RockCrawler.com

Tag: Dougans Racing Engines

Dougans Racing Engines Takes Top 4 Overall Spots at the SCORE Tijuana Desert Challenge

Matney, Lopez, Steele sit 1-2-3 in overall points standings heading in to the Baja 1000

The 2017 SCORE Tijuana Desert Challenge was an all out sprint to the finish line, where RPM Off-Road’s #4 Josh Daniel, #1 Apdaly Lopez and #9 Eduardo Laguna, filling in for Armin Schwarz, swept the podium. Daniel, who filled in for Justin Matney due to scheduling conflict, finished the two-day, 140.4 mile race with a total elapsed time of 03:13:46.915, over two minutes faster than RPM and Dougans Racing Engines teammate, Apdaly Lopez. After a second place finish at this years Baja 500, the #4 truck of Justin Matney now sits first in the overall points championship standings.

With only three laps totaling 70.2 miles each day, it was all or nothing for the shortest race of the 2017 season heading in to the longest race of the year. With Day 1 in the books, it was Daniel, Lopez and Laguna out front on corrected time. At the end of the second day, Daniel was able to string together two flawless days to take the overall win, a feat he was very proud and honored to be a part of.

“I was stoked to come out, meet a lot of people and be a part of putting us on the top of the championship points standing going in to the Baja 1000,” commented Daniel. “I always love racing in Mexico where the fans go crazy for everything off-road. Thank you to Justin Matney and Clyde Stacy!”

In second place, 2016 overall SCORE points champion Apdaly Lopez finished a few minutes off Daniel’s pace. Lopez is 12 points off Matney for the lead in the points championship and is focused and ready for a race completely opposite of this one. “This was a good warmup for November. I’ll be teaming up with my dad for the fourth year in a row. We are focused and the truck, team and drivers are getting ready for the big dance,” says Lopez.

#9 Eduardo Laguna and navigator Damien Duran was fourth over the finish line but took the third overall spot for the weekend over Dougans teammate #16 Cameron Steele. The fourth place finish for Steele puts him in third place in the overall points standings and gives him huge momentum in to one of the biggest off-road races of all time.

All focus now shifts to the SCORE Baja 1000 this November, where all Dougans racers will give Baja everything they have in hopes of taking home the overall win at its 50th anniversary running.

About Dougans Racing Engines
Dougans Racing Engines (www.dougansracing.com) specializes in high performance engines for the top off-road competitions including the Best In the Desert and SCORE racing series. With over thirty-five years in the industry, Dougans offers high quality engine packages for trophy trucks, Class 1 trucks, and prerunners. We build complete engine packages that have gained a reputation in the racing world as consistent, powerful, dependable winners. Along with our engine packages, we provide dyno testing and personal track support to ensure that our customer’s needs are met all the way to the finish line. At Dougans Racing, customer satisfaction is our top priority and we strive to keep you running hard and winning races mile after mile.

About Mad Media:

Mad Media (www.madmedia.com) is a San Diego based marketing and creative agency, with in-house film and television production. We craft authentic, culturally engaging brand messages, and deliver them across print, web, photography, and film platforms. Mad Media has been leading the online content revolution since 1995 producing major commercial, television, online content and viral film projects such as The Gymkhana Series and XP1K Series.

October 23, 2017
Dougans Racing Engines Finds the Podium at Vegas to Reno With Matney & Menzies

Dougans fields 21 Trick Trucks in the Longest Race in the United States

Dougans Racing Engines went full force at Best in the Desert’s 2017 Vegas to Reno. Named the longest off-road race in the United States, it is naturally the most grueling as well. Of the 21 Dougans powered trick trucks that took the green flag, 18 finished finished led by second place finisher #4 Justin Matney & third place finisher #7 Bryce Menzies. (more…)

September 15, 2017
Andy McMillin Puts Dougans Racing Engines Atop the Podium at Vegas to Reno

Dougans Racing Engines Now 4 for 4 in Major Off-Road Desert Races in 2016

Andy McMillin earned his first overall win of 2016 in his TSCO Racing T1 Trick Truck at Best in the Desert’s Vegas to Reno, solidifying his place in the top five Best in the Desert overall standings with two races remaining in the 2016 season. With Justin Matney’s win at the Parker 425 in the Geiser Brothers RPM Off-Road Trick Truck, Justin Lofton’s win at The Mint 400, Tavo Vildosola’s win at the Baja 500 and now McMillin’s win at Vegas to Reno, Dougans Racing Engines has checked off four of the top five elite races in off-road desert racing, with the notorious Baja 1000 up for grabs later this November. McMillin battled through dust all weekend and finished +00:08:09 over Rob MacCachren, a feat he says has him comfortable heading in the Baja 1000.

“My confidence level is extremely high headed into the Baja 1000,” says McMillin. “I had an amazing race. With so much dust we just had to sit in line behind Rob Mac and Voss on Day 1. Then we picked it up pretty good on Day 2 and were able to get some clean air going for the win.”

McMillin patiently finished Day 1 +00:03:32 back from the leader. He had a trouble free day but was forced to hold steady in the dust. He knew that with a flawless truck, 347 miles on Day 2 would be plenty to make up the lost time if he could get around the leaders in to open air. McMillin was able to do so later on in the race and from there he was pinned to the finish. McMillin finished first on day 2, earning the overall win by over eight minutes on Rob MacCachren on corrected time.

“The TSCO Racing T1 Trick Truck was on point. The team was on point. It all just came together and I am so pumped to give everyone involved in my program our first win of 2016!” commented McMillin at the finish line.

In the debut of the brand new Smiley Motorsports #2 Trick Truck, Jeff Geiser and Tony Smiley finished 11th overall and 9th in class in a trouble free run all weekend. After finishing +00:18:02 on Day 1, Geiser and Smiley put the hammer down and moved up fourteen spots to finish the race top ten in class.

In his best showing of 2016, Todd Pedersen of Space Monkey Racing finished 14th overall and 11th in class in the #75 Trick Truck. Dougans teammate #46 Troy Vest finished behind Pederson in 15th overall and 12th in class. With a 19th place class finish at the Parker 425, an 11th place class finish at The Mint 400 and now a 12th place finish at Vegas to Reno, Vest sits in seventh place in the overall points standings with two races remaining.

#38 Eric Hustead earned his first finish of 2016 in 21st place overall and 14th place in class. Hustead qualified 36th and climbed to 22nd place +00:17:50 off the lead pace on Day 1, where he remained at the end of the race.

The two YouTheory Racing Trick Trucks powered by Dougans finished side by side in 26th/28th overall and 16th/17th in class. #55 Anthony Terzo and co-drver Beau Mortin finished 33rd on Day 1 and hammered home for a solid finish. Three flat tires and with a broken jack plagued Jeff Terzo and Brad Beintema on Day 1 but the duo were able to run clean on Saturday for a 17th place finish.

#27 Steve Olliges and #16 Cameron Steele had solid finishes with their 18th and 20th place finishes in class.

Despite his 21st place class finish, #17 Geiser Brothers RPM Off-Road Trick Truck of Eduardo Laguna remains in second place in the overall points standings, just nine points behind Jason Voss. Laguna’s race didn’t go as expected and adjustments made to his truck on the fly contributed to a crash at over 100mph. Laguna’s team was able to put the truck back together and get to the finish line, a key to earning valuable points towards the overall points championship.

#58 Tracy Graf was one of the final finishers at Vegas to Reno but earned valuable points to keep himself in the hunt for an overall points championship. Graf was rewarded 87 points for his finish which puts him in third place overall, 14 points behind current leader, Jason Voss.

Dougans racers now fill six of the top twelve spots in the overall points chase in the Best in the Desert Series including Eduardo Laguna (2nd), Tracy Graf (3rd), Andy McMillin (5th), Troy Vest (7th), Justin Lofton (9th) and Justin Matney (12th).

The brutal nevada desert got the best of #95 Scott Whipple, #62 Ryan Poelman, #4 Justin Matney, #41 Justin Lofton and #60 Cole Potts and they did not finish the race.

Next up for Dougans Racing Engines will be the Best in the Desert Blue Water Desert Challenge on October 6th-9th.

About Dougans Racing Engines
Dougans Racing Engines (www.dougansracing.com) specializes in high performance engines for the top off-road competitions including the Best In the Desert and SCORE racing series. With over thirty-five years in the industry, Dougans offers high quality engine packages for trophy trucks, Class 1 trucks, and prerunners. We build complete engine packages that have gained a reputation in the racing world as consistent, powerful, dependable winners. Along with our engine packages, we provide dyno testing and personal track support to ensure that our customer’s needs are met all the way to the finish line. At Dougans Racing, customer satisfaction is our top priority and we strive to keep you running hard and winning races mile after mile.

About Mad Media:
Mad Media (www.madmedia.com) is a San Diego based marketing and creative agency, with in-house film and television production. We craft authentic, culturally engaging brand messages, and deliver them across print, web, photography, and film platforms. Mad Media has been leading the online content revolution since 1995 producing major commercial, television, online content and viral film projects such as The Gymkhana Series and XP1K Series.

October 3, 2016
#21 Tavo Vildosola Wins the 2016 SCORE-International Baja 500

Dougans Racing Engines Take 3 of Top 5 Overall Spots

In one of the most grueling and demanding Baja races in recent history, #21 Tavo Vildosola won his first career SCORE-International Baja 500. Despite starting 13th off the start line in Ensenada, Baja California, Vildosola averaged a speed of 56.86 miles per hour and finished in eight hours, twenty minutes and fifty-five seconds, edging out second place Rob MacCachren by just under three minutes. (more…)

June 15, 2016
Dougans Racers Seek the Overall Win at the 2016 SCORE-International Baja 500

Look to build on promising first half of the 2016 desert racing season

The 2016 desert racing season is approaching its halfway point with the upcoming SCORE-International Baja 500 this weekend in Ensenada, Baja California. With only one SCORE-International race in the books, the overall points championship is up for grabs and this mid-season race is a pivotal point in the season. (more…)

June 6, 2016
Dougans Racers Charge Best in the Desert’s Laughlin Desert Classic

RPM Off-Road’s Apdaly Lopez Wins Day 1 and Eduardo Laguna Earns a 3rd Place Overall Podium Finish

Desert racing returned to Laughlin, NV this past weekend with the inaugural Method Race Wheels Laughlin Desert Classic presented by Canidae Tap It. A two-day race, the Laughlin Desert Challenge was the first Best in the Desert race in recent years to separate the Trick Trucks into their own race separate of all other classes, allowing elite class to reach their full capabilities and terrorize the partially new 16 mile course that included the legendary Laughlin Leap and The Fly Over where race vehicles flew completely over Highway 162.

#5 Apdaly Lopez charged out of the gate to take the first day overall by +00:00:06 over Josh Daniel. On day 2, Lopez beat Daniel out of the infield and was leading out front for two laps before suffering a flat. At that point, there was only one speed for the Dougans powered #5 Trick Truck. The fearless Lopez hung everything on the line and completely soared the road crossing. “This is off-road and we don’t touch asphalt,” Lopez commented after the race. Unfortunately, in pushing the #5 to its limits, Lopez suffered a driveline failure that ended his day and hopes at the overall.

#17 Eduardo Laguna picked up the slack and earned Dougans a 3rd place overall finish on the podium. Laguna started in 10th place on day one and moved all the way to fourth on the road by the start of lap two. Soon after, Laguna lost an oil belt, forcing him to stop and repair the issue. On day two, Laguna averaged 60.6 mph and finished +00:00:43 off on the day and finished 3rd overall to secure Dougans Racing Engines yet another podium finish on the 2016 race season.

Of the 28 racers to start the race, only 8 made it to the finish line. After laying down a solid qualifying run, #184 Nick Vanderwey cruised to a 6th place overall finish. Vanderwey landed in 11th place overall after the first day of racing and finished +00:18:07 off the winning pace at the end of day two.

Justin “Bean” Smith and Tracy Graf shared driving duties in the #58 Trick Truck. Smith got off to a rocky start on Saturday and crashed a mile in to the race after jumping out front of Jason Voss. Smith lost 15-20 minutes getting it flipped over and redialed in with Graf who was navigating that day. Smith passed a few guys back and finished the day near the back of the pack. Graf piloted the #58 on Sunday and earned the duo a solid 7th place finish.

Hot off his second consecutive Mint 400 win, #41 Justin Lofton went to Laughlin looking to continue his successes in hopes of building another championship season. Lofton qualified third fastest on the 2.4 mile time trial course and lined up next to #5 Apdaly Lopez on day 1. The first day immediately set Lofton back after earning a flat on the first lap, a negligible roll over on the second lap, then another flat on the fourth lap. He finished the day second to last but came out blazing on day 2. Lofton went from 17th to 4th and had fun passing those vehicles trouble free. The flawless day 2 landed Lofton in 8th place overall at the end of the race.

Despite finishing a lap down, Jeff Terzo made it to the finish line in his first race in the #37 YouTheory Racing Trick Truck.

Nine Dougans Racers succumbed to the brutal Laughlin course and did not finish the race, including #16 Cameron Steele, #27 Steve Olliges, #38 Eric Hustead, #4 Justin Matney, #46 Troy Vest, #5 Apdaly Lopez, #54 Robert Johnston, #59 Cole Potts and #95 Scott Whipple.

2016 Method Race Wheels Laughlin Desert Classic presented by Canidae Tap Unofficial Results

3rd – #17 Eduardo Laguna
6th – #184 Nick Vanderwey
7th – #58 Tracy Graf
8th – #41 Justin Lofton

Photography by Jason Zindroski

About Dougans Racing Engines
Dougans Racing Engines (www.dougansracing.com) specializes in high performance engines for the top off-road competitions including the Best In the Desert and SCORE racing series. With over thirty-five years in the industry, Dougans offers high quality engine packages for trophy trucks, Class 1 trucks, and prerunners. We build complete engine packages that have gained a reputation in the racing world as consistent, powerful, dependable winners. Along with our engine packages, we provide dyno testing and personal track support to ensure that our customer’s needs are met all the way to the finish line. At Dougans Racing, customer satisfaction is our top priority and we strive to keep you running hard and winning races mile after mile.

About Mad Media:

Mad Media (www.madmedia.com) is a San Diego based marketing and creative agency, with in-house film and television production. We craft authentic, culturally engaging brand messages, and deliver them across print, web, photography, and film platforms. Mad Media has been leading the online content revolution since 1995 producing major commercial, television, online content and viral film projects such as The Gymkhana Series and XP1K Series.

May 14, 2016