Yuma’s Hancock shines at Baja 500

Finishes second in class, 8th overall

In perhaps the longest SCORE Baja 500 off-road race on record – in terms of determining the final results – Yuma’s Ryan Hancock has finally learned he finished second in class and eighth overall in the race run Saturday.

The BFGoodrich Tires 53rd SCORE Baja 500, presented by 4 Wheel Parts, started and finished in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, covering 466 miles on the Baja California peninsula. The race attracted a field of 240 total starters representing 24 states and seven countries, of which 146 finished.

Hancock, racing with Brock Heger, from El Centro, and Jordan Poole, from Las Vegas, in the Trophy Truck Spec Division, finished the race in 11 hours, six minutes, 55 seconds.

That was a scant 1 minute, 40 seconds behind the class winner, El Cajon’s Jason McNeil, who finished in 11:05:15.

Also, Hancock’s time was 50 minutes, 53 seconds behind the overall race winner, Larry Roeseler, of Boulevard, Calif., who clocked in at 10:16:02 in a SCORE Trophy Truck.

The release of the official race results was delayed until Tuesday because of on-course racing infractions that were under review by SCORE’s Competition Review Board.

The review resulted in a number of penalties, including the first two vehicles to physically cross the finish line. Luke McMillin, from El Cajon, Calif., who finished first, was disqualified, “for a serious rule violation on the course,” and Andy McMillin, from Encinitas, Calif., who finished second, “was penalized with 30 minutes added to his finish time for passing under unsafe conditions in a controlled speed zone section of the race course.” That moved Andy McMillin to second place and Roeseler into first place.

Hancock, meanwhile said, “We had great day. No flats, no problems.”

Heger started the race behind the wheel, driving the first half, and Hancock finished.

“I feel we let one slip away,” said Hancock.

Normally a competitor in the Best in the Desert Series, Hancock is running the SCORE series in 2021.

He started the season at the BFGoodrich Tires SCORE San Felipe 250 in April, and finished second, again, in class, and 14th overall.

In that race Hancock’s time was 3 minutes, 39 seconds shy of winning the class. A penalty potentially cost Hancock the class win.

“It was a horrible call,” said Hancock.

Next up is the SCORE Baja 400, scheduled Sept. 18, also on the Baja California peninsula.