Pre-race Contingency, Start & Finish all to be held adjacent To Riviera Cultural Center for 40th Tecate SCORE Baja 500

First Time in Race History

Pre-race Contingency, Start & Finish all to be held adjacent

To Riviera Cultural Center for 40th Tecate SCORE Baja 500



Over 300 entries from 24 States, seven countries

Expected for May 29-June 1 race in Ensenada, Mexico





LOS ANGELES—For the first time in the 40-year history of the Tecate SCORE Baja 500 desert race, the colorful pre-race Manufacturer’s Midway and Contingency, the start and finish line will all be located in the heart of Ensenada, Mexico on Boulevard Costero adjacent to the historic Riviera Cultural Center, SCORE International race official announced Tuesday. It will be first time in race history that the pre-race activities and the finish will be held on this historic boulevard.

Round 3 of the five-race 2008 SCORE Desert Series, the World’s Foremost Desert Racing Series, featuring over 300 entries, competing in 28 Pro and 6 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs, will be held May 29-June 1 in Ensenada, Mexico. Traditionally one of the most popular events on the SCORE schedule, over 100,000 spectators are expected to enjoy the world’s best desert racers in action at this year’s 40th anniversary of the Tecate SCORE Baja 500.

With late entries excepted up to race morning, entries are expected for the approximately 440-mile race from over 25 U.S. States, Mexico, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. The green flag will drop for the elapsed-time race at 6 a.m. on Saturday (May 31) 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 final entry field is expected to be among the top 10 largest number of racers in event history.

“To have the pre-race festivities along with both the start and the finish of the 40th anniversary of the Tecate SCORE Baja 500 on Boulevard Costero will add another colorful dimension to this great race,” said Sal Fish, SCORE CEO/President since soon after it was founded in 1973. “We will now be able to finish as well as start the race through the wash which will be great for the thousands of spectators that line both sides of the course and stand on the bridges to see the action.”

“Additionally, the cooperation from the Mexican authorities has been phenomenal, especially when you consider all of the government leaders are new this year. It is also very encouraging to see first hand all of the increased safety and security measures that the Mexican government has implemented and will even expand further during race week. In particular the involvement from Baja California State Secretary of Tourism Oscar J. Escobedo and Ensenada Mayor Pablo Lopez has been remarkable.”

The SCORE Manufacturer’s Midway will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, May 30. Racer and media registration will again be held in the Grand Ballroom of the San Nicolas Hotel. Registration hours will be from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 29 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday May 30.

The post-race awards celebration will be held poolside at the San Nicolas on Sunday, June 1 starting at 10 a.m.

The race began in 1969 under the auspices of the old NORRA organization and SCORE began its enduring run on July 26, 1974. This year will be the 35th anniversary of the first SCORE race in Mexico.

All three overall winners from last year’s race are entered and all three have won two consecutive years. Las Vegas’ Brian Collins, Las Vegas, returns seeking a third straight overall 4-Wheel vehicle victory with new teammate Chuck Hovey, Escondido, Calif. Collins, who drives the No. 12 Mopar Collins Motorsports Dodge Ram 1500, won the last two year with Larry Ragland as his teammate.

Returning as the two-time 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 new No. 1a Honda TRXX700. Splitting the seat time with Prather and Cafro this year will be Chad Prull, Laveen, Ariz., and Levi Marana, Hemet, Calif.

Collins/Hovey drew the eighth starting spot in SCORE Trophy-Truck while Bell/Norman will be fourth off the line in Class 22 and Prather/Cafro/Prull/Marana will start seventh in Class 25.

To date, the Pro 4-Wheel vehicles classes with the most entries are: Class 1 (23), SCORE Trophy-Truck (22), Class 1-2/1600 (16), SCORE Lite (15) and Class 5/1600 (12).

Leading the Motorcycle classes in entries so far are Class 22 (15) and Class 30 (11).

Class 25 and Class 24 lead the ATV classes with nine entries each.

Among the Sportsman classes, SPT Motorcycles over 250cc has 29 entries.

Among the other early entries is venerable veteran Rod Hall, Reno, Nev., who has entered the Stock Mini class in a Hummer H3. Hall, 70, is tied for first with 17 class wins in the Tecate SCORE Baja 500. Hall’s son Josh and Chad will driver separate Hummers in the Stock Full class. Josh will drive a Hummer H2SUT and Chad will drive a Hummer H3Alpha.

Several crossover/celebrity racers are already entered in this year’s race, led by NASCAR’s Robby Gordon. A second generation desert racer, Gordon, who has won this race three times, is a NASCAR Team Owner/Driver and is entered in SCORE Trophy-Truck in the No. 77 Chevy CK1500.

Germany’s Armin Schwarz, whose World Rally Championship career saw 119 starts, won Class 1 in this year’s Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 with Martin Christensen, Escondido, Calif. and are currently fourth in Class 1 points in a Jimco-BMW. Making his SCORE race debut in Jimco-Chevy in this race will be German Rally ace Armin Kremer.

Two celebrity drivers who are all SCORE regulars are SCORE Trophy-Truck drivers Cameron Steele and Jesse James.

Steele, San Clemente, Calif., is a TV sports announcer for Supercross and X Games and until the IndyCar merger this year was a Champ Car pit reporter. The Steele family and Desert Assassins race team drew three of a kind for this race as three family members each received the second starting position in their respective classes. Cameron will drive the No. 16 GMC Sierra in SCORE Trophy-Truck, while his wife Heidi will drive a Ford Ranger in Class 7SX and his younger brother Grant will ride a Honda CRF450X in Class 22.

James, whose wife is legendary motion picture star Sandra Bullock, lives in Sunset Beach, Calif., owns the world-famous West Cost Choppers company and was the star of the old Monster Garage television series. He will drive the No. 54 Chevy Silverado.

Debuting her new race team in SCORE Lite will be prominent Automotive electronic and print journalist Barbara Terry, Clover, South Carolina, who will be the driver of record in a Bunderson-VW for this race and the season-ending Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 in November.

The 2008 SCORE Desert Series also includes the chase for the $20,000 Volkswagen Point Leader Bonus and the run for the Toyota Milestone Awards.

Current SCORE official annual sponsors are: BFGoodrich Tires-official tire, Sunoco Race Fuels/Bryant Petroleum-official fuel supplier, Bilstein-official shock, Volkswagen of America-official vehicle, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance-official Mexican auto insurance, Slime-official tire sealant, 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 Enthusiast Advertising, Kartek Off-Road, American Suzuki, SignPros, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie’s Performance Products and Advanced Color Graphics.

Additional race sponsor for the 40th Tecate SCORE Baja 500 is Proturismo of Ensenada.

For more information regarding the series, 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.



40th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500

May 29-June 1, 2008--Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico

All-time Overall winners

Year—DRIVERS/RIDERS, VEHICLE

1969--Bud Ekins/Guy Jones, Baja Boot-Olds

Doug Douglas/Jim McClurg, Ducati

1970--Parnelli Jones, Ford

Bill Silverthorn/Gene Fetty, Husqvarna

1971--Bobby Ferro, Funco-VW

Malcolm Smith/J.N. Roberts, Husqvarna

1972--Bobby Ferro, Sandmaster-VW

Gene Fetty/Bill Silverthorn, Honda

1973--Parnelli Jones, Ford

Howard Utsey/Mickey Quade, Husqvarna

1974--Bobby Ferro, Sandmaster-VW

Mitch Mayes/A.C. Bakken, Husqvarna

1975--Ivan Stewart, Funco-VW

Larry Roeseler/Bruce Ogilvie, Harley-Davidson

1976--Bobby Ferro/Ivan Stewart, Funco-VW

Larry Roeseler/A.C. Bakken, Husqvarna

1977--Ivan Stewart, Chenowth-VW

Larry Roeseler/Jack Johnson, Husqvarna

1978--Bud Feldkamp/Malcolm Smith, Funco-VW

Brent Wallingsford/Scot Harden, Husqvarna

1979--Malcolm Smith/Bud Feldkamp, Funco-VW

Jack Johnson, Husqvarna

1980--Bob Gordon, Chenowth-Chevy

Bruce Ogilvie/Chuck Miller, Yamaha

1981--Malcolm Smith/Bill Newbury, Chenowth-Chevy

Larry Roeseler/Bruce Ogilvie, Yamaha

1982--Larry Ragland, Funco-VW

Larry Roeseler/Chuck Miller, Yamaha

1983--Corky & Scott McMillin, Chenowth-VW

Dan Ashcraft, Husqvarna

1984--Larry Ragland, Chaparral-VW

Dan Smith/Dan Ashcraft, Husqvarna

1985--Ron Gardner/Bud Feldkamp, Funco-VW

Kurt Pfeiffer/Scot Harden, Husqvarna

1986--Corky & Scott McMillin, Chenowth-Porsche

Garth Sweetland/Scot Harden, Husqvarna

1987--Bob Gordon/Tim Crabtree, Chenowth-Porsche

Larry Roeseler/Ted Hunnicutt Jr., Kawasaki

1988--Mark McMillin, Chenowth-Porsche

Dan Ashcraft/Kurt Pfeiffer, Yamaha

1989--Robby Gordon, Ford

(no motorcycles)

1990--Robby Gordon, Ford

Larry Roeseler/Danny LaPorte, Kawasaki

1991--Ivan Stewart, Toyota

Garth Sweetland/Paul Krause, Kawasaki

1992--Ivan Stewart, Toyota

Larry Roeseler/T. Hunnicutt Jr./P. Krause, Kawasaki

1993--Ivan Stewart, Toyota

Danny Hamel/L. Roeseler/T. Hunnicutt Jr., Kawasaki

1994--Ivan Stewart, Toyota (Trophy-Truck)

Dave Ashley/Dan Smith, Ford

Paul Krause/Ted Hunnicutt Jr., Kawasaki

1995--Curt LeDuc, Jeep (Trophy-Truck)

Mike Julson/Bob Lofton, Jimco-VW

Paul Krause/Craig Smith, Kawasaki

1996--Rob MacCachren, Ford (Trophy-Truck)

Troy Herbst, Smithbuilt-Porsche

Paul Krause/Ty Davis, Kawasaki

1997--Ivan Stewart, Toyota (Trophy-Truck)

Mark McMillin, Jimco-Porsche

Johnny Campbell/Bruce Ogilvie, Honda

1998--Ivan Stewart, Toyota

Johnny Campbell/Bruce Ogilvie, Honda

1999--Ivan Stewart, Toyota

Jonah Street/Torsten Borstrom, Honda

2000--Larry Ragland, Chevy

Jonah Street/Steve Hengeveld, Honda

2001--Mark McMillin, Jimco-Chevy

Steve Hengeveld/Jonah Street, Honda

2002--Troy Herbst/Larry Roeseler, Smithbuilt-Ford

Steve Hengeveld/Johnny Campbell, Honda

2003--Troy Herbst/Larry Roeseler, Smithbuilt-Ford

Steve Hengeveld/Johnny Campbell, Honda

2004--Alan Pflueger, Chevy

Steve Hengeveld/Johnny Campbell, Honda

2005--Robby Gordon, Chevy

Mike Childress/Mouse McCoy, Honda

2006--Brian Collins/Larry Ragland, Chevy

Robby Bell/Kendall Norman, Honda

2007--Larry Ragland/Brian Collins, Chevy

Robby Bell/Kendall Norman/Steve Hengeveld, Honda



Tecate SCORE Baja 500

Overall Champions

Cars & Trucks

11

*Larry Roeseler

10

Ivan Stewart

5

Larry Ragland

4

Bobby Ferro

**Malcolm Smith

3

Bud Feldkamp

Robby Gordon

Troy Herbst

2

Brian Collins

Bob Gordon

Parnelli Jones

Corky McMillin

Mark McMillin

Scott McMillin

**Dan Smith

1

Dave Ashley

Bud Ekins

Ron Gardner

Guy Jones

Mike Julson

Bob Lofton

Curt LeDuc

Rob MacCachren

Alan Pflueger



*9 on motorcycle

**1 on motorcycle



Motorcycles

6

Steve Hengeveld

5

Paul Krause

Bruce Ogilvie

Johnny Campbell

4

Ted Hunnicutt Jr.

3

Jonah Street

Scot Harden

2

Dan Ashcraft

A.C. Bakken

Robby Bell

Gene Fetty

Jack Johnson

Kendall Norman

Kurt Pfeiffer

Bill Silverthorn

1

Torsten Borstrom

Mike Childress

Ty Davis

Doug Douglas

Danny Hamel

Jim McClurg

Danny LaPorte

Mitch Mayes

Mouse McCoy

Chuck Miller

Mickey Quade

J.N. Roberts

Craig Smith

Garth Sweetland

Howard Utsey

Brent Wallingsford



Overall Vehicle Winners

Trucks/SUVs

7

Toyota

6

Ford

5

Chevy

1

Jeep



Cars

8

Chenowth

7

Funco

3

Jimco

Smithbuilt

1

Baja Boot

Chaparral

Sandmaster



Overall Engine Winners

Cars/Trucks

13

Volkswagen

8

Ford

Chevy

7

Toyota

5

Porsche

1

Jeep

Oldsmobile



Motorcycles

12

Honda

Husqvarna

8

Kawasaki

4

Yamaha

1

Ducati

Harley-Davidson