Volkswagen of America, SCORE International’s official vehicle, announces Massive $100,000 cash contingency program for 2008 SCORE Desert Series

February 4, 2008





Volkswagen of America, SCORE International’s official vehicle, announces

Massive $100,000 cash contingency program for 2008 SCORE Desert Series



Includes $20,000 year-end bonus for VW-powered vehicle with the most season points



LOS ANGELES—SCORE International announced today that Volkswagen of America, Inc., the official vehicle of the world’s foremost desert racing organization, has posted a massive $100,000 cash contingency program for the 2008 SCORE Desert Series.

In the second year of a special marketing partnership with SCORE International that showcases the exotic VW Touareg, the new VW Contingency program offers cash to the top three finishers in VW-powered cars in eight Pro classes, plus a $20,000 year-end bonus to the VW-powered vehicle with the most points in the series as well as a $5,000 bonus to the highest finishing VW-powered vehicle in both the 2008 Tecate SCORE Baja 500 and the 2008 SCORE Baja 1000 desert races.

“This special Volkswagen cash contingency program is huge for SCORE and huge for our sport,” said Sal Fish, SCORE CEO/President since shortly after it was founded in 1973. “We have been honored to have VW has our SCORE official vehicle since June and this commitment to our SCORE desert racers is unprecedented and a very special bonus for all the dedicated grassroots competitors who have long known how desert-worthy those amazing Volkswagen vehicles are in our sport.”

The 2008 SCORE Desert Series started Jan. 26-27 with the 14th Annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge in Laughlin, Nev.

Round 2 of the 2008 SCORE Desert Series will be the 22nd Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 (March 14-15). Returning to San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico, after being held last year in Ensenada, the race will feature 28 Pro and 6 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs. It is the first of three races produced annually by SCORE in Mexico.

“This Volkswagen contingency program is a natural extension of our marketing partnership with SCORE and we are very, very happy to reward our loyal VW desert racers with these significant cash bonuses,” said Clark Campbell, Volkswagen of America Motorsport Manager. “Volkswagen is committed to SCORE desert racing and to the finest desert racers in the world and this new contingency program will reward our Volkswagen racers for their competitive spirit. It should be another exciting year for VW’s in SCORE.”

SCORE currently has three Pro classes open exclusively to VW Baja Bugs, Beetles, Rabbits (Class 5, Class 5/1600) and VW Sedans (Class 11). Three additional classes (Class 1-2/1600, SCORE Lite and Class 9) are required to have VW powerplants exclusively in open-wheel desert race cars and the unlimited Class 1 and Class 10 car classes have the option of using a VW motor.

In addition to the special year-end bonus and the bonuses at the 40th Tecate SCORE Baja 500 (May 30-June 1) and the 41st Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 (Nov. 19-22), the cash prizes available each race, per class, are $1,000 for first, $500 for second and $250 for third.

VW of America is also currently building a Volkswagen Race Touareg 2 Turbo-Diesel to compete in the featured SCORE Trophy-Truck division for 800-horsepower, high-tech, unlimited production trucks. The VW SCORE Trophy-Truck is scheduled to debut in November’s SCORE Baja 1000.

Volkswagen was the first official vehicle that SCORE ever had. During SCORE’s first three years (1973-1975), the unique VW Thing was marketed through SCORE International.

Current SCORE official sponsors are: BFGoodrich Tires-official tire, Sunoco Race Fuels/Bryant Petroleum-official fuel supplier, Bilstein-official shock, Volkswagen-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.

Founded in 1973 and led since 1974 by Sal Fish, SCORE International, based in Los Angeles, is the world’s leading desert racing sanctioning body and race producer. SCORE annually producing the six-race SCORE Desert Series with three events each in the Southwestern United States and Baja California, Mexico.

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.

Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Rabbit, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, GTI, Jetta, GLI, Passat, Passat wagon, Eos, and Touareg through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at vw.com.