Defending champ Ebberts Leading Class 1
Renezender leading in SCORE Trophy-Truck at SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge

LAUGHLIN, Nev.--Defending champion Dale Ebberts took the lead Saturday at the 12th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge, leading a race-record 233 starters through the Southern Nevada desert during the first day of the season-opener of the six-race 2006 SCORE Desert Series.

Driving a Toyota-powered Jimco open wheel desert race car, Ebberts, who was the overall winner in this race in 2003 and 2005, covered six laps over the short-but-rugged eight-mile course in 51 minutes, 50 seconds, for an average speed of 55.56 miles per hour.

Racing concludes Sunday in Laughlin for 17 Pro and 2 Sportsman classes for cars and trucks, running from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ebberts, Canyon Lake, Calif., had a near-flawless run to take the Overall and Class 1 lead, 20 seconds ahead of the Jimco-Chevy driven by Class 1 competitor, Gary Weyhrich, Troutdale, Ore.

Third overall and in Class 1 after the first 48 miles is Brian Ickler, Poway, Calif., 18 seconds behind Weyhrich in another Jimco-Chevy.

Completing the top five are another pair of Jimco-Chevy Class 1 vehicles. Randy Wilson, Lakewood, Calif., is 32 secods behind Ickler while Mark Weyhrich, Gary's brother, is 10 seconds behind Wilson.

Leading the featured SCORE Trophy-Truck division and seventh overall in a Chevy Silverado is Carl Renezeder, Laguna Beach, Calif., with a time a 53:35, Looking for his first career SCORE Trophy-Truck victory in his second year in the class, he leads a talented SCORE record field of 33 of the 800 horsepower, hi-tech, unlimited production trucks.

Las Vegas brothers Ed and Tim Herbst's Ford F-150 trail Renezeder by just 17 seconds. Tim Herbst drove Saturday and his older brother Ed will drive on Sunday.

The Herbst brothers are the winningest team in SCORE Trophy-Truck history with 11 career race wins, including three in the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge.

Las Vegas' Rob MacCachren is leading Class 1-2/1600 in a Bunderson-VW, one minute, 56-minute lead over his former teammate Bryan Freeman, Henderson, Nev. Freeman drives a Frayley-VW.

Las Vegas racers B.J. Baldwin and Kory Sheeler, who both drive Chevy Silverados, are third and fourth in SCORE Trophy-Truck and 11th and 12th overall respectively.

At total of 149 vehicles finished their required laps on Saturday, but all are expected to again take the green flag on Sunday.