SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge roars to life this weekend

By Brian Hilderbrand

Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008 | 2 a.m.

After a two-month hiatus, the local racing scene will roar to life this weekend when the high-tech off-road race vehicles of the SCORE Desert Series invade the Colorado River resort town of Laughlin for the 14th annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge.

The popular event, which offers spectators a close-up view of the vehicles that compete in the world-famous Baja 1000, is expected to draw more than 150 entries from 18 states and two foreign countries. Racing will be held in 17 classes, including the featured 800-horsepower SCORE Trophy Trucks.

As if the first live racing event of the year weren’t enough to get you motivated to make the trek to Laughlin, here are five other reasons to make the drive down U.S. 95:

1. Plenty to see

Unlike traditional desert races that are held on large courses in the middle of the desert, the Laughlin Desert Challenge is contested on a compact 6-mile circuit and the race vehicles spend an extended amount of time racing within the Laughlin Events Park (near the intersection of Bruce Woodbury and Thomas Edison drives). Grandstands are set up in the Events Park but spectators also can watch the race from a nearby hillside.

2. Nonstop action

Racing begins at 7 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday. The 17 classes are split into five groups that have 80 minutes to complete from five to eight laps (depending on the class), and a new group of race vehicles starts every two hours from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. Not a lot of downtime here, folks.

3. Star power

Among the notable drivers scheduled to compete in the Trophy Truck class are NASCAR Sprint Cup Series owner/driver Robby Gordon and television personality Jesse James. Gordon, a longtime desert racer, is making the trip to Laughlin before taking part in NASCAR testing sessions Monday and Tuesday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

4. Cheap thrills

Where else can you watch a whole day of racing for just $5? If you don’t mind roughing it and sitting on the hillside adjacent to the Laughlin Events Park, which overlooks the infield area and the main pits, it’ll set you back only a fin.

5. Drivers to watch

In addition to Gordon and James, many of the top local desert racers will be competing this weekend. Among the notable Las Vegans are B.J. Baldwin, who is the two-time defending race winner in Trophy Truck, and off-road standouts Rob MacCachren, who teamed with Southern California’s Mark Post to win last year’s overall SCORE season points championship, and Troy Herbst, a two-time Laughlin winner in Class 1.