OFF ROAD: Drivers conquer the desert to win Toyota True Grit Awards
1 December 2000
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
TORRANCE, Calif. - With the grueling Tecate Baja 2000 making this the toughest SCORE off-road season in memory, four resolute racers have won 2000 Toyota True Grit Awards, while 13 others join them in earning Toyota Milestone Awards.
Bekki Freeman (Class 1/2-1600), George Seeley Jr. (Class 5), Mark Hutchins (Class 10) and Jerry Penhall (SCORE Lites) will equally spit the Toyota True Grit prize of $12,000 in addition to winning Toyota Milestone Awards. The 13 other off-road racers who will be honored with the prestigious Toyota Milestone Award include Trophy-Truck teammates Tim and Ed Herbst; Gary Weyhrich and Randy Wilson in Class 1; Dave Gasper and Victor Orellana in Class 5-1600; Michael James in Class 5; Doug Siewart in Class 7s; Sammy Ehrenberg in Class 1/2-1600; Whit Courtenay in Class 10; and Ron Dalke, Ty Godde and Steve Greinke in SCORE Lites.
Non-factory-backed competitors in classes 1/2-1600, 5, 10 and SCORE Lites who complete every required mile in the five-race 2000 Duralast SCORE Desert Series and have the largest cumulative point total in each class split the $12,000 Toyota True Grit prize fund. Penhall is a repeat winner from 1999 while Freeman was a 1998 recipient.
Toyota Milestone Awards, on the other hand, are presented to only those SCORE off-road competitors in all professional four-wheel classes who complete every required mile in the five-race series.
"It is an amazing feat to complete every race in the SCORE desert series," said Les Unger, national motorsports manager at Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. "With the Baja 2000 added this year, it is especially impressive to reach this accomplishment. Toyota is proud to have presented the True Grit and Milestone Awards for 15 years to the toughest racers out there."
The Toyota True Grit and Milestone Awards will be presented at the SCORE Awards Banquet on Sunday, Dec. 3 at Joe's Garage in Tustin, Calif., at 2 p.m. PST.
Text provided by Greg Thome
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