McMillin Racing PERFECTION Enroute Victory at the SCORE Tecate Baja 500!

McMillin Racing EARNS 50th BFGoodrich Tires WIN in SCORE Baja 500 and Baja 1000 Races.

San Diego, California (June 8, 2010) Captivating the world of off road racing, Scott and Andy McMillin returned to the land they cherish to race the treacherous SCORE Tecate Baja 500.  Driving the #31 McMillin Realty Ford F-150 race truck, together, the father/son racing duo conquered the 438.81-mile racecourse with a winning time of 9:15:13, earning them the SCORE Baja 500 OVERALL and Trophy Truck win.  Not only did the McMillin Racing victory set the stage for this year’s 2010 SCORE Tecate Baja 1000, they also earned BFGoodrich Tires its 50th combined win at the SCORE Baja 500 (27 wins) and SCORE Baja 1000 (23 wins).

For more than 40 years, the SCORE Baja 500 has been deemed one of the most callous off road desert races in the world.  This race was one that saw teams overcome the most difficult off road racing obstacles in recent history.  Andy McMillin began the day behind the wheel of his #31 McMillin Realty Trophy Truck.  “Our strategy from the beginning was I would start and my Dad would finish.  He’s such a great driver, I felt if we could run a solid pace he would be able to make up time in the last 150-miles and that is exactly what happened.”
 
The rugged Northern Baja California terrain is unlike other areas of the Baja Peninsula and has been regarded as more technical than the southern half of Mexico’s jutting landscape.  Only a month ago, a devastating 7.2 earthquake struck the region creating yet more difficult impediments in the mountain regions.
 
For the McMillin Racing family, this race is a time-honored tradition started by off road racing icon, Corky McMillin.  It was the early 1970’s when Corky McMillin and his friends introduced the McMillin Racing family to a motorsport they have excelled in for almost 40 years.
 
The 2010 season would be no different, as Scott and Andy McMillin arrived to Mexico to enjoy the serene beauty of the Baja Peninsula and its people. But more importantly, they were in search of victory at the 42nd SCORE Tecate Baja 500.  This race, the second of the three SCORE Baja races thus far this year, has long been considered one of the most difficult desert races in the world.  McMillin Racing prepared for the race with days and days of prerunning, while the crew meticulously worked on the race truck. 
 
Scott McMillin commented, “Our crew chief, Greg Williams, does a fantastic job with the team and once again, we had a perfect truck.  We never turned a wrench on the truck all day long and we didn’t have a single flat tire.  It was about as perfect of a race day as you can get in Baja.”
 
Racing against a slew of competitors for the entire 438-mile race, Scott and Andy McMillin outperformed the largest and strongest field ever in SCORE Trophy Trucks earning the impressive win.  
 
“It’s great to be racing in Baja.  Andy and the crew did a great job.  We just make a good team because we love to drive together.  He did all the work and he gave me the truck, I think the second truck on the road.   I didn’t have much dust to deal with so I was able to run clean.  I’m glad to hear that he was a little nervous (waiting at the finish line) because normally I’m waiting at the finish line for him and I hate it,” said a grinning Scott McMillin.
 
Andy McMillin, the 23-year old off road racing superstar, has now won three of the last four SCORE races, the 2009 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 and the 2010 Tecate SCORE Baja 500 with his father Scott, and the 2010 SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge driving solo.  This victory was also the fourth career SCORE Trophy-Truck race win in his young desert racing career.  In addition, this was Andy McMillin’s second class win in this race as he won SCORE Unlimited Class 1 with his father in 2005.
 
For Scott McMillin, 50, the victory earned him his sixth class win in this race and his third overall victory.  Scott won the SCORE Baja 500 overall twice with his late father Corky McMillin, in 1983 and 1986.  This victory marks Scott McMillin’s second career SCORE Trophy-Truck race win adding to the win they had in last year’s Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 with his son Andy.
 
“It really comes down to our race team preparation and prerunning prior to the race.  I can’t leave out the incredible support we have from our family and friends who support McMillin Racing.  Without them, we couldn’t race at the level we do,” mentioned Andy.
 
“It was a smooth day, no problems. I just kind of followed in the dust and waited for the dust to clear waiting for my opportunities to open up.  We ended up being the third truck behind Jesse Jones and Robby Gordon.  Robby lost a transmission and that put me behind Jesse.  I just tried to make up time on him in order to put my Dad in a good position to capitalize on whatever mistakes Jesse did make, if he made one.  Jesse Jones drove a stellar race up to where my dad passed him.  I think he had a flat tire or some issue and he was pulled over as my Dad drove by.  We’re starting to click as a team and I think we’re the team to beat if we’re having a good day, and we’ve been having a lot of good days lately,” commented the smiling SCORE Baja 500 winner.
 
On Friday at the SCORE Tecate Baja 500 Media Conference, Scott and Andy McMillin, were recognized by BFGoodrich Tires for their impressive win at the 2009 SCORE Baja 1000. BFGoodrich Tires has a tradition of presenting SCORE Baja 1000 championship rings to racers who conquered the toughest off-road race on the planet on BFGoodrich tires.

Andy commented, “I really can’t emphasize enough how much of an influence BFGoodrich Tires has on our race program.  We didn’t suffer a single flat tire throughout the entire race and we abused our tires more than you want to know.  BFGoodrich Tires is the only tire we will race on.  Winning BFG’s 50th SCORE Baja race is something special and I’m glad McMillin Racing was able to accomplish that feat on behalf of our sponsor, BFGoodrich Tires.”
 
McMillin Racing continues to work closely with many partners involved in their racing program.  Crew Chief Greg Williams explained, “We work side by side with many of our race team partners each and everyday including FOX Racing Shox, Kroyer Racing Engines, Geiser Brothers, KMC Wheels, Palomar Communications and Eibach Springs. They have all come together providing us with the best components in professional motorsports. We couldn’t ask for a better team of sponsors.”
 
Winning the 2010 SCORE Baja 500 adds to the lifelong legacy of McMillin Racing.  It’s a racing heritage that is steep with family tradition.  A heritage that has been passed down from Corky to his sons Scott and Mark and now to their sons, Andy, Daniel and Luke and one that has created a positive influence on the sport, the fans and the McMillin Racing family for four decades.
 
McMillin Racing returns to Mexico for the granddaddy of all off road races, the SCORE Tecate Baja 1000, which kicks off on November 19, 2010 in Ensenada, Baja California and finishes in the seaside city of La Paz along the coast of the Sea of Cortez. 
 
At the finish line among thousands of cheering fans Andy smiled wide and said, “I can’t wait for the Baja 1000.”