History of this race…
SCORE HISTORIAN: Dominic Clark, Dominic@SCORE-International.com
ENSENADA, Baja California, Mexico—SCORE International has launched its 52nd year in 2025 as the World’s Foremost Desert Racing Organization with its shortest race—the King Shocks 38th SCORE San Felipe 250.
The youngest of the SCORE Triple Crown of Baja behind its older siblings the SCORE Baja 1000 (started in 1967) and the SCORE Baja 500 (started in 1969), the ‘Baby Baja’ is held along the pristine shores of the Sea of Cortez on the east side of the Baja Peninsula.
The SCORE San Felipe 250 was held for the first time in 1982.
THE BEGINNING
Then SCORE owner Sal Fish decided in 1982 to add a third SCORE Baja race and hence the SCORE San Felipe 250 was born.
The first race in 1982 saw 232 total starters, 133 finishers in the popular ‘Spring Break’ race. Four-wheel vehicle winner was Dan Cornwell in a VW-powered Chenowth open wheel desert race car in Class 1. (Cornwell continues today as the SCORE Tech Director)
Topping the two-wheel field was Bob Balentine on a Honda XR500 motorcycle in Class 22.
Cornwell continues his involvement with the sport and he is currently the SCORE Tech Director.
FAST FORWARD
Because of the worldwide pandemic, the 2020 SCORE San Felipe 250 was cancelled and the SCORE Baja 500 moved from Ensenada to San Felipe in September of 2021 to comply with health and safety protocols in Baja California.
The season-opening event of the four-race internationally-televised 2025 SCORE World Desert Championship will be held April 2-6 in San Felipe, the serene village along the Sea of Cortez, 125 miles south of the U.S. Border at Calexico, Calif. All four 2025 SCORE races will be held on Mexico’s magnificent Baja California peninsula for the 10th consecutive year.
Online entries for this race are being accepted through March 21 at www.SCORE-International.com
THREE DECADES-PLUS
Celebrating the 38th anniversary of the youngest of the three legendary SCORE Baja races, sometimes referred to as the SCORE ‘baby Baja’, entries are accepted for Pro and Sportsman cars, trucks, UTVs, motorcycles and quads.
SCORE TRIPLE CROWN OF BAJA
Together, the SCORE San Felipe 250, SCORE Baja 500 and SCORE Baja 1000 are the three traditional SCORE Baja races that form the coveted SCORE Triple Crown of Baja award given to racers who have won the overall in each of these massive events.
The elite 10 racers who have won the overall victory in all three of these races are Dave Ashley, Robby Gordon, Rob MacCachren, Andy McMillin, Scott McMillin, Bryce Menzies, Larry Ragland, Dan Smith, Ivan Stewart, and Gustavo Vildosola Jr.
SIX-TIMER
While three racers have three overall victories in the SCORE San Felipe 250, Las Vegas’ Hall of Fame racer Rob MacCachren might have set a standard that will last for a while, unless he breaks his own record of six overall and SCORE Trophy Truck wins.
MacCachren, who won the overall in San Felipe in 2018 to give him 10 class wins in this race, earned his first SCORE Trophy Truck overall in this race in 2003 when he split the driving with Mexico’s Gustavo Vildosola Sr and his second in 2007 when he split the driving with Mark Post.
MacCachren earned back-to-back wins in 2011 and 2012 driving solo and won his fifth in 2017 and his sixth in 2018 driving solo again in his No. 11 MacCachren Motorsports Ford F-150.
THREE TIMERS
Three racers have won three overall victories in the SCORE San Felipe 250.
The most recent racer to win overall three times in San Felipe was Mexico’s Gustavo ‘Tavo’ Vildosola Jr, who won three straight (2013, 2014, 2015). Vildosola Jr is tied with two other Las Vegas racers with three overall wins each in this race.
A second-generation Mexican desert racer, Vildosola Jr of Mexicali has five class wins in this race in the No. 21 Vildosola Racing Ford Raptor SCORE Trophy Truck.
Vildosola Jr, with help from his father Gus Sr in 2013 won his first overall. He drove solo the next two years to tie the record in 2015 of three straight overall wins set by Las Vegas racing brothers Ed Herbst and Tim Herbst who won three straight in 1999, 2000 and 2001 in the No. 19 Monster Energy Terrible Herbst Motorsports Ford F-150.
There is one more Southern Nevada driver with three overall wins in San Felipe but not three straight.
Las Vegas’ Brian Collins won his first San Felipe Overall in 1990 in Class 1 while splitting driving time with SCORE Baja motorcycle racing legend Jack Johnson, also of Las Vegas. Collins also captured two straight driving solo in SCORE Trophy Truck in 2008 and 2009.
MOTORCYCLE MAGIC
Among the SCORE Overall motorcycles winners at the SCORE San Felipe 250 no one has done it any better than SCORE Baja legend Johnny Campbell who recorded seven overall motorcycle victories for Honda (1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2008).
One motorcycle star with five SCORE Overall Motorcycle wins in the SCORE San Felipe 250 is Colton Udall (2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016). Two other motorcycle aces with four SCORE Overall Motorcycle wins each are Steve Hengeveld (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004) and Mark Samuels (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) while with three SCORE San Felipe 250 Overall wins were Danny Hamel (1994, 1995, 1996) and Robby Bell (2006, 2007, 2008).
GLORY ROADS
History clearly shows that the SCORE San Felipe 250 has been a major building block for many of the world’s all-time greatest desert racers in addition to being the lovable baby brother of the three traditional SCORE Baja races.
Host to the biggest and brightest stars in the history of desert racing, legends like Ivan Stewart, Walker Evans, Roger Mears, Rod Hall, Larry Ragland, Brian Collins, Dan Smith, Mark McMillin, Scott McMillin, Curt LeDuc, Jack Johnson, Danny Hamel, Johnny Campbell, Juan Carlos Ibarra, Steve Hengeveld, Robby Bell, Colton Udall, Donald Moss, and Greg Row all are part of the fantastic foundation of this rustic race.
Also adding to the fantastic fabric of this iconic SCORE Baja racing tapestry have been active racers like Rob MacCachren, Larry Roeseler, Andy McMillin, Daniel McMillin, Luke McMillin, Gustavo Vildosola Sr, Gustavo ‘Tavo’ Vildosola Jr, the Herbst Brothers Ed, Tim and Troy along with third-gen racers Thor, Pierce, and EJ Herbst, the Wilson family (Randy, Rick, Ronny, Brad and Brian), Robby Gordon, B.J. Baldwin, Marc Burnett, Justin Morgan, Mark Samuels, Wayne Matlock, Juan Carlos Salvatierra, Arturo Salas Jr, Adam Pfankuch, Santiago Creel, Jano Montoya, Giovanni Spinali, Jason Trubey, and Jim O’Neal.
HOUR GLASS
This is a tale of a race told in two parts. It was first run in 1982 for three years through 1984.
It wasn’t held during the first five years in the seven-year run of the combined HDRA/SCORE Desert Racing Series as it resumed in 1990. It almost disappeared after the 1993 race when the combined series split and the SCORE San Felipe 250 had just 82 total starters.
It bounced back though, as all good things in Baja do, climbing to 250 or more starters eight times, including twice with over 300 starters.
The largest starting field was 394 in 2007 when then SCORE President Sal Fish had to move the race to Ensenada less than two weeks before the race because of disputes between land owners and government officials. That race started in Ensenada and finished in Santo Tomas, south of Ensenada.
The largest starting field for the race when it was run in San Felipe was 2006 when 341 vehicles left the start line.
The most finishers in this shortest of the three traditional SCORE Baja races were in 2007 when 288 completed it and 2006 when 220 crossed the finish line within the time limit.
Like all the SCORE Baja race courses, the SCORE San Felipe 250 has always featured some of the most start, dramatic and awe-inspiring terrain, and scenery in the world. Infamous for its punishment to racer and vehicle, part of the courses has included a whoop section of over 25 miles virtually like driving over a washboard.
Over the years, this race has seen parts of its courses go through several of the legendary Baja washes like Matomi, Huatomote, Chanate, Azufre, Cuevitas, and Amarillas.
For many years, the start and finish line area was beneath the fabled San Felipe Arches landmark on the outskirts of town. From 2016 through 2019, again in 2022, 2023, 2024, and for this year the start/finish line will be on the beautiful Malecon along the Sea of Cortez.
VIVA GANADOR MEXICANO
Juan C. Ibarra became the first Mexican national to win a SCORE Trophy Truck race when he won his class in 1998 while finishing second overall to the Class 1 team of Mark Post/Jerry Whelchel in the SCORE San Felipe 250.
EL BANCO
For over three decades, the annual motorsports festival that has brought the largest economic impact of any single event held annually in this lightly-populated portion of the rugged, rough, and bountifully beautiful Baja peninsula has been the SCORE San Felipe 250.
SCOREstory
The original SCORE International was founded in 1973 by the late Mickey Thompson and headed by Sal Fish from 1974 until Fish sold SCORE International on Dec. 20, 2012. SCORE continues as the World’s Foremost Desert Racing Organization. SCORE races feature classes for Pro and Sportsman cars, trucks, UTVs, motorcycles and quads competing in the internationally-televised four-race SCORE World Desert Championship. The year of 2025 will be the 10th year that the SCORE WDC will be held exclusively in Baja California, Mexico.
For more information regarding SCORE and the SCORE World Desert Championship, go to www.SCORE-International.com
SCORE San Felipe 250 All-Time Overall Champions (1982 through 2024)
NOTE: This race was not held during the first five years of the combined HDRA/SCORE Desert Series (1985-1989).
Pro Cars, Trucks, UTVs
Year–Driver(s), Vehicle (Class)
1982–Dan Cornwell, Chenowth-VW (Class 1)
1983–Corky McMillin/Scott McMillin, Chenowth-Porsche (Class 2)
1984–Scott McMillin/Corky McMillin, Chenowth-Porsche (Class 2)
1990–Brian Collins/Jack Johnson, Chenowth-VW (Class 1)
1991–Larry Ragland, Chevy C1500 (Class 8)
1992–Bob Richey/Boyd Cox, Raceco-Porsche (Class 1)
1993–Scott Douglas, Ford Ranger (Class 7)
1994–Ivan Stewart, Toyota SR5 (SCORE Trophy Truck)
1995–Larry Ragland, Chevy C1500 (SCORE Trophy Truck)
1996–Robby Gordon, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy Truck)
1997–Curt LeDuc, Jeep Grand Cherokee (SCORE Trophy Truck)
1998–Mark Post/Jerry Whelchel, Riviera-Chevy (Class 1)
1999–Ed Herbst/Tim Herbst, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy Truck)
2000–Tim Herbst/Ed Herbst, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy Truck)
2001–Tim Herbst/Ed Herbst, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy Truck)
2002–Dan Smith/David Ashley, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy Truck)
2003–Gus Vildosola/Rob MacCachren, Ford F-150 (SCORE T-Truck)
2004–Mark Post/Jerry Whelchel, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy Truck)
2005–Andy McMillin/Scott McMillin, Jimco-Chevy (Class 1)
2006–Garron Cadiente, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy Truck)
2007–Mark Post/Rob MacCachren, Ford F-150 (SCORE T-Truck)
2008–Brian Collins, Dodge Ram1500 (SCORE Trophy Truck)
2009–Brian Collins, Dodge Ram1500 (SCORE Trophy Truck)
2010—Armin Schwarz/Martin Christensen, Jimco-BMW (Class 1)
2011—Rob MacCachren, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy Truck)
2012—Rob MacCachren, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy Truck)
2013—Gus Vildosola/Gus Vildosola Jr, Ford Raptor (SCORE Trophy Truck)
2014—Gus Vildosola Jr, Ford Raptor (SCORE Trophy Truck)
2015—Gus Vildosola Jr, Ford Raptor (SCORE Trophy Truck)
2016—Billy Wilson, Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy Truck)
2017—Rob MacCachren, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy Truck)
2018—Rob MacCachren, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy Truck)
2019—Andy McMillin, Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy Truck)
2020—No race because of health pandemic
2021—Bryce Menzies, Ford Raptor (SCORE Trophy Truck)
2022—Luke McMillin, Chevy 1500 (SCORE Trophy Truck)
2023—Luke McMillin, Chevy 1500 (SCORE Trophy Truck)
2024—Alan Ampudia, Ford Raptor (SCORE Trophy Truck)
Pro Motorcycles
Year–Rider(s), Vehicle
1982–Bob Balentine, Honda XR500 (Class 22)
1983–Jack Johnson, Honda XR500 (Class 22)
1984–Dan Smith/Dan Ashcraft, Husqvarna CR500 (Class 22)
1990–Dan Smith/Danny Hamel, KTM (Class 22)
1991–Larry Roeseler/Ted Hunnicut Jr, Kawasaki KX500 (Class 22)
1992–Larry Roeseler/Ted Hunnicut Jr, Kawasaki KX500 (Class 22)
1993–Danny Hamel, Kawasaki KX500(Class 22)
1994–Danny Hamel, Kawasaki KX500 (Class 22)
1995–Danny Hamel, Kawasaki KX500 (Class 22)
1996–Paul Krause, Kawasaki KX500 (Class 22)
1997–Tim Staab, Honda XR650 (Class 22)
1998–Johnny Campbell/Tim Staab, Honda XR650 (Class 22)
1999–Johnny Campbell/Cole Marshall, Honda XR650 (Class 22)
2000–Johnny Campbell/Tim Staab, Honda XR650 (Class 22)
2001–Steve Hengeveld/Jonah Street, Honda XR650R (Class 22)
2002–Steve Hengeveld/Johnny Campbell, Honda XR650R (Class 22)
2003–Steve Hengeveld/Johnny Campbell, Honda XR650R (Class 22)
2004–Steve Hengeveld/Johnny Campbell, Honda XR650R (Class 22)
2005–Chris Blais/Andy Grider/Quinn Cody, KTM MXC525 (Class 22)
2006–Robby Bell/Kendall Norman, Honda CRF450X (Class 22)
2007–Robby Bell/Kendall Norman, Honda CRF450X (Class 22)
2008–Robby Bell/Johnny Campbell, Honda CRF450X (Class 22)
2009–Kendall Norman/Tim Weigand, Honda CRF450X (Class 22)
2010—Colton Udall/Jeff Kargola, Honda CRF450X (Class 22)
2011—Colton Udall/Jeff Kargola, Honda CRF450X (Class 22)
2012—Kurt Caselli/Ivan Ramirez, KTM 450SX-F (Class 22)
2013—Tim Weigand/Colton Udall, Honda CRF450X (Class 22)
2014–Ricky Brabec/Shane Esposito/Max Eddy Jr, Kawasaki KX450F (Class 22)
2015—Colton Udall/Justin Jones, Honda CRF450X (Open)
2016—Colton Udall/Mark Samuels, Honda CRF450X (Unlimited)
2017—Mark Samuels/Daymon Stokie/Ryan Penhall, Honda CRF450X (Unlimited)
2018—Justin Morgan/Mark Samuels, Honda CRF450X (Unlimited)
2019—Justin Morgan/Mark Samuels/Justin Jones, Honda CRF450X (Unlimited)
2020—No race because of health pandemic
2021—Derek Ausserbauer, Honda CRF450X (Unlimited)
2022—Juan Carlos Salvatierra/Arturo Salas Jr/Shane Logan, KTM 450SX-F (Unlimited)
2023—Ciaran Naran/Tucker Hopkins, Husqvarna FE450
2024—Arturo Salas Jr/Carter Klein, Honda CRF450X
SCORE San Felipe 250 Overall Pro Champions
Racers
Pro Cars & Trucks
6
Rob MacCachren
3
Brian Collins
Ed Herbst
Tim Herbst
Scott McMillin
Mark Post
*Dan Smith
Gustavo ‘Tavo’ Vildosola
2
**Jack Johnson
Andy McMillin
Corky McMillin
Luke McMillin
Larry Ragland
Gustavo Vildosola Sr
Jerry Whelchel
1
Alan Ampudia
David Ashley
Garron Cadiente
Martin Christensen
Dan Cornwell
Boyd Cox
Scott Douglas
Robby Gordon
Curt LeDuc
Bryce Menzies
Bob Richey
Armin Schwarz
Ivan Stewart
Billy Wilson
*2 on motorcycle
**1 on motorcycle
Pro Motorcycles
7
Johnny Campbell
5
Colton Udall
4
Danny Hamel
Steve Hengeveld
Mark Samuels
3
Robby Bell
Kendall Norman
Tim Staab
2
Ted Hunnicut Jr
Justin Jones
Jeff Kargola
Justin Morgan
Larry Roeseler
Arturo Salas Jr
Tim Weigand
1
Dan Ashcraft
Derek Ausserbauer
Bob Balentine
Chris Blais
Ricky Brabec
Kurt Caselli
Quinn Cody
Max Eddy Jr
Shane Esposito
Andy Grider
Tucker Hopkins
Carter Klein
Paul Krause
Shane Logan
Cole Marshall
Ciaran Naran
Ryan Penhall
Ivan Ramirez
Juan Carlos Salvatierra
Daymon Stokie
Jonah Street
Manufacturers
Overall Pro 4wheel Vehicle Trucks/SUVs
19
Ford
6
Chevy
2
Dodge
1
Jeep
Toyota
Cars
4
Chenowth
2
Jimco
1
Raceco
Riviera
Overall Engine Winners
Cars & Trucks
19
Ford
8
Chevy
3
Porsche
2
Dodge
Volkswagen
1
BMW
Jeep
Toyota
Pro Motorcycles
25
Honda
7
Kawasaki
3
KTM
2
Husqvarna
Tires
Pro 4wheel vehicles
(Missing 1 year)
31
BFGoodrich Tires
2
Callahan Tires
Toyo Tires
1
Goodyear Tires
