SAN FELIPE, Mexico – Former IndyCar and NASCAR driver Robby Gordon topped qualifying for Saturday’s BFGoodrich Tires 52nd SCORE Baja 500.
Gordon was followed closely by third-generation racer Luke McMillin in second and 2009 ARCA Menards Series champion and veteran desert racer Justin Lofton in third.
Held on a 3.47-mile course south of downtown San Felipe, Gordon powered drove to a time of three minutes, 57.229 seconds averaging 51.65 mph in his new No. 77 all-wheel drive custom-built Chevy SCORE Trophy Truck. Gordon was the only qualifier who covered the course in less than four minutes.
“That was a fun course, I have to be honest,” Gordon said. “Very technical, it wasn’t about the big bumps or who was crazy to the big bumps, it was very, very technical. I think it was good for our truck. Obviously, we’ll see what the time is, but I’m glad they did qualifying. Qualifying means a lot. I know it’s a lot of work for the series to do that, but the luck of the draw is just not the right way to go racing, so wherever we’re at, we’re going to be happy with and looking forward to the race.
McMillin, 27, whose older brother Dan McMillin finished fourth in qualifying, completed the qualifying course in 4:00.937 (51.00 mph) in his No. 83 Mark Racing Racer-Built Ford F-150.
Back in his desert racing roots, Lofton timed in 4:05.489 in his No. 41 Lofton Racing Jimco-built Ford Raptor.
The fastest qualifier in Class 1 was Broc Dickerson, turning in a lap of 4:22.020 while averaging 46.72 mph in the No. 123 Ford-powered Jimco open-wheel desert race car.
Top qualifier in the Trophy Truck Spec class was Clay Lawrence with a time of 5:40.00 (42.23 mph) in the No. 285 LMS-Chevy.
The five trucks in the SCORE TT Legend class for SCORE Trophy Truck drivers over 50 years old all elected not to qualify. Reigning SCORE World Desert Championship champion team of Clyde Stacy and Nick Vanderwey, in the No. 1L RPM Racing Geiser-Built Chevy V16, will be the first vehicle off the line in their class.