Herbst Brothers win fourth SCORE Trophy-Truck title
Ebberts/Castro Jr. drive their Jimco-Toyota to Class 1;
Overall Point championships in 2003 SCORE Desert Series
Rookie Ickler wins five races in SCORE Lite;
SCORE's 30th anniversary year
sees nearly 600 different entries in six races

LOS ANGELES (December 4, 2003) -- Starting the season with two wins and then staying on the podium for the remaining four, veteran Southern California desert racers Dale Ebberts and Ernie Castro Jr., have won the overall point championship and the unlimited Class 1 title of the 2003 SCORE Desert Series. Almost more remarkably, Ebberts/Castro stopped the incredible six-year run of Class 1 point titles won by Las Vegas' Troy Herbst.

With Ebberts, 33 of Canyon Lake, as driver of record for the Inland Truss Racing Jimco open-wheel desert race car powered by a V6 Toyota engine, the team finished on the Class 1 podium in all six SCORE races.

Ebberts drove solo to win the season-opening SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge in January. With Castro, 36 of Newport Beach, splitting the driving time the rest of the season, they won again in March at the Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 in Mexico. The pair completed their dramatic championship run with four more podium finishes in Class 1, where over 20 entries competed in each race.

First was a third in June's Tecate SCORE Baja 500 in Ensenada, Mexico, followed by two seconds in both of the last two Nevada races (July's SCORE Henderson's Terrible 250 and September's SCORE Las Vegas Primm 300). Knowing that all they had to do was finish to win the title, they capped the season with a hard-fought third place at November's season-ending legendary Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 in Ensenada.

For Ebberts, it is his third SCORE class championship and his second overall crown. Before Troy Herbst began his six-year streak in 1997, Ebberts teamed with Brent Grizzle to win Class 1 and the 1996 SCORE Overall point title. Ebberts also won the Class 1-2/1600 point title in 1992. Ebberts has 8 SCORE race wins.

This year's class and overall point champions, along with the 2003 off-roadsman of the year awards, will be presented at the annual SCORE Awards Night, to be held next Saturday (Dec. 13) at the Gold Coast Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The evening will start with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by the awards dinner at 7 p.m.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year as the World's Foremost Desert Racing Series, the SCORE Desert Series saw a total of 579 different entries compete in 23 Pro and 5 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs in the six races held in 2003. For the year, entries came from 39 states and 16 countries.

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

Both second-generation racers, Ebberts/Castro compiled 460 points this season.

"What an unbelievable year, I knew we could do it, but until you actually do it, you're never quiet sure," said the soft-spoken Ebberts.

"I've been racing for 16 years, and the difference this year was that we were able to keep the majority of our team together for more than just one season. This is a tough sport that way for us privateer racers. To think that we stopped the six-year run of Troy Herbst, who is such a great racer and who has such a solid team, makes this championship 10-times more rewarding. Ernie and I have really blended well into a very competitive team and hopefully we can keep the rhythm going in 2004."

With three class wins to open the season San Diego County youngsters Eric Allen, San Marcos, and Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad, won Class 1-2/1600 in their Jimco-VW while finishing second in overall points with 452.

Third overall in 2003 SCORE points was SCORE Lite champion Brian Ickler, Poway, CA, in a Jimco-VW with 435 points. A rookie this year like Allen, Ickler, an 18-year old student at Poway High School, amazingly won five of six races in his class this season.

Las Vegas brothers Tim and Ed Herbst won the featured SCORE Trophy-Truck division crown for a record fourth time in the 10-year history of the class in the Terrible Herbst Motorsports Ford F-150 while finishing fourth in overall points with 406.

With two wins this season, Tim Herbst, 40 and his brother Ed, 42, have now won a record 11 of 62 races in the class for high-tech, 750-horsepower, unlimited production trucks. They secured their class championship by finishing second out of a SCORE Trophy-Truck record 24 starters at the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. They also won SCORE Trophy-Truck season championships in 1999, 2000 and 2002.

Veterans Ron Brant, Torrance, CA, and Richard Boyle, Ridgecrest, CA, finished second in Class 1 and fifth overall with 400 points in their Jimco-Chevy. The pair ran consistently all season, ending up with two fourth place finishes, two sixths and two sevenths. Besides Ebberts/Castro, they were the only Class 1 team to win the coveted Toyota Milestone Award for completing every required race mile for the season.

Second in SCORE Trophy-Truck points with 368 was the team of Gus Vildosola, Mexicali, Mexico, and Las Vegas' Rob MacCachren, who won one race while finishing eighth in overall points in a Ford F-150.

Third in SCORE Trophy-Truck points for 2003 were Laughlin winners Mark Post, San Juan Capistrano, CA/Jerry Whelchel, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (Ford F-150) with 336 points.

James Golden, Costa Mesa, CA, who was a distant second in Class 1-2/1600 in a Chenowth-VW with 398 points, finished sixth overall this season.

Seventh overall in 2003 and third in Class 1-2/1600 was Brian Jeffrey, Acton, CA, with 382 points.

After the eighth overall Vildosola/MacCachren team, ninth overall with 366 points was Marcos Nunez of Ensenada, the Class 5/1600 point champion in a 1600cc VW Baja Bug. Nunez won his class three times this season to earn his first SCORE class title.

Completing the top 10 overall was Dave Sykes, Del Mar, CA, who won four times this year in a Chevy Silverado while capturing the Class 8 title, adding to the first SCORE crown he won in 1995 (Stock Full).

Capturing the last four races of the season, Eric Fisher, Ensenada, Mexico, won his third crown and second straight in Class 9 in his Garibay-VW.

Also taking four wins this year, Donald Moss, Sacramento, won his second straight Class 3 title in a Ford Bronco.

Winning three times in the first five races, Alan Pflueger, Honolulu, won the Protruck point title in a Chevy Silverado, moving up to the SCORE Trophy-Truck for the season finale. It was his first SCORE class title.

Two racers who won their respective classes three times this year to earn their third consecutive SCORE class crowns were Craig Turner and John Griffin.

Turner, Yorba Linda, CA, won Class 7 in a Ford Ranger while Griffin, Mission Viejo, CA, claimed Stock Full in an AM General Hummer.

Two more racers had three wins each this season. Bob Graham, Yorba Linda, CA, and teammate Mike Horner, Mission Viejo, CA, won Class 7S in a Toyota Tacoma for their first season title and Daniel Fresh, Mission Viejo, CA, won his second SCORE class title and his first in Class 7SX in a Jeep Comanche.

With two wins this season, veteran George Seeley, Glendale, CA, won his seventh SCORE title in Class 5 in an unlimited VW Baja Bug, his fifth straight. Besides the last five years, he won Class 5 in 1993 and 1997.

Mexico's Fernando Flores, of Mexicali, won once on the way to winning Class 11 in a stock VW sedan for his first SCORE season point title.

Leading the motorcycle classes overall and the open Class 22 was American Honda factory teammates Steve Hengeveld, Oak Hills, CA, and Johnny Campbell, San Clemente, Calif. Undefeated in three races in 2003, the pair has now won seven consecutive SCORE races together on their Honda XR650R. It was Hengeveld's third and Campbell's sixth SCORE season point title.

The overall ATV and open Class 25 champ was John Gregory, Chula Vista, CA/Doug Eichner, El Cajon, CA, who finished the year with a first-race victory at the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 for the new Honda TRX450R. It's the third SCORE crown for Gregory.

In Class 50 for motorcycle riders over 50 years old, Richard Jackson, Acton, CA, won his ninth SCORE class title, including his fourth straight in Class 50 on a Honda XR650. In 2003, he had two class wins.

In Class 40 (riders over 40), apparel manufacturer Jim O'Neal, Chatsworth, CA, won his fourth class crown and third straight on another Honda XR650. He also had two class victories in 2003.

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, Fram, Autolite, Prestone, Bilstein, Signpros, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie's, and Advanced Color Graphics.

The 2004 SCORE Desert Series will begin Jan. 15-18 with the 10th Annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge, the unique-format, two-day event held in Laughlin, Nev., 90 miles southeast of Las Vegas.

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

FOR SCOREBOARD:
2003 SCORE Desert Series FINAL Point Leaders

TOP 10 OVERALL
1. Dale Ebberts, Canyon Lake, CA/Ernie Castro Jr., Newport Beach, CA, Jimco-Toyota (CLASS 1), 460
2. Eric Allen, San Marcos, CA/Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad, CA, Jimco-VW (CLASS 1-2/1600), 452
3. Brian Ickler, Poway, CA, Jimco-VW (SCORE Lite), 435
4. Tim Herbst/Ed Herbst, Las Vegas, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck), 406
5. Ron Brant, Torrance, CA/Richard Boyle, Ridgrecrest, CA, Jimco-Chevy (CLASS 1), 400
6. James Golden, Costa Mesa, CA/Charlie Williams, Laguna Beach, CA, Chenowth-VW (CLASS 1-2/1600), 398
7. Brian Jeffrey, Acton, CA, Dunrite-VW (Class 1-2/1600), 382
8. Gus Vildosola, Mexicali, Mexico/Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck), 368
9. Marcos Nunez, Ensenada, Mexico, VW Baja Bug (CLASS 5/1600), 366
10. Dave Sykes, Del Mar, CA, Chevy Silverado (CLASS 8), 364

CLASS LEADERS
Pro Cars and Trucks
SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK--1. Tim Herbst/Ed Herbst, Las Vegas, Ford F-150, 406;
2. Gus Vildosola, Mexicali, Mexico/Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Ford F-150, 368;
3. Mark Post, San Juan Capistrano, CA/Jerry Welchel, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, Ford F-150, 336;
4. Scott Steinberger, Cypress, CA/Jesse Jones, Phoenix, Ford F-150, 242;
5. Dan Smith/Dave Ashley, Riverside, CA, Ford F-150, 241;
6. Marty Coyne, El Centro, CA, Ford F-150, 222;
7. Brian Collins, Las Vegas, Chevy Silverado, 200;
8. Steve Sourapas, Rancho Santa Fe, CA, Ford F 150, 192;
9. Mark Miller, Carefree, Ariz./Ryan Arciero, Foothill Ranch, CA, Chevy Silverado, 188

CLASS 1--1. Dale Ebberts, Canyon Lake, CA/Ernie Castro Jr., Newport Beach, CA, Jimco-Toyota, 460;
2. Ron Brant, Torrance, CA/Richard Boyle, Ridgecrest, CA, Jimco-Chevy, 400;
3. Mark Weyhrich/Gary Weyhrich, Troutdale, CA, Jimco-Chevy, 363;
4. Troy Herbst, Las Vegas/Larry Roeseler, Hesperia, CA, Smithbuilt-Ford, 355;
5. Rick Wilson, Long Beach, CA/Brian Parkhouse, Bell Gardens, CA, Jimco-Chevy, 339;
6. Scott McMillin/Andy McMillin, Poway, CA, Jimco-Chevy, 300;
7. Chuck Hovey, Escondido, CA, Jimco-Chevy, 284

CLASS 1-2/1600--1. Eric Allen, San Marcos, CA/Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad, CA, Jimco-VW, 452;
2. James Golden, Costa Mesa, CA, Chenowth-VW, 398; 3. Brian Jeffrey, Acton, CA, Dunrite-VW, 382

PROTRUCK--1. Alan Pflueger, Honolulu, Chevy Silverado, 288

CLASS 3--1. Donald Moss, Sacramento, CA/Kenneth Moss, Marysville, CA, Ford Bronco, 266

CLASS 5--1. George Seeley, Glendale, CA, VW Baja Bug, 362;
2. Joe Heger/Shawn McCallum, Imperial, CA, VW Baja Bug, 340

CLASS 5/1600--1. Marcos Nunez, Ensenada, Mexico, 366; 2. Mario Reynoso, Tijuana, Mexico, VW Baja Bug, 366

CLASS 7--1. Craig Turner, Yorba Linda, CA, Ford Ranger, 354

CLASS 7S--1. Bob Graham, Yorba Linda, CA/Mike Horner, Mission Viejo, CA, Toyota Tacoma, 271

CLASS 7SX--1. Dan Fresh, Mission Viejo, CA, Jeep Comanche, 235

CLASS 8--1. Dave Sykes, Del Mar, CA/Tony McCormack, Las Vegas, Chevy Silverado, 364;
2. Nick Vanderwey, Buckeye, Ariz./Larry Vanderwey, Litchfield Park, Ariz., GMC Sierra, 249

CLASS 9--1. Eric Fisher, Ensenada, Mexico, Garibay-VW, 320

CLASS 10--1. Martin Christensen, Escondido, CA, Jimco-BMW, 354;
2. Steve Myers, Newport Beach, CA/George Erl, Huntington Beach, CA, Jimco Toyota, 345;
3. Eli Yee, Tijuana, Mexico, Jimco-Honda, 296; 4. Jim Anderson, Claremont, CA, Dunrite-VW, 278

SCORE LITE--1. Brian Ickler, Poway, CA, Jimco-VW, 435;
2. Vic Bruckmann, Lemon Grove, CA, Jimco-VW, 323;
3. Mark Kyle, Austin, Texas/Larry Nash, San Luis Obispo, CA, Mirage-VW, 294;
4. Ken Stroud, Alpine, CA, Jimco-VW, 290

CLASS 11--1. Fernando Flores, Mexicali, Mexico, VW Sedan, 322

STOCK FULL--1. John Griffin, Mission Viejo, CA, AM General Hummer, 314

Pro Motorcycles
CLASS 22--1. Steve Hengeveld, Oak Hills, CA/Johnny Campbell, San Clemente, A, Honda XR650R, 227 (OVERALL MOTORCYCLE CHAMP);
2. Christopher Blais, Stanton, CA, Honda XR650R, 205;
3. Jose Meza, Fresno, Calif, Honda XR650R, 177

CLASS 21--1. Joe Desrosiers, San Marcos, CA, Yamaha YZ250, 209; 2. Eddie Zeller, Coronado, CA/Greg Fountain, Lake Forest, CA, Yamaha YZ250, 203

CLASS 30--1. Jim Ferguson, San Francisco/Eric Brown, Phoenix, Honda XR650R, 188

CLASS 40--1. Jim O'Neal, Chatsworth, CA/Tim Withers, Pepeekeo, Hawaii, Honda XR650R, 212

CLASS 50--1. Richard Jackson, Acton, CA/Bob Wadlow, Arcadia, CA, Honda XR650R, 160

Pro ATVs
CLASS 25--1. John Gregory, El Cajon, CA/Doug Eichner, El Cajon, CA, Honda TRX450R, 239 (OVERALL ATV CHAMP);
2. Gilberto Santana, Tijuana, Mexico, Honda TRX400EX, 229;
3. Mike Cafro, Carlsbad, CA/Carmen Cafro, Vista, CA, Honda 4Trax, 219

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