SCORE Lites Class Victory
Rafael Navarro IV, Patrick Long, Vic Bruckmann, Rafael Navarro III and Steve Eugenio Lead All the Way in the No. 1209 CTF/R4R Pete’s Camp Racing SCORE Lites Jimco-VW
ENSENADA, Baja California, Mexico (November 16, 2013) – Taking the fight against Neurofibromatosis South of the Border for the first time, and to one of the most demanding tests of man and machinery on the planet, the inaugural Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF) Racing4Research (R4R) Baja 1000 team earned a dominating victory today with drivers Rafael Navarro IV, Patrick Long, Vic Bruckmann, Rafael Navarro III and Steve Eugenio in the legendary off-road race.
Navarro IV – better known in racing circles as “R4” or “Cuatro” – and the CTF/R4R crew shook off a surprise flat tire just 15 miles from the finish and still brought the No. 1209 CTF/R4R Pete’s Camp Racing SCORE Lites Jimco-VW Buggy across the line comfortably clear of the second-place finisher.
Bruckmann moved into the lead during his race-opening shift and following drivers Long, Eugenio, R4’s father Navarro III, and finishing driver Cuatro never had anything close to a major issue in the overnight Friday and Saturday race.
The Baja effort was organized by CTF’s Racing4Research motorsports-based fundraising program that is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by Neurofibromatosis – known simply as NF – which is a common yet under-recognized genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body.
Found in one of every 3,000 children born, NF is a more common disorder than many more widely known illnesses, including cystic fibrosis and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and can lead to blindness, bone abnormalities, cancer and excruciating and disabling pain. Donations to CTF/R4R in recognition of the winning Baja 1000 effort can be made at http://ctf.kintera.org/r4r2014/baja1000.
The Baja 1000 win came in the first attempt at the race for CTF/R4R and top sports car road racing champion Long, but Bruckmann and the Navarros added what had been an elusive1000 title to previous victories in the Baja 500.
Cuatro, the 2011 SCORE Lites Champion, and Bruckmann won in that class in the Baja 500 earlier this year for the second time after earning their first 500 win in the 2011 running of the race, co-driving with Navarro III. Like Long, 20-year-old Cuatro is an official CTF/R4R driver after first racing for the organization last year in Traxxas TORC Series Pro Lights.
Long, America’s only factory Porsche driver, raced for CTF/R4R for the first time in 2013 in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and now has a Baja 1000 title to go along with his victories in the Rolex 24 At Daytona and Le Mans 24 Hour road races.
Oakley was a key partner in the CTF/R4R Baja 1000 campaign and donors can still get a pair of limited edition custom Oakley Jupiter Squared™ Sunglasses in support of the cause. Donors committing $1,000 or more will automatically receive a pair but every donation made in honor of the Baja 1000 race will be entered in a drawing to win one of the limited edition CTF Oakleys. Donate at http://ctf.kintera.org/r4r2014/baja1000.
Additional CTF/R4R programs in 2013 included the full-season GRAND-AM Rolex Series GT effort of Long and teammate Patrick Lindsey, a championship runner-up Pirelli World Challenge GT effort with GMG Racing and James Sofronas and the ST-class series runner-up Compass 360 Honda team with Ryan Eversley in GRAND-AM’s Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge series. The CTF/R4R program was also active in regional NASCAR K&N Pro Series stock car competition for the second season with Daniel Graeff. TELMEX/Chip Ganassi Racing also carried the CTF logo on its team title winning Daytona Prototype as did the Rolex 24 GX-class winning Napleton Racing Porsche Cayman S.
About Children's Tumor Foundation/Racing4Research: Developed by the Children’s Tumor Foundation, the Racing4Research (R4R) program utilizes competitive, professional auto racing as a vehicle to increase awareness of neurofibromatosis and raise funds for research through corporate sponsorship, personal donations, and individual fundraising by NF Heroes: children and adults from around the country who live with neurofibromatosis. NF affects one in every 3,000 children, more than cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Huntington’s disease combined, and can lead to a wide variety of complications, including blindness, bone abnormalities, cancer, deafness, disfigurement, learning disabilities and excruciating and disabling pain. The Racing4Research program offers children and families living with the disorder a uniquely empowering weekend, and has raised over $2 million dollars since its inception six years ago.
