Andy McMillin Shows His Hand at 16th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge: ACES!
BEBO CROWNED OVERALL & SCORE Trophy Truck WINNER!
San Diego, California (January 17, 2010) Andy McMillin, the SCORE Baja 1000 Champion, returned to racing action kicking off the season with a commanding victory at the 2010 SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge. Held along the banks of the famed Colorado River, the San Diego racer beat an elite field of 28 racers entered in the SCORE Trophy Truck class.
The two day combined race event was held over a brutal 6.25-mile race course that tested every aspect of man and machine. Andy McMillin averaged 49.16 miles per hour and had a total time of 2 hours, 2 minutes and 3 seconds driving his McMillin Realty Ford F-150 to the overall victory. He began Sunday's race setting the fastest lap of the day with the 7 minute,10 second lap. Andy went on to win the first SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge race of his career.
Andy started the race weekend on top when he set the fastest qualifying time on Friday afternoon. In Saturday's race, the full field of 28 trucks left the starting line and by Sunday's checkered flag, only 8 trucks were able to finish both days of racing. Andy charged the #31 McMillin Realty Ford F-150 hard in the first half of Saturday's race and once he got out in front, he set the Kroyer Racing-powered Trophy Truck on fast mode and let the chase begin. At the end of the first day of racing, he had a 1 minute, 20 second lead over the competition. Sunday's race stirred the fans with excitement as the San Diego racer jumped into a fast, cruising pace and claimed the overall victory by a dominating 7 minutes, 36 seconds.
Andy reflected about the two-day race, "Once again, the #31 McMillin Realty truck was flawless. Beau, Greg, Willie and Hector did a marvelous job prepping the truck for this Laughlin race, which is a race of survival. It's always tough on trucks here and this year was no different. Our BFGoodrich Tires filled the massive holes on the course and I just hammered the tires on all the square edges, and they survived as usual. BFG is the best! We didn't race the SCORE Series last year and I'm very happy to be back and competing at this level. This was my first win at Laughlin and it's great to continue our winning streak in SCORE."
The McMillin Realty Ford F-150 started from the pole position each day and physically led all but one of the 16 laps over the weekend of racing. The McMillin family team had six entries in the 16th Annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge race. This victory marks the third career win for Andy in the marquee SCORE Trophy Truck division. The young McMillin won the 2006 SCORE Baja 1000 when he was teamed with Robby Gordon and then last season's SCORE Baja 1000 where he teamed with his father, Scott, for an epic father/son victory and now this year's SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge victory.
Scott McMillin, team owner said, "We had a great weekend of racing and the entire team performed at a championship level. Winning back to back in the SCORE Series is difficult and this is a great victory. We are happy to succeed this early in the season and we can't wait to return to Baja for the San Felipe 250."
The McMillin Racing family had a six entries in this year's race, which included Mark McMillin in the #23 Trophy Truck, Daniel McMillin in the JIMCO Class 1 and 1-2/1600 car, Luke McMillin in his new Alumi Craft 1600 car and Scott's daughter, Jessica, who made her SCORE racing debut in the competitive SCORE Lite class racing a JIMCO VW-powered car.
On Saturday morning Jessica climbed from her race car and said, "That was awesome! I had so much fun!" Jessica competed in the two-day event for her first ever SCORE race and will campaign her SCORE Lite throughout the 2010 SCORE Desert Series. Jessica is no stranger to desert racing as she has competed in several different off road series racing trucks in Baja and the California deserts.
Scott and Andy McMillin, along with the entire team, want to thank each of the race team sponsors, family members and friends who all support McMillin Racing.
About McMillin Racing
With over three decades of racing experience, the McMillin family represents three generations of accomplished championship racers. Founded by the late off-road racing legend, Corky McMillin, McMillin Racing continues to be respected as a one of the most successful desert racing teams of all time. They are supported by a long list of dedicated family, friends and employees of McMillin Companies, all who make up an incredibly talented group of steadfast supporters. Since 1976, they have raced at the highest level of competition in the deserts of North America. Together as a family, they have multiple series championships, along with significant race victories in both the United States and Baja California.
McMillin Racing symbolizes the ultimate passion in off road racing.
