Blanco
05-24-2007, 01:23 PM
May 24, 2007
Over 525 entries now expected
With 511 official entries to date, new all-time SCORE entry record
Guaranteed for next week’s 39th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500
284 cars and trucks, 224 motorcycles and ATVs among entries
From 32 States, 13 countries for June 1-3 race in Ensenada
LOS ANGELES—With late entries accepted until race morning, an all-time entry field is already guaranteed for next weekend’s 39th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500, the second-oldest desert race in the world. As of yesterday’s 5 p.m. cutoff for entries not to be charged a late fee, 511 current official entries had been accepted by the SCORE International office in Los Angeles.
Round 3 of the six-race 2007 SCORE Desert Series, the World’s Foremost Desert Racing Series, featuring a race-record lineup of nearly 500 entries competing in 28 Pro and 6 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs, will be held June 1-3 in Ensenada, Mexico.
The amazing total marks the first time in the 34-year history of the popular desert racing organization that entries have passed the 500 plateau for a SCORE. The growing new total easily eclipses the 469 total entries at the old SCORE Parker 400 in 1998 and the 465 total entries received for this race last year, which was the first time a SCORE race in Mexico ever had over 400 entries.
“It will be cliché to say it, but this is absolutely, unbelievably amazing,” said Sal Fish, SCORE CEO/President since soon after SCORE was founded in 1973. “This race was the first SCORE sanctioned and produced event in Mexico on July 26, 1974 and I was very proud to be part of that pioneering event that had a solid 279 starters. This year, I am extremely humbled to be part of this exciting landmark in the history of SCORE International that will end up having around 500 official starters next Saturday. SCORE and its incredible race staff of over 400 dedicated individuals are honored to help make history with these dynamic adventurers.”
This marks only the fourth time in the over three-decade history of SCORE Baja racing that the entry list has reached more than 400. Last year’s Tecate SCORE Baja 500 had 465 entries, last year’s Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 had 449, and this year’s Tecate SCORE Baja 250 in March had 423 official entries.
With this year’s entry list already at 511, a new all-time SCORE record is also guaranteed for actual starters. The current overall SCORE record is 452, set at the old SCORE Parker 400 in 1988, and the current SCORE Baja racing record of 438 was set at this race last year. Third on the current all-time SCORE starters list is the 431 that started last year’s Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 peninsula run from Ensenada to La Paz.
A race-record field of 54 unlimited Class 1 open-wheel desert race cars are set to attempt to capture the overall 4-wheel vehicle title in this year’s Tecate SCORE Baja 500, unseating the marquee SCORE Trophy-Trucks, those high-tech, high-budget, 800-horsepower, unlimited production trucks who have won the overall 10 times in their 13-year history. There are also 39 SCORE Trophy-Trucks entered for next weekend’s epic race.
And while the thundering herd of SCORE Trophy-Trucks and Class 1 race cars blast their way around the Northern part of the Baja peninsula, the growing field of motorcycles and ATVs, now at an amazing 224 total entries, will be waging their own special challenge against the elements, the competitors and their own mental and physical strength and stamina.
With late entries accepted up to race morning, nearly 525 entries are expected from 32 U.S. States from Hawaii to Rhode Island as well as Mexico, Austria, Canada, England, France, Germany, Guatemala, Israel, Italy, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa. The green flag will drop for the race at 6 a.m. on Saturday (June 2) for the motorcycle and ATV classes in the Tecate SCORE Baja 500, followed by the car and truck classes three hours after the last ATV at approximately 10 a.m. The SCORE Baja race-record 511 vehicles entered to date include 287 cars and trucks and 224 motorcycles and ATVs.
Back to defend their overall 4-wheel vehicle and SCORE Trophy-Truck title is the team of Larry Ragland, Cave Creek, Ariz./Brian Collins, Las Vegas, in the No. 12 Collins Motorsports Chevy Silverado. Returning as the overall motorcycle and Class 22 champs is the team of Robby Bell, Murrieta, Calif./Kendall Norman, Santa Barbara, Calif., on the No. 1x Honda CRF450X. Back to defend their overall ATV and Class 25 victory is the team of Danny Prather, Ramona, Calif./Mike Cafro, Carlsbad, Calif., on the No. 1a Honda TRX450R.
For the first time in race history, Volkswagen of America officially entered two of its Dakar Rally factory teams. Driven by American Mark Miller and South African Giniel de Villers, the two turbo-diesel VW Race Touareg SUVs will compete in a special SCORE Int’l Truck class. They will start between SCORE Trophy-Truck and Class 1.
To date, the Pro 4-Wheel vehicles classes with the most entries are: Class 1 (54), SCORE Trophy-Truck (39), SCORE Lite (27), Class 1-2/1600 (26) and Class 5/1600 (20).
Leading the Motorcycle classes in entries so far are Class 22 (25), Class 21 and Class 40 (22 each) and Class 30 (21). Class 25 for open ATVs has 16 entries. Among the Sportsman classes, SPT Motorcycles over 250cc has 58 entries and SPT ATV has 22.
Miller, who has won the SCORE Trophy-Truck class twice in the SCORE Baja 500 (in 2002 with Larry Ragland and in 2003 with Ryan Arciero) was fourth overall in this year’s Dakar Rally while de Villers won four stages in the rally and finished 11th overall.
In SCORE history, this will be the ninth race to have 400 or more starters, with the SCORE Parker 400 having that number six times, the Tecate SCORE Baja 500 twice and the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 once.
Reflecting the continuing popularity of SCORE desert racing, the number of starters in the Tecate SCORE Baja 500 has jumped dramatically this decade. Starting with 219 in 2000, the event has increased each year—2001 (249), 2002 (258), 2003 (260), 2004 (300), 2005 (345) and 2006 (438).
The starting line area will once again be in front of the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center on Boulevard Costero in downtown Ensenada, Mexico. The finish line will be where it was last year--inside the Campo de Softball Jose Negro Soto stadium at 11th Street (Calle Once) and Espinoza Avenue in Ensenada. The stadium is located approximately 1.5 miles east of the start line area. Vehicles will start in 30-second intervals in the elapsed-time race.
Pre-race festivities at the 39th Tecate SCORE Baja 500 will include the colorful SCORE Midway and tech inspection adjacent to the San Nicolas Hotel in Ensenada from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Friday (June 1). Racer registration will be held in the Grand Ballroom at the San Nicolas Hotel from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday (May 31) and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday (June 1).
The mandatory racer’s briefing will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday (June 1) in the Cathedral Room at the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center.
At 11 a.m. on Sunday (June 3), the awards celebration will be held poolside at the San Nicolas Hotel.
Starting and finishing in Ensenada on the majestic Baja California peninsula, this year’s tight and technical course will run in a clockwise direction, running East into the middle of the peninsula, then South, followed by a West travel section, turning north, then East, North, Northeast and back West for the final charge back into Ensenada.
The 2007 SCORE Desert Series also includes the chase for the $75,000 Kartek Off-Road contingency bonus to be awarded to several 2007 SCORE Class point champions along with the run for the $12,000 Toyota True Grit and Toyota Milestone Awards.
Current SCORE official annual sponsors are: BFGoodrich Tires-official tire, Sunoco Race Fuels/Bryant Petroleum-official fuel supplier, Bilstein-official shock, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance-official Mexican auto insurance, American Racing ATX Series-official wheel, Slime-official tire sealant, Airstar America-official space lighting provider, Red Bull--official energy drink and Bosch Power Tools-official power tool. Associate sponsors are: Tecate Beer, Coca-Cola of Mexico, Las Vegas Events, Terrible Herbst Inc., Blue C Communications, Kartek Off-Road, Fram, Autolite, Prestone, Bendix, American Suzuki, NAPA Chassis, SignPros, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie’s Performance Products and Advanced Color Graphics.
For more information, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters 818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com.
SCORE Desert Racing
All-Time Top Race Starters
Year Race, STARTERS (Finishers)
1988 SCORE Parker 400—452 Starters (249 Finishers)
2006 SCORE Baja 500—438 Starters (221 Finishers)
2006 SCORE Baja 1000—431 Starters (234 Finishers)
1980 SCORE Parker 400—421 Starters (225 Finishers)
1987 SCORE Parker 400—419 Starters (199 Finishers)
1986 SCORE Parker 400—415 Starters (215 Finishers)
1989 SCORE Parker 400—403 Starters (221 Finishers)
1981 SCORE Parker 400—400 Starters (197 Finishers)
SCORE Desert Racing
All-Time Top Race Finishers
Year Race, FINISHERS (Starters)
1988 SCORE Parker 400—249 Finishers (452 Starters)
2006 SCORE Baja 1000—234 Finishers (431 Starters)
1980 SCORE Parker 400—225 Finishers (421 Starters)
2006 SCORE Baja 500—221 Finishers (438 Starters)
1989 SCORE Parker 400—221 Finishers (403 Starters)
1986 SCORE Parker 400—215 Finishers (415 Starters)
1988 SCORE Baja 500—202 Finishers (332 Starters)
1987 SCORE Parker 400—199 Finishers (419 Starters)
2004 SCORE Baja 1000—198 Finishers (284 Starters)
1981 SCORE Parker 400—197 Finishers (400 Starters)
39th Annual TECATE SCORE BAJA 500
Round 3 of six-race 2007 SCORE Desert Series
June 1-3, 2007--Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
Total Entries: 511 (as of 5/23/07)
(32 States; Mexico, Austria, Canada, England, France, Guatemala, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, New Zealand & South Africa)
Pro Cars & Trucks
SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK (39)
20 Mike Julson
1 B.J. Baldwin
4 Gus Vildosola
86 Josh Baldwin
3 Mark Post
28 Alan Pflueger
38 Garron Cadiente
31 Andy McMillin
12 Larry Ragland
19 Tim Herbst
60 Mike Voudouris
55 Luis Wallace
77 Travis Coyne
58 Frank Thing
7 Scott Steinberger
2 Pete Sohren
85 Todd Wyllie
16 Cameron Steele
27 David Scaroni
37 Bruce Greer Jr.
51 Kory Scheeler
71 Robby Gordon
96 Bobby Baldwin
41 Chris Lucas
35 Robbie Pierce
91 Bill McBeath
54 Jesse James
22 Damen Jefferies
39 Ron Whitton
69 Francisco Cervantes
32 Juan C. Ibarra
29 Richard Boyle
15 Jim Beaver
40 Chet Huffman
17 Carl Renezeder
82 Ryan Arciero
50 Jerry Larimore
57 Scott Kincaid
24 Rick Massie
SCORE INT’L TRUCK (2)
83i Giniel de Villers
81i Mark Miller
CLASS 1 (54)
101 Max Thieriot
102 Randy Wilson
103 Robert Ross
100 Larry Roeseler
105 Bill Gasper
106 B.J. Richardson
107 Danny Ebberts
108 Luis Ramirez Jr.
109 Pat Dean
110 Josh Rigsby
111 Richard Boyle
112 Brian Hudson
113 Jamie Campbell
114 Trigger Gumm
115 Dale Lenk
116 Rob Bruce
117 Steve Sourapas
118 Steve Sullivan
119 Brian Parkhouse
120 Mark Levrett
121 Ronny Wilson
122 Todd Cuffaro
123 Adam Pfankuch
124 John Herder
125 Eduardo Gonzalez
126 Brendan Gaughan
127 Armin Schwarz
128 Gonzalo Pirron
129 Darren San Angelo
130 Vincent DeJong
131 Mike Bilek
132 John Harrah
133 Bill Witt
134 Alex Danze
135 Gary Weyhrich
136 Brian Coneen
137 John Gould
138 Danny Anderson
139 Byron Ashley
140 Brian Kirby
141 Chuck Hovey
142 Dan Moore
143 Eric Chase
144 Mark McMillin
145 Dan Myers
146 Victor Herrera Jr.
147 Charlie Wilson
148 Darren Hardesty
149 Enrique Bujanda
150 Mario Gonzales
156 Michael Burgett
157 Brian Zehring
158 Harley Letner
159 Mike Sandoval
CLASS 1-2/1600 (26)
1601 Steven Eugenio
1602 Gerardo Iribe
1604 Hiram Duran
1605 Ray Files
1606 Mario Gastelum
1607 Ed Bonanni
1608 Brent Parkhouse
1609 Arturo Velazco
1610 Chris Langmayer
1611 David Caspino
1612 Adam Ashcraft
1613 Juan Gallo
1614 Leonardo Navarrete
1615 Layton Bowles
1616 Arnoldo Ramirez
1617 Daniel McMillin
1618 Curt Geer
1619 Alberto Medina
1620 J.J. Guevara
1621 Ramon Escobedo
1622 Julio Marin
1645 Pancho Bio
1646 Viry Felix
1647 L.J. Kennedy
1648 Eliseo Garcia
1649 Blaise Jackson
CLASS 3 (4)
300 Donald Moss
301 Alejandro Cancino
348 Dylan Evans
349 Chris Raffo
CLASS 5 (8)
501 Chris Bowman
502 Jim Varshay
503 Michelle Bruckmann
500 George Seeley
505 Victor Cesena
517 Dan Akin
518 Kevin Carr
519 Luivan Voelker
CLASS 5/1600 (20)
551 Tommy Craft
553 Gregorio Villarino
554 Arnulfo Valenzuela
555 Mario Reynoso
556 Angel Vinaja
557 Ernie Negrete
558 Adolfo Aguilar Jr.
559 Danny Ledezma
560 Scott Pellerin
561 Tim Sanchez
562 Enrique Avalos
563 Alonso Angulo
572 Fernando Montijo
573 Javier Morales
574 Jose Montoya
575 Saul Garcia
576 Gerardo Rubio
577 Ernesto Arambula
550 Marcos Nunez
579 Carlos Macklis
CLASS 7 (12)
700 Dan Chamlee
701 Shannon Dierkop
702 Justin Simmons
703 Barry Karakas
704 Brandon Walsh
705 Chris Taylor
706 Jason McNeil
707 Steve Looney
708 Aaron Celiceo
717 Stuart Gildred
718 Victor Hererra Sr.
719 A.J. Rodriguez
CLASS 7S (2)
721 Javier Avila
720 Mike Horner
CLASS 7SX (11)
741 Rich Severson
742 Norman Turley
743 Noe Sierra
744 Alberto Iriarte
753 Carlos Villalobos
754 Ted Moncure
755 Heidi Steele
740 John Holmes
757 Jim Hinesley
758 Gerardo Novelo
759 Kurt Youngs
CLASS 8 (5)
800 Nick Vanderwey
801 Kurtis Kupiec
802 Greg Adler
803 Glen Greer
804 Juan C. Lopez
CLASS 9 (3)
901 Luis Guevara
902 Joe Castrey
900 Eric Fisher
CLASS 10 (14)
1001 Todd Elam
1002 Corey Keysar
1003 Chris Harrold
1004 Jim Knorr
1006 Will Higman
1007 Mark Weger
1008 Lobsam Yee
1009 Michael Meurer
1010 Alex Crostwaithe
1011 David Reyes
1012 Brad Etter
1013 Dean Wheeler
1047 Mike Lawrence
1049 Brendan Fikes
SCORE LITE (27)
1201 Rick St. John
1202 Craig Brabant
1203 David Callaway
1204 Kevin Derby
1205 Chuck Sacks
1206 Scott Wisdom
1207 Ricardo Malo
1208 Dave Bonner
1209 Matt Drever
1210 Mike Williams
1211 Mike Halliday
1212 Hector Garcia
1213 Cameron Steele
1214 Allen Russell
1215 Mike Belk
1216 Scott Rhone
1217 Stan Potter
1219 Ty Godde
1220 Phil Green
1221 Bob Bingham
1222 Arturo Salas
1200 Tim Noe
1224 Bill Hernquist
1225 Guy Cordon
1247 Joshua Meister
1248 Steve Gresham
1249 Richard Garavito
CLASS 11 (6)
1144 Jake Mueller
1145 Carlos Villa Nunez
1146 Ramon Fernandez
1147 Raul Ortiz
1100 Eric Solorzano
1149 Jeremy Altman
STOCK FULL (7)
860 Terry Henn
861 John Griffin
862 Josh Hall
863 Donald Adams
864 Loren Worthington
865 Kent Kroeker
879 Marc Balocco
STOCK MINI (5)
761 Rod Millen
760 Rod Hall
762 Cain Smead
778 Gavin Skilton
779 Steve Kovach
PROTRUCK (13)
213 Dave Westhem
252 Mike Johnson
204 Gus Vildosola Jr.
208 James Wasson
234 Rob Reinertson
226 Al Hogan
235 Jason Voss
250 Gary Magness
236 Rick L. Johnson
240 Rob Kittleson
203 Dave Creagan
299 Joe Bednar
215 Cody Swanty
JEEPSPEED 3 (1)
3701 Bob Land
JEEPSPEED 1 (5)
1795 Jason LaFortune
1705 Michael Shaffer
1737 Steve Ghamari
1774 James Williams
1790 Eric Filar
PRO MOTORCYCLES
CLASS 22 (25)
2x Marc Francke
3x Shannon Powell
4x David Warren
5x Greg Richards
6x Dan Walsh
7x Chris Blais
8x Jesse Sharpe
9x Blake Visin
10x Ralph Barrera
11x David Rutherford
12x Kevin Johnson
1x Robby Bell
14x Joe Desrosiers
15x Marc Burnett
16x Cameron Steele
17x Kris McDonald
18x Nick Thompson
19x Scott Bloom
20x Travis Simmons
21x Steven Soto
22x Michael Lansky
23x Adam Neuwirth
24x Nick Blais
25x Steven Luly
26a Sean Wharton
CLASS 20 (4)
151x Ryan Penhall
152x Ryan Grandon
153x Mark Chicado
154x Brett Girmsley
CLASS 21 (22)
101x Luis Valencia
102x Anna Jo Cody
103x Joey Lane
104x Francisco Arredondo
105x Chris Parker
106x Darren Scott
107x Nathon Verdugo
108x Luke Dodson
109x Cory Evenson
110x Collin Corrigan
111x Brent Harden
112x Brett Helms
113x Justin Hermann
114x Ryan Gustine
100x Shaun Hanson
116x Juan Castro
117x David Gonzalez Jr.
118x Carlos Casas
119x Juan Diaz
120x Ricky James
121x Bryce Kiser
122x Chad Erl
CLASS 30 (21)
301x Shawn Freiling
302x Ricardo De La Peria
303x Steve Bailor
304x Jake Buell
305x Mitchel Sanchez
306x Charlie Wilson
307x Dave Donaldson
308x Nicola Dutto
309x Jamey Kabisch
310x Michael Mann
311x Dan O’Neal
312x Scott Polimeni
313x Jim O’Neal
314x Greg Perryman
315x Stuart Goggins
316x John Trabucco
317x Gerardo Rojas
318x Francisco Septien
319x Rodrigo Basave
320x J. David Ruvalcaba
349x David Velasco
CLASS 40 (22)
401x Dennis Green
402x Brett Helm
403x Richard Deveau
404x Gilberto Gallardo
405x Julio Abril
406x Kent Perkins
407x Steve Downey
408x John Connolly
409x Dave Simpson
410x Donald Connelly
411x Leonel Vallejo
412x Kent Pfeiffer
413x Bill Boyer
414x Todd Winslow
415x David Rentfro
416x Jim Buckingham
417x Paul Needels
418x Kevin Gould
419x Martin Hoffman
420x Rob Barnum
421x Antonio Narino
422x Jim Owens
CLASS 50 (6)
501x Keith Speir
502x Tim Savin
500x Jim O’Neal
504x Jeff Keeler
505x Eizaburo Karasawa
549x Eric Bondus
CLASS 60 (2)
601x John Carmona
602x Don Lewis
PRO ATVs
CLASS 25 (16)
2a Carmen Cafro
3a Wayne Matlock
4a Brandon Brown
6a Alex Camanini
8a Jovany Pimentel
9a Jason Greenhaw
10a Mark Dyer
1a Danny Prather
12a Jeff Hancock
13a Miguel Batisdas
14a Josh Row
15a Francisco Ruano
16a Mike Zarzan
17a Marcus Aven
48a Kyle Needham
49a John Padgett
CLASS 24 (15)
101a Jose Mendoza
102a Scott Taylor
103a Francisco Servin
104a Daniel Marin Jr.
105a Miguel Arellano
106a Romulo Gomez
107a Javier Beltran
108a Enrique Felix
109a Gilberto Perez
110a Jorge Juvera
111a Adolfo Arellano
112a Brianna Mancillas
113a Carlos Sanchez
114a Sergio Alvarado
115a Roberto Miramontes
SPORTSMAN
SPT CAR (6)
1400 Peter Lang
1401 Dave Donaldson
1402 Ed Pickett
1403 Rob Caveney
1404 Dan Edwards
1449 Glenn Smith
SPT TRUCK (6)
1501 Miguel Jimenez
1502 Andrew Leavitt
1503 Randy Swink
1504 Mark Growe
1505 Mike Jenkins
1549 Nick Tonelli
SPT UTV (10)
1801 Jason Raley
1802 Marty Fiolka
1803 Richard Nelson
1804 Todd Romano
1805 Cassey Currie
1806 Gili Hacohen
1807 Matthew Kimmerle
1808 Thomas Graves
1809 Jeff Creagan
1849 Damon Cardone
SPT M/C< (12)
201x Brady Van Matre
202x Garrett Tolman
203x Jose Mercado
204x Marc Morelli
205x Brody Kunz
206x Jack Sussoev
207x Kenji Oikawa
208x Jessica McCreary
209x Brent Kesterson
210x Tibi Imbuzan
211x Rene Echegaray
212x Ray Heredia
SPT M/C> (58)
251x Alan Wahlstrom
252x Sam Eyssautier
253x David Robinson
254x Thierry Mas
255x Brandt Anderson
250x Jeff Leonard
257x Eric Bowen
258x Luke Terrry
259x Javier Hernandez
260x Fernando Vara
261x Carlos Becerril
262x William Saunders
263x Ken Olson
264x Carlos Chavez
265x Daniel Gregory
266x Adam Barr
267x Mike Crawford
268x Eric Litzenberg
269x Mike Gilbert
270x Glen Gomez
271x Mark Fishburn
272x Gary Barr
273x Rene Lorentz
274x Marc Jenkins
275x Jeremiah Kolbensvik
276x Steven Moak
277x Deano Schumacher
278x Bret Pemberton
279x Levi Colton
280x Bill Eddings
281x Buddy Bishop
282x Fred Sobke
283x Louis Vanlandingham
284x Mike Layton
285x Chris Mele
286x Jonnie Hanson
287x Matt Watson
288x Bret Leef
289x Mark Barlow
290x Doug Haas
291x Tomohiro Murakami
292x Lou Manzana
701x Lucio Facchini
703x Alfredo Osornio
704x Carlos Chacon
705x Edy Garcia
706x Shaun Riggen
707x David Smoljan
708x Jerry Stevens
709x Bobby Pennell
710x Josh Lynn
711x Peter Schmidtmann
712x Travis Reese
295x Tim McCreary
296x Jamie Buzan
297x Phillip Allford
298x Daniel Allford
299x Chris Shewmaker
SPT ATV (22)
51a Jason Wade
52a Esequiel Lopez
54a Scott Ferguson
55a Reid Rutherford
56a Heriberto Marquez
57a John Crowley
58a Carlos Juarez
59a Craig Christy
60a Justin Ryan
61a Bub Stratton
50a David McCarroll
63a David Corbani
64a Luis Salgado
66a Mario Yorba
67a Fernando Amador
68a Butch Troquille
69a Eric Ibarra
70a Dave Shaw
71a Jay Black
97a Gustavo Figueroa
98a Shawn Munro
99a Joe Rice
Over 525 entries now expected
With 511 official entries to date, new all-time SCORE entry record
Guaranteed for next week’s 39th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500
284 cars and trucks, 224 motorcycles and ATVs among entries
From 32 States, 13 countries for June 1-3 race in Ensenada
LOS ANGELES—With late entries accepted until race morning, an all-time entry field is already guaranteed for next weekend’s 39th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500, the second-oldest desert race in the world. As of yesterday’s 5 p.m. cutoff for entries not to be charged a late fee, 511 current official entries had been accepted by the SCORE International office in Los Angeles.
Round 3 of the six-race 2007 SCORE Desert Series, the World’s Foremost Desert Racing Series, featuring a race-record lineup of nearly 500 entries competing in 28 Pro and 6 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs, will be held June 1-3 in Ensenada, Mexico.
The amazing total marks the first time in the 34-year history of the popular desert racing organization that entries have passed the 500 plateau for a SCORE. The growing new total easily eclipses the 469 total entries at the old SCORE Parker 400 in 1998 and the 465 total entries received for this race last year, which was the first time a SCORE race in Mexico ever had over 400 entries.
“It will be cliché to say it, but this is absolutely, unbelievably amazing,” said Sal Fish, SCORE CEO/President since soon after SCORE was founded in 1973. “This race was the first SCORE sanctioned and produced event in Mexico on July 26, 1974 and I was very proud to be part of that pioneering event that had a solid 279 starters. This year, I am extremely humbled to be part of this exciting landmark in the history of SCORE International that will end up having around 500 official starters next Saturday. SCORE and its incredible race staff of over 400 dedicated individuals are honored to help make history with these dynamic adventurers.”
This marks only the fourth time in the over three-decade history of SCORE Baja racing that the entry list has reached more than 400. Last year’s Tecate SCORE Baja 500 had 465 entries, last year’s Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 had 449, and this year’s Tecate SCORE Baja 250 in March had 423 official entries.
With this year’s entry list already at 511, a new all-time SCORE record is also guaranteed for actual starters. The current overall SCORE record is 452, set at the old SCORE Parker 400 in 1988, and the current SCORE Baja racing record of 438 was set at this race last year. Third on the current all-time SCORE starters list is the 431 that started last year’s Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 peninsula run from Ensenada to La Paz.
A race-record field of 54 unlimited Class 1 open-wheel desert race cars are set to attempt to capture the overall 4-wheel vehicle title in this year’s Tecate SCORE Baja 500, unseating the marquee SCORE Trophy-Trucks, those high-tech, high-budget, 800-horsepower, unlimited production trucks who have won the overall 10 times in their 13-year history. There are also 39 SCORE Trophy-Trucks entered for next weekend’s epic race.
And while the thundering herd of SCORE Trophy-Trucks and Class 1 race cars blast their way around the Northern part of the Baja peninsula, the growing field of motorcycles and ATVs, now at an amazing 224 total entries, will be waging their own special challenge against the elements, the competitors and their own mental and physical strength and stamina.
With late entries accepted up to race morning, nearly 525 entries are expected from 32 U.S. States from Hawaii to Rhode Island as well as Mexico, Austria, Canada, England, France, Germany, Guatemala, Israel, Italy, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa. The green flag will drop for the race at 6 a.m. on Saturday (June 2) for the motorcycle and ATV classes in the Tecate SCORE Baja 500, followed by the car and truck classes three hours after the last ATV at approximately 10 a.m. The SCORE Baja race-record 511 vehicles entered to date include 287 cars and trucks and 224 motorcycles and ATVs.
Back to defend their overall 4-wheel vehicle and SCORE Trophy-Truck title is the team of Larry Ragland, Cave Creek, Ariz./Brian Collins, Las Vegas, in the No. 12 Collins Motorsports Chevy Silverado. Returning as the overall motorcycle and Class 22 champs is the team of Robby Bell, Murrieta, Calif./Kendall Norman, Santa Barbara, Calif., on the No. 1x Honda CRF450X. Back to defend their overall ATV and Class 25 victory is the team of Danny Prather, Ramona, Calif./Mike Cafro, Carlsbad, Calif., on the No. 1a Honda TRX450R.
For the first time in race history, Volkswagen of America officially entered two of its Dakar Rally factory teams. Driven by American Mark Miller and South African Giniel de Villers, the two turbo-diesel VW Race Touareg SUVs will compete in a special SCORE Int’l Truck class. They will start between SCORE Trophy-Truck and Class 1.
To date, the Pro 4-Wheel vehicles classes with the most entries are: Class 1 (54), SCORE Trophy-Truck (39), SCORE Lite (27), Class 1-2/1600 (26) and Class 5/1600 (20).
Leading the Motorcycle classes in entries so far are Class 22 (25), Class 21 and Class 40 (22 each) and Class 30 (21). Class 25 for open ATVs has 16 entries. Among the Sportsman classes, SPT Motorcycles over 250cc has 58 entries and SPT ATV has 22.
Miller, who has won the SCORE Trophy-Truck class twice in the SCORE Baja 500 (in 2002 with Larry Ragland and in 2003 with Ryan Arciero) was fourth overall in this year’s Dakar Rally while de Villers won four stages in the rally and finished 11th overall.
In SCORE history, this will be the ninth race to have 400 or more starters, with the SCORE Parker 400 having that number six times, the Tecate SCORE Baja 500 twice and the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 once.
Reflecting the continuing popularity of SCORE desert racing, the number of starters in the Tecate SCORE Baja 500 has jumped dramatically this decade. Starting with 219 in 2000, the event has increased each year—2001 (249), 2002 (258), 2003 (260), 2004 (300), 2005 (345) and 2006 (438).
The starting line area will once again be in front of the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center on Boulevard Costero in downtown Ensenada, Mexico. The finish line will be where it was last year--inside the Campo de Softball Jose Negro Soto stadium at 11th Street (Calle Once) and Espinoza Avenue in Ensenada. The stadium is located approximately 1.5 miles east of the start line area. Vehicles will start in 30-second intervals in the elapsed-time race.
Pre-race festivities at the 39th Tecate SCORE Baja 500 will include the colorful SCORE Midway and tech inspection adjacent to the San Nicolas Hotel in Ensenada from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Friday (June 1). Racer registration will be held in the Grand Ballroom at the San Nicolas Hotel from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday (May 31) and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday (June 1).
The mandatory racer’s briefing will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday (June 1) in the Cathedral Room at the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center.
At 11 a.m. on Sunday (June 3), the awards celebration will be held poolside at the San Nicolas Hotel.
Starting and finishing in Ensenada on the majestic Baja California peninsula, this year’s tight and technical course will run in a clockwise direction, running East into the middle of the peninsula, then South, followed by a West travel section, turning north, then East, North, Northeast and back West for the final charge back into Ensenada.
The 2007 SCORE Desert Series also includes the chase for the $75,000 Kartek Off-Road contingency bonus to be awarded to several 2007 SCORE Class point champions along with the run for the $12,000 Toyota True Grit and Toyota Milestone Awards.
Current SCORE official annual sponsors are: BFGoodrich Tires-official tire, Sunoco Race Fuels/Bryant Petroleum-official fuel supplier, Bilstein-official shock, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance-official Mexican auto insurance, American Racing ATX Series-official wheel, Slime-official tire sealant, Airstar America-official space lighting provider, Red Bull--official energy drink and Bosch Power Tools-official power tool. Associate sponsors are: Tecate Beer, Coca-Cola of Mexico, Las Vegas Events, Terrible Herbst Inc., Blue C Communications, Kartek Off-Road, Fram, Autolite, Prestone, Bendix, American Suzuki, NAPA Chassis, SignPros, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie’s Performance Products and Advanced Color Graphics.
For more information, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters 818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com.
SCORE Desert Racing
All-Time Top Race Starters
Year Race, STARTERS (Finishers)
1988 SCORE Parker 400—452 Starters (249 Finishers)
2006 SCORE Baja 500—438 Starters (221 Finishers)
2006 SCORE Baja 1000—431 Starters (234 Finishers)
1980 SCORE Parker 400—421 Starters (225 Finishers)
1987 SCORE Parker 400—419 Starters (199 Finishers)
1986 SCORE Parker 400—415 Starters (215 Finishers)
1989 SCORE Parker 400—403 Starters (221 Finishers)
1981 SCORE Parker 400—400 Starters (197 Finishers)
SCORE Desert Racing
All-Time Top Race Finishers
Year Race, FINISHERS (Starters)
1988 SCORE Parker 400—249 Finishers (452 Starters)
2006 SCORE Baja 1000—234 Finishers (431 Starters)
1980 SCORE Parker 400—225 Finishers (421 Starters)
2006 SCORE Baja 500—221 Finishers (438 Starters)
1989 SCORE Parker 400—221 Finishers (403 Starters)
1986 SCORE Parker 400—215 Finishers (415 Starters)
1988 SCORE Baja 500—202 Finishers (332 Starters)
1987 SCORE Parker 400—199 Finishers (419 Starters)
2004 SCORE Baja 1000—198 Finishers (284 Starters)
1981 SCORE Parker 400—197 Finishers (400 Starters)
39th Annual TECATE SCORE BAJA 500
Round 3 of six-race 2007 SCORE Desert Series
June 1-3, 2007--Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
Total Entries: 511 (as of 5/23/07)
(32 States; Mexico, Austria, Canada, England, France, Guatemala, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, New Zealand & South Africa)
Pro Cars & Trucks
SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK (39)
20 Mike Julson
1 B.J. Baldwin
4 Gus Vildosola
86 Josh Baldwin
3 Mark Post
28 Alan Pflueger
38 Garron Cadiente
31 Andy McMillin
12 Larry Ragland
19 Tim Herbst
60 Mike Voudouris
55 Luis Wallace
77 Travis Coyne
58 Frank Thing
7 Scott Steinberger
2 Pete Sohren
85 Todd Wyllie
16 Cameron Steele
27 David Scaroni
37 Bruce Greer Jr.
51 Kory Scheeler
71 Robby Gordon
96 Bobby Baldwin
41 Chris Lucas
35 Robbie Pierce
91 Bill McBeath
54 Jesse James
22 Damen Jefferies
39 Ron Whitton
69 Francisco Cervantes
32 Juan C. Ibarra
29 Richard Boyle
15 Jim Beaver
40 Chet Huffman
17 Carl Renezeder
82 Ryan Arciero
50 Jerry Larimore
57 Scott Kincaid
24 Rick Massie
SCORE INT’L TRUCK (2)
83i Giniel de Villers
81i Mark Miller
CLASS 1 (54)
101 Max Thieriot
102 Randy Wilson
103 Robert Ross
100 Larry Roeseler
105 Bill Gasper
106 B.J. Richardson
107 Danny Ebberts
108 Luis Ramirez Jr.
109 Pat Dean
110 Josh Rigsby
111 Richard Boyle
112 Brian Hudson
113 Jamie Campbell
114 Trigger Gumm
115 Dale Lenk
116 Rob Bruce
117 Steve Sourapas
118 Steve Sullivan
119 Brian Parkhouse
120 Mark Levrett
121 Ronny Wilson
122 Todd Cuffaro
123 Adam Pfankuch
124 John Herder
125 Eduardo Gonzalez
126 Brendan Gaughan
127 Armin Schwarz
128 Gonzalo Pirron
129 Darren San Angelo
130 Vincent DeJong
131 Mike Bilek
132 John Harrah
133 Bill Witt
134 Alex Danze
135 Gary Weyhrich
136 Brian Coneen
137 John Gould
138 Danny Anderson
139 Byron Ashley
140 Brian Kirby
141 Chuck Hovey
142 Dan Moore
143 Eric Chase
144 Mark McMillin
145 Dan Myers
146 Victor Herrera Jr.
147 Charlie Wilson
148 Darren Hardesty
149 Enrique Bujanda
150 Mario Gonzales
156 Michael Burgett
157 Brian Zehring
158 Harley Letner
159 Mike Sandoval
CLASS 1-2/1600 (26)
1601 Steven Eugenio
1602 Gerardo Iribe
1604 Hiram Duran
1605 Ray Files
1606 Mario Gastelum
1607 Ed Bonanni
1608 Brent Parkhouse
1609 Arturo Velazco
1610 Chris Langmayer
1611 David Caspino
1612 Adam Ashcraft
1613 Juan Gallo
1614 Leonardo Navarrete
1615 Layton Bowles
1616 Arnoldo Ramirez
1617 Daniel McMillin
1618 Curt Geer
1619 Alberto Medina
1620 J.J. Guevara
1621 Ramon Escobedo
1622 Julio Marin
1645 Pancho Bio
1646 Viry Felix
1647 L.J. Kennedy
1648 Eliseo Garcia
1649 Blaise Jackson
CLASS 3 (4)
300 Donald Moss
301 Alejandro Cancino
348 Dylan Evans
349 Chris Raffo
CLASS 5 (8)
501 Chris Bowman
502 Jim Varshay
503 Michelle Bruckmann
500 George Seeley
505 Victor Cesena
517 Dan Akin
518 Kevin Carr
519 Luivan Voelker
CLASS 5/1600 (20)
551 Tommy Craft
553 Gregorio Villarino
554 Arnulfo Valenzuela
555 Mario Reynoso
556 Angel Vinaja
557 Ernie Negrete
558 Adolfo Aguilar Jr.
559 Danny Ledezma
560 Scott Pellerin
561 Tim Sanchez
562 Enrique Avalos
563 Alonso Angulo
572 Fernando Montijo
573 Javier Morales
574 Jose Montoya
575 Saul Garcia
576 Gerardo Rubio
577 Ernesto Arambula
550 Marcos Nunez
579 Carlos Macklis
CLASS 7 (12)
700 Dan Chamlee
701 Shannon Dierkop
702 Justin Simmons
703 Barry Karakas
704 Brandon Walsh
705 Chris Taylor
706 Jason McNeil
707 Steve Looney
708 Aaron Celiceo
717 Stuart Gildred
718 Victor Hererra Sr.
719 A.J. Rodriguez
CLASS 7S (2)
721 Javier Avila
720 Mike Horner
CLASS 7SX (11)
741 Rich Severson
742 Norman Turley
743 Noe Sierra
744 Alberto Iriarte
753 Carlos Villalobos
754 Ted Moncure
755 Heidi Steele
740 John Holmes
757 Jim Hinesley
758 Gerardo Novelo
759 Kurt Youngs
CLASS 8 (5)
800 Nick Vanderwey
801 Kurtis Kupiec
802 Greg Adler
803 Glen Greer
804 Juan C. Lopez
CLASS 9 (3)
901 Luis Guevara
902 Joe Castrey
900 Eric Fisher
CLASS 10 (14)
1001 Todd Elam
1002 Corey Keysar
1003 Chris Harrold
1004 Jim Knorr
1006 Will Higman
1007 Mark Weger
1008 Lobsam Yee
1009 Michael Meurer
1010 Alex Crostwaithe
1011 David Reyes
1012 Brad Etter
1013 Dean Wheeler
1047 Mike Lawrence
1049 Brendan Fikes
SCORE LITE (27)
1201 Rick St. John
1202 Craig Brabant
1203 David Callaway
1204 Kevin Derby
1205 Chuck Sacks
1206 Scott Wisdom
1207 Ricardo Malo
1208 Dave Bonner
1209 Matt Drever
1210 Mike Williams
1211 Mike Halliday
1212 Hector Garcia
1213 Cameron Steele
1214 Allen Russell
1215 Mike Belk
1216 Scott Rhone
1217 Stan Potter
1219 Ty Godde
1220 Phil Green
1221 Bob Bingham
1222 Arturo Salas
1200 Tim Noe
1224 Bill Hernquist
1225 Guy Cordon
1247 Joshua Meister
1248 Steve Gresham
1249 Richard Garavito
CLASS 11 (6)
1144 Jake Mueller
1145 Carlos Villa Nunez
1146 Ramon Fernandez
1147 Raul Ortiz
1100 Eric Solorzano
1149 Jeremy Altman
STOCK FULL (7)
860 Terry Henn
861 John Griffin
862 Josh Hall
863 Donald Adams
864 Loren Worthington
865 Kent Kroeker
879 Marc Balocco
STOCK MINI (5)
761 Rod Millen
760 Rod Hall
762 Cain Smead
778 Gavin Skilton
779 Steve Kovach
PROTRUCK (13)
213 Dave Westhem
252 Mike Johnson
204 Gus Vildosola Jr.
208 James Wasson
234 Rob Reinertson
226 Al Hogan
235 Jason Voss
250 Gary Magness
236 Rick L. Johnson
240 Rob Kittleson
203 Dave Creagan
299 Joe Bednar
215 Cody Swanty
JEEPSPEED 3 (1)
3701 Bob Land
JEEPSPEED 1 (5)
1795 Jason LaFortune
1705 Michael Shaffer
1737 Steve Ghamari
1774 James Williams
1790 Eric Filar
PRO MOTORCYCLES
CLASS 22 (25)
2x Marc Francke
3x Shannon Powell
4x David Warren
5x Greg Richards
6x Dan Walsh
7x Chris Blais
8x Jesse Sharpe
9x Blake Visin
10x Ralph Barrera
11x David Rutherford
12x Kevin Johnson
1x Robby Bell
14x Joe Desrosiers
15x Marc Burnett
16x Cameron Steele
17x Kris McDonald
18x Nick Thompson
19x Scott Bloom
20x Travis Simmons
21x Steven Soto
22x Michael Lansky
23x Adam Neuwirth
24x Nick Blais
25x Steven Luly
26a Sean Wharton
CLASS 20 (4)
151x Ryan Penhall
152x Ryan Grandon
153x Mark Chicado
154x Brett Girmsley
CLASS 21 (22)
101x Luis Valencia
102x Anna Jo Cody
103x Joey Lane
104x Francisco Arredondo
105x Chris Parker
106x Darren Scott
107x Nathon Verdugo
108x Luke Dodson
109x Cory Evenson
110x Collin Corrigan
111x Brent Harden
112x Brett Helms
113x Justin Hermann
114x Ryan Gustine
100x Shaun Hanson
116x Juan Castro
117x David Gonzalez Jr.
118x Carlos Casas
119x Juan Diaz
120x Ricky James
121x Bryce Kiser
122x Chad Erl
CLASS 30 (21)
301x Shawn Freiling
302x Ricardo De La Peria
303x Steve Bailor
304x Jake Buell
305x Mitchel Sanchez
306x Charlie Wilson
307x Dave Donaldson
308x Nicola Dutto
309x Jamey Kabisch
310x Michael Mann
311x Dan O’Neal
312x Scott Polimeni
313x Jim O’Neal
314x Greg Perryman
315x Stuart Goggins
316x John Trabucco
317x Gerardo Rojas
318x Francisco Septien
319x Rodrigo Basave
320x J. David Ruvalcaba
349x David Velasco
CLASS 40 (22)
401x Dennis Green
402x Brett Helm
403x Richard Deveau
404x Gilberto Gallardo
405x Julio Abril
406x Kent Perkins
407x Steve Downey
408x John Connolly
409x Dave Simpson
410x Donald Connelly
411x Leonel Vallejo
412x Kent Pfeiffer
413x Bill Boyer
414x Todd Winslow
415x David Rentfro
416x Jim Buckingham
417x Paul Needels
418x Kevin Gould
419x Martin Hoffman
420x Rob Barnum
421x Antonio Narino
422x Jim Owens
CLASS 50 (6)
501x Keith Speir
502x Tim Savin
500x Jim O’Neal
504x Jeff Keeler
505x Eizaburo Karasawa
549x Eric Bondus
CLASS 60 (2)
601x John Carmona
602x Don Lewis
PRO ATVs
CLASS 25 (16)
2a Carmen Cafro
3a Wayne Matlock
4a Brandon Brown
6a Alex Camanini
8a Jovany Pimentel
9a Jason Greenhaw
10a Mark Dyer
1a Danny Prather
12a Jeff Hancock
13a Miguel Batisdas
14a Josh Row
15a Francisco Ruano
16a Mike Zarzan
17a Marcus Aven
48a Kyle Needham
49a John Padgett
CLASS 24 (15)
101a Jose Mendoza
102a Scott Taylor
103a Francisco Servin
104a Daniel Marin Jr.
105a Miguel Arellano
106a Romulo Gomez
107a Javier Beltran
108a Enrique Felix
109a Gilberto Perez
110a Jorge Juvera
111a Adolfo Arellano
112a Brianna Mancillas
113a Carlos Sanchez
114a Sergio Alvarado
115a Roberto Miramontes
SPORTSMAN
SPT CAR (6)
1400 Peter Lang
1401 Dave Donaldson
1402 Ed Pickett
1403 Rob Caveney
1404 Dan Edwards
1449 Glenn Smith
SPT TRUCK (6)
1501 Miguel Jimenez
1502 Andrew Leavitt
1503 Randy Swink
1504 Mark Growe
1505 Mike Jenkins
1549 Nick Tonelli
SPT UTV (10)
1801 Jason Raley
1802 Marty Fiolka
1803 Richard Nelson
1804 Todd Romano
1805 Cassey Currie
1806 Gili Hacohen
1807 Matthew Kimmerle
1808 Thomas Graves
1809 Jeff Creagan
1849 Damon Cardone
SPT M/C< (12)
201x Brady Van Matre
202x Garrett Tolman
203x Jose Mercado
204x Marc Morelli
205x Brody Kunz
206x Jack Sussoev
207x Kenji Oikawa
208x Jessica McCreary
209x Brent Kesterson
210x Tibi Imbuzan
211x Rene Echegaray
212x Ray Heredia
SPT M/C> (58)
251x Alan Wahlstrom
252x Sam Eyssautier
253x David Robinson
254x Thierry Mas
255x Brandt Anderson
250x Jeff Leonard
257x Eric Bowen
258x Luke Terrry
259x Javier Hernandez
260x Fernando Vara
261x Carlos Becerril
262x William Saunders
263x Ken Olson
264x Carlos Chavez
265x Daniel Gregory
266x Adam Barr
267x Mike Crawford
268x Eric Litzenberg
269x Mike Gilbert
270x Glen Gomez
271x Mark Fishburn
272x Gary Barr
273x Rene Lorentz
274x Marc Jenkins
275x Jeremiah Kolbensvik
276x Steven Moak
277x Deano Schumacher
278x Bret Pemberton
279x Levi Colton
280x Bill Eddings
281x Buddy Bishop
282x Fred Sobke
283x Louis Vanlandingham
284x Mike Layton
285x Chris Mele
286x Jonnie Hanson
287x Matt Watson
288x Bret Leef
289x Mark Barlow
290x Doug Haas
291x Tomohiro Murakami
292x Lou Manzana
701x Lucio Facchini
703x Alfredo Osornio
704x Carlos Chacon
705x Edy Garcia
706x Shaun Riggen
707x David Smoljan
708x Jerry Stevens
709x Bobby Pennell
710x Josh Lynn
711x Peter Schmidtmann
712x Travis Reese
295x Tim McCreary
296x Jamie Buzan
297x Phillip Allford
298x Daniel Allford
299x Chris Shewmaker
SPT ATV (22)
51a Jason Wade
52a Esequiel Lopez
54a Scott Ferguson
55a Reid Rutherford
56a Heriberto Marquez
57a John Crowley
58a Carlos Juarez
59a Craig Christy
60a Justin Ryan
61a Bub Stratton
50a David McCarroll
63a David Corbani
64a Luis Salgado
66a Mario Yorba
67a Fernando Amador
68a Butch Troquille
69a Eric Ibarra
70a Dave Shaw
71a Jay Black
97a Gustavo Figueroa
98a Shawn Munro
99a Joe Rice