Image via BFGoodrich
McMillin/Roeseler overall victors in brutal 53rd Baja 1000
The BFGoodrich SCORE Baja 1000 is always tough, but this year’s 898.40-mile loop race from Ensenada (the longest loop race in Baja 1000 history) was as challenging as any racer could remember. Despite that, the team of Luke McMillin and veteran Larry Roeseler have unofficially earned the McMillin family a clean sweep of the year’s two major Baja races by taking the 53rd edition of this storied off-road marathon.
(Left to right) Matt Ciccone, Larry Roeseler, Luke McMillin and Jason Duncan celebrate a winning Baja 1000 performance. Image by McMillin Racing
Piloting their No.83 4WP BFGoodrich Ford Trophy-Truck, the duo managed to outgun a tough battle up front with the eventual second-place team of Rob MacCachren and Josh Daniel (No.11 Makita Tools/BFGoodrich Ford) and the No. 7 Red Bull-backed Toyo Tire Ford of Andy McMillin and Bryce Menzies.
The Monster Energy Honda motorcycle of Justin Morgan crossed the finish line to cap off a dominating performance with Mark Samuels and Justin Jones to earn top honors in the Pro Moto Unlimited Class.
The final entry list for the race had 187 vehicles from 26 states and 14 countries. all taking the green flag at an Ensenada starting line with no spectators due to COVID-19 safety concerns. The pandemic forced a condensed race season in Baja with this race representing only the second SCORE International event in 2020.
Saturday's performance marked Luke McMillin’s first Baja 1000 overall victory, expanding a family legacy in the sport that includes a total of five such titles for his father, Mark. The California racer also took top honors at this year’s Best-In-The-Desert Silver State 300, and the BFGoodrich Mint 400.
Luke’s brother Dan added to an incredible year for McMillin Racing, taking the BFGoodrich SCORE Baja 500 in late September.
RACER.com will provide complete race results when they become available as many teams are still out on the long and difficult Baja 1000 racecourse battling for class wins and/or well-earned finishes.
Marty Fiolka
A lifelong enthusiast of off road motorsports, Marty Fiolka raced his first Baja 1000 in 1992 and still enjoys getting behind the wheel via his annual BFG Team Rennsport NORRA Mexican 1000 effort. A graduate of University California at Long Beach, he founded The Rennsport Group in 1995 to execute motorsports public relations programs for Nissan, Infinity, Exxon, Mitsubishi, SCORE International and later became the editorial and marketing director for Dirtsports Magazine. Marty is a current contributor to RACER Magazine and RACER.com as well as operating the promotional agency for Crandon International Raceway and annual Red Bull Crandon World Cup. Fiolka was a 2014 Inductee to the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame (ORMHOF) and was instrumental in founding the Wide Open Baja adventure business and Ensenada's Horsepower Ranch. He also served as the associate producer of the original Dust to Glory documentary film and author of two books; 1000 Miles to Glory: The Baja 1000 Story and The Big Blue M: The History of McMillin Racing.
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