Bruckman/Hatz duo lead SCORE series

Friday, July 2, 1999 | 9:39 a.m.

With three straight victories in Class 1-2/1600 to start the season, San Diego's Vic Bruckmann and Jason Hatz continue to be the team to beat, leading their class and the overall point standings midway through the six-race 1999 Laughlin SCORE Desert Series.

Keeping the heat on the tandem team is Bekki Freeman of Henderson, who was runner-up by a mere 14 seconds to the Bruckmann/Hatz duo in the recent 30th Tecate SCORE Baja 500. Freeman, who has a pair of seconds so far this year, remains second in Class 1 2/1600 and has risen to second in the overall point standings for America's foremost desert racing series.

After racing separately last year until the season finale, Bruckmann and Hatz have teamed up this year to lead the overall and Class 1-2/1600 point standings after three rounds with impressive season-opening class wins in Laughlin (Jan. 23-24), San Felipe, B.C., Mexico (March 20), and Ensenada, B.C., Mexico (June 5-6). Bruckmann/Hatz, who split the driving time in their VW powered Jimco open-wheel desert race car, have earned 205 points so far.

Las Vegas' Troy Herbst, the defending Laughlin SCORE Desert Series overall and unlimited Class 1 point champion in his Ford-powered Smithbuilt, has regained his class point lead and is sixth overall with 159 points, only two behind Iribe and only eight out of third place.

Las Vegas brothers Ed and Tim Herbst, Troy Herbst's older brothers, are leading the featured Trophy-Truck division with a pair of wins and 137 points in their Ford F-150.

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