SCORE’S PRIMM 300

The Primm 300 is unique in SCORE’s calendar. It’s a lap race, but unlike Laughlin, or the non-points Terrible’s Cup, the laps are about 74 miles long, making it a real desert race. The three Baja races on SCORE’s calendar are, of course, real desert races also, but they are point-to-point events, and the racers don’t have to contend with as much traffic there as they do at Primm.

Andy McMillin will be racing Trophy Truck at PRIMM

Last year, for the first time, the start/finish area at Primm moved about 2.5 miles to the north of the hotel complex, to the middle of a big dry lake. It’s going to be there this year also. This means more difficult access for the race teams and their pit vehicles, and for spectators. It’s no longer possible to roll out of bed in the hotel, stroll across the parking lot and settle into a grandstand seat to watch the race.

There is access for big team semis by way of the Jean prison road, and big motorhomes can get to the start/finish that way also. The SCORE website has detailed instructions. Other vehicles can get to the start/finish by way of a road that heads out from the back of the Primm parking lot. It’s slow going and dusty, but not difficult.

Once again, there will be a two-race format this year. The small vehicles: buggies, VW based cars, Baja Bugs, Class 3, Stock Mini trucks and Sportsman Buggies will start at six a.m. At about 1 p.m., when most of the first bunch will have finished, the faster, heavier classes will take off, including Trophy Trucks, all the rest of the trucks, and Class 1. Most classes will do four laps, some will do three or only two, but all will have eight hours to complete their run.

Alan Pflueger - Trophy Truck #28

Last year Brian Collins and Larry Ragland won overall in their Chevy Trophy Truck, and with the run they’ve had this year (winning at the Baja 500 and the BITD Vegas to Reno), they look to be in good shape to do it again here. Collins has recorded three wins at Primm in the past, but then, so have Ed and Tim Herbst, and Alan Pflueger. It should be fun to watch the Trophy Trucks go at it.

The Class 1 drivers will also be challenging for the overall win at Primm, and out of ten years of racing here, the Class 1 drivers have done it four times. Troy Herbst won in ’99 and 2001 in his Truggy, Steve Sourapas was the winner in 2000, and Mike Julson and Bob Lofton took the win in 2002. Troy may not be driving much this year because of the injury to his Achilles tendon, but the team could juggle manpower and bring the Truggy home in first place. In any case, with all the previous Trophy Truck and Class 1 overall winners already entered (excepting Robby Gordon), a good battle for the overall win is guaranteed.

Troy Herbst - Terrible Herbst Truggy

Class 1, with 44 entries, looks like a “who’s-who” of Class 1 racing, and it would be difficult to pick a potential winner. Pat Dean and B. J. Richardson are always quick in the desert; Kash Vessels has shown terrific speed and talent, but has been having some bad luck; Gary and Mark Weyhrich are always a threat; Dale Ebberts could easily win, and so could Chuck Hovey, Martin Christensen, Bob Lofton, Mark McMillin, Cesar Fuentes (last year’s winner), Buddy Feldkamp, Randy or Rick Wilson, Steve Sourapas and one of the many who haven’t yet been winners, but have been steadily improving.

Darren Hardesty - Class 10

In the morning group, Adam Wik, last year’s Class 10 winner is back, but he’ll find the going tough, because more than half the class are highly talented, experienced racers with excellent cars and support teams. No one will run away with the Class 10 win. The race should be one of the best of the weekend.

And in SCORE Lite, where there are more new teams, there is still a lot of talent. Probably the biggest threat here will be Cameron Steele, who seems to have his act together as far as his SCORE Lite car is concerned. His biggest problem will probably be that he’s racing in the Trophy Truck class also, and he could get stuck on course in one of those places where the BLM allows no access. If he has to sit out in the desert somewhere until his race is over, he might have trouble getting back in to climb into his SCORE Lite car.

Cameron Steele - Keepin' it REAL

In the 1-2/1600 class, fully half of them are experienced, in good cars, and teams with talent at the wheel. It’s anybody’s guess who will emerge on top. But they’ll be fun to watch.

The morning race, with the mixture of not-quite-so-fast classes, will have about 74 vehicles on the course at the same time, which works out to about one-per-mile. Spectators should find that plenty entertaining. But in the afternoon event, with 102 entries, there will be lots of traffic, lots of passing, and lots of excitement. In the main pit area the action won’t be too engrossing, because SCORE has a 50 mph speed limit, and there will be no passing in the pits either. If you want to watch racing, check the map for areas where spectating is allowed, and be sure to take your binoculars.

Weather could be a factor at Primm. There have been several years when the monsoons have blown in from Arizona and drenched the course and the racers. Teams that have prepped their cars for water won’t have any problem, but those who forget about weather-proofing their ignitions can run into trouble. Spectators probably ought to bring umbrellas just in case.

Eric Solorzano - Class 11 Champion

The “winningest” drivers at the Primm event are George Seeley, who races in Class 5, and Eric Solorzano, who runs a Class 11 (Stock VW) car. Each has recorded six wins at Primm over the years, and they’ll be looking to add another win to their record.

As always, the racing will be close and exciting at Primm, and it will be a long, hard day for the course workers, the flag men, timing and scoring and other SCORE officials. It’s sunrise to sunset, and then some.

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