COPS Racing Team

COPS Racing Team

A Short Overview

COPS Racing Team was formed in early 2008, when eventual Crew Chief Joseph Taylor approached his long time friend and neighbor John Langley, the Creator and Executive Producer of COPS to sponsor a class 12 buggy that he was building along with other members of the Los Angeles County Fire Department through a charity to race in the SCORE series. John was so intrigued by the idea of what Joe was trying to accomplish, he not only sponsored the car that Joe was planning to build, but asked Joe to take on the task of putting together a car for him and his sons to drive. The car and the team made their debut at the 2008 SCORE Baja 1000. The fledgling team brought the car home with less than an hour left to spare in the 31 hour time limited event, besting the L.A. County Fire Project car by minutes but nonetheless bringing home both cars in epic fashion that ultimately propelled the team to expand and go on to greater achievements.

In it’s first full season campaign, COPS Racing placed 2nd in Class Points for the class 12 division and 5th in Class Points for Classs 1 Unlimited. In the first outing for the Class 1 buggy at the 42nd Annual SCORE Tecate Baja 1000, the team took home the big trophy after winning the Class 1 Unlimited race.

The team currently fields three entries in the SCORE International off-road racing series.  In just three seasons the team's accomplishments include winning the baja 1000 in two consecutive years in two different classes and winning two conseuative SCORE entry sponsor of the year awards.

 Click here to see the Team's Record

John Langley
  • The Team

John Langley

Team Owner / Driver

John first took up off-road racing at the age of 66.  In his first full season of racing in the SCORE International Off-Road Series, John was nominated for Rookie of the Year, an honor bestowed on the best that desert racing has to offer.  John’s passion for off-road racing has been reflected in the explosive growth of the team in 2009. The team began as a single buggy operation operated out of a small garage in Manhattan Beach and quickly outgrew its space when the team added first another class 12, then a Class 1 Unlimited buggy to the stable of cars. John’s sponsorship and involvement culminated in the a Sponsor of the Year award, which COPS racing has won 2 consecutive years (2009 and 2010).

Morgan Langley
  • The Team

Morgan Langley

Driver / Owner

Morgan produces TV show. When he's not doing that, he drives race cars.

Zak Langley
  • The Team

Zak Langley

Driver / Owner

Zak took up the challenge to become an off-road racer and drove the last leg of the 2008 Baja 1000 with no prior racing experience. The rest, as they say, is history. Having caught the racing bug, Zak has been instrumental in helping keep the team on the cutting edge of technology and has kept the team focused on growing more cohesive and becoming a world class organization.  Always intent on improving, Zak has shown a rapid pace of development as a driver, demonstrated by his winning an Overall with only 3 years of racing experience. At the 2011 MORE freedom 250 he beat 15 other unlimited cars and 96 total entries in his first class1 race. See that race here

Joe Taylor
  • The Team

Joe Taylor

The God Father

Joe has played a pivotal roll on the team from day one, amassing a group of experienced drivers and pit crews to take on the challenges of Baja. While overseeing the day to day operations of the team, Joe has cemented his reputation as the heart and soul of the team. Joe’s easy personality and natural leadership has propelled the team to continue meeting and beating obstacles and challenges that are faced by off-road racing teams. Joe has a “pul-the-pin, toss-the-grenade” philosophy about life that has served the team well by creating a closely knit group that tackles problems with the same fervor as Joe.

Dennis Crowley
  • The Team

Dennis Crowley

Lead Mechanic

Dennis has been with the team since their second race but came on as the full time lead mechanic in 2011.  He brings extesive mechanical experience being a FORD master mechanic, as well as an incredible passion for off-road racing, having been active in the sport for decades.

Brandon Chrisman
  • The Team

Brandon Chrisman

Crew Chief / Mechanic

Brandon came aboard as the teams second full time mechanic at the begining of the 2011 season.  Being the owner of LINK motorsports, Brandon brings years of professional experience to the team.  He manages the COPS fleet while successfully running his own business.

Dan Martin
  • The Team

Dan Martin

Driver

Dan came to the team with decades of off-road racing experience, having raced and won in several classes and in several series in the United States and Mexico. Named the Driver of the Year by the exclusive Checkers Off Road Racing Club in 1999, Dan went on to a successful decade of racing before landing on the COPS Racing Team in 2008.  In 2009 he drove the teams class 1 car to a Baja 1000 win.

Bill Young
  • The Team

Bill Young

Co-driver

Bill is the former sheriff of Las Vegas and long time friend of John Langley.   His extensive experience in law enforcment has allowed him to excel in the co-drivers seat, which, as many will agree, is the hardest job in desert racing.

Bernie Carr
  • The Team

Bernie Carr

Driver / Prep / Electrical expert
Craig Casey
  • The Team

Craig Casey

Pit / Chase
Erik Troxel
  • The Team

Erik Troxel

Pit / Chase
George Arriola
  • The Team

George Arriola

Pit / Chase
Greg Hawks
  • The Team

Greg Hawks

Pit / Chase
Jason Walker
  • The Team

Jason Walker

Co-driver
Jim Hatton
  • The Team

Jim Hatton

Pit / Chase / Photo guru
Josh Valko
  • The Team

Josh Valko

Pit / Chase
Mike Howell
  • The Team

Mike Howell

Pit / Chase / Co-driver / team utility player
Mike Rafter
  • The Team

Mike Rafter

Pit / Chase / Hotels
Ron Martin
  • The Team

Ron Martin

Pit / Chase / Makes a great breakfast
Steve McCollum
  • The Team

Steve McCollum

Pit / Chase
Sean Williams
  • The Team

Sean Williams

Co-driver
Stewart Bradley
  • The Team

Stewart Bradley

Pit / Chase
Vince Arriola
  • The Team

Vince Arriola

Co-driver / Chase
Robert Harmon
  • The Team

Robert Harmon

Pit / Chase / Driver
John Turney
  • The Team

John Turney

Pit / Chase
Chris Ramey
  • The Team

Chris Ramey

Pit / Chase
Joe Lombardo
  • The Team

Joe Lombardo

Co-Driver
Bill Gantner
  • The Team

Bill Gantner

Co-Driver
Ryan Endo
  • The Team

Ryan Endo

Pit/Chase/Co-driver
Bill Young jr
  • The Team

Bill Young jr

Medic