Originally published December 20, 2012. Updated September 2026 with historical context.
On December 20, 2012, longtime desert-racing promoter Sal Fish sold SCORE International to racer and businessman Roger Norman. The change ended Fish’s nearly four-decade run leading SCORE and began a new era for the organization behind the Baja 500, Baja 1000 and other landmark desert races.
The sale was effective immediately and included the SCORE Desert Racing Series. Fish remained involved long enough to produce the 2012 SCORE Awards Night in January 2013, but he would no longer have a direct role in promoting future SCORE races.
Sal Fish’s Legacy at SCORE International
SCORE was founded by Mickey Thompson in 1973. Fish joined the organization shortly afterward and became its defining leader for almost four decades.
During his tenure, SCORE developed into one of the best-known desert-racing organizations in the world. Fish helped establish rules, attract major sponsors, expand television coverage and build events such as the Baja 500 and Baja 1000 into internationally recognized races.
When announcing the sale, Fish described SCORE as the passion of his professional life and said the time had come to pass the organization to a new generation. He believed Norman had the racing experience, business background and vision needed to move SCORE forward.
Fish’s impact continued to be recognized after the sale. In 2017, Roger Norman invited him to serve as grand marshal of the 50th SCORE Baja 1000, honoring his role in building SCORE and shaping modern desert racing.
Who Is Roger Norman?
Roger Norman was already an accomplished desert racer before acquiring SCORE International. He competed in several major off-road series and moved into SCORE’s premier Trophy Truck division in 2007.
Norman and Larry Roeseler won the 2008 SCORE Baja 1000 overall in the No. 8 Trophy Truck. Norman also earned two SCORE Trophy Truck race victories and finished second in the championship standings in both 2008 and 2009.
In addition to racing, Norman had experience as a business owner and developer. He also revived the High Desert Racing Association in 2011, giving him experience operating a desert-racing series before purchasing SCORE.
Roger Norman’s Plans for SCORE
Norman entered the acquisition with plans to connect SCORE’s Baja races with HDRA events held in the United States. His initial 2013 plan included separate HDRA and SCORE championships, plus a combined World Championship of Desert Racing.
The proposed championship used points from three HDRA races and three SCORE races, with the 2013 Baja 1000 serving as the finale. Norman also announced plans for expanded television coverage and a more unified approach to desert racing.
Although SCORE’s series structure continued to evolve after the acquisition, the organization remained centered on its legendary Baja events. Norman’s leadership carried SCORE through the 50th anniversaries of both the Baja 500 and Baja 1000.
Why the SCORE Sale Mattered to UTV Racing
When Norman purchased SCORE in 2012, UTV racing was still developing into a major part of professional desert racing. Early racing side-by-sides were based on machines such as the Polaris RZR, Kawasaki Teryx and Can-Am Commander, with extensive preparation required to survive Baja terrain.
During the Norman era, SCORE’s UTV categories grew in participation, specialization and manufacturer involvement. Naturally aspirated and turbocharged production-based classes eventually expanded into today’s faster and more advanced UTV divisions.
Factory-supported teams and experienced desert racers increasingly viewed SCORE as an important proving ground. Polaris RZR teams, for example, swept the Pro UTV Forced Induction podium and occupied every finishing position in the Pro UTV class at the 2017 SCORE Baja 500.
Modern SCORE fields now include highly developed vehicles from Polaris, Can-Am and other UTV manufacturers. The competition also supports special manufacturer programs such as the 2026 SCORE Baja 400 and Polaris SCORE Challenge.
SCORE International Today
Roger Norman continues to shape SCORE as both a sanctioning-body executive and desert-racing competitor. The organization remains closely associated with its Baja California championship and marquee races including the San Felipe 250, Baja 500, Baja 400 and Baja 1000.
More than a decade after the sale, the transition from Sal Fish to Roger Norman remains one of the most important organizational changes in modern desert-racing history. Fish established the foundation and identity of SCORE, while Norman led the series into an era featuring increasingly sophisticated race operations, digital coverage and highly competitive UTV classes.
Key Dates
- 1973: Mickey Thompson founded SCORE International.
- 1974: Sal Fish began leading SCORE and became the organization’s defining promoter.
- 2008: Roger Norman and Larry Roeseler won the SCORE Baja 1000 overall.
- 2011: Norman revived the High Desert Racing Association.
- December 20, 2012: Roger and Elise Norman purchased SCORE International from Sal Fish.
- 2017: Sal Fish served as grand marshal of the 50th SCORE Baja 1000.
UTVGuide.net originally reported this ownership change on the day the sale was announced. This article has been condensed and updated to preserve the event’s historical significance while connecting it to the growth of modern SCORE UTV racing.
