, he will be aiming for a perfect SCORE campaign if he captures the checkered flag at the SCORE Baja 1000.
TIGHT BATTLE BETWEEN MENZIES AND AMPUDIA
In SCORE Trophy Truck, Las Vegas’ Bryce Menzies, 37, and Alan Ampudia, 33, Ensenada, Mexico, are tied for first place with 353 points. This is the same situation in the overall SCORE points championship, placing them fifth, making ‘The Granddaddy of All Desert Races’ the perfect stage for the conclusion of this battle between these two desert giants.
Menzies, driving his No. 1 Ford Raptor Mason AWD Menzies Motorsports team, has not left the top four this year, finishing fourth in the SCORE San Felipe 250, fourth in the SCORE Baja 500, and winning the SCORE Baja 400 (the later for the fourth consecutive year), alongside his veteran navigator, Oren Anderson of Florida.
Ampudia is on a new quest for No. 1 among the ‘Monsters of the desert,’ driving his No.10 Team Papas and Beer Ford Raptor Mason AWD. He won the SCORE San Felipe 250, then captured 10 place in the SCORE Baja 500, and finished second in the SCORE Baja 400. He is the son of a living legend in this sport, Rodrigo Ampudia Sr., one of the first Mexicans in history to compete in the SCORE Trophy Truck.
Gustavo “Tavo” Vildosola Jr., 42, Mexicali, Mexico, is eighth overall and third in the SCORE Trophy Truck with 348 points. He has had a very consistent campaign, driving his No. 21 Vildosola Racing Ford Raptor.
Vildosola Jr. achieved third place in the SCORE San Felipe 250, second place in the SCORE Baja 500, and fifth place in the SCORE Baja 400, alongside his amazing navigator, Javier “Javi” Valenzuela, who also has extensive experience as a mechanic for the Vildosola Racing team.
WELLS, THE “HURRICANE” FROM UTAH
Kaden Wells, 25, Hurricane, Utah, is eighth overall in SCORE with 344 points, but first in the Pro UTV Stock class, thanks to three victories in 2024, driving his No. 3925 Can-Am Maverick R. He has demonstrated exceptional driving skills in the deserts, mountains, and beaches of Baja California.
Notably, in the top 26 of the overall SCORE championship, there are 15 drivers from the Trophy Truck Spec class, five from the SCORE Trophy Truck, three from the Pro UTV Open class, and one each from the Pro UTV FI, SCORE TT Legend, and the Pro UTV Stock class.
SCORE Universe
Source: Score International
Photo: Picture: GetSome Photo
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