http://www.racer.com/Lucas-Oil-Off-Roads-short-course-Surprise/article/152128/

November 12, 2009





Next week in Ensenada, Mexico

R. Gordon facing rugged race course, stiffer competition

In quest to win 42nd Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race



338 Racers entered to date, from 39 States and 14 countries

In internationally-televised Granddaddy of all desert races;

Class 1 stars Ra. Wilson, Letner, Schwarz, Kremer, Herbst,

Dempsey hoping to hunt down 35 SCORE Trophy-Trucks



LOS ANGELES—NASCAR Cup team owner/driver Robby Gordon faces tough competition every Sunday during his ‘normal’ pavement job, but in his desert racing career he will have to overcome a rugged course and the toughest competition he has ever faced next weekend in his quest to not only win the overall title at the 42nd Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, but also the 2009 SCORE Desert Series Overall point championship.

With racers competing in 32 Pro and 6 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs, the legendary race will be held Nov. 19-22 in Ensenada, Mexico. Completing its 36th year as the World’s foremost desert racing sanctioning body, the event is the finale of the five-race 2009 SCORE Desert Series. To date, 338 adventurers and the world’s best desert racers have come from 39 U.S. States and 14 countries to gather on the majestic Baja California peninsula.

This year’s 672.85-mile race will start for the 35th time and finish for the 20th time in Ensenada. The motorcycle and ATV classes will start their journey at 6:30 a.m. PST (Friday, Nov. 20) with the car and truck classes starting at approximately 10:30 a.m., or three hours after the last ATV leaves the line. Vehicles will leave in 30-second intervals in the elapsed-time race and while the fastest finishers are expected to complete the course in approximately 14 hours. All vehicles will have a 31-hour time limit to become official finishers in the legendary adventure.

In his first season running the entire five-race series since he won the SCORE Trophy-Truck season championship in 1996, Gordon enters this year’s granddaddy of all desert races with a comfortable lead in both the featured SCORE Trophy-Truck division and the SCORE Overall point race in his No. 77 Team Gordon Chevy CK1500.

While racing part-time in the SCORE desert series, Gordon still has managed nine race wins in the marquee SCORE racing division for 850-horsepower, high-tech, unlimited production trucks.

This year’s 672.85-mile loop race will start for the 35th time and finish for the 20th time in Ensenada and Gordon will not only have to contend with the twists and turns, bumps and grinds of the body-pounding course, he will be racing against over 350 cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs, including 35 vehicles in SCORE Trophy-Truck.

Not to mention he is also working the logistics for the final NASCAR Cup race of the year next weekend in Homestead, Fla., Gordon will be challenged by a SCORE Trophy-Truck field that, including himself, has 13 racers that have combined to win 57 of 92 races held since the super class was created by SCORE in 1994. The field also includes 11 of the 15 all-time SCORE Trophy-Truck season point champions.

Gordon is certainly no stranger to this race, as he has tried to run it every year while pursuing his pavement racing career, even if he can’t run the full SCORE schedule. In fact, in 2006 he had to get back to a NASCAR race and split the driving with budding star Andy McMillin as the pair captured the peninsula run from Ensenada to La Paz.

McMillin, National City, Calif., will be the driver of record this year, with his father Scott McMillin as the other driver, in the No. 31 McMillin Racing Chevy Silverado.

Gordon also won this race in 1989 driving solo to La Paz in Class 8 and teamed for his other overall win in 1990 when he was the third driver in the family team led by his father “Baja” Bob Gordon and second driver Robyn Gordon, one of his sisters.

Having a stellar season this year in the desert, Gordon won both the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge and the SCORE Terrible’s Primm 300 while finishing second at the Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 and seventh at the Tecate SCORE Baja 500.

While the only thing that will keep him from winning the coveted SCORE Trophy-Truck and SCORE Overall point championship this year is if he has a did-not-finish in this race, to know Robby Gordon is to know that this pedal to the metal racer wants to win the race equally as much as he does the season crown.

While certainly keeping his eyes on the road, blocking the course ahead of him in the search for the SCORE Trophy-Truck race win is a list of who’s who in desert racing, including one racer who has moved up from the unlimited Class 1 to the super truck class and should be a factor in the outcome as well.

While the unlimited Class 1 is only a ‘boulders through’ away from capturing the overall in this race, somewhat handicapped by starting behind the behemoth SCORE Trophy-Trucks in the elapsed-time race, SCORE Trophy-Trucks are the clear favorite to win the overall title.

Leading the field of contenders are SCORE Trophy-Truck race winners Tim Herbst, Rob MacCachren, Mark Post, Brian Collins, Curt Le Duc, B.J. Baldwin, Larry Roeseler, Roger Norman, Alan Pflueger, Rick D. Johnson, Andy McMillin and Gus Vildosola.

Terrible Herbst Motorsports, the winningest team in the history of SCORE Trophy-Truck with 11 race wins and four season point titles, returns with Las Vegas brothers Tim and Troy Herbst ready to pilot the new No. 19 Ford F-150. Running just the SCORE Baja races this season, Troy drove the new Smithbuilt race truck to a seventh in class in its first race in San Felipe and a fifth in the Tecate SCORE Baja 500.

Post, Laguna Beach, Calif., and Las Vegas’ MacCachren, with seven career SCORE Trophy-Truck race wins each, split the driving in Posts’ No. 3 Riviera Racing Ford F-150, and together won the historic 40th annual race from Ensenada to Cabo San Lucas in 2007.

Roger Norman, Reno, Nev., and Larry Roeseler, Boulevard, Calif., are the defending race champions in the No. 8 Norman Motorsports Ford F-150. Last year was the first win for both Norman and Roeseler in SCORE Trophy-Truck in this race. In race history, Norman has three class wins while Roeseler has 17, including 13 overall wins (10 of which were on motorcycles).

Las Vegas’ Brian Collins, who will split driving with veteran Chuck Hovey, Escondido, Calif., has six career SCORE Trophy-Trucks wins including winning this year’s Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 for the second straight year in the No. 12 Collins Motorsports Dodge Ram1500.

The 1997 SCORE Trophy-Truck season point champ, Curt LeDuc, Cherry Valley, Calif., has four career race wins in this class and will split driving this year with driver of record Nick Vanderwey, Phoenix, in the No. 84 Chevy Sivlerado.

Winning both the 2006 and the 2008 SCORE Trophy-Truck season point crowns, Las Vegas’ B.J. Baldwin has three career SCORE Trophy-Truck race wins and was second in this race a year ago in the No. 1 Baldwin Motorsports Chevy Silverado.

With two career race wins in the class, Hawaii’s Alan Pflueger will be another contender in the No. 28 Pflueger Motorsports Chevy Silverado.

Rick D. Johnson, Barstow, Calif., won this class in this year’s Tecate SCORE Baja 500 as he consistently runs among the leaders in the No. 71 Ford F-150. He also drew the second starting position in this year’s race.

With a huge fan base and consummate knowledge of the course, the other driver with one career race win in SCORE Trophy-Truck entered is Mexico’s Gus Vildosola, who will be the second driver for his son Gus Vildosola Jr. in the No. 4 Vildosola Racing Ford F-150. Together, they finished second to Post/MacCachren in the epic 2007 race to Cabo.

Because it is a race of the mind as well as the competition, there can always be surprise winners in SCORE Baja races.

Just patiently plugging along in desert racing’s marquee division, Arizona’s journeyman driver Pete Sohren received the first starting position during the Oct. 10 computerized drawing for the race. The grizzled veteran Sohren will pilot his No. 2 Ford F-150 SCORE Trophy-Truck.

Sohren finished fourth in June’s race, tying his best career SCORE Trophy-Truck race finish.

Other entries among the veterans in the talented 35-truck field in the marquee SCORE Trophy-Truck division include Robbie Pierce/Mike Julson, Santee, Calif. (30-Chevy Silverado), Cameron Steele, San Clemente, Calif./Rick Geiser, Phoenix (GMC Sierra), Mark McMillin, El Cajon, Calif. (23-Ford F-150), Ron Whitton, Mesa, Ariz. (39-Ford F-150), Mark Weyhrich/Gary Weyhrich, Troutdale, Ore. (9-Ford F-150), Jason Voss/Richard Voss, Cupertino, Calif. (35-Ford F-150), Scott Steinberger, Cypress, Calif./Dave Sykes, San Diego (7-Ford F-150), Ed Stout, Irvine, Calif. (13-Ford F-150) and Bobby Baldwin/Danny Anderson, Las Vegas (96-Chevy Silverado).

Mark McMillin, the older brother of Scott and uncle of Andy, is making his debut in this race in SCORE Trophy-Truck in the No. 23 McMillin Racing Ford F-150, but he is no stranger to the checkered flag in SCORE Baja races. Mark McMillin has eight career class wins in the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, including five overall victories.

Drawing first start in the unlimited Class 1 is former German World Rally Championship driver Armin Schwarz and his second driver, Martin Christensen, Escondido, Calif., in the All-German Motorsports Jimco-BMW

Chuck Dempsey, Oak Hills, Calif., is the defending Class 1 race winner and Randy Wilson, Long Beach, Calif., is currently leading the points in the class for unlimited open-wheel desert race cars.

Harley Letner, a third-generation desert racer, and his cousin Kory Halopoff, were second in Class 1 in this race last year and the pair were the overall winners of this year’s Tecate SCORE Baja 500.

The unique Terrible Herbst Motorsports Class 1 ‘Landshark’ has six class wins and two overall titles in this race with Troy Herbst as the primary driver. In this year’s first two SCORE Baja races, Tim Herbst has driven the Smithbuilt legend solo to a second place and an 11th in Class 1.

While late entries are accepted up to race day, a total of 338 entries have officially been accepted for the race as of today which will put the starting field in the top 10 in the 42-year history of the storied event.

The car and truck classes with the most entries to date are SCORE Trophy-Truck (35), Class 1 (24), Class 1-2/1600 and SCORE Lite (15 each) and Class 10 (10).

Among the motorcycle and ATV classes, the open motorcycle Class 22 has the most entries to date with 19 followed by Class 30, riders 30 years old and over, which has 14.

Leading the six Sportsman classes in the race is Sportsman Motorcycle over 250cc which has 36 entries and Sportsman Motorcycle under 250cc which has 15 entries to date.

With massive crowds reaching nearly 250,000 anticipated to again be spread out along the rugged course that travels from Ensenada to Ojos Negros, east down Laguna Salada to San Felipe, down through the legendary Matomi Wash, around Mike’s Sky Ranch, through both Rancho Las Truchas and Rancho El Coyote, down the infamous Simpson’s Hill and back to the Pacific Coast below San Vicente and up through Santo Tomas, Uruapan and back to Ojos Negros, covering much of the northern half of the majestic Baja California peninsula to and from Ensenada.

In addition to season point class point championships, drivers in the Pro car and truck classes are also racing to earn prestigious SCORE Toyota Milestone Awards given to all drivers who complete every required mile of the five-race season. Being presented by Toyota Motorsports for the 24th consecutive year, a total of 16 drivers remain eligible after Round 4 of the 2009 SCORE Desert Series.

This race also features the prestigious Sal Fish SCORE IronRider awards presented to each motorcycle or ATV rider who completes the course within the time limit while riding solo. To date, 30 individuals have officially declared that they will be attempting to complete the course riding solo.

Current SCORE official annual sponsors are: BFGoodrich Tires-official tire, Volkswagen of America-official vehicle, Sunoco Race Fuels -official fuel supplier, Bilstein-official shock, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance-official Mexican auto insurance, Slime-official tire sealant and Red Bull--official energy drink. Associate sponsors are: Tecate Beer, Coca-Cola of Mexico, Las Vegas Events, Terrible Herbst Inc., Blue C Enthusiast Advertising, SignPros, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie’s Performance Products and Advanced Color Graphics.

Additional associate sponsors for the 2009 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 are Proturismo de Ensenada and the State Tourism Department of Baja California.

For more information regarding the series, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters 818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the 2009 SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com.



2009 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000

Final round of five race 2009 SCORE Desert Series

Nov. 19-22 -- Ensenada, Mexico

TOTAL ENTRIES: 338 (39 States, 14 Countries)(as of 11/12/09)

Pro Cars & Trucks

SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK (Unlimited Production Trucks)--

2 Pete Sohren, Glendale, Ariz., Ford F-150

71 Rick D. Johnson/Brian Sallee, Barstow, Calif., Ford F-150

96 Bobby Baldwin/Sandy Stewart/Danny Anderson, Las Vegas, Chevy Silverado

7 Scott Steinberger, Cypress, Calif./Dave Sykes, Del Mar, Calif./Jimmy Knuckles, Brawley, Calif., Ford F-150

12 Brian Collins, Las Vegas/Chuck Hovey, Escondido, Calif., Dodge Ram 1500

84 Nick Vanderwey, Phoenix/Curt LeDuc, Cherry Valley, Calif./Michael Vanderwey, Phoenix, Chevy Silverado

1 B.J. Baldwin, Las Vegas, Chevy Silverado

77 Robby Gordon, Charlotte, N.C., Chevy CK1500

19 Tim Herbst/Troy Herbst, Las Vegas, Ford F-150

8 Roger Norman, Reno, Nev./Larry Roeseler, Boulevard, Calif., Ford F-150

24 Adam Householder/Terry Householder, Orange, Calif., Chevy Silverado

3 Mark Post, Laguna Beach, Calif./Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Ford F-150

9 Mark Weyhrich/Gary Weyhrich, Troutdale, Ore., Ford F-150

16 Cameron Steele, San Clemente, Calif./Rick Geiser, Phoenix, GMC Sierra

23 Mark McMillin, El Cajon, Calif./Brian Ewalt, Bonita, Calif., Ford F-150

4 Gus Vildosola Jr. /Gus Vildosola Sr., Mexicali, Mexico, Ford F-150

59 Craig Potts/Curt Potts, Scottsdale, Ariz., Chevy C1500

28 Alan Pflueger, Honolulu/Mike Johnson, Santa Monica, Calif., Chevy Silverado

31 Andy McMillin/Scott McMillin, National City, Calif., Chevy Silverado

74 Rob Bruce, Sublimity, Ore./Mark Witte, Silverton, Ore., Chevy Silverado

76 Jesse Jones/Tyler Laughner, Phoenix, Ford F-150

78 Jesse Ashcraft, San Marcos, Calif./Danny Ashcraft, Vista, Calif./Doug Siewert, Valley, Center, Calif., Ford F-150

51 Kory Scheeler, Las Vegas, Chevy Silverado

13 Ed Stout, Irvine, Calif., Chevy C1500

22 Damen Jefferies, Apple Valley, Calif., Chevy Silverado

47 James Bult/Jacob Bult, Monee, Ill., Dodge Ram2500

30 Robbie Pierce/Mike Julson, Santee, Calif., Chevy Silverado

20 Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas/Mike Julson, Santee, Calif., Chevy Silverado

58 Ronnie Wilson, Glendale, Calif., Chevy Silverado

35 Jason Voss/Rich Voss, Cupertino, Calif., Ford F-150

39 Ron Whitton/Chas Danna, Mesa, Ariz./Todd LeDuc, Cherry Valley, Calif., Ford F-150

10 Greg Nunley, Tulare, Calif./Tom Carr, Visalia, Calif., Chevy Silverado

79 Mike Mastro, Scottsdale, Ariz,/Kevin James, Lemon Grove, Calif., Ford F-150

69 Francisco Cervantes/Ramon Castro, Ensenada, Mexico, Chevy El Camino

75 Jerry Zaiden/Jason Campbell/Steve Meyers, Newport Beach, Calif.

SCORE Baja 1000 Advance

November 9, 2009





Next week in Ensenada, Mexico

Like Ampudia, Bio, Baldwin, Hall, Herbst, McMillin, Vildosola,

Wilson--it’s all about family at 42nd Tecate SCORE Baja 1000



326 Racers entered to date, including 35 SCORE Trophy-Trucks, from 39 States

And 14 countries in internationally-televised Granddaddy of all desert races



LOS ANGELES—From Ampudia to Wilson, desert racing is all about family ties and among the nearly 350 entries for next week’s 42nd Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 are over 30 entries with multiple-family members competing in the granddaddy of all desert races.

With racers competing in 29 Pro and 6 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs, the legendary race will be held Nov. 19-22 in Ensenada, Mexico. Completing its 36th year as the World’s foremost desert racing sanctioning body, the event is the finale of the five-race 2009 SCORE Desert Series. To date, adventurers and the world’s best desert racers have come from 39 U.S. States and 14 countries to gather on the majestic Baja California peninsula.

While many entries have family members on support crews that can swell to as high as 50 people and some entries now have third-generation desert racers, the Ampudia, Bio, Baldwin, Hall, Herbst, McMillin, Vildosola and Wilson families are among the prominent SCORE Baja racers that have multiple family members competing either in the same vehicle or in separate vehicles this year in the world’s most challenging desert race.

“There is no sport in the world that attracts more family participants than desert racing,” said Sal Fish, SCORE CEO/President since soon after SCORE International started in 1973. “SCORE is both humbled and honored to have so many of the greatest racing families in the world competing with us in the most incredible desert race in the world. To think with everything going on in the world today that we have nearly 350 entries heading to Ensenada is a true testament to the preeminent position this race holds in the motorsports world.”

It’s the oldest and most well known of all desert races, and it remains as the single most appealing accomplishment to a driver. Since 1967, the Granddaddy of all desert races has been run over the mysterious Baja California peninsula. Because of the economics and logistics involved, some years it is a peninsula run while most years it is a loop race, starting and finishing in Ensenada.

This year’s 672.85-mile race will start for the 35th time and finish for the 20th time in Ensenada. The motorcycle and ATV classes will start their journey at 6:30 a.m. (PST, Friday, Nov. 20) with the car and truck classes starting at approximately 10:30 a.m., or three hours after the last ATV leaves the line. Vehicles will leave in 30-second intervals in the elapsed-time race and while the fastest finishers are expected to complete the course in approximately 14 hours. All vehicles will have a 31-hour time limit to become official finishers in the legendary adventure.

Rodrigo Ampudia Jr., of Ensenada, splits driving in Class 8 with his father Rodrigo Sr. while Cisco Bio and his father Pancho Bio, of El Cajon, Calif., will share the driving in two classes—Cisco as driver of record in SCORE Lite and Pancho as DOR in Class 9.

B.J. Baldwin and his father Bobby Baldwin, of Las Vegas, drive separate Chevy Silverado trucks in the featured SCORE Trophy-Truck division while Rod Hall will drive in two classes, one with each of his sons.

The venerable Hall, Reno, Nev., is only individual who has raced in all 41 previous Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 races.

The legendary Hall has a race-record 19 career class wins in this event and is the only driver to have competed every year (all in a car or truck class). Hall, who will turn 72 on Nov. 22, will be looking for two class wins this year as he is entered as the second driver for his sons Josh and Chad Hall in Hummer H3 vehicles in both the Stock Mini and Stock Full classes.

The three-generation McMillin Racing family, who all live in the San Diego area, continue to follow in the racetracks of family patriarch Corky McMillin, who raced until shortly before he passed away at 76 in 2006.

Corky’s sons Mark and Scott will both drive in the marquee SCORE Trophy-Truck division. Mark will share driving with longtime team member Brian Ewalt while Scott will be the second driver for his son Andy, who won the 2006 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 driving with Robby Gordon.

Mark’s sons Daniel and Luke McMillin will share the driving in a Class 1-2/1600 entry.

McMillin Racing has 12 class wins in the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, led by Mark McMillin’s eight class wins which includes five overall titles.

Another prominent Mexican race team, Gus Vildosola Jr. and Gus Vildosola Sr., share the driving in a Ford F-150 in the SCORE Trophy-Truck division.

Wilson Motorsports of Long Beach, Calif., is another of the prominent multi-generational SCORE Baja race teams. In this year’s race, Randy Wilson and his brother Ronny will team up in Class 1 where Randy is the current class point leader heading into the season finale. In Class 1-2/1600, cousins Brian Wilson and Brad Wilson will share driving with Las Vegas’ Sammy Ehrenberg. Brian Wilson enters the race currently tied for the Class 1-2/1600 point lead.

The only husband/wife combination entered as drivers of record this year are Cameron Steele and Heidi Steele of San Clemente, Calif. Cameron Steele races in SCORE Trophy-Truck while Heidi Steele is the Class 6 point leader in her Ford Ranger.

Both racing in motorcycle classes, leading the brother and sister racers entered this year are Quinn Cody and Anna Cody. Quinn Cody, Los Olivos, Calif., is a team rider for Johnny Campbell Racing in the open Class 22 while Anna Cody, Simi Valley, Calif., is the rider of record for a strong team in Class 20.

Among the other father/son teams competing together are Las Vegas’ Rudy and Carlos Cortez (Class 1), Stuart Chase, Burbank, Calif. and Eric Chase, San Diego (Class 1), Mexico’s Carlos and Gerardo Iribe (Class 1-2/1600), Mark and Shea McIntyre, Oakland, Calif. (Class 1-2/1600), Dan and Thomas Chamlee, Carpenteria, Calif. (Class 7), Lee and Lee Banning Jr. (SCORE Lite), Luis and Luis Barragan Jr., Mexicali, Mexico (SCORE Lite), Brian and Cody Parkhouse, Long Beach, Calif. (SCORE Lite) along with Ron and Jeremy Purvines, Henderson, Nev. (Class 21).

John Langley, the Producer of the popular COPS Television show, has two family vehicles entered in the SCORE Lite class. He is driver of record in one vehicle with his son Zak as a co-driver and his other son Morgan is driver of record in the second vehicle.

This year’s race also features two sets of twin brothers racing together. Arturo and Able Velazco, Banning, Calif. (Class 1-2/1600) and Matt and Max Eddy, Barstow., Calif. (Class 22) are the two sets of twins.

Leading the brothers racing separately are England’s Darren and Gavin Skilton. Darren Skilton races in Class 3 while Gavin Skilton competes in the Stock Mini class. The brothers each won their respective classes in this race last year.

Among the other brothers racing together are: Phoenix’s Nick, Larry and Mike Vanderwey (SCORE Trophy-Truck), Eric and Hiram Duran, Tecate, Calif. (Class 1-2/1600), Sacramento’s Donald and Kenneth Moss (Class 3), Scott Wisdom, Lake Forest, Calif. and Brady Wisdom, Huntington Beach, Calif. (SCORE Lite) and Ryan and Connor Penhall, Corona, Calif. (Class 22).

The race will start and finish on Boulevard Costero adjacent to the picturesque Bahia de Todos Santos in front of the historical Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center in the heart of Ensenada.

Pre-running on the 672.85-mile loop course officially began this past Saturday. Pre-running is allowed from Ojos Negros and back, starting at race mile 43.3. One way pre-running from the start to Ojos Negros will be allowed only on Wednesday and Thursday of race week (Nov. 18 and 19). During the race, the first section of the course, approximately 40 miles, will be used both leaving the city and returning to Ensenada.

While late entries are accepted up to race day, a total of 326 entries have officially been accepted for the race as of today which will put the starting field in the top 10 in the 42-year history of the storied event.

The car and truck classes with the most entries to date are SCORE Trophy-Truck (35), Class 1 (24), Class 1-2/1600 (15) and SCORE Lite (14) and Class 10 (10).

Among the motorcycle and ATV classes, the open motorcycle Class 22 has the most entries to date with 18 followed by Class 30, riders 30 years old and over, which has 13.

Leading the six Sportsman classes in the race is Sportsman Motorcycle over 250cc which has 37 entries and Sportsman Motorcycle under 250cc which has 15 entries to date.

The defending overall champions are all in this year’s field: Roger Norman, Reno, Nev./Larry Roeseler, Boulevard, Calif., in the No. 8 Norman Motorsports BFGoodrich Tires Ford F-150 SCORE Trophy-Truck, the No. 1x Class 22 open motorcycle team led by Robby Bell, Sun City, Calif., on a Kawasaki KX450 and the No. 1a Class 24 open ATV team led by Wayne Matlock, El Cajon, Calif., on a Honda TRX700XX.

With massive crowds reaching nearly 250,000 anticipated to again be spread out along the rugged course that travels from Ensenada to Ojos Negros, east down Laguna Salada to San Felipe, down through the legendary Matomi Wash, around Mike’s Sky Ranch, through both Rancho Las Truchas and Rancho El Coyote, down the infamous Simpson’s Hill and back to the Pacific Coast below San Vicente and up through Santo Tomas, Uruapan and back to Ojos Negros, covering much of the northern half of the majestic Baja California peninsula to and from Ensenada.

Pre-race festivities on Thursday, Nov. 19, for the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, including the vastly popular tech and contingency of all vehicles and the SCORE Manufacturer’s Midway will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Boulevard Costero in front of the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center. The pre-race mandatory driver/rider briefing will be held Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. in the Cathedral Room at the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center. Racer and media registration will be held at the San Nicolas Resort Hotel from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 18 and from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19.

The post-race Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 Survivor’s Celebration will be held poolside at the San Nicolas Resort Hotel at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 22.

This year’s Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race will be televised on a delayed basis as a one-hour NBC Sports special, in association with SCORE and Aura360, for the sixth consecutive year. It is scheduled to air on NBC at 2 p.m. (EST) on Sunday, Dec. 19 on the NBC Television Network. It will also air on a delayed basis outside of the U.S. on ESPN International.

In addition to season point class point championships, drivers in the Pro car and truck classes are also racing to earn prestigious SCORE Toyota Milestone Awards given to all drivers who complete every required mile of the five-race season. Being presented by Toyota Motorsports for the 24th consecutive year, a total of 16 drivers remain eligible after Round 4 of the 2009 SCORE Desert Series.

This race also features the prestigious Sal Fish SCORE IronRider awards presented to each motorcycle or ATV rider who completes the course within the time limit while riding solo. To date, 28 individuals have officially declared that they will be attempting to complete the course riding solo.

Current SCORE official annual sponsors are: BFGoodrich Tires-official tire, Volkswagen of America-official vehicle, Sunoco Race Fuels -official fuel supplier, Bilstein-official shock, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance-official Mexican auto insurance, Slime-official tire sealant and Red Bull--official energy drink. Associate sponsors are: Tecate Beer, Coca-Cola of Mexico, Las Vegas Events, Terrible Herbst Inc., Blue C Enthusiast Advertising, SignPros, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie’s Performance Products and Advanced Color Graphics.

Additional associate sponsors for the 2009 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 are Proturismo de Ensenada and the State Tourism Department of Baja California.

For more information regarding the series, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters 818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the 2009 SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com.



2009 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000

Final round of five race 2009 SCORE Desert Series

Nov. 19-22 -- Ensenada, Mexico

TOTAL ENTRIES: 326 (39 States, 14 Countries)(as of 11/9/09)

All-Time Starters, Finishers, Race Sites

1967

Tijuana to La Paz

Total Starters: 68, Total Finishers: 31

1968

Ensenada to La Paz

Total Starters: 243, Total Finishers: 106

1969

Ensenada to La Paz

Total Starters: 247, Total Finishers: 96

1970

Ensenada to La Paz

Total Starters: 261, Total Finishers: 145

1971

Ensenada to La Paz

Total Starters: 222, Total Finishers: 116

1972

Mexicali to La Paz
Total Starters: 245, Total Finishers: 98

1973

Ensenada to La Paz

Total Starters: 143, Total Finishers: 73

1974

NO RACE (Fuel Crisis)

1975

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 235, Total Finishers: 86

1976

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 218, Total Finishers: 74

1977

Ensenada to Ensenada
Total Starters: 346, Total Finishers: 123

1978

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 219, Total Finishers: 56

1979

Ensenada to La Paz

Total Starters: 244, Total Finishers: 121

1980

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 255, Total Finishers: 104

1981

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 250, Total Finishers: 85

1982

Ensenada to La Paz

Total Starters: 135, Total Finishers: 69

1983

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 248, Total Finishers: 76

1984

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 169, Total Finishers: 75

1985

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 211, Total Finishers: 111

1986

Ensenada to La Paz

Total Starters: 237, Total Finishers: 147

1987

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 314, Total Finishers: 180

1988

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 329, Total Finishers: 163

1989

Ensenada to La Paz

Total Starters: 286, Total Finishers: 176

1990

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 308 Total Finishers: 162

1991

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 271, Total Finishers: 124

1992

Ensenada to La Paz

Total Starters: 307, Total Finishers: 189

1993

Mexicali to Mexicali

Total Starters: 260, Total Finishers: 96

1994

Mexicali to Mexicali

Total Starters: 281, Total Finishers: 120

1995

Tijuana to La Paz

Total Starters: 283, Total Finishers: 160

1996

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 220, Total Finishers: 113

1997

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 221, Total Finishers: 130

1998

Santo Tomas to La Paz

Total Starters: 207, Total Finishers: 123

1999

Ojos Negros to Ojos Negros

Total Starters: 238, Total Finishers: 101

2000

Tecate SCORE Baja 2000

Ensenada to Cabo San Lucas

Total Starters: 262, Total Finishers: 184

2001

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 219, Total Finishers: 102

2002

Ensenada to La Paz

Total Starters: 234, Total Finishers: 151

2003

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 272, Total Finishers: 153

2004

Ensenada to La Paz

Total Starters: 284, Total Finishers: 198

2005

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 342, Total Finishers: 163

2006

Ensenada to La Paz

*Total Starters: 431, Total Finishers: 234

2007

Ensenada to Cabo San Lucas

Total Starters: 424, Total Finishers: 237**

2008

Ensenada to Ensenada

Total Starters: 347, Total Finishers: 227



*Event Record-Starters

**Event Record-Finishers



All-Time Start Sites

Times, City

34-Ensenada

3-Mexicali

2-Tijuana

1-Ojos Negros

1-Santo Tomas

All-Time Finish Sites

Times, City

19-Ensenada

17-La Paz

2-Mexicali

2-Cabo San Lucas

1-Ojos Negros



Top Total Starters

Year, Number (Finishers)

2006—431 Starters (234 Finishers)

2007—424 Starters (237 Finishers)

2008—347 Starters (227 Finishers)

1977—346 Starters (123 Finishers)

2005—342 Starters (163 Finishers)

1988—329 Starters (163 Finishers)

1987—314 Starters (180 Finishers)

1990—308 Starters (162 Finishers)

1992—307 Starters (189 Finishers)

1989—286 Starters (176 Finishers)

2004—284 Starters (198 Finishers)

1995—283 Starters (160 Finishers)

1994—281 Starters (120 Finishers)

2003—272 Starters (153 Finishers)

1991—271 Starters (124 Finishers)

Top Total Finishers

Year, Number (Starters)

2007—237 Finishers (424 Starters)

2006—234 Finishers (431 Starters)

2008—227 Finishers (347 Starters)

2004—198 Finishers (284 Starters)

1992—189 Finishers (307 Starters)

2000—184 Finishers (262 Starters)

1987—180 Finishers (314 Starters)

1989—176 Finishers (286 Starters)

2005—163 Finishers (342 Starters)

1988—163 Finishers (329 Starters)

1990—162 Finishers (308 Starters)

1995—160 Finishers (283 Starters)

2003—153 Finishers (272 Starters)

2002—151 Finishers (234 Starters)

1986—147 Finishers (237 Starters)

No excuses for racers at the Baja 1000

SCORE has posted some pdf files showing exactly what they want to see for speed zones and course compliance.
http://www.score-international.com/races/1124/Tecate_SCORE_Baja_1000/2009.aspx
Please read and review the info.

2009 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000

Explanation of Rules Enforcement

SCORE has had the privilege of organizing/sanctioning races on the Baja Peninsula for some 36 plus years and as in life,

nothing stays the same. What once was a wild frontier is now fast becoming a rapidly growing society. We have had to

constantly adapt and make concessions to the authorities because of the rapid expansion of farmlands, and safety concerns

for the growing population. We have to accept stipulations from the federal highway police that we will not speed or act

irresponsibly on the highways. Furthermore, our negotiations with ejido landowners requires that we will conduct ourselves

in a professional manner and respect their property in exchange for the privilege to race across their land. Without their

cooperation, there would not be the Baja racing we have come to know and love. As a result, we have had to initiate

"Speed Zones" and "Course Compliance.”

We have made adjustments along the way - GPS was introduced a few years back, then came Tracking Devices, then IRC Live

Tracking and now computerized enforcement of Speed Zones and Course Compliance.

At the Baja 500 in June, we informed the race participants that a complete tracking review of each finisher would occur prior

to release of class results. We were faced with having to enforce an overwhelming amount of rule infractions based on the

tracking data. Many learned a valuable lesson that day, including SCORE. We learned the racers needed a better line of

pre-race communication, as well as a better course definition to go along with the stricter enforcement. We recognized that

the racers need representation and the ability to take an active part in the process.

As a result, we have taken the following steps:

- Provided a clear and concise course description.

- Developed proprietary data file auditing software.

- Provide a system of virtual check points to indicate special areas of concern.

- Identified Multiple Legal Lines

- IRC now offers a back-up tracking device for missing data.

- Implementation of a Tracking Review Committee.

- Generate next day official results.

These changes came about from listening to racer concerns, comments and suggestions. We have also received hard work

from a few volunteers. We sincerely hope that these tools and procedures will help produce fair and successful racing.

Course description:

We wish to better inform the racing community of the sensitive areas of concern with more descriptive course notes and

provide many forms of electronic data such as Google Earth, GPX, USR files and a multi page PDF indicating "Either Or's"

"Virtual Check Points" and “Speed Zones”.

Proprietary data file auditing software:

We have had a custom program developed to compute course compliance and automatically issue penalties for speed zone

violations and course deviations. The software will compare racer's recorded data to a course template within a general

tolerance. That tolerance will be tightened up in areas of concern and loosened up in areas of multiple legal lines.

System of virtual check points to indicate special areas of concern:

This new feature of Virtual Checkpoints or "VCPs" is a series of waypoints that act as unmanned checkpoints in which you

must travel along the course much like a traditional manned checkpoint except you race through them without necessarily

stopping. Missing a VCP carries a ten minute penalty for each VCP missed. They are strategically placed to discourage short

coursing or to visually indicate sensitive areas of concern. The more sensitive areas will have more VCPs among them, thus

carrying a higher degree of potential penalties. Please review the course notes. Also, there is a list of GPS waypoints for all

the VCPs. It is the competitor’s responsibility to download and thoroughly study all race information that is posted on the

Related Downloads section of Baja 1000 race page on the SCORE website.

Multiple Legal Lines:

This feature has been added to preserve the spirit of Baja racing and to help offset some of the constraints of the other

sensitive areas.

Backup program for Missing IRC data:

Penalties are severe for missing data and are necessary to discourage any incentive to remove or tamper with the recording

device. Most racers now recognize the importance of having complete data at the finish line. Since any component on a race

vehicle is vulnerable to damage during the race, SCORE has provided the ability to rent a secondary officially recognized IRC

data recorder as a backup device at a discounted rate.

Tracking Review Committee:

A Tracking Review Committee (TRC) will be in place to monitor the auditing software. This Committee is comprised of a

three member "jury of your peers" veteran Baja racers equipped with double redundant backup systems for track review.

They will add a human component and review the files with a racers mentality whenever a questionable irregularity shows up.

This system is kept pure through the anonymous coding of all track files. The TRC will not know the true identity of any file it

is reviewing until way beyond the posting of the official results.

Generate next day official results:

Through the use of the new track auditing software