Vildosola/MacCachren holding on in SCORE Trophy-Truck
Allen/Pfankuch keeping Jimco-VW on top in Class 1-2/1600,
Overall Point standings in 2003 SCORE Desert Series
SCORE's 30th anniversary year continues with
8th SCORE Las Vegas Primm 300, Sept. 12-13, in So. Nevada

LOS ANGELES (July 21, 2003)-- Despite a third-place finish ending their three race winning streak, San Diego County youngsters Eric Allen and Adam Pfankuch continued to lead Class 1-2/1600 and the overall point standings after four of six races in the 2003 SCORE Desert Series. Their lead in the overall point standings, however, has been cut in half to just 14 points.

After impressive victories in Class 1-2/1600 at the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge in Nevada and a pair of wins in Mexico at the Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 in San Felipe, and the Tecate SCORE Baja 500 in Ensenada, the Allen/Pfankuch duo overcame power steering and brake problems to finish third in the recent SCORE Henderson's Terrible 250. The young guns lead not only their very competitive class, but the overall SCORE International point standings in their K.I.T. Racing VW-powered Jimco 1600cc open-wheel desert race car.

Allen, a 20-year old SCORE rookie from San Marcos and Pfankuch, a 21 year old proven competitor from Carlsbad, are amazingly still unfazed after their first four races as teammates, easily living up to the definition of their team's name-Keep It Together (K.I.T.) Racing.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year as the World's Foremost Desert Racing Series, the SCORE Desert Series returns to the U.S. for the last of three races in Southern Nevada.

The 8th Annual SCORE Las Vegas Primm 300 will be held Sept. 12-13, in Southern Nevada. The computerized drawing for starting positions, by class, will be held at the SCORE International headquarters in Los Angeles on Friday, August 15.

Nearly 150 vehicles, competing in 17 Pro and 2 Sportsman classes for cars and trucks, are expected to take the green flag in Primm, Nev., located 35 miles south of Las Vegas at the California border, on Saturday, Sept. 13.

The race, run as a multi-lap race over a desert course of approximately 71 miles, will be split into two groups with the open wheel and VW baja bug classes starting at 6 a.m. And the truck classes, along with the unlimited Class 1 open-wheel class, starting at 2 p.m. One vehicle will start every 30 seconds in the elapsed-time race, with an eight-hour time limit. The start/finish line area and main pits will be located behind Buffalo Bill's Resort in Primm.

Pre-race festivities on Friday, Sept. 12, for the SCORE Las Vegas Primm 300, including tech and contingency and the SCORE Manufacturer's Midway, will be held from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. behind Buffalo Bill's.

SCORE points are determined both on final finishing position and number of vehicles which started the race within the individual class.

"Our philosophy has changed some, but we still had a good race in Henderson, especially considering we lost the power steering and the rear brakes," said Allen, who is studying engineering at Palomar College in San Marcos.

"Adam is the fastest driver in our class right now, and while we want to be fast, we known we can't win a season point championship if we DNF."

Pfankuch, who had one previous SCORE victory prior to this year (Class 1-2/1600 in the 2000 Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250), finished 10th in the 2000 final SCORE points in the class and fourth in 2001. When he isn't racing, Pfankuch works at his family-owned restaurant--That Pizza Place, in Carlsbad.

After finishing second in the season-opening SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge, winning in San Felipe, and finishing third both in Ensenada and Henderson in the marquee SCORE Trophy-Truck division, the team of Gus Vildosola, of Mexicali, Mexico and Rob MacCachren, of Las Vegas, are holding onto their lead in the division for 750-horsepower, high-tech, unlimited production trucks.

Splitting the driving time in their Vildosola Racing Ford F-150, the San Felipe victory was the first for Vildosola and the fourth for MacCachren in SCORE Trophy-Truck. A seven-time SCORE class point champion, MacCachren, the 2001 SCORE overall point champion, won the SCORE Trophy-Truck point title in 1994, the year the special class was introduced by SCORE.

After four of six races in the 2003 SCORE Desert Series, Allen/Pfankuch have 303 points to lead Class 1-2/1600 and the SCORE Overall point standings.

Second overall with 289 points is Class 1 point leader Dale Ebberts, Canyon Lake, CA, who masterfully won the first two races of the SCORE season, finished third in Ensenada and second in Henderson in his unlimited Toyota-powered Jimco. He drove solo in Laughlin and starting with San Felipe, is splitting wheel time with Ernie Castro Jr., Newport Beach, CA Castro finished second to Allen/Pfankuch in Class 1-2/1600 in Laughlin before the team merger with Ebberts' Inland Truss Racing.

Behind Vildosola/MacCachren (who are 7th in overall points with 250) in SCORE Trophy-Truck points are Las Vegas brothers and defending season champs Tim and Ed Herbst (Ford F-150) with 242 and Laughlin winners Mark Post, San Juan Capistrano, CA/Jerry Whelchel, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (Ford F-150) with 196 points.

With their victory in Henderson, Tim and Ed Herbst became the winningest drivers in the 10-year history of SCORE Trophy-Truck, capturing their 10th race in the 60th SCORE Trophy-Truck event.

Third in SCORE overall points, 15 points behind Ebberts and 29 behind Allen/Pfankuch, is SCORE Lite leader Brian Ickler, Poway, CA (Jimco VW) at 274 points. Just 17 years old, Ickler, who moved up to a faster class this year after finishing seventh last year in Class 1-2/1600, drove solo while winning his class in the first two races, split the driving with veteran Brian Ewalt in Ensenada to earn his third straight class win and then drove solo again in Henderson, finishing second.

Second in Class 1 and fourthh in overall points are brothers Mark and Gary Weyhrich, Troutdale, Ore. (Jimco-Chevy) with 265 points. The Weyhrichs have two seconds, a fourth, and a fifth in Class 1 so far this season.

Rounding out the top five overall, and third in Class 1, just three points behind the Weyhrichs, is Las Vegas' Troy Herbst, who has won a record six straight SCORE Class 1 season point crowns in his Smithbuilt-Ford.

James Golden, Costa Mesa, CA, who is second in Class 1-2/1600 in a Chenowth-VW with 259 points, is sixth overall Mission Viejo, CA (Class 7SX, Jeep Comanche), Joe Heger, Imperial CA (Class 5, VW Baja Bug), Eric Solorzano, Tijuana, Mexico (Class 11, VW Sedan) and Eric Fisher, Ensenada, CA (Class 9, Garibay Challenger-VW).

Leading the motorcycle classes overall and the open Class 22 are American Honda factory teammates Steve Hengeveld, Oak Hills, CA, and Johnny Campbell, San Clemente, CA After winning the motorcycle season-opening races in San Felipe and Ensenada, the pair has now won six consecutive SCORE races together on their Honda XR650R. The overall ATV and Class 25 leaders are John Gregory, Chula Vista, CA/Doug Eichner, El Cajon, CA (Honda 4Trax).

Current 2003 SCORE class point leaders who have not won a race but are consistent in their results are: Jason Lakin/Todd Cunningham, El Cajon, CA (Class 5/1600, VW Baja Bug) and Bob Land, Lake Forest, CA (Class 7S, Chevy S-10).

SCORE official sponsors for 2003 are: BFGoodrich Tires-official tire, Southern California Ford Dealers-official vehicle, 76 Racing Fuel-official fuel and Rental Service Corporation-official equipment supplier. Associate sponsors are: Tecate Beer, Coca Cola of Mexico, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance, Bilstein, Signpros, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie's, Off Road Innovations and Advanced Color Graphics.

For more information, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters 818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the 2003 SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com.

FOR MOTORSPORTS SCOREBOARD:
SCORE Desert Series point leaders, by class, after Round 4, the 2nd
SCORE Henderson's Terrible 250:
Remaining 2003 SCORE Desert Series schedule--
8th SCORE Las Vegas Primm 300, Primm, Nev. (Sept. 12-13);
36th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, Baja California, Mexico (Nov. 20-23).

Pro Cars and Trucks
SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK--
1. Gus Vildosola, Mexicali, Mexico/Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Ford F-150, 250;
2. Tim Herbst/Ed Herbst, Las Vegas, Ford F-150, 242;
3. Mark Post, San Juan Capistrano, CA/Jerry Welchel, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, Ford F-150, 196;
4. Scott Steinberger, Cypress, CA/Jesse Jones, Phoenix, Ford F-150, 191; 5. Brian Collins, Las Vegas, Chevy Silverado, 155;
6. Jim Beaver, Parker, AZ, Ford F-150, 154;
7. Steve Sourapas, Rancho Santa Fe, CA, Ford F 150, 147.
CLASS 1--
1. Dale Ebberts, Canyon Lake, CA/Ernie Castro Jr., Newport Beach, CA, Jimco-Toyota, 289;
2. Mark Weyhrich/Gary Weyhrich, Troutdale, CA, Jimco-Chevy, 265;
3. Troy Herbst, Las Vegas, Smithbuilt-Ford, 262;
4. Ron Brant, Torrance, CA/Ridgecrest, CA, Jimco-Chevy, 243;
5. Chuck Hovey, Escondido, CA, Jimco-Chevy, 207.
CLASS 1-2/1600--
1. Eric Allen, San Marcos, CA/Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad, CA, Jimco-VW, 303;
2. James Golden, Costa Mesa, CA, Chenowth-VW, 259;
3. Brian Jeffrey, Acton, CA, Dunrite-VW, 241.
PROTRUCK--
1. Alan Pflueger, Honolulu, Chevy Silverado, 208.
CLASS 3--
1. Donald Moss, Sacramento, CA, Ford Bronco, 175.
CLASS 5--
1. Joe Heger, Imperial, CA, VW Baja Bug, 226;
2. George Seeley Jr., Glendale, CA, VW Baja Bug, 223.
CLASS 5/1600--
1. Jason Lakin/Todd Cunningham, El Cajon, CA, VW Baja
Bug, 241;
2. (Tie) Mario Reynoso, Tijuana, Mexico, VW Baja Bug and Ruben Gutierrez Jr., Hemet, CA, VW Baja Bug, 214.
CLASS 7--
1. Craig Turner, Yorba Linda, CA, Ford Ranger, 207.
CLASS 7S--
1. Bob Land, Lake Forest, CA, Chevy S-10, 153.
CLASS 7SX--
1. Dan Fresh, Mission Viejo, CA, Jeep Comanche, 145.
CLASS 8--
1. Dave Sykes, Del Mar, CA/Tony McCormack, Las Vegas, Chevy Silverado, 216;
2. Nick Vanderwey, Buckeye, AZ, GMC Sierra, 172.
CLASS 9--
1. Eric Fisher, Ensenada, Mexico, Garibay-VW, 175.
CLASS 10--
1. Eli Yee, Tijuana, Mexico, Jimco-Honda, 249;
2. Steve Myers, Newport Beach, CA/George Erl, Huntington Beach, CA, Jimco Toyota, 248;
3. Ron Brookshire, Alpine, CA, Jimco-Honda, 231;
4. Martin Christensen, Escondido, CA, Jimco-BMW, 217.
SCORE LITE--
1. Brian Ickler, Poway, CA, Jimco-VW, 274;
2. Vic Bruckmann, Lemon Grove, CA, Jimco-VW, 241;
3. Ken Stroud, Alpine, CA, Jimco-VW, 191;
4. Tom Ridings, Long Beach, CA, Mirage-VW, 180.
CLASS 11--
1. Fernando Flores, Mexicali, Mexico, VW Sedan, 233.
STOCK FULL--
1. John Griffin, Mission Viejo, CA, AM General Hummer, 239.

Pro Motorcycles
CLASS 22--
1. Steve Hengeveld, Oak Hills, CA/Johnny Campbell, San Clemente, CA, Honda XR650R, 132;
2. Christopher Blais, Stanton, CA, Honda XR650R, 116;
3. Jose Meza, Fresno, Calif, Honda XR650R, 101.
CLASS 21--
(TIE) 1. Eddie Zeller, Coronado, CA/Greg Fountain, Lake Forest, CA, Yamaha YZ250 and Joe Desrosiers, San Marcos, CA/Ray Suit, Encinitas, CA, Yamaha YZ250, 119 .
CLASS 30--
1. Ricardo Malo, Mexicali, Mexico/Greg Bringle, Holtville, CA, Honda XR650R, 128.
CLASS 40--
1. Jim O'Neal, Chatsworth, CA/Tim Withers, Pepeekeo, Hawaii, Honda XR650R, 126.
CLASS 50--
1. Richard Jackson, Acton, CA/Bob Wadlow, Arcadia, CA, Honda XR650R, 70.

Pro ATVs
CLASS 25--
1. John Gregory, El Cajon, CA/Doug Eichner, El Cajon, CA, Honda 4Trax, 138;
2. Gilberto Santana, Tijuana, Mexico, Honda TRX400EX, 134.
CLASS 24--
1. Earl Thigpen, Murrieta, CA/Brian Pinard, Murrieta, CA, Honda TRX250R, 125.

For information contact:
SCORE International at its Los Angeles headquarters
(818) 225-8402 or visit
the official Optima SCORE Desert Series website at:
www.score-international.com