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Primm 300 News : 5 Q&A’s with Sal Fish
Nice article with SCORE'S Sal Fish-Talks a little about Robby Gordon
As the race trailers and teams head to Nevada for the SCORE Terrible’s Primm 300, it is certain that things will be just a little different this time around. After the major Baja 500 results “shake-up” that stunned the off-road community, it is anyone’s guess what the future of desert racing has in store – especially with the available and evolving technology.
Sal Fish
Catching up with an obviously busy Sal Fish, I asked him a few things about the Terrible’s Primm race and what he expects.
RDC: This is the first SCORE International race since the “black box shake-up” at the Baja 500. How do you think this technology will change or affect the how the racers prepare and compete for SCORE events?
Sal: “Honestly, I must be a little naïve! First of all, I was hoping it wouldn’t change anything or the way the racers compete. I was hoping all of our racers were staying on the course we designed and not speeding on the highway so we can keep our permits and the agreements we have in place with the various agencies and land owners.”
RDC: One of the race teams was extremely vocal in regards to an IRC equipment malfunction that resulted in penalties being assessed. This penalized team offered up another competitive system’s data to prove their team did not stray from the marked course or speed. Will redundant tracking systems be an option for teams concerned about equipment malfunction and penalties resulting from such failures?
Sal: “To the best of my knowledge, we are working with the best technology out there. As with anything, of course there is always room for improvement but we have to crawl before we walk. As far as running a back-up system, no one would go to Baja without spares. The racers take spare shocks and parts so it would only seem reasonable to expect to have a back-up.”
RDC: Will SCORE International accept competitive tracking system data to back-up IRC‘s data?
Sal: “We are currently considering accepting other system’s data but nothing has been decided yet. It is a decision we will probably make before the Baja 1000. If we decide to accept another system’s data, it will have to be pre-approved by SCORE International.”
RDC: There was no “pre-run” for the Primm race due to restrictions placed on off-road vehicles and the protection of the Desert Tortoise. How hard is it getting to coordinate races in the US with all the land issues?
Sal: “We are jumping through some real small hoops and it is getting more and more difficult to put on races. Everything is a cause for concern. I have been out with the Bureau of Land Management everyday, twice a day for nearly a week surveying the Desert Tortoises. We go out and drive the course between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. and then again from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. We are very limited on what we can do here, especially on a piece of land that has so many race events. It is definitely a cause for concern but I am going to do everything I can to make sure we can continue to put on events here in Nevada.”
RDC: So what are you looking forward to for this weekend’s event?
Sal: “I have to admit, I am extremely excited to have Robby Gordon skipping a NASCAR race to come out and compete in this SCORE event and in a full season of our series. I think Robby brings a lot of attention to our sport and this is definitely a time when we need it.”
The Terrible’s Primm 300 event is an extremely crucial race for competitors in the points contention. As the fourth race out of SCORE’s five race desert series, the Primm 300 can make or break a season as evidenced by Robby Gordon’s decision to skip the NASCAR race at Richmond International Raceway in Virginia. Gordon, who currently claims the top points position in the SCORE Trophy Truck class is looking to hang onto his points lead and for the first time since 1996 is running a full season in the SCORE series. “This is the first time I have run a full SCORE schedule since 1996. I won the Trophy Truck Championship back then and I am confident that I can do it again this year,” commented Robby Gordon.
With heavy-hitters such as Rob MacCachren and Brian Collins starting in the back of the pack, the first lap of this 69 mile loop (and rather fast course) will undoubtedly play out in a very interesting manner. Greg Nunley, a relative newcomer to both the Trophy Truck class and desert racing, has Robby Gordon staged directly behind him. It is doubtful he can hang onto his starting position for very long considering Gordon’s trademark “on the edge” driving style. Without the experience behind the wheel and the knowledge of the course that Vegas natives, MacCachren and Collins, have it is hard to believe Marc Ewing in the No. 68 Trophy Truck will fare that well either. For anyone who is not able to make it to Primm, live race tracking is available through the required and now infamous “black box” that has forever changed the face of desert racing as we know it.
As the race trailers and teams head to Nevada for the SCORE Terrible’s Primm 300, it is certain that things will be just a little different this time around. After the major Baja 500 results “shake-up” that stunned the off-road community, it is anyone’s guess what the future of desert racing has in store – especially with the available and evolving technology.
Sal Fish
Catching up with an obviously busy Sal Fish, I asked him a few things about the Terrible’s Primm race and what he expects.
RDC: This is the first SCORE International race since the “black box shake-up” at the Baja 500. How do you think this technology will change or affect the how the racers prepare and compete for SCORE events?
Sal: “Honestly, I must be a little naïve! First of all, I was hoping it wouldn’t change anything or the way the racers compete. I was hoping all of our racers were staying on the course we designed and not speeding on the highway so we can keep our permits and the agreements we have in place with the various agencies and land owners.”
RDC: One of the race teams was extremely vocal in regards to an IRC equipment malfunction that resulted in penalties being assessed. This penalized team offered up another competitive system’s data to prove their team did not stray from the marked course or speed. Will redundant tracking systems be an option for teams concerned about equipment malfunction and penalties resulting from such failures?
Sal: “To the best of my knowledge, we are working with the best technology out there. As with anything, of course there is always room for improvement but we have to crawl before we walk. As far as running a back-up system, no one would go to Baja without spares. The racers take spare shocks and parts so it would only seem reasonable to expect to have a back-up.”
RDC: Will SCORE International accept competitive tracking system data to back-up IRC‘s data?
Sal: “We are currently considering accepting other system’s data but nothing has been decided yet. It is a decision we will probably make before the Baja 1000. If we decide to accept another system’s data, it will have to be pre-approved by SCORE International.”
RDC: There was no “pre-run” for the Primm race due to restrictions placed on off-road vehicles and the protection of the Desert Tortoise. How hard is it getting to coordinate races in the US with all the land issues?
Sal: “We are jumping through some real small hoops and it is getting more and more difficult to put on races. Everything is a cause for concern. I have been out with the Bureau of Land Management everyday, twice a day for nearly a week surveying the Desert Tortoises. We go out and drive the course between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. and then again from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. We are very limited on what we can do here, especially on a piece of land that has so many race events. It is definitely a cause for concern but I am going to do everything I can to make sure we can continue to put on events here in Nevada.”
RDC: So what are you looking forward to for this weekend’s event?
Sal: “I have to admit, I am extremely excited to have Robby Gordon skipping a NASCAR race to come out and compete in this SCORE event and in a full season of our series. I think Robby brings a lot of attention to our sport and this is definitely a time when we need it.”
The Terrible’s Primm 300 event is an extremely crucial race for competitors in the points contention. As the fourth race out of SCORE’s five race desert series, the Primm 300 can make or break a season as evidenced by Robby Gordon’s decision to skip the NASCAR race at Richmond International Raceway in Virginia. Gordon, who currently claims the top points position in the SCORE Trophy Truck class is looking to hang onto his points lead and for the first time since 1996 is running a full season in the SCORE series. “This is the first time I have run a full SCORE schedule since 1996. I won the Trophy Truck Championship back then and I am confident that I can do it again this year,” commented Robby Gordon.
With heavy-hitters such as Rob MacCachren and Brian Collins starting in the back of the pack, the first lap of this 69 mile loop (and rather fast course) will undoubtedly play out in a very interesting manner. Greg Nunley, a relative newcomer to both the Trophy Truck class and desert racing, has Robby Gordon staged directly behind him. It is doubtful he can hang onto his starting position for very long considering Gordon’s trademark “on the edge” driving style. Without the experience behind the wheel and the knowledge of the course that Vegas natives, MacCachren and Collins, have it is hard to believe Marc Ewing in the No. 68 Trophy Truck will fare that well either. For anyone who is not able to make it to Primm, live race tracking is available through the required and now infamous “black box” that has forever changed the face of desert racing as we know it.
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