Laughlin: Round one race recaps

NOTE - Racers were divided each day into five different groups, by individual class, to race three, five, six, seven or eight laps over a 6.25-mile desert course. The competition starts and finishes with a stadium-style course in front of grandstand seating. Combined with the hillside viewing, the event VIP tent, and a one outlying spectator area, the daily-long rain showers significantly affected the Sunday's crowd count while more than 10,000 spectators were on hand Saturday and nearly 5,000 attended Thursday's SCORE Laughlin Leap competition (according to Laughlin Tourism Committee Officials). Racers had one-hour, 20 minutes (80 minutes) time limits from the time each started to complete the required laps each day to be an official finisher for that day. The event finishing order, by class, will be based on the combined two-day elapsed time of each racer and in order to be a finisher, each racer had to cover all required laps both days. Sunday's start order was in the same order as they finished Saturday, except for those classes that had 10 or more finishers on Saturday. The top 10 finishers from each of those classes will have a drawing to determine their start order for Sunday. Also, SCORE Trophy-Truck started in the same order they finished on Saturday.

GROUP #1
Classes 1-2/1600 (6 laps), 5/1600 (6), 11 (3), SPT Car (6), 38 Total Starters, 13 Finishers (14 Sunday)

* CLASS 1-2/1600 (6 laps, 37.5 miles, Sunday, 75 miles overall, 16 total starters, seven overall finishers) - Fourteen (14) racers started Sunday with eight racers finishing the required six laps Sunday. Cory Boyer (1649 with Rick Boyer, Bakersfield, Calif., Lothringer, two hours, 54 seconds, 37.221 miles per hour), who led by a second over Adam Pfankuch (1609, Carlsbad, Calif., Mirage, 2:03:14, 36.516 mph) after Saturday's competition, captured the title by edging Hiram Duran (1615, Chula Vista, Calif., Amplified, 2:01:43, 36.971) by 49 seconds. Duran, who was 54 seconds behind Boyer after Saturday's race, had the best Class 1-2/1600 time Sunday at one hour, eight minutes, 29 seconds with Boyer five seconds behind. David Caspino (1600, Woodland Hills, Calif., Lothringer, 2:03:29, 36.442 mph), the 2007 SCORE Desert Series Class 1-2/1600 champion, placed fourth

* CLASS 5/1600 (1600cc VW Baja Bugs, 6 laps, 37.5 miles, Sunday, 75 miles overall, 13 total starters, two overall finishers) - With nine of the of the 13 racers completing the required six laps Saturday, only two racers finished Sunday's required 37.5 miles. Marcos Nunez (579 with Norberto Rivera, Ensenada, Mexico, 2:15:21, 33.247 miles per hour), who had a 12 second lead Saturday, lost his advantage on Sunday's first lap Sunday to Enrique Zazueta Jr. (555 with Enrique Zazueta Sr., La Paz, Mexico, 2:13:48, 33.632 mph). Zazueta gained a four-second lead after Sunday's first lap and steadily increased his advantage over the next four laps to win the competition by 93 seconds. Raul Solano (565, Chino, Calif.), the 2007 Laughlin Class 5/1600 winner, led for the first four laps Saturday to have a 68-second advantage over Nunez on the first day. Solano did not complete his sixth lap Saturday and completed only four laps Sunday..

* CLASS 11 (Stock VW Sedans, 3 laps, 18.75 miles, Sunday, 37.5 miles overall, 4 total starters, three over finishers) - All three starters finished Sunday's race with Ramon Fernandez (1100 with Jesus Aras, Ensenada, Mexico :1:27:36, 25.685 miles per hour) roared to a big edge after the first lap (one minutes, 43 seconds) to win Saturday's race and maintained his dominance Sunday to win by almost nine minutes for the two days of racing. Fernandez was the 2007 SCORE Desert Series Class 11 champion. Todd Lucero (1102, Anaheim Hills, Calif. with Richard Nichols Jr., Placentia, Calif. 1:36:08, 23.405 mph) and Jake Mueller (1104 with Todd O'Dwyer, San Diego, 1:40:46, 22>329 mph) were second and third, respectively. The 2007 Class 11 Laughlin competition featured only one racer with no finishers.

* SPORTSMAN CAR (6 laps, 37.5 miles, Sunday, 75 miles overall, 5 total starters, 1 finisher) - After all five starters completed the required six laps Saturday, only Rory Ward (1449 with Tracy Ward, Mohave Valley, Ariz., Chenowth-Chevy, 2:07:43, 35.234 miles per hour) completed the required 37.5 miles Sunday. Ward started Sunday with a 25-second over Glenn Smith (1403, San Clemente, Calif. with Terry Collis, Carlsbad, Calif., Raceco-VW), who completed only two laps Sunday. Peter Lang (1400, Santa Rosa, Calif. with Brian Jellison, Sebastapol, Calif., Homebuilt-Chevy), the 2007 SCORE Desert Series Sportsman car champion, was fifth Saturday and completed only three laps Sunday.

GROUP #2
Classes 8 (6 laps), Protruck (6), 7 (6), 7SX (6), Stock Full (5), Stock Mini (5), Class 3 (5), SPTTruck(5), 28 Total Starters, 9 finishers

* CLASS 8 (Full-sized two-wheel drive trucks, 6 laps, 37.5 miles, Sunday, 75 miles overall, 3 starters, 0 finishers) - Juan C. Lopez (802, Tecate, Mexico with Beny Canela, Indio, Calif., Ford F-150), who was the only racer to complete the required six laps Saturday, did not complete a lap Sunday. Todd Wylie (803, New River, Ariz., Chevy C1500), who led after five laps Saturday by 17 seconds before not completing his final lap, was the only race to complete six laps Sunday (1:05:17). Greg Adler (801, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Ford F-150), who placed third in the 2007 SCORE Desert Series Class 8 point standings, completed only two laps Saturday and five laps Sunday.

* PROTRUCK (Limited Production Trucks, 6 laps, 37.5 miles, Sunday, 75 miles overall, 1 starter, 1 finisher) - Jason Voss (235, Cupertino, Calif., Ford F-1501:57:05, 38.434 miles per hour) was the only entry in the class. Voss is the 2007 SCORE Desert Series ProTruck champion.

* CLASS 7 (Open mini trucks, 6 laps, 37.5 miles, Sunday, 75 miles overall, 4 starters, 0 finishers) - Dan Chamlee (700 with Tom Chamlee, Carpenteria, Calif., Ford Ranger) was the only racer to complete laps Sunday (four) as the other three entries did not complete a lap Sunday. On Saturday, Chamlee (:53.58, 41.692 miles per hour) was in second place after two laps by a minutes behind A. J. Rodriguez (702 with Miguel Medina, Orange, Calif., Ford Ranger, :55:59, 40.19 mph). But Rodriguez had troubles on the fourth lap as Chamlee took the lead. Chris Taylor (703, El Centro, Calif. with Josh Quintero, Imperial, Calif., Ford Ranger, 1:16:38, 29.361 mph) was third. Chamlee, a three-time SCORE Desert Series Class 7 champion (2004, 2006 and 2007), did not complete the required Laughlin Class 7 laps last year.

* CLASS 7SX (Modified, open mini trucks, 6 laps, 37.5 miles, Sunday, 75 miles overall, 4 starters, 1 finisher) - Heidi Steele (745, San Clemente, Calif. with Tim Lawrence, Santee, Calif., Ford Ranger, 2:20:17, 32.078 miles per hour), who was third Saturday, was the only racer to complete the required six laps Sunday (1:16:44). John Holmes (742, Olivenhain, Calif. with Mark Landersman, Temecula, Calif., Ford Ranger, who finished fourth in the 2007 SCORE Desert Series Class 7SX standings and won the 2007 Laughlin Class 7SX title, had a two minute, 48 second lead over Steele entering Sunday's final lap, but did not complete the final 6.25-mile circuit. Gerardo Novelo (758, San Ysidro, Calif., Nissan Frontier), who was second Saturday, completed only three laps Sunday.

* STOCK FULL (Stock, Full-sized trucks, 5 laps, 31.25 miles, Sunday, 62.5 miles overall, 4 starters, 2 finishers) - After trailing by 98 seconds after Saturday's race, Chad Hall (861, Reno, Nev., Hummer H3Alpha, 1:59:11, 31.464 mph) assumed control in the second lap Saturday to win the class by more than three minutes over six-time SCORE Desert Series Stock Full champion John Griffin (860, Mission Viejo, Calif. with Jeremy Spirkoff, El Cajon, Calif., Ford F-350, 2:03:18, 30.414 miles per hour). Griffin won the series Stock Full title five-straight years (2001-2005) before Terry Henn captured the 2006 class title. Griffin, who was third in Laughlin last year behind Josh Hall, regained the Stock Full SCORE Desert Series title in 2007. Josh Hall, who led Griffin by 32 seconds after two laps Saturday, did not complete required six laps on both Saturday and Sunday.

* STOCK MINI (Stock, Mini-sized trucks, 5 laps, 31.25 miles, Sunday, 62.5 miles overall, 2 starters, 2 finishers) - Both starters completed the required five laps on each day of racing as two-time SCORE Desert Series Stock Mini champion Rod Hall (760, Reno, Nev., Hummer H3, 2:11:46, 28.459 miles per hour) won the competition by more than 16 minutes over Steve Kovach (761, Tempe, Ariz. with Chip Carr, Gilbert, Ariz., Ford Ranger, 2:28:29, 25.255 mph). Hall was the defending Laughlin Stock Mini Champion.

* CLASS 3 (Short Wheelbase 4X4, 5 laps, 31.25 miles, Sunday, 62.5 miles overall, 1 starter, 1 finisher) - Donald Moss (301, Sacramento, Calif. with Ken Moss, Marysville, Calif., Ford Bronco, 2:12;06, 28.388 miles per hour) was the only entry in the class as he captured his sixth Laughlin Class 3 title (2002-2006). He was second in the 2007 Class 3 SCORE Desert Series point's standings. Moss' time Sunday was over 24 minutes slow than Saturday's (:53:52).

* SPORTSMAN TRUCK (5 laps, 31.25 miles, Sunday, 62.5 miles overall, 9 starters, 2 finishers) - As first-day leaders Dan Vance (1548, Huntington Beach, Calif., Toyota Tacoma), Robert Anderson (1505, San Clemente, Calif. with Charles Anderson, Vista, Calif., Ford Ranger) and Mike Jenkins (1501, Foothill Ranch, Calif. with Sammy Navarro, San Juan Capistrano, Calif., Ford F-150) failed to complete the required laps Sunday, Brian Freemal (1504, Las Vegas, Trophy Lite-Chevy, 2:06:16, 29.699 miles per hour) and Keith Growe (1500 with Mark Growe, Placentia, Calif., Ford Ranger, 2:15:03, 27.767 mph) finished atop the standings. Jenkins was the defending Sportsman Truck Laughlin champion. Mark Growe is the SCORE Desert Series defending Sportsman Truck champion.

GROUP #3
Class 10 (7 laps), SCORE Lite (7), Class 5 (7), 24 Total Starters, 7 finishers

* CLASS 10 (Single or two-seaters to 1650cc, 7 laps, 43.75 miles, Sunday, 87.5 miles overall, 10 starters, 1 finisher) - Chris Harrold (1007, Chula Vista, Calif., AlumiCraft-Honda, 2:11:05, 40.051 miles per hour), who had almost a four-minute lead over Robert McBeath (1001 with Jessica McBeath, Las Vegas) entering Sunday's race, was the only overall finisher in the class. McBeath did not complete a lap Sunday. Mike Lawrence (1005, Brea, Calif. with Chris Lawrence, Los Alamitos, Calif., Lothringer-VW), who was third Saturday, completed three laps Sunday. Harrold, who was fourth in the Class 10 SCORE Desert Series standings last year, won his second Laughlin Class 10 title after capturing the 1999 class crown.

* SCORE LITE (VW-powered, Limited single-1776cc-or two-seaters-1835cc, 7 laps, 43.75 miles, Sunday, 87.5 miles overall, 11 starters, 5 finishers) - After leading the field Saturday, Tom Watson (1200, El Centro, Calif. with Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Prill, 2:13:14, 39.405 miles per hour) fell to second overall in the class as Rick St. John (1204, Encinitas, Calif. with Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad, Calif., Duvell, 2:11:11, 40.020 mph) captured the title after being in third on the first day by being 90 seconds behind the leader. Watson, who captured the SCORE Desert Series Score Lite point's championship in 2004 and 2005, held the lead through the first three laps Sunday by 35 seconds, but fell behind St. John by 20 seconds after four laps Sunday. David Callaway (1203, Menifee, Calif. with Scott Mapes, Riverside, Calif., Dunrite, 2:17:17, 38.242 mph), who was second Saturday, placed third overall. Stan Potter (1209, San Marcos, Calif. with Dan Worley, Encinitas, Calif.), the 2007 Laughlin Score Lite champion, entered this weekend's races, but did not start Saturday or Sunday.

* CLASS 5 (Unlimited VW Baja Bugs, 7 laps, 43.75 miles, Sunday, 87.5 overall, 3 starters, 1 finisher) - After all three starters Saturday completed the seven required laps, Kevin Carr (502, San Diego, 2:23:30, 36.585 miles per hour) was the only racer to complete the 43.75-mile circuit Sunday. Carr was 89 seconds behind first day leader George Seeley (501, Glendale, Calif.) after Saturday's race. Seeley, who was seeking his eighth Laughlin Class 5 title, maintained an 86-second lead over Carr through three laps Sunday, but fell behind by 63 seconds after the fourth lap and failed to complete Lap No. 5 Sunday. Carlos Albanez (500, Calexico, Calif. with Luivan Voelker, Mexicali, Mexico), who was second Saturday, completed only six laps Sunday. Seeley was third in the 2007 Class 5 SCORE Desert Series standings, which was won by Luivan Voelker with Carr second. Seeley is a nine-time SCORE Desert Series point's champion (1993, 1997, 1999-2004, 2006)

GROUP #4
SCORE Trophy-Truck (8 laps, 50 miles, Sunday, 100 miles overall, 24 Starters, 5 finishers)

* Only five of the 24 racers completed the 16 required laps for two days of racing as Rich Ronco (45, Peoria, Ariz., Chevy Silverado, 2:12:57, 45.130 miles) won by 41 seconds over B.J. Baldwin (97, Las Vegas, Chevy Silverado, 2:13:38, 44.899), who was seeking his third-straight Laughlin SCORE Trophy-Truck title. Ronco started Sunday in second-place after finishing 44 seconds behind Gus Vildosola Jr. (4 with Gus Vildosola Sr., Mexicali, Mexico, Ford F-150). Vildosola, who held a 95-second lead over Ronco after three laps Sunday, did not complete his fourth lap. Ronco's 1:11:57 time Sunday was the fourth best Sunday. B.J. Baldwin, who was 121 seconds behind Ronco after Saturday's race, posted the third-best time Sunday (1:10:37) behind Carl Renezeder (17, Laguna Beach, Calif., Chevy Silverado, 1:07:18) and Mark Post (1, Laguna Beach, Calif. with Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Ford F-150, 1:09:32). Post is the defending SCORE Desert Series Trophy-Truck champion.

GROUP #5
Class 1 (8 laps, 50 miles, Sunday, 100 miles overall, 27 Starters, 6 finishers)

* For the second-straight day, Pat Dean (107, Las Vegas, Bunderson-Chevy, 2:08:29, 46.699 miles per hour) led the field over the eight-lap, 50-mile circuit. After holding a one second lead over B.J. Richardson (118 with John Gaughan, Las Vegas, Bunderson-Chevy, 2:13:32, 44.933 mph) after Saturday's race, Dean had a five minute, two second lead over Richardson. Dean also becomes the first Class 1 overall winner since 2005 as he held a four minute, 28 second lead over SCORE Trophy-Truck winner Rich Ronco. Dale Ebberts (159, Wilton, Calif. with Brad Etter, Villa Park, Calif., Porter-Chevy), who won the Laughlin Class 1 titles in 2003 and 2005, completed only two laps Sunday after posting the third-best time (1:02:31) Saturday. Dean and Richardson finished 16th and seventh, respectively, in the 2007 SCORE Desert Series Class 1 point's standings. John Herder, the 2007 Class 1 Laughlin winner did not compete this year.

-credit: score