SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Clark, [email protected]

May 10, 2022

Sims wins Overall UTV

“A win for the aged”: ‘Mr. Baja’ Larry Roeseler, 64, declared
Overall, SCORE Trophy Truck win at 2021 SCORE Baja 500

ENSENADA, Baja California, Mexico (June 12, 2021) – SoCal’s Hall of Famer Larry Roeseler captured one for the ages when he was declared the overall and SCORE Trophy Truck winner of the BFGoodrich Tires 53rd SCORE Baja 500, presented by 4 Wheel Parts (June 12, 2021).
Clocked before penalties, the legendary 64-year-old Desert racing warrior was the third vehicle to reach the finish line in the elapsed-time race.
Roeseler, 64, of Boulevard, Calif., climbed to the top of the ladder, after penalties were issued, in his No. 43 Baja Jerky Cantina Racing Toyota Tundra built by ID Designs. He finished the grueling 466.00-mile race in a winning time of 10 hours, 16 minutes and two seconds with an average speed of 45.39 miles per hour.
WIN FOR THE AGES
For the iconic ‘Mr Baja’, the victory is his 12th overall win in this race and his 18th class triumph. He earned his first class win in the SCORE Baja 500 in 1972 and earned his first overall in 1975 riding with the late Bruce Ogilvie on a Harley-Davison motorcycle.
LR, as he is also known, won his first two 4-wheel overalls in this race in 2002 and 2003 as the second driver for Troy Herbst in the legendary Class 1 ‘Land Shark’ open-wheel desert race car.
For Roeseler, a member of both the AMA Hall of Fame and the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame, nine of his overalls in the SCORE Baja 500 were on motorcycles, two were in unlimited Class 1 open-wheel desert race cars and this was his first in the marquee SCORE Trophy Truck division for high-tech, 950 horsepower unlimited custom trucks.
He also now has earned four career SCORE Trophy Truck race wins. His last SCORE Trophy Truck overall was last year as the second driver for Luke McMillin. Before last year, his previous win in the featured class was in 2008 SCORE Baja 1000 peninsula run from Ensenada to La Paz when he was the second driver for Roger Norman.
For his victory at the SCORE Baja 500, Roeseler also earned the $15,000 contingency bonus that was posted for the overall winner by BFGoodrich Tires.
FASTRAX
This spectacular event, one of the top 10 motorsports events held in the world with over 100,000 spectators spread out along the course, a total of 240 starters raced in Pro and Sportsman Motorcycles for cars, trucks, UTVS, motorcycles and quads racing in 51 classes. Entries came from 24 U.S. States along with host Mexico, Bolivia, Canada, France, New Zealand and Peru.
Following complete data-tracking review and input from the Competition Review Board, preliminary results have now been made totally official. The results were pending the outcome of the competition review board recommendations regarding two classes, SCORE Trophy Truck and Class 1/2-1600. Both classes have now been finalized with no additional penalties involving Class 1/2-1600.
There were 240 official starters, with 146 official finishers for a surprising 60.83 percent finishing rate considering the difficulty of the course in the elapsed-time race.
THE PODIUM
Joining Roeseler on the podium were San Diego’s Andy McMillin in second place and Mexico’s Gustavo ‘Tavo’ Vildosola Jr. who took the final spot in third place.
McMillin was officially timed in 10:19:59 in his No. 31 McMillin Racing Chevy Silverado.
Driving his No. 21 Vildosola Racing Ford Raptor, Vildosola Jr, 39 of Mexicali, finished in a time of 10:18:09, just 15.3 seconds on corrected time behind A. McMillin.
LR SPEAKS
“We knew it would be tough, I knew it would be ten hours, but it was every bit of what we expected, it was fantastic, stated the champion Roeseler. “I bet no one was disappointed. There were some good battles out there. There were places we were doing 130 and there were places we were doing two miles per hour just because of the rocks.”
“We started tenth and just kept pushing. I went back and forth with John T. Lennon (No. 73) a couple of times and then Ampudia (Alan Ampudia, No. 10) crashed, Tavo (Gustavo ‘Tavo’ Vildosola Jr, No. 21) got a flat and we saw Menzies (Bryce Menzies, No. 7) in the pit around race mile 300 and we realized we were fourth. We had no flats and didn’t do anything to the truck outside of sliding off the road a few times. It was just a very memorable race for us. My very first SCORE Baja 500 was in 1972 – I rode a 175cc motorcycle.”
“And here I am, over 40 years later and still hitting it. This is a very, very awesome finish and we’re really, really happy.”
“Hats off to SCORE for producing another spectacular SCORE Baja race. I have been part of the development of this sport for over 40 years and I can really appreciate all that SCORE continues to do to improve the quality of its races.”
VILDOSOLA JR REMARKS
Following his third-place podium finish, Vildosola Jr said, “It was a tough course. Just for the attrition and how the SCORE Trophy Trucks are going to finish today, we’re going to see it. We made the podium, but I didn’t drive us well enough to get to the top. I made some mistakes early that really cost us a lot of time and a couple of spots. It’s disappointing. We had two programmed pit stops for the race and ended up stopping eight times for different things. It’s not a winning formula to stop eight times in a SCORE Baja 500 or in any race. We weren’t able to recover in the end but we pushed hard and did what we could. We’re here, I’m proud of that and hopefully this finish puts us on the podium and makes a bad day much better.”
SIX SCORE TROPHY TRUCKS IN TOP 10
Including Roeseler, A. McMillin and Vildosola Jr, six SCORE Trophy Trucks were among the top 10 official finishers in this year’s SCORE Baja 500.
Finishing fourth overall and fourth in SCORE Trophy Truck was Daniel McMillin, 33, from San Diego. Andy’s cousin and Luke’s older brother, Daniel McMillin completed the course in 10:37:51 (43.8mph) in his AWD No. 23 McMillin Racing Chevy 1500, built by Mason Motorsports. Also driving for McMillin was Justin B. Smith of Las Vegas.
Hall of Famer Rob MacCachren, 56, Las Vegas finished fifth overall and in SCORE Trophy Truck with a penalty-free time of 10:47:30 (43.18mph) in his No. 11 MacCachren Motorsports Ford F-150 built by Geiser Bros.
Roeseler’s Baja Jerky Cantina Racing teammate Chris Miller, 47, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., finished ninth overall and sixth in SCORE Trophy Truck in his No. 40 AWD Chevy built by Mason Motorsports in a time of 11:07:47 (41.87mph).
Also in the top 10 overall finishers were three trucks from the Trophy Truck Spec class along with the unlimited Class 1 winner.
Finishing sixth overall and winning Trophy Truck Spec was Jason McNeil, 43, El Cajon, Calif. in a time of 11:05:15 (42.03 mph) in his Geiser-Chevy. Eighth overall and second in Trophy Truck Spec was the team of Ryan Hancock, 45, Yuma, Ariz. and Brock Heger, 21, El Centro, Calif. in 11:06:55 in their TSCO-Ford
Finishing 10th overall and third in Trophy Truck Spec was Justin Davis, 28, Chino Hill, Calif. with a time of 11:08:03 (41.85 mph) in his Brenthel-Chevy.
Capturing the Unlimited Class 1 and finishing seventh overall in their No. 123 Jimco-Ford was the son father team of Broc Dickerson, 20 and his father Jeff Dickerson, 46, both of Brawley, Calif. They were clocked in 11:05:41 (42.00 mph).
OVERALL TOTALS
SCORE Trophy Trucks have now won 25 overalls in the SCORE Baja 500 in the 28 years that this premier class has been part of this race. In this year’s race, SCORE Trophy Trucks captured six of the top 10 overall finishing positions.
In 53 years of this race, Husqvarna has now earned 13 overall motorcycle victories and first since 1986 when Garth Sweetland and Scott Harden teamed for the victory. Honda leads with 22 overall motorcycle victories.
Among tire manufacturers, leading these is BFGoodrich Tires with 33 wins in 53 years.
In the overall pro 4wheel vehicles, Toyota has now earned eight overall SCORE Baja 500. It is the first for Toyota since 1999 when Ivan ‘Ironman’ Stewart won for the seventh time. Leading these manufacturers is Ford with 18 victories.
SCORE is celebrating its 48th year as the World’s Foremost Desert Racing Organization.
The celebratory internationally-televised race started and finished in a health-protocol required closed-to-the-public SCORE compound located Northeast of downtown Ensenada, 80 miles south of the U.S. Border at San Diego.
COURSE SNAPSHOT
SCORE President/Race Director Jose A. Grijalva identified, plotted and marked another 466-mile spectacular race course to challenge the world’s best desert racers.
Running is a clockwise direction, the race started and finishes without spectators in the SCORE compound. The SCORE start/finish compound was located Northeast of downtown Ensenada.
The race had an impressive course of 466.00 miles. It ran in a clockwise direction west to Ojos Negro then south down the middle and then up the Pacific Coast side of Baja California.
There were two physical checkpoints, 233 virtual checkpoints and two narrow virtual checkpoints for this race course. It also had 14 speed zones for a total of 74.9 miles.
The course went east through Ojos Negros and then South through El Alamo, the Goat Trail and Valle de Trinidad.
From there it went back west towards the Pacific Ocean going by and through Mike’s Sky Rancho, El Coyote Ranch and Rancho Meling. It then went through Santo Domingo Wash and San Simon Wash. The course then ran close to the Pacific Ocean going through San Quintin, Vicente Guerrero, Camalu, San Vicente, Santo Tomas and Uruapan before heading back northeast up to Ojos Negros and back to the finish line.
All Sportsman classes, Class 7SX, Baja Challenge and Class 11 raced on a reduced course of 389.56 miles.
CLOSED START/FINISH
Because of the significant health and safety protocols developed by SCORE in conjunction with and the approval of state and local health authorities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, all race-week festivities and the start/finish line compound were restricted access only and closed to the general public.
Thousands of spectators, adhering to the protocols, watched the race from around the race course.

BFGoodrich Tires 53rd SCORE Baja 500
presented by 4 Wheel Parts
Round 2 of four-race 2021 SCORE World Desert Championship

1. 43 Larry Roeseler, 64, Boulevard, Calif., Toyota Tundra (ID), 10:16:02 (45.39 mph) (SCORE Trophy Truck)
2. 31 Andy McMillin, 33, San Diego, Chevy Silverado (Mason), 10:19:59 (45.13 mph) (SCORE Trophy Truck)
3. 21 Gustavo ‘Tavo’ Vildosola Jr, 39, Mexicali, Mexico, Ford Raptor (Vildosola), 10:20:14 (45.044 mph) (SCORE Trophy Truck)
4. 23 Daniel McMillin, 33, San Diego, Chevy 1500 (Mason),10:37:51(43.83 mph) (SCORE Trophy Truck)
5. 11 Rob MacCachren, 56, Las Vegas, Ford F-150 (Geiser), 10:47:30 (43.18 mph) (SCORE Trophy Truck)
6. 234 Jason McNeil, 43, El Cajon, Calif./Tyler McNeil, 32, Mesa, Ariz./Kyle Dodson, 35, Ramona, Calif./Chad McNeil, 39, El Cajon, Calif./Brandon McNeil, 37, El Cajon, Calif., Geiser-Chevy, 11:05:15 (42.03 mph) (Trophy Truck Spec)
7. 123 Broc Dickerson, 20, Brawley, Calif./Jeff Dickerson, 46, Brawley, Calif., Jimco-Ford, 11:05:41 (42.00 mph) (Class1)
8. 228 Ryan Hancock, 45, Yuma, Ariz./Brock Heger, 21, El Centro, Calif./Jordan Poole, 32, Las Vegas, TSCO-Ford, 11:06:55 (41.92 mph) (Trophy Truck Spec)
9. 40 Chris Miller, 47, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./Adalberto Cruz, 30, San Diego, Chevy Silverado (Mason), 11:07:47 (41.87 mph) (SCORE Trophy Truck)
10. 258 Justin Davis, 28, Chino Hills, Calif., Brenthel-Chevy, 11:08:03 (41.85 mph) (Trophy truck Spec)
11. *37L Rolf Helland, 61, Morris, Ill./Rick D. Johnson, 55, Barstow, Calif., Ford Raptor (Mason), 11:15:14 (41.41 mph) (SCORE Trophy Truck Legends)
12. 138 Brian Wilson, 35, Long Beach, Calif./Kyle Quinn, 30, Lakewood, Calif./Ronny Wilson, 59, Long Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, 11:19:47 (41.13 mph) (Class 1)
13. 19 Tim Herbst, 58, Las Vegas/Pat Dean, 51, Las Vegas, Ford F-150 (Herbst/Smith), 11:21:14 (41.04 mph) (SCORE Trophy Truck)
14. 295 William Hedrick Jr, 25, Vicente Guerrero, Mexico/William Hedrick, 54, Vicente Guerrero, Mexico, ID-Chevy, 11:23:54 (40.88 mph) (Trophy Truck Spec)
15. 90 Raul Gomez, 41, Placerville, Calif./Darian Gomez, 20, Placerville, Calif., Ford Raptor (Geiser), 11:24:34 (40.84 mph) (SCORE Trophy Truck)
16. 264 Pierce Herbst, 18, Las Vegas/Ryan Millen, 36, New Zealand/Thor Herbst, 20, Las Vegas, Herbst/Smith-Chevy, 11:36:31 (40.14 mph) (Trophy truck Spec)

1. 97x Jason Alosi, 37, Reno, Nev./Wyatt Brittner, 26, Reno, Nev./Ross Neely, 26, Chico, Calif./, Husqvarna FE501, 11:27:57 (40.64 mph) (Pro Moto Unlimited)
2. 308x James Justin Shultz, 39, Lake Forest, Calif. (ROR–Greg Bardonnex, 45, Visalia, Calif.)/Ryan Liebelt, 41, Reedley, Calif./Jason Parsons, Washington, Utah/Shane Schorno, Discovery Bay, Calif./Morgan Crawford, 39, Yamaha WR450F, 11:37:45 (40.07 mph) (Pro Moto 30)
3. 325x Bryce Stavron, 32, San Clemente, Calif. (ROR–Jano Montoya, 49, Winter Garden, Fla. (Peru)/Alberto Ruiz, 44, Ensenada, Mexico/ /Kyle Tichenor, 31, Mesquite, Nev./Shane Esposito, 46, Temecula, Calif., KTM 450EXCF, 11:41:33 (39.85 mph) (Pro Moto 30)
4. 109x Christopher Gil, 26, Buelton, Calif./Jacob Hanberg, 29, Solvang, Calif./Travis Frolich, 28, Santa Ynez, Calif./Nathan Frolich, 23, Santa Ynez, Calif./Shon Hepler, 43, Buelton, Calif., Honda CRF450X, 12:01:22 (38.76mph) (Pro Moto Limited)
5. 22x Shane Redline, 45, Real Del Mar, Mexico (Amarillo, Texas)/Chris Phillips, 22, Tucson, Ariz./Phillip Herrera, 23, Tijuana, Mexico/Larry Serna, 25, San Diego/Carlos Pardini, 27, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Honda CRF450X, 12:06:52 (38.47 mph) (Pro Moto Unlimited)

(Number, driver/rider of record/additional drivers and/or Navigators/riders, vehicle, engine)
  SCORE TROPHY TRUCK (Unlimited CustomTrucks including Builder)—(Starters 25, Finishers 14)—1. 43 Larry Roeseler, 64, Boulevard, Calif., Toyota Tundra (ID), 10 hours, 16 minutes, two seconds (45.39 miles per hour); 2. 31 Andy McMillin, 33, San Diego, Chevy Silverado (Mason), 10:19:59; 3. 21 Gustavo ‘Tavo’ Vildosola Jr, 39, Mexicali, Mexico, Ford Raptor (Vildosola), 10:20:14; 4.  23 Daniel McMillin, 33, San Diego/Justin B. Smith, Las Vegas, Chevy 1500 (Mason),10:37:51; 5. 11 Rob MacCachren, 56, Las Vegas, Ford F-150 (Geiser), 10:47:30; 6. 40 Chris Miller, 47, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./Adalberto Cruz, 30, San Diego, Chevy Silverado (Mason), 11:07:47; 7. 19 Tim Herbst, 58, Las Vegas/Pat Dean, 51, Las Vegas, Ford F-150 (Herbst/Smith), 11:21:14; 8. 90 Raul Gomez, 41, Placerville, Calif./Darian Gomez, 20, Placerville, Calif., Ford Raptor (Geiser), 11:24:34; 9. 27 Jonathan Brenthel, 41, La Cresta, Calif./Jordan Brenthel, 33, Temecula, Calif., Chevy Silverado (Brenthel), 11:44:43; 10. 52 Rick Sanchez, 43, San Vicente, Mexico/, Ford F-150 (Padmur), 11:52:03; 11. 4 Justin Matney, 35, Bristol, Tenn./Josh Daniel, Vista, Calif., Chevy R-6 (Geiser), 12:31:19; 12. 35 Carlos Penunuri, 39, La Paz, Mexico/Carlos Ortiz, La Paz, Mexico/Jose Ivan Sanchez, La Paz, Mexico, Chevy 1500 (Chevy), 13:43:03; 13. 22 Jax Redline, 16, Amarillo, Texas, Chevy R-2 (Geiser), 15:25:30; 14. 65 Dan Myers, 43, Newport Beach, Calif./Steve Myers, 55, Newport Beach, Calif., Toyota Tundra (R. Gordon), 16:41:33
  *SCORE TT LEGEND (Unlimited Custom Trucks, including builder, Drivers over 50 years old)– (Starters 5, Finishers 4)—1. 37L Rolf Helland, 61, Morris, Ill./Rick D. Johnson, 55, Barstow, Calif., Ford Raptor (Mason), 11:15:14 (41.41 mph); 2. 13L Robert Malone, 61, Durango, Colo./Earl Desiderio, 53, Henderson, Nev./Johnny Hall, 54, Spring, Texas, Chevy Silverado (Brenthel), 12:37:56; 3. 5L Clyde Stacy, 76, Bristol, Va./Nick Vanderwey, 54, Litchfield Park, Ariz., Chevy V-16 (Geiser), 14:14:28; 4. 20L Robbie Pierce, 62, Alpine, Calif./Bobby Patton, 58, Fort Worth, Texas/Barry Karakas, Oak Hills, Calif., Chevy Silverado (Jimco), 15:37:47
  CLASS 1 (Unlimited open-wheel single or two-seaters)— (Starters 11, Finishers 5)—1. 123 Broc Dickerson, 20, Brawley, Calif./Jeff Dickerson, 46, Brawley, Calif., Jimco-Ford, 11:05:41 (42.00 mph); 2. 138 Brian Wilson, 35, Long Beach, Calif./Kyle Quinn, 30, Lakewood, Calif./Ronny Wilson, 59, Long Beach, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, 11:19:47; 3. 179 Mario Fuentes, 42, Juarez, Mexico/Jason Dudley, El Paso, Texas, Jimco-Chevy, 12:36:13; 4. 163 Ruben Torres, 23, San Luis Potosi, Mexico/Dave Mason, 27, Encinitas, Calif., Alumi Craft-Chevy, 13:30:39; 5. 103 Gabriel Torres, 28, San Luis Potosi, Mexico/Erick Avalos, 32, Ensenada, Mexico/Gabriel Torres C., 53, Monterrey, Mexico, Alumi Craft-Chevy, 15:50:33
  TROPHY TRUCK SPEC (unlimited Truck/SUV, stock, sealed engines)– (Starters 26, Finishers 19)—1. 234 Jason McNeil, 43, El Cajon, Calif./Tyler McNeil, 32, Mesa, Ariz./Kyle Dodson, 35, Ramona, Calif./Chad McNeil, 39, El Cajon, Calif./Brandon McNeil, 37, El Cajon, Calif., Geiser-Chevy, 11:05:15 (42.03 mph); 2. 228 Ryan Hancock, 45, Yuma, Ariz./Brock Heger, 21, El Centro, Calif./Jordan Poole, 32, Las Vegas, TSCO-Ford, 11:06:55; 3. 258 Justin Davis, 28, Chino Hills, Calif., Brenthel-Chevy, 11:08:03; 4. 295 William Hedrick Jr, 25, Vicente Guerrero, Mexico/William Hedrick, 54, Vicente Guerrero, Mexico, ID-Chevy, 11:23:54; 5. 264 Pierce Herbst, 18, Las Vegas/Ryan Millen, 36, New Zealand/Thor Herbst, 20, Las Vegas, Herbst/Smith-Chevy, 11:36:31; 6. 294 Vincent Munoz, 34, Yucaipa, Calif./Roy Tomkins, 34, Redlands, Calif., ODR-Chevy, 11:55:15; 7. 205 Joe Delucie, 42, Las Vegas/Cliff Robinson, 51, Las Vegas, ESM-Chevy, 12:22:58; 8. 211 Pat Sims, 54, Eunice, N.M./Tim Wilson, 22, Boulder City, Nev./Jeffrey Wilson, 25, Boulder City, Nev., ESM-Chevy, 12:26:57; 9. 200 Jorge Sampietro, 30, Ensenada, Mexico/Santiago Creel, 34, Mexico City, Mason-Chevy, 13:32:11; 10. 230 Chad Hall, 58, Reno, Nev./Austin Hall, 34, Sparks, Nev., Chevy Silverado, 13:45:18; 11. 218 Chad Dohrman, 38, Murrieta, Calif./Chausen Gaunt, 24, Torrance, Calif., Get-Ford, 14:07:40; 12. 286 Rod Lewis, 66, San Antonio, Texas/Brad Pace, Mill Valley, Calif./Brian Trotter, Ardmore, Okla., Ford Raptor (Jimco), 14:29:26; 13. 275 Juan Sanchotena, 51, San Diego/Juan Sanchotena Jr 26, San Diego, SMS-Chevy, 15:46:07; 14. 292 Jason Coleman, 36, Huntington Beach, Calif./Brady Melin, 29, Huntington Beach, Calif., Herbst/Smith-Chevy, 16:03:00; 15. 261 Jeff Bader, 40, Las Vegas/Dan Fresh, 52, Dana Point, Calif., Brenthel-Chevy, 17:15:42; 16. 278 Carlos Ibarra, 44, Ensenada, Mexico/Moises Murquos, 42, Ensenada, Mexico/Alejandro Martin, 50, Tijuana, Mexico/Jason Babcock, 50, San Diego, Ford Raptor (Padmur), 18:26:57; 17. 232 Chelsea Magness, 33, Denver/Steve Knudson, Denver, Herbst/Smith-Chevy, 19:03:43; 18. 299 Charles Dorrance, 45, Austin, Texas/Larry Job, 55, Las Vegas, Geiser-Chevy, 19:07:34; 19. 229 Jose Mendez, Guadalajara, Mexico/Jorge Lopez/Gustavo Alvarado/Armando Martinez/Israel Hboz, Jimco-Chevy, 19:39:06
  CLASS 10 (Limited, sealed engine, single or two-seaters)– (Starters 22, Finishers 14)—1. 1006 Freddie Willert, 52, El Cajon, Calif./Stan Potter, 59, San Marcos, Calif./Dan Worley, 58, Encinitas, Calif., Alumi Craft-Chevy, 12:23:30(37.61 mph); 2. 1009 J. David Ruvalcaba, 48, Ensenada, Mexico/Leonel Ruvalcaba, 41, Ensenada, Mexico/Esteban Cruz, 49, Ensenada, Alumi Craft-Chevy, 12:27:01; 3. 1027 Arturo V. Malo, 58, Mexicali, Mexico/Gustavo Pinuelas, 40, Mexicali, Mexico/Arturo Vazquez Malo, 21, Mexicali, Mexico/Ricardo Malo, 51, Mexicali, Mexico, Alumi Craft-Chevy, 12:49:50; 4. 1045 Matt Rusich, 25, Riverside, Calif./Robert Foster, 26, Riverside, Calif., ESM-Chevy, 13:18:45; 5. 1016 Hiram Duran, 43, Tecate, Calif./Evan Duran, 49, Tecate, Calif./Eric Duran, 21, Tecate, Calif./Marco Duran, Tecate, Calif./Evan Duran Jr, Tecate, Calif., Jimco-Chevy, 13:35:45; 6. 1014 Bruce Yee, 21, Chula Vista, Calif./ Agustin Moreno, 29, San Jose del Cabo, Mexico/Jose Robles, 41, Mexicali, Mexico, Alumi Craft-Chevy, 13:39:53; 7. 1088 Chase Warren, 31, Scottsdale, Ariz./Martin Richardson, 44, La Mesa, Calif./Vic Bruckmann, El Cajon, Calif., Alumi Craft-Chevy, 13:41:11; 8. 1021 Eric F. Duran, 21, Tecate, Mexico/Eric Duran, 50, Tecate, Mexico/Evan Duran, 47, Tecate, Mexico/Jesus Verdugo, 32, Tecate, Mexico/Jorge Gil, 51, Tecate, Mexico, Alumi Craft-Chevy, 14:06:59; 9. 1001 Oliver Flemate, 43, Ensenada, Mexico/Cesar Cuevas, 45, Ensenada, Mexico, Alumi Craft-Chevy, 14:07:06   10. 1046 Ethan Hagle, 28, Somis, Calif./Ben Hagle, 31, Somis, Calif., Alumi Craft-Chevy, 14:32:17; 11. 1029 Andres Macias Alvarez, 35, Colonet, Mexico/Abraham Legaspy, 46, Punta Colonet, Mexico/Andrew Fernandez, 33, San Diego, Jimco-Chevy, 16:17:11; 12. 1062 Roberto Romo, 36, Mexicali, Mexico,/ J.J. Schnarr, 48, Reno, Nev. (DOR) Alumi Craft-Chevy, 16:24:58; 13. 1049 Ty Godde, 51, Palmdale, Calif./Steve Hext, 43, Lancaster, Calif./Dave Goodrich, 53, Canyon Country, Calif., Eversen-Chevy, 17:22:40; 14. 1081 Matt Winslow, 28, Clovis, Calif./Todd Winslow, 56, Clovis, Calif., Alumi Craft-Chevy, 17:53:52
  CLASS 7 (unlimited, six-cylinder, production appearing trucks or SUVs)– (Starters 5, Finishers 2)—1. 709 Jeff Proctor, 42, Glendora, Calif./Pat Dailey, 45, Vista, Calif., Honda Ridgeline, 12:11:12 (38.24 mph); 2. 700 Daniel Chamlee, 59, Montecito, Calif./Kurt Kimball, 57, Santa Barbara, Calif., Ford Ranger, 15:15:28
  PRO UTV FI (two-seat Forced Induction, OEM engine UTVs)— (Starters 30, Finishers 18)—1. 2969 Branden Sims, 35, Prescott Valley, Ariz./Skyler Howell, Polaris RZR, 12:15:53 (38.00 mph); 2. 2944 Phil Blurton, 34, Auburn, Calif./Beau Judge, 44, Rockland, Calif., Can-Am X3, 12:19:49; 3. 2919 Brandon Schueler, 32, Phoenix/Cayden MacCachren, 19, Las Vegas/Pat Stone, 50, Payson, Ariz./Miles Martin, 31, Peoria, Ariz., Polaris RZR XP4 Turbo S, 12:26:28; 4. 2975 Mike Cafro, 51, Fallbrook, Calif./Jamie Kirkpatrick, 39, Olympia, Wash., Polaris RZR Turbo S, 12:39:38; 5. 2940 Erick Kozin, 42, Yorba Linda, Calif./Drew Stanton, 22, Can-Am Turbo, 12:54:28; 6. 2954 Austin Weiland, 28, El Cajon, Calif./Doug Fortin Jr, El Cajon, Calif., Can-Am Maverick X3, 12:58:39; 7. 2998 P.J. Jones, 52, Cave Creek, Ariz./Kyle Vestermark, 51, Aliso Viejo, Calif., Can-Am X3, 13:43:15; 8. 2989 Wes Miller, 51, Las Vegas/Donny Powers, 33, Morgan Hill, Calif., Polaris RZR XP4 Turbo, 13:53:59; 9. 2970 Francisco Beltran, 50, La Paz, Mexico/Francisco Beltran Jr, 20, La Paz, Mexico/Diego Beltran, 18, La Paz, Mexico/Henri Palos, 47, La Paz, Mexico, Can-Am X3 XR, 14:50:38; 10. 2976 Jesus Mendez Jr, 23, Mexicali, Mexico/Yoshua Marquesho, 27, Mexicali, Mexico/Jesus Mendez Sr, 54, Mexicali Mexico/Felix Garcia, 22, Mexicali, Mexico, Can-Am Maverick XRS, 15:40:32; 11. 2978 Jose Juarez, 37, Chula Vista, Calif./Jose Juarez Jr, 20, Ensenada, Mexico/Marco Velenzuela, 33, Ensenada/Alex Zuniga, 37, Tijuana, Mexico/Fernando del Campo, 35, Ensenada, Mexico/Refugio Flores, 33, Ensenada, Mexico, Can-Am X3, 16:00:14; 12. 2948 Matt Burroughs, 52, Norco, Calif./Zachary Burroughs, 22, Norco, Calif./Bradley Howe, 34, Leona Valley, Calif./Tim Orchard, 65, Riverside, Calif., Can-Am X3, 17:00:41; 13. 2946 Jose Juarez, 37, Chula Vista, Calif/Jose Juarez Jr, 20, Ensenada, Mexico/Jose Zuniga, 37, Tijuana, Mexico/Marco Valenzuela, 33, Ensenada, Mexico/Fernando del Campo, 35, Ensenada, Mexico/Refugio Flores, 33, Ensenada, Mexico, Cam-Am X3, 18:10:02;  14. 2987 Edgar Garcia Leon, 34, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./Nancy Garcia, Can-Am Maverick X3, 18:32:20; 15. 2967 Mike Pratt, 53, Draper, Utah/Jordan Wall, St. George, Utah/Gavin Pratt, 17, Draper, Utah/Chance Lee, 34, Draper, Utah, Polaris RZR Turbo S, 18:46:54; 16. 2974 Jorge Cano, 46, Culiacan, Mexico/Miguel Castelan, Ensenada, Mexico, Can-Am X3 XRS Turbo RR, 19:00:31; 17. 2904 Cory Sappington, 55, Wickenburg, Ariz./Ashley Antill, 25, Las Vegas/Jason Flanders, 38, Phoenix/Todd Turner, 54, Peoria, Ariz., Can-Am Maverick X3 Max, 19:21:37; 18. 2929 Jose May, Guadalajara, Mexico/Jose Mendez/Ricardo Escaazofo/Luis Garcia/Fernando Martinez, Can-Am X3, 19:43:39
  SCORE LITES (VW-powered, Limited single-1776cc-or two-seaters-1835cc)– (Starters 10, Finishers 6)—1. 1202 Matias Arjona IV, 21, Ensenada, Mexico/Matias Arjona III, 57, Ensenada, Mexico/Franciso Pena, 39, Ensenada, Mexico, Mirage, 12:45:06 (36.54 mph); 2. 1211 Oscar Alvarez, 45, McAllen, Texas/Fernando Alvarez, 40, McAllen, Texas/Adrian Guerrero, 33, Ensenada, Mexico/Cisco Bio, 39, Chula Vista, Calif./Luis Leon Bio, 36, Ensenada, Mexico/Mario Rivera, 31, Ensenada, Mexico, Romo, 14:13:53; 3. 1208 Rich Roberts, 63, Prescott, Ariz./Rob Martensen, 8, Phoenix/Andrew Pavolka, 28, Glendale, Ariz., Foddrill, 14:17:49; 4. 1274 Mike Aguilar, 39, San Marcos, Calif./Adolfo Aguilar Jr, Chula Vista, Calif./Angel Aguilar, Chula Vista, Calif., Mirage, 17:14:37; 5. 1244 Eric Palacios, 51, Las Vegas/Neri Sanchez, 39, Ensenada, Mexico/Christopher Sanchez, 35, Ensenada, Mexico, Chenowth,19:27:47; 6. 1229 Doug Satterfield, 44, San Diego/Allen Yost, 41, San Diego/Blake Roberts, 38, San Diego/Chris Hendry, 38, San Diego/Frank Amorion, 38, San Diego, Meco, 20:41:47
  PRO UTV NA (two-seat Normally Aspirated, OEM engine UTVs)— (Starters 11, Finishers 5)—1. 1995 Kaden Wells, 22, Apple Valley, Utah/Mitch Johnson, 23, St. George, Utah/Travis Wells, 49, Apple Valley, Utah, Polaris RZR XP1000, 13:24:54 (34.74 mph); 2. 1925 Zach Sizelove, 27, Hesperia, Calif./Geoffrey Dunivin, 25, Simi Valley, Calif./Wayne Lambert, 46, Canyon Lake, Calif., Honda Talon 1000R, 13:26:55; 3. 1985 Adrian Orellana, 36, Escondido, Calif./Carl Sosa, 65/Russell Porter, 37, Polaris XP1000, 13:55:07; 4. 1954 Kristen Matlock, 40, Alpine, Calif./Adrian Felix, 34, Tecate, Mexico, Polaris RZR XP4 1000, 16:38:44; 5. 1920 Elias Hanna, 38, Ensenada, Mexico/Francisco Verdugo, 29, Ensenada, Mexico/Wayne Lambert, 46, Canyon Lake, Calif., Honda Talon 1000R, 18:22:43
  CLASS 1/2-1600 (VW-powered, single or two-seaters to 1600cc)– (Starters 8, Finishers 4)—1. 1600 Eli Yee, 47, Tijuana, Mexico/Angel Barajas, 44, Ensenada, Mexico/Alejandro Corona, 27, Ensenada, Mexico, Kreger, 13:53:55 (33.53 mph); 2. 1621 Kevin Sanchez, 25, Ensenada, Mexico/Fernie Padilla, Las Vegas/Christopher Sanchez, Ensenada, Mexico/Chris Odell, Las Vegas, Ensenada, Mexico, Alfa, 14:12:07; 3. 1626 Martin Rangel, 40, Surprise, Ariz./Cesar Fiscal, 36, Chula Vista, Calif./Daniel Pacheco, , 24, Mexicali, Mexico/Alejandro Lopez, 45, Mexicali, Mexico/Fabian Fiscal, 35, Chula Vista, Calif./Ricardo Coronado, 44, Mexico/Rigoberto Sanlilan, 24, Mexicali, Mexico, Custom, 17:51:44; 4. 1699 Ruben Og, 43, Mexicali, Mexico/Omar Iniguez, 36, Mexicali, Mexico/Fernando Flores, 50, Mexicali, Mexico/Lalo Iniguez, 32, Mexicali, Mexico/Miguel Estrada, 29, Mexicali, Mexico, Negrito, 19:26:38
  PRO UTV STOCK (Stock UTVs, FI or NA)— (Starters 10, Finishers 4)—1. 3955 Mike Cafro, 51, Fallbrook, Calif./Adan Ibarra, 40, Ensenada, Mexico, Polaris Turbo S, 13:40:01 (34.10 mph); 2. 3953 Nick Bruce, 55, Queen Creek, Ariz./Cam Muldner, 50, Surprise, Ariz., Can-Am X3 Max XRS RR, 13:51:25; 3. 3950 Scott Trafton, 40, Alpine, Calif./Gabe Seebold, 40, Crest, Calif., Polaris RZR, 13:59:00; 4. 3909 James Hill, 36, Lake Elsinore, Calif./Ryan Edwards, 33, Huntington Beach, Calif./Aaron Edwards, 31, Newport Beach, Calif./David Caren, 36, Key West, Fla., Polaris RZR Turbo S, 18:45:21
  HAMMER TRUCK UNLIMITED (unlimited, 4-wheel drive Rock Crawler)— (Starters 1, Finishers 0)—
  PRO UTV OPEN (two-seat open UTV open-displacement)– (Starters 7, Finishers 2)—1. 1870 Justin Elenburg, 44, Mesa, Ariz./Ernesto Taylor, 32, Mesa, Ariz./Michael York, 50, Gilbert, Ariz./Mike Jelusco, 39, Can-Am X3, 13:20:54 (34.91 mph); 2. 1877 Josh Herzing, 34, Cypress, Texas/Travis Herzing, 28, Cypress, Texas/Ryan Blagrave, 19, Cypress, Texas/Hector Alcala, 30, Cypress, Texas/Lacrecia Beurrier, 52, Lake Havasu City, Ariz./Cody York, 27, Cypress, Texas, Polaris RZR XP1000, 18:44:03
   CLASS 5 (Unlimited Baja Bugs, VW concept engines allowed)– (Starters 3, Finishers 0)—
  CLASS 5-1600 (1600cc VW Baja Bugs)— (Starters 5, Finishers 2)—1. 559 Alejandro Medina, 45, Maneadero, Mexico/Ramon Fernandez, 44, LaJoya, Mexico/Antonio Espinosa, 27, Maneadero, Mexico/Alejandro Medina Jr, 20, Maneadero, Mexico/Mario Carrillo Haro, 29, Ensenada, Mexico/Abraham Saldate, 36, LaJoya, Mexico, 18:42:25 (24.91 mph); 2. 557 Larry Negrete Jr, 22, San Ysidro, Calif./Ernie Negrete, San Diego/Larry Negrete Sr, San Diego/Francisco Sanchez, Tijuana, Mexico, 20:25:57
  BAJA CHALLENGE (Spec, Subaru-powered Baja Touring Cars equipped with BFGoodrich Tires)– (Starters 3, Finishers 3)(389.56mile)—1. BC1 Jay Jakupca, 40, South Carolina/James DeGaine, San Diego, 16:59:22 (27.43 mph); 2. BC13 Axl Sandoval, 27, Ensenada, Mexico/Enrique Rodriguez, 26, Ensenada, Mexico/Esteban Rodriguez, 35, Ensenada, Mexico/Geraldo Solorio, 24, Ensenada, Mexico, 18:19:48; 3. BC4 Edward Muncey, 50, San Diego/Roger Norman, 58, San Diego/Joe Duryea/John Pasha/Bill Evans/Riley Pasha, 18:27:24;
  CLASS 7F (Stock frame, 2 or 4-wheel drive mini or mid-size trucks)– (Starters 3, Finishers 1)—1. 714F Justin Park, 45, Encinitas, Calif./James Tiglio, Oceanside, Calif./Josh Tieman, Carlsbad, Calif./John Agostino, Encinitas, Calif., Ford Ranger, 20:33:34 (22.67 mph)
  CLASS 7SX (2 or 4-wheel drive mini or mid-sized trucks)– (Starters 2, Finishers 1)—1. 758 Armando Duron, 58, Mexicali, Mexico/Israel Duron, 28, San Diego/Armando Duron Jr, 35, San Diego/Sergio Duron Jr, 38, San Diego/Pedro Duron, 42, Mexicali, Mexico/Ivan Padron, 34, San Diego, Ford Ranger, 19:06:45 (24.38 mph)
  CLASS 11 (stock VW sedans, safety modifications)— (Starters 6, Finishers 1)(389.86 miles)—1. 1196 Alex Gonzales, 35, Palm Desert, Calif./German Melendrez, 22, Cathedral City, Calif./Clyde Stires, 42, Irvine, Calif./Tim Sletten, 30, Desert Hot Springs, Calif., 20:59:00 (18.58 mph)

  SPT UTV UNLIMITED—(Starters 1, Finishers 1) (389.86 miles)—1. 1805 Sterling Beckin, 44, Grants Pass, Ore./Terry Madden, 44, Yuca Valley, Calif./Jerid Bipzer, 43, Great Bend, Ore., Polaris RZR, 13:47:19 (28.27 mph)

  PRO MOTO UNLIMITED (400cc or more)– (Starters 6, Finishers 6)—1. 97x Jason Alosi, 37, Reno, Nev./Wyatt Brittner, 26, Reno, Nev./Ross Neely, 26, Chico, Calif./, Husqvarna FE501, 11:27:57 (40.64 mph); 2. 22x Shane Redline, 45, Real Del Mar, Mexico (Amarillo, Texas)/Chris Phillips, 22, Tucson, Ariz./Phillip Herrera, 23, Tijuana, Mexico/Larry Serna, 25, San Diego/Carlos Pardini, 27, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Honda CRF450X, 12:06:52; 3. 5x Derek Ausserbauer, 28, Solvang, Calif./Colton Udall, 34, San Clemente, Calif./Nic Garvin, 27, Fullerton, Calif., Honda CRF450X, 12:08:22; 4. 77x Hosea Struiksma, 19, El Cajon, Calif./Jonathan Struiksma, 23, El Cajon, Calif./Isaac Struiksma, 21, El Cajon, Calif., Honda CRF450X, 12:20:38; 5. 11x Carlos Silva, 44 Mexicali, Mexico/Osvaldo Mancada, 31, Ensenada, Mexico/Arnulfo Verdugo, 28, San Felipe, Baja Calif./Javier Salazar, 20, Tijuana Mexico/Muary Herrera, 22, Ensenada, Mexico/Hector Ayala, 30, Ejido Jawme, Mexico, Honda CRF450X, 12:49:15; 6. 21x Ana Rivas, 27, Mexicali, Mexico/Nester Curiel, 19, Ensenada, Mexico/Luis Beltran, 29, Mexicali, Mexico/Ricardo Reyes, 27, Mexicali, Mexico/Roberto Armenta, 26, Erendira, Mexico/Christian Arrella, 18, Guerrero Negro, Mexico, KTM 350XCF, 14:02:10
  PRO MOTO 30 (Riders over 30 years old)– (Starters 3, Finishers 3)—1. 308x James Justin Shultz, 39, Lake Forest, Calif. (ROR–Greg Bardonnex, 45, Visalia, Calif.)/Ryan Liebelt, 41, Reedley, Calif./Jason Parsons, Washington, Utah/Shane Schorno, Discovery Bay, Calif./Morgan Crawford, 39, Yamaha WR450F, 11:37:45 (40.07 mph); 2. 325x Bryce Stavron, 32, San Clemente, Calif. (ROR–Jano Montoya, 49, Winter Garden, Fla. (Peru)/Alberto Ruiz, 44, Ensenada, Mexico/ /Kyle Tichenor, 31, Mesquite, Nev./Shane Esposito, 46, Temecula, Calif., KTM 450EXCF, 11:41:33; 3. 320x Jorge Garcia, 33, Tecate, Mexico/Manuel Gomez, 35, Tecate, Mexico/Wilfredo Gaxiola, 30, Tecate, Mexico/Humberto Valle, 40, Tecate, Mexico/Javiera Ochoa, 46, Tecate, Mexico, Husqvarna 350, 14:20:09
  PRO MOTO LIMITED (less than 450cc)– (Starters 5, Finishers 5)—1. 109x Christopher Gil, 26, Buelton, Calif./Jacob Hanberg, 29, Solvang, Calif./Travis Frolich, 28, Santa Ynez, Calif./Nathan Frolich, 23, Santa Ynez, Calif./Shon Hepler, 43, Buelton, Calif., Honda CRF450X, 12:01:22 (38.76mph); 2. 106x Jorge Ramirez, 20, Ensenada, Mexico/Manuel Gomez, 17, Tecate, Mexico/Sergio Garza, 23, Tecate, Mexico, Yamaha YZ450, 12:12:18; 3. 101x Ulises Fierro, 28, Tijuana, Mexico/Marco Higuera, 34, Ensenada, Mexico/Taylor Stevens, 27, Ogden, Utah, Honda CRF450X, 12:15:56; 4. 100x Fernando Beltran, 44, Ensenada, Mexico/David Zarate, 31, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico/Luis Flores, 19, Mexicali, Mexico/Esteban Patron, 17, Tijuana, Mexico/Michel Valenzuela, 32, San Diego/Adan Garcia, 23, Ensenada, Mexico, Honda CRF450X, 12:45:07;  5. 117x Hector Garcia, 25, San Diego/Oscar Garcia, 17, Tijuana, Mexico/Andre Enriquez, Tijuana, Mexico/Estban Lujan, Tijuana, Mexico/Brayan Avalos, Tijuana, Mexico, Husqvarna 350FX, 13:35:04
  PRO MOTO 40 (Riders over 40 years old)– (Starters 3, Finishers 3)—1. 408x Ryan Liebelt, 41, Reedley, Calif./James Justin Shultz, 39, Lake Forest, Calif./Steve Tichner, Reno, Nev./Jason Trubey, 44, Henderson, Nev./Brandon Wright, 42, Hesperia, Calif., Yamaha WR450F, 13:01:10 (35.79 mph); 2. 424x William St. Laurent, 56, Longwood, Fla./Robert Lightfeld, 50, Keystone Heights, Fla./Shelby Dunson, 50, Tampa, Fla./Kirk Russell, 59, Los Barilles, Mexico, Husqvarna FE501,14:22:08; 3. 441x Alirio Amado, 43, The Woodlands, Texas/Pedro Gonzalez, North Carolina/Guillermo Rinaldi, 51, Florida, Yamaha WR450F, 14:35:45;
 PRO MOTO 50 (Riders over 50 years old)— (Starters 2, Finishers 1)—1. 510x Giovanni Spinali, 55, El Cajon, Calif./ John Griffin, 51, Julian, Calif./Jim O’Neal, 74, Santa Barbara, Calif./Earl Roberts, 58, La Jolla, Calif./Troy Pearce, 57, Ramona, Calif., Yamaha YZ450FX, 13:24:50 (34.74 mph
  PRO MOTO IRONMAN (Solo Riders)— (Starters 3, Finishers 3)—1. 725x Juan Carlos Salvatierra, 40, Bolivia, KTM 450XC-F, 13:26:17 (34.68 mph);  2. 785x Fabricio Fuentes, 44, Bolivia, KTM 500EXC-F, 13:55:08; 3. 723x Edgar Cota, 23, San Diego, Calif., Gas Gas EX450, 14:30:31
 PRO MOTO 60 (Riders over 60 years old)— (Starters 1, Finishers 1)—1. 628x Scott McIntosh, 60, Davie, Fla./Don Whittington, 75, Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Jon Johnson/Jim O’Neal, 74, Simi Valley, Calif., Honda CRF450X, 19:17:36 (24.15 mph)

  PRO QUAD (Open engine displacement)– (Starters 5, Finishers 4)—1. 1a Jose Luis Velez, 30, San Felipe, Mexico/, Honda TRX450R, 12:12:41 (38.16 mph); 2. 18a Roberto Villalobos, 31, Tecate, Mexico/Josh Row, 31, El Cajon, Calif./Javier Robles, 31, Mexicali, Mexico/Francisco Vera, 30, Ensenada, Mexico, Honda TRX450R, 12:34:45; 3. 3a Rodrigo Mora, 23, Ensenada, Mexico/Arturo Mora, 20, Ensenada, Mexico/Jesus Osuna, 20, Mexicali, Mexico/Jorge Recio, 36, San Vicente, Mexiclo, Honda TRX450R, 12:54:45; 4. 5a Steven Lopez, 17, Juarez, Mexico/Edwin Lopez, 39, Juarez, Mexico/Pedro Loya, Constitucion, Mexico/Ricardo Baeza, 24, Constitucion, Mexico, Honda TRX450R, 14:29:54

  SPT M/C–(Starters 7, Finishers 4)— (389.86 miles)—1. 215x Carlos Guereca, 25, Mexicali, Mexico/Carlos Castillo, 30, Mexicali, Mexico/Ramon Chavez, 31, Mexicali, Mexico/Victor Cardenas, 27, Mexicali, Mexico/Juan Valencia, 34, Mexicali, Mexico, Yamaha YZ450X, 12:11:09 (31.99 mph); 2. 201x Scott Borden, 49, Steamboat Springs, Colo./Casey O’Donnell, Steamboat Springs, Colo./Dan Mastrude, 40, Boise, Idaho/Mike Mettler/Talon Mastrude, Boise, Idaho, Yamaha YZ450F, 12:30:51; 3. 220x Stefano Migotto, 54, Napa, Calif./David Greundwald, 42, Napa, Calif./Ron Wingington, 55, Napa, Calif./Doug Monin, 61, Winters, Calif./Wes Plunkett, 60, Napa, Calif., KTM 500EXCF, 12:43:11; 4. 203x Giovanni Aviles, 29, Tijuana, Mexico/Ricardo Montano, 30, Tijuana, Mexico/Felipe Venegas, 34, Tijuana, Mexico/Mauricio Ramirez, 29, Tecate, Mexico, Honda CRF450X, 13:27:42
  SPT QUAD–(Starters 11, Finishers 10)— (389.86 miles)—1. 118a Humberto Valenzuela, 33, Spring Valley, Calif./Ivan Mejorado/Jesus Ramirez, 32, El Cajon, Calif./Jorge Martinez, 36, Tijuana, Mexico, Honda TRX450R, 10:49:50 (36.00 mph); 2. 112a Daniel Gaytan, 50, Heber, Calif./Gilberto Perez, 41, Mexicali, Mexico/Carlos Servando, 47, San Felipe, Mexico/Jose Enriquez, 41, Mexicali, Mexico/Danny Magdaleno, 24, Acton, Calif./Chris Avalos, 20, Honda TRX450R, 11:06:50; 3. 129a Sergio Gutierrez Jr, 23, Mexicali, Mexico/Luis Delfin, 41, Mexicali, Mexico/Juan Gonzalez, 40, Ensenada, Mexico, Mexicali, Mexico/Hector Chavez, 24, Tecate, Mexico/Ramon Torres, 25, Valle de Guadalupe/Joel Rubalcava, 26, San Felipe, Mexico, Honda TRX450R, 11:23:19; 4. 100a Nicolas Ibarra, 21, San Diego/Eduardo Rojas, 16, Mexicali, Mexico/Omer M. Vilio, 22, Tecate, Mexico/Evan Spooner, 29, Phoenix, Honda TRX450R, 11:54:13; 5. 114a Luis Ortega, 35, Tijuana, Mexico/Hendel Rodarte, 37, Rosarito Beach, Mexico/Edgar Munoz, 22,  Rosarito Beach, Mexico/Juan Lopez, 28, Tijuana, Mexico, Honda TRX450R, 12:06:25; 6. 148a Alejandro Amador, 40, Ensenada, Mexico/Oscar Arce, 41, Ensenada, Mexico/Jorge Perez, 39, San Quintin, Mexico/Oskar Espinosa, 30, Ensenada, Mexico/Alex Vera, 30, Ensenada, Mexico, Honda TRX450R, 12:10:32; 7. 124a Ruben Ramos, 40, Maneadero, Mexico/Cristobal Banaga, 34, Ensenada, Mexico/Osiel Palomares, 24, Ensenada, Mexico/Osman Arce, 26, Ensenada, Mexico, Honda TRX450R, 12:25:26; 8. 177a David Nunez, 30, Ensenada, Mexico/Pedro Montes, Ensenada, Mexico/Cesar Lopez, 19, San Felipe, Mexico/Brian Nunez, 20, Ensenada, Mexico/Nakul Hernandez, 30, Ensenada, MexicoHonda TRX450R, 12:26:51; 9. 113a Victor Higuera, 32, Tijuana, Mexico/Jose Velasquez, 38, Tijuana, Mexico/Juan Velazquez, 38, Tijuana, Mexico/Julian Zepeda, 28, Tijuana, Mexico/Jorge Luis Carbaja, 23, Tijuana, Mexico/Jorge Luis Carbajal C., 45, Tijuana, Mexico, Honda TRX450R, 13:25:01; 10. 152a Edgar Barazza, 34, Ramona, Calif./Julio Gomez, 32, Ensenada, Mexico/Juan Sanchez, 47, Chula Vista, Calif., Honda TRX450R, 13:39:54

Dave Maxwell

• Log in or to post comments

Ryan Ramirez fought back tears at a Wednesday vigil as he spoke of his “lovable” 10-year-old daughter Alithia, an aspiring artist who was among the 19 schoolchildren killed in a cold-blooded shooting that has devastated a tight-knit community.

As mourners embraced and wept, relatives and friends of those murdered in the latest US school massacre gathered on the bleachers and on the dirt of a fairground arena in the small town of Uvalde.

Some in the crowd of about 1,000 held portraits of the dead, others squeezed stuffed animals and drawings, each struggling to comprehend the unspeakable horror of the previous day. 

“I’m just heartbroken right now,” Ramirez told AFP and others as Alithia’s mother hugged their other daughter.

“She was a real good artist” and aspired to greatness, Ramirez said, flipping through a portfolio of Alithia’s colorful paintings as well as birthday cards she drew for her mother.

“My daughter would want everybody that was involved to be strong, and keep it together. That’s what we’re trying to do.” 

Religious figures offered prayers at the bilingual vigil, where Governor Greg Abbott gripped Uvalde’s Mayor Ruben Nolasco in a long hug.

A grieving Esmeralda Bravo held a photograph of her granddaughter Nevaeh, one of those who died.

“This has no explanation, my granddaughter did not deserve this,” Bravo said quietly.

“She was a good little girl, very shy and very pretty,” she added. “It means so much to me to have this support from the community, but I would rather have my granddaughter here with me.”

Hours earlier and blocks away, Aida Hernandez shed bitter tears as she left mass at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic church.

In the small house of worship off Uvalde’s main street, the largely Hispanic congregation prayed for the victims of America’s worst school shooting in a decade.

“My experience was of horror and pain. I knew the victims. I’m still in shock,” said Hernandez, in her sixties.

The town of 15,000 inhabitants, located 50 miles (80 kilometers) from the border with Mexico, was until 24 hours ago like every other small US town: a grid of streets dotted with shopping malls, gas stations and fast-food chains.

But on Tuesday everything changed, when an 18-year-old gunman sowed carnage at Robb Elementary School, killing 19 young children and two of their teachers.

The massacre plunged residents into both incomprehension and despair.

“When you teach and you’re in the classroom, that’s your job to protect them,” said Hernandez, who taught at Robb Elementary until she retired two years ago.

“They did more beyond what they were supposed to do.” 

– ‘Too many times’ –

Rosie Buantel was equally grief-stricken — but outraged, too.

“I’m sad and I’m angry at our government, for not doing more about gun control,” the woman in her fifties told AFP.

“We’ve gone through this one too many times. And still there’s nothing done. They’re still debating.”

Throughout the day, people in Uvalde made their way to a municipal center, where they could receive psychological support.

On the day of the shooting, many relatives and friends of the victims faced hours of anguished waiting to find out what happened to their loved ones.

In front of the municipal center, in the blazing midday Texas heat, groups of adults and children chatted, coming and going under the watchful gaze of police officers.

Volunteer psychologist Iveth Pacheco had traveled from San Antonio to provide support to those in need.

“It’s just one of those situations where you just have to be present,” she said. “We have to be ready for the child whatever questions they have, and it’s the same thing with the adults right now.”

Young Alithia had similar questions last September when she lost a close classmate, Nico, in a car crash in Dallas, her father said.

She processed the grief in one of the few ways that made sense: through art.

The girl made a richly detailed drawing of Nico up in heaven, looking down at the friend he left behind. In Alithia’s picture, “he was drawing her down there,” Ramirez said.

by Gerard Martinez and Michael Mathes