One of the biggest contingency events of the year is always the Laughln Desert Challenge tech and contingency. With the problems of holding contingency at the SCORE Baja races, the two big contingencies of each season has increasingly been the first race of the year, Laughlin Desert Challenge and the Primm 300 held in Septermber.
The weather gods reigned big over the Laughlin, Nevada area today and brought out t-shirt weather as thousands of fans and racers alike all got together for the big show here in Laughlin.
Held at the Laughlin Events Center, SCORE Contingency Director – Charlie Englebert reported approximately 75 vendors turned out for this spectacle. Included in the fray is some 10 tractor trailers and of course NASCAR Team Owner - Robby Gordon has his NASCAR merchandise trailer here as well.
Contingency row has been full of surprises today as we’ve discovered that Jesse Jones, whose #76 Trophy Truck still didn’t have the motor back together after the Baja 1000, has purchased a Pro Truck in order for him to race in this event in the Trophy Truck class.
In 2005, Jesse Jones captured the BITD Trophy Truck championship and was ready to attack for the 2006 SCORE Trophy Truck Championship, but it seemed as motor problems was going to keep Jones from the field.
However, in typical Jones fashion, he has been able to find himself a truck to race, which is rumored to be the Tatum Pro Truck. Jones has yet to arrive to contingency but you can be sure he’ll be on the gas hard in search of finishing in the field here at the Laughlin Desert Challenge.
The SCORE led prerun of the race course has been underway for a couple hours as this is the first chance for teams to have a run at the 8 mile race course that SCORE has carved into the Nevada desert.
In the Jimco Racing camp, crew chief – Matt Loiodice rolled the #20 Trophy Truck through contingency around noon as Jimco Racing has tested and put the new truck in the field of competitors here at the Laughlin Desert Challenge.
“We’re ready to rumble and we’ll be charging towards the finish line,” said the smiling crew chief.
The #83 Red Bull Trophy Truck owned by Robby Gordon and driven here at Laughlin by protégé’ Andy McMillin is staged to run hard here at Laughlin. The Red Bull team rolled the #83 Chevy truck through contingency early this morning as they aim for a top five finish in the Laughlin Desert Challenge.
Contingency is slowing down slightly in the mid-afternoon, however the buzz here in contingency is exciting as the big racing action begins tomorrow morning at 6:00 a.m.
