The four-race SCORE World Desert Championship provided a plethora of spectacular moments from its opening race in Baja California, Mexico, to the final wave of the checkered flag.
With its conclusion, SCORE International waved goodbye to its 49th year as the World’s Foremost Racing Organization and celebrated its seventh consecutive year of having series racing based out of Baja California.
“We also want to sincerely thank the racers and their crews who gallantly journeyed to Baja and whose admired efforts were displayed in four of the most amazing races SCORE has ever held,” said Jose A. Grijalva, SCORE president and race director.
The season began with the King Shocks 35th SCORE San Felipe 250 in early April.
There were over 270 entrants with racers representing 29 U.S. states, Mexico and nine total countries. The course, which stretched along the tranquil waters of the Sea of Cortez in San Felipe, was 277 miles — 72.9 percent of racers finished.
At the finish line, it was San Diego’s Luke McMillin who claimed the overall win.
The BFGoodrich Tires 54th SCORE Baja 500 was up next in June.
While the start/finish line was centralized in Ensenada, Mexico, the remaining course was a whopping 463.12 miles. Approximately 60 percent of the 259 entrants finished the race, but it was Las Vegas’ Rob MacCachren who secured the victory. McMillian finished sixth.
Mid-September signaled the start of the 3rd SCORE Baja 400 as 197 entrants filed back to Ensenada for the 393-mile race.
The season’s third event was just as a fierce as the previous two, while another Las Vegas native conquered the desert and made a return to the winner’s circle. Bryce Menzies was the overall winner for the second straight year. However, McMillian stayed close to Menzies and recorded a second-place finish.
The finale was the prestigious BFGoodrich Tires 55th SCORE Baja 1000 in November.
The championship battle was down to 49 points amongst the top five overall leaders: McMillin, Jorge Sampietro, Elijah Kiger, Dan McMillin and Matt Burroughs. The final five, along with 271 other entrants, were staring down a 828-mile course — one of the toughest tracks in the race’s history.
Defending winner Luke McMillian proved his dominance yet again as he took his third consecutive Trophy Truck race victory and was crowned the SCORE Overall and Trophy Truck points champion. The 29-year-old has earned two Trophy Truck championships in three years, but 2022 was his first time taking the Overall season crown.
Notably, MacCachren was his co-driver during the Baja 1000 and took the lead during the first 394 miles.
The two wheeled the McMillin Racing No. 83 Chevy 1500.