Luke McMillin stormed back into victory lane in commanding fashion, capturing the overall and SCORE Trophy Truck win at the King Shocks 39th SCORE San Felipe 250 to open the 2026 SCORE World Desert Championship. The 33-year-old San Diego native completed the grueling 281.5-mile desert course in 4 hours, 29 minutes and 45 seconds aboard his No. 83 Ford Raptor, overcoming scorching conditions to secure his fourth career win at the event and seventh in the premier Trophy Truck class. The victory marked a strong rebound after a winless 2025 season, with McMillin celebrating alongside family near the shores of the Sea of Cortez.
A total of 232 teams took the green flag in the iconic “Baby Baja,” with 161 reaching the finish for a 69 percent completion rate. The race winds through Northern Baja California and serves as the first of four events in the Mexico-based 2026 championship.
In other action, off-road legend Rob MacCachren added to his storied résumé, earning his 11th San Felipe 250 victory and first in the SCORE Trophy Truck 2WD class. The 61-year-old Las Vegas driver posted a time of 4:53:02 to further cement his legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats. David Payne and Larry Roeseler claimed the SCORE Trophy Truck Legend class win, while former NASCAR driver Brendan Gaughan rallied from an early rollover to take the Class 1 victory.
Mexico’s Jorge Sampietro repeated in Trophy Truck Spec, and Brock Heger led a Polaris sweep in Pro UTV Open, earning back-to-back San Felipe wins. The season-opening race once again showcased the intensity and endurance of desert racing, setting the stage for another competitive year across the Baja Peninsula.
