Two-time season point champion BJ Baldwin earned the pole position for the start of the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge in Laughlin, Nevada. He drove his #97 Baldwin Motorsports Chevy Silverado to a fast lap of 6 minutes, 23.99 seconds during qualifying, averaging 58.59 mph on the 6.25-mile race loop.

SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge Photo Highlights

“We improved our lap time by nearly nine seconds over last year, so we are very stoked,” said Baldwin, who won this race in both 2006 and 2007 and was second in qualifying last year in Laughlin. “This was our first time running with Toyo Tires and they were hooked up just perfect on this rugged little race course. Our Chevy Silverado is ready to roar on the river and I have to be calm enough to keep from pushing it over the edge.”

Qualifying second was Las Vegas’ Rob MacCachren (above), who ran a qualifying lap of 6:33.00 at an average of 57.25 mph in the #20 MasterCraft Racing Ford F-150. SCORE notes the four trucks that elected not to qualify on Friday will start Saturday’s race behind the other 20 Trophy Trucks.

This year, SCORE changed the format for the Laughlin Desert Challenge. Instead of having two days of racing and combining the results from both days, each day of racing will be a separate race. Baldwin will lead the 24-truck field in the Trophy Truck class for Saturday’s race, with SCORE noting there are 100 official entries for this weekend’s racing. The start/finish line area and main pits are located at the Laughlin Events Park just off of Casino Drive in Laughlin. Races begin each day at 7 a.m.

General admission tickets are available at the event, with three spectator areas at the start/finish line area at the Laughlin Events Park, the SCORE Hill overlooking the infield area of the start/finish line area, and the ‘Cougar Corral’ located adjacent to the west end of the course by Laughlin High School. General admission, per person, per day, is $10 for the start/finish and infield area, $5 for the SCORE Hill and $5 for the ‘Cougar Corral.’

Check back with Off-Road.com for more on the weekend’s races.