DIRTnewz brings you the latest from SCORE's Laughlin Leap

Laughlin, Nevada - January 22, 2009 –The 2009 SCORE desert racing season literally went off with a bang tonight as the 15th annual Laughlin Leap started with a fireworks show that lit up the sky. Although many forcasts called for rain tonight in Laughlin, so far the sky is clear and racers are eagar to begin the 2009 season.

Trophy Truck driver Greg Nunley was drawn at random to start the show underneath the fireworks as cars and trucks from all classes lined up for their shot at the $16,000 Laughlin Leap 'purse'.

Justin "Bean" Smith rolled out his newly aquired 1-2/1600 with hopes of taking home not only the purse for the Laughlin Leap but his first win of a full 2009 season ahead of him. Smith has an extensive desert racing background but this will be his first full year behind the wheel as the Driver of Record with his own team and car. Bean, as he is better known as in the industry, flew far off the leap both jumps to capture not only the win for his class but set a new record in the 1-2/1600 class. Up until tonight Rob MacCachren held the record of 96'6" feet but Smith beat it tonight as he jumped 101'6"!!

Cody Robinson finished second in the 1-2/1600 class with a jump of 96'6" with Dave Caspino right behind him at 96'.

BJ Baldwin led the Trophy Trucks off the leap with his #1 plate glowing, confident to prove to both fans and racers alike that his new General Tires are sure to do the trick. BJ commented, "I wouldn't put something on my truck without making sure that it was good to go. The only thing that touches the ground is the tire, so it's very important." BJ has won the Laughlin Desert Challenge the two of the last three years and is looking for his third Laughlin victory this weekend.

Larry Roseler brought the Duralast truck out of retirement for this years leap and proved to everyone in Laughlin that it still has was it takes and knows how to be in the winners circle. Dan Smith won the 2002 Laughlin Desert Challenge in this same exact truck and Larry Roseler is trying to do it again. Roseler set a new Laughlin Leap record flying just over 1 foot farther than the old record of Riviera Racing/Jerry Whelchel. Whelchel has held the Leap record since 2004 with a jump of 160'6" and Roseler now holds it with a jump of 161'6". Roseler had two very consistent jumps that roared the crowd to their feet.

In the Unlimited Class 1 James Scott launched his #117 RPS Chevy powered Bohica Motorsports Class 1 to victory claiming $2,400 with a jump of 156 feet. Richard Boyle was second, only two feet short of the win.

Chris Taylor took home the $2,400 purse in the Production Truck class with a jump of 126'6" in front of Jonathan Libby who flew 117 feet off the Leap.

Stay tuned for continuous coverage of the 2009 SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge as we bring you the latest from the DIRT. Tomorrow we will be bringing you the latest newz from contingency and Trophy Truck qualifying so don't forget to check back throughout the day!!!