November 27, 2004
Arlington Hts, IL

2004 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 Race Report

Electrical Failure ends Promising start..

Chris Raffo and his Chevy K5 Blazer had high expectations going into the 2004 edition of the Tecate SCORE  Baja 1000. The truck prep was done once again by Off-Road Design.

The 1000 mile trek down the Baja Penisula drew record entries and and estimated 300,000 spectators watched the competitors race by thoughout the two-day  event.

This year Chris put together 3 teams of drivers to battle this grueling event. 

Driver: Dennis Chencherick / Co-Driver: David Kennedy

Driver: Stephen Watson / Co-Driver: Larry MacNeil

Driver: Chris Raffo / Co-Driver: Jeff Dolan

At the start in Ensenada, Dennis Chencherick and David Kennedy, writer for Petersen's Off-Road & 4-Wheel Drive, began the race with the California Tomato, Off-Road Design, Phil's Inc., Raffo Racing Chevy Blazer running strong. As the truck continued the down the Gulf of California side of the peninsula, the alternator began to show signs of failure.  At mile 235, where the second BFG pit was located, the team switched drivers, refueled the truck, and quickly replaced the alternator.

With Stephen Watson at the wheel and Larry MacNeil riding shotgun, the truck set off with only one other Class 3 competitor ahead of them.  Unfortunately the electrical problems continued with the truck, losing power just before the next pit at the Bay of Los Angeles. It took some time for the chase crew  find another alternator as well as locate the stranded Blazer. Thanks to the help of the Los Mocos Pit Crew, the truck  was ready to continue. Unfortunately the team realized, the added time to get  to the truck with needed parts, made it impossible to make it through the final sections of the course in the alloted time.

The team decided to pack it it up and get ready for next year.

Chris Raffo Race Comments: " The California Tomato, Off-Road Design, Phil's Inc. Raffo Racing Chevy Blazer ran really strong throughout the day. The electrical gremlins were something that surprised us. After replacing the alternator the first time, we thought  our problems were over. I headed down the course with the chase team getting ready for the next driver change. Unfortunately the electrical gremlins came back. The race truck was unable to make to the next BFG pit  where almost any repair could have been completed....The truck is in great shape and will put us in a great position to win in San Felipe."

Sept. 13, 2004
Tough Times at the SCORE Primm 300.

Chris Raffo and his Chevy K5 Blazer had high expectations going into the SCORE Primm 300 in Primm, Nevada. The truck was  thoroughly prepared by Off-Road Design and the team was ready to go.

The race was a scheduled 5 laps around a 65-mile course through the Nevada desert.

Lap 1 had Chris and his team post a very competitive first lap with the leader well within his sites. Towards the end of lap one, the truck lost its transfer case and the front drive. Coming into the pits for a driver change, the team decided to keep going and get prepared for a transfer case and driveshaft replacement  at the end of lap2. Unfortunately 12 miles into lap 2, the transmission lost all its fluid, due to the driveshaft damage, ending the day for the #301 California Tomato, Phillips Excavating, Phil's Inc. Chevrolet K5 Blazer.