MacCachren leads SCORE points standings

Local off-road racer Rob MacCachren leads the overall point standings and Las Vegas brothers Tim and Ed Herbst are in second place in the featured Trophy-Truck division after three rounds of the five-race 2001 Duralast SCORE Desert Series.

MacCachren, a second-generation Southern Nevada desert racer, won the first two races in the Class 1-2/1600cc class -- in his VW-powered Fraley race car -- before settling for second place in the most recent SCORE Baja 500. It was the 36-year-old MacCachren's first SCORE races in the 1600 class since his rookie season in 1983.

MacCachren, the 1994 SCORE Trophy-Truck season champion, has competed in four different SCORE truck classes as well as two open-wheel car classes, but has only made a few appearances on the SCORE circuit in the last few years -- during which time the versatile racer has competed primarily in a Midwestern short-course series.

MacCachren led his class midway through the recent Baja 500, fell back to fifth place after mechanical problems slowed him down, then fought his way back to second place.

MacCachren leads the overall and Class 1-2/1600 SCORE standings with 181 points heading into the sixth annual SCORE Las Vegas Primm 300, which is scheduled for Sept. 14 and 15.

SCORE points are determined both on final finishing position and number of vehicles which started the race in each class. MacCachren's class featured 18 racers at the Baja 500. Close to 250 racers competed in 23 classes overall, including ones for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs.

The Herbst brothers managed to finish second at the Baja 500 despite driving backwards for the last six miles after their forward gears went out in their Ford F-150.

The duo of David Ashley and Dan Smith -- who hail from Riverside, Calif. and won the historic Tecate SCORE Baja 2000 last year -- came from behind to defeat the Herbsts in their Duralast Ford F-150.

Ashley and Smith lead the Trophy-Truck division with two races to go, while the team of Tim and Ed Herbst are in second place.

Steve Sourapas, of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., is second in the overall point standings with 162 points and leads the unlimited Class I division.

Troy Herbst and Mark Hutchins -- a pair of Southern Nevada racers -- are tied for third place in the overall point standings with 159 points apiece.

Herbst, 35, is the four-time defending champion in the Class I division. Troy Herbst, the youngest of the three Herbst brothers, is currently in second place in his class. He drives a Ford-powered Smithbuilt desert race car.

Hutchins, a 46-year-old from Henderson, leads Class 10, in which he placed second twice and fifth once. Hutchins drives a Toyota-powered Jimco desert race car.

Las Vegan Danny Anderson is in second place in Class 10 and eighth place in the overall point standings with 153.

The Tecate SCORE Baja 500 will be aired by the Speedvision Network, in a one-hour special, at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Aug. 3.

Those interested in SCORE can call its Los Angeles headquarters at (818) 225-8402 or visit www.score-international .com.