Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: SCORE desert race opens local season

Monday, Jan. 6, 2003 | 9:43 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

The 2003 local racing season officially will get under way next week when the ninth annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge takes the green flag for two days of racing on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 18-19.

Nearly 150 entries are expected for the first round of the six-race SCORE Desert Series, which is celebrating its 30th year of competition in 2003.

Heading the list of competitors will be four-time Laughlin winners Brian Collins and Ed and Tim Herbst -- all of Las Vegas. Collins and the Herbst brothers will be competing in the featured Trophy Truck class this season.

Another Herbst brother -- Troy -- will attempt to continue his domination of the SCORE off-road series this year after capturing both the Class 1 and overall championships last season. Herbst, 36, has won an unprecedented six consecutive Class 1 championships and is the only driver in SCORE history to claim four overall points titles.

The SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge is a unique event in that racing is split over two days on an abbreviated 13-mile course. The course features a stadium-style portion around the start/finish line that gives spectators an extended view of the racing.

Racing will run from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. both Jan. 18 and 19 and will be preceded by the Laughlin Leap and Pit Crew Showdown. The $16,000 Laughlin Leap will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 16 and the $10,000 Pit Crew Showdown is set for 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 17. Both events will be held at the Laughlin Events Park at the start/finish line.

Event organizers this year plan to add a giant television monitor in front of the grandstands to broadcast live racing action from remote locations on the course.

The 2002 E.T. Bracket Racing Series champions are: John Phlegar (Pro); Scott Machael (Sportsman); John Irving (Street); Leo Shaver (Motorcycle); Don Kruse (Super Quick); William Dudley (Street Sport Compacts); Ty LeBaron (High School); Tristan Craig (Jr. Dragsters 8-9); Ty Sanders (Jr. Dragsters 10-12); Thomas Redding Jr. (Jr. Dragster 13 - 14); and Tanna Sanders (Jr. Dragster 15 - 17).

Tickets for the awards banquet are $22 and include a buffet dinner and soft drinks. Tickets must be purchased by Jan. 17 and can be obtained by calling Kimberly Lansing at 632-8213.

The winged sprint cars will make their annual spring visit on Feb. 28 and March 1 for the Silver State Shootout and will return for the season finale Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.