Race-record course of 542.12 Golden Anniversary miles set for upcoming 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500

SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Clark, dominiccnv@aol.com

May 10, 2018

May 29-June 3

Race-record course of 542.12 Golden Anniversary miles

set for upcoming 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500  

 

141 entries to date from 23 U.S. States, U.S. Territory Puerto Rico;

host Mexico, Argentina, Canada, Japan, Italy, New Zealand

for Round 2 of four-race 2018 SCORE World Desert Championship;

more info at http://score-international.com/raceinfo/2018-baja-500/

     ENSENADA, Baja California, Mexico—In its continuing quest to bring quality, safe and memorable events to the motorsports world, a race-record course of 542.12 miles has been announced by SCORE International for the upcoming golden anniversary of the legendary BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500.

     Round 2 of the four-race 2018 SCORE World Desert Championship will be held May 29-June 3. The celebratory internationally-televised race will start and finish in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, the seaside port on the Pacific Ocean, 80 miles south of San Diego.

     To accommodate the much longer race course, SCORE has increased the time limit to be an official finisher and SCORE has also pushed back the start times on Saturday, June 2.

RECORD LONG COURSE

     The Golden Anniversary course, designed and finalized by SCORE CEO/President Roger Norman and SCORE Race Director Jose A. Grijalva is an astounding race-record 542.12 miles. The course will run in a clockwise direction. The first and last 19.5 miles will be shared course outbound and inbound.

     Starting and finishing once again in the heart of Ensenada in front of the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center, it will quickly leave the pavement and head up the spectator-friendly Ensenada Arroyo for two miles as it heads out of town. Upwards of 50,000 spectators are expected to watch the race in that area alone.

     The historic race course is another memorable example of all that Mexico’s Baja California has to offer, including high-speed dirt trails, sandy, rocky and silty natural terrain, majestic Baja washes and canyons, stretches along the seashore with elevations from sea level to over 3,000 feet. The course will be another jewel reflecting the mesmerizing, stark beauty of Baja California.

     This year’s anniversary course will have four physical checkpoints—Checkpoint No. 1-El Chinero, (Race Mile 174.20), Checkpoint No. 2-San Matias (RM 260.72), Checkpoint No. 3-Vicente Guerrero (RM 368.15) and Checkpoint No. 4-Santo Tomas (RM 466.83).

     Reflecting on the course, Grijalva commented, “This is going to be the roughest, toughest, longest and most spectacular SCORE Baja 500 race course in its 50 years of existence without exception. Reflecting Roger’s desire to have at least 500 miles on dirt we have a final course of 542.12 miles to ensure that and we extended the time limit to 22 hours as well as starting the two groups two hours earlier on June 2.”

     “Because of the difficulty of this course, we are now requiring all Sportsman classes and Class 11 to miss a brutally-tough section of the route near La Ventana on the north side of Highway 3. This will reduce the total distance for those classes to approximately 473 miles while keeping the time limit for those classes at 22 hours.”

     “For safety reasons all Sportsman entries and Pro Moto and Pro quad vehicles reaching a checkpoint after its closing time will be stopped and removed from the race as non-finishers.”

     “After going up to Mike’s Sky Rancho and back around Rancho Meling, several new trails will be used to get over to the Pacific Coast near Vicente Guerrero.”

     Among the other towns, areas and landmarks the course goes through or near are Ensenada Arroyo, Ojos Negros, the Goat Trail, Valle de Trinidad, Diablo Dry Lake Bed, Las Cuevitas Wash, Mike’s Sky Rancho, Rancho El Coyote, Rancho Meling, Camalu, Colonet, Colonet Wash and Erendira..

COURSE MAP

     The official 542.12-mile course map is now available on the SCORE website at the following link…http://score-international.com/raceinfo/2018-baja-500-course-map/.

PRE-RUNNING

     Official practice, or pre-running, on the official race course for this year’s BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500 will begin next Saturday, May 19. Pre-running will start near race mile 38 and that section from the start to race mile 38 may only be run outbound on Thursday and Friday of race-week. For safety reasons new trails will be used for the race course in the Ojos Negros area.

DETAILS

     Most the world’s best desert racers will be in action at this year’s celebration of the golden anniversary of one of the top 10 motorsports events in the entire world.

     It is an elapsed-time race with staggered starts as the green flag on Saturday (June 3) will drop first for the motorcycles and quads at 3:30 a.m. (PDT) and approximately 8 a.m. (PDT) for the cars, trucks and UTVs. While the fastest vehicles are expected to finish in around 11 hours, all vehicles will have a 22-hour time limit from the time each starts to become an official finisher.

     Over 350 vehicles, in classes for cars, trucks, utvs, motorcycles and quads, are expected at the start line with racers from as many as 30 U.S. States and 20 countries anticipated.

     Race title sponsor BFGoodrich Tires has posted a US$25,000 contingency bonus to help commemorate this year’s race.

THE COUNT

     The total of 140 entries to date have come from 23 States in the U.S.A., U.S. Territory-Puerto Rico along with host country Mexico, Argentina, Canada, Italy, Japan and New Zealand.

     States among the field range so far from California, Washington and Oregon in the Pacific West, Nevada, Idaho, Arizona, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico in the Mountain West, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut in the Northeast, Illinois, Ohio, South Dakota, Kansas and Texas in the Midwest and North Carolina and Tennessee in the South.

     Leading the early entries is the marquee SCORE Trophy Truck division for high-tech, 950-horsepower, unlimited custom trucks with 24 official entries as of today.

     Included on the early entry list in SCORE Trophy Truck are former SCORE Baja 500 overall winners Rob MacCachren (1996), Robby Gordon (1989, 1990, 2005 and 2013), B.J. Baldwin (2007) and Andy McMillin (2010 and 2017).

     SCORE Trophy Truck, in its 25th year as the featured racing division in the sport, have been the overall winners of the SCORE Baja 500 for the last eight consecutive years and 13 of the last 14.

     Other classes with double-figure entries so far are Pro UTV FI (Forced Induction) with 19, Trophy Truck Spec with 11 and Class 10 with 10 entries.

ONLINE RACER REGISTRATION

     Online registration, by class, for Pro and Sportsman entries, is ongoing through the SCORE website. Information on all SCORE races can be found on the home page under the Race Info tab.

     For more info, visit http://score-international.com/raceinfo/2018-baja-500/.

     Official entries received after the drawing will be given the next available starting position within their respective classes. Online entries will be accepted until 8 p.m. (PDT) on Wednesday, May 23.

GRAN HISTORIA

     Following last year’s epic celebration of the 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000, this year’s SCORE World Desert Championship spotlights the special tribute to the 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500.

     The SCORE Baja 500 is one of the top motorsports events in the world. It was started originally in 1969 by the NORRA organization. Mickey Thompson and his SCORE International organization were invited by the Mexican government to take over the event in 1974. Sal Fish ran and later owned and produced the SCORE Baja 500 for 39 years until he sold SCORE to Roger and Elise Norman in December of 2012.

     This year will be the 45th time the race has started and 41st time it will finish in Ensenada, the off-road capital of the world.

START ORDER/DRAW DEADLINE

     The starting order within each class for this race will start with the finishing order from this year’s SCORE San Felipe 250, if the individual entry is received by Monday, May 21 and paid in full by May 23. For racers who were DNFs in San Felipe but enter by the deadline, a special drawing will be held for them prior to the other entries that come in for each class.

     The deadline for those that raced in San Felipe to activate their reserved start position is 8 p.m. PDT on Monday, May 21. Deadline for all additional entries to be included in the drawing for starting positions is on 8 p.m. PDT Wednesday, May 23.  The results of the drawing, to determine the remainder of the start order within each class, will be held announced on Friday, May 25.

     No new entries will be accepted after 8 p.m. PDT on Wednesday, May 23. Late, on-site racer registration will be held on Wednesday, Thursday andFriday (May 29-30, June 1).

GRANDEST CO-GRAND MARSHALS

     Legendary Hall of Fame former SCORE owner Sal Fish will join Hall of Fame retired racer Ivan Stewart as co-Grand Marshals for the 50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500.

     Fish, the ‘godfather’ of desert racing who ran SCORE from its Baja start in 1974 for 38 years through the end of the 2012 season joins the iconic ‘Ironman’ Stewart, who has 17 class wins (including 10 overalls) in the SCORE Baja 500, to share duties for the special golden anniversary race that they both have been such a major part of over the years.

     Fish, who turned 79 on May 2 and Stewart will turn 73 on June 4.

SCOREscope

     Below is the four-race 2018 SCORE World Desert Championship schedule. For the third consecutive year all four races are being held in Baja California, Mexico. Here is the complete 2018 SCORE World Desert Championship schedule:

32nd SCORE San Felipe 250, April 4-April 8, San Felipe, Mexico
50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500, May 29-June 3, Ensenada Mexico
Tijuana 22nd SCORE Desert Challenge, Sept. 19-23, Tijuana, Mexico
51st SCORE Baja 1000, Nov.14-18, Ensenada, Mexico

SCORE SPONSORS…

     Official SCORE Sponsors: BFGoodrich Tires-Official Tire and official race title sponsor, Monster Energy-Official Energy Drink, King Shocks-Official Shock Absorber, Polaris RZR-Official UTV, RACELINE Wheels-Official Wheel, VP Racing Fuels-Official Fuel, Wide Open Excursions-Official Arrive and Drive Company, Crystal Bay Casino-Official Casino.

     SCORE Official Partners: PCI Race Radios, 4 Wheel Parts, The Satellite Phone Store, Satellite Del Norte, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance, CETTO Vineyards.

     Additional SCORE Associate Partners: Proturismo Ensenada, Baja California Secretary of Tourism, Baja California Sur State Government, Baja California Sur Secretary of Tourism, Mexicali Ayuntamiento, COTUCO Mexicali/San Felipe, Cruz Roja Mexicana, Corporate Helicopters, McKenzie’s Performance Products, Advanced Color Graphics.

     Tijuana SCORE Desert Challenge Special Partners: XXII Ayuntamiento de Tijuana, Baja California State Secretary of Tourism, Comite de Turismo and Convenciones, Comite de Marcadotecnia Turistica, Asociacion de Hoteles del Noroeste.

     For more information regarding SCORE, visit the official website of the SCORE World Desert Championship at www.SCOREInternational.com.

50th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500

May 29-June 3, 2018—510 miles –Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico

Total Entries: 141 (as of 5/10/18)

(from 23 U.S. States, U.S. Territory-Puerto Rico and Argentina, Canada, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand)

(numerical order, by class)

Pro Cars/Trucks/UTVs

SCORE TROPHY TRUCK (24)

6 Larry Connor

11 Rob MacCachren

*12L Gustavo Vildosola Sr

15 Billy Wilson

16 Cameron Steele

19 Tim Herbst

23 Dan McMillin

26 Dave Taylor

27 Jonathan Brenthel

30 Robbie Pierce

31 Andy McMillin

44 Jayson Strachan

45 Gary Magness

50 Zak Langley

60 Cole Potts

72 Aaron Ciliceo

*72L Rob Reinertson

77 Robby Gordon

*81L David Westhem

83 Luke McMillin

85 Mike Lawrence

87 Dallas Lutrell

95 Victor Gruber

97 B.J. Baldwin

*SCORE TT LEGEND

CLASS 1 (8)

100 Brian Wilson

127 Brian Parkhouse

129 Brandon Bailey

139 Jeff Sanca

150 Morgan Langley

153 Brad Wilson

168 Shelby Reid

185 Justin Davis

TROPHY TRUCK SPEC (11)

208 Andrew Entwistle

210 Ted Moncure

212 Case Swenson

225 Brian Trotter

232 Chelsea Magness

250 John Langley

266 Scott Biernot

267 Hammond Meredith

269 John Lehman

273 Jordan Brenthel

295 William Hedrick Jr

CLASS 10 (10)

1002 Clay Lawrence

1022 Rafael Aguirre

1036 Corey Goin

1040 Matt Rusich

1062 J.J. Schnarr

1068 Cody Reid

1072 Karl Ebdrup

1073 Richard Glaszczak

1078 Augie Cortez

1088 Adam McCollum

HAMMER TRUCK UNLTD (1)

4422 Casey Currie

CLASS 8 (1)

852 Spencer Morgan

CLASS 1/2-1600 (5)

1605 Miguel Cortez

1609 J. David Ruvalcaba

1613 Dana Jussila

1625 Eric Pavolka

1644 Cesar Fiscal

SCORE LITES (6)

1202 Matias Arjona IV

1206 Matt Ferrato

1237 Jesus de la Torre

1238 Robert Illian

1240 Miguel Bonilla

1258 Jeremy Davis

CLASS 7 (2)

700 Dan Chamlee

709 Jeff Proctor

CLASS 5 (3)

501 Mark McNeil

507 Greg Sullivan

527 Dustin Gravowski

Pro UTV FI (19)

2900 Marc Burnett

2903 Juan Martinez

2906 Phil Blurton

2912 Tony Riggs

2918 Justin Lambert

2919 Brandon Schueler

2920 Dan Eckardt

2922 Aldo Salazar

2924 Lacrecia Beurrier

2931 Craig Scanlon

2936 Jacob Carver

2948 Matt Burroughs

2951 Robert Beuchat

2966 Rhys Millen

2971 Wayne Matlock

2975 Mike Cafro

2980 Rodney Pyburn

2981 Jesse Combs

2995 Daniel Parker

Pro UTV (6)

1906 Mark Levrett

1954 Kristen Matlock

1962 Dodge Poelman

1966 Steve Nottoli

1985 Adrian Orellana

1995 Kaden Wells

CLASS 5-1600 (2)

562 David Heredia

596 Mark Winston

VINTAGE TRAILBLAZER (2)

V129 Peter Alesi Jr

V911 Timothy Vail

CLASS 11 (4)

1111 Eric Solorzano

1149 Victor Esparza

1156 Art Penner

1164 John Marshall

1100 Dennis Hollenbeck

1117 Hector Maymes-1st RS

Sportsman

SPT UNLIMITED TRUCK (1)

1492 Mark Stevens

SPT UTV UNLIMITED (1)

1818 Jessalyn Farrington

SPT UTV STOCK NA (1)

3975 Torrey Rush

Pro Motorcycles

PRO MOTO UNLIMITED (7)

4x Santiago Creel

7x Justin Morgan

17x Wyatt Brittner

19x Scott Myers

66x Santiago Creel

69x Kenny Wilson

82x Tanner Dutton

PRO MOTO 40 (1)

402x Michael Wolff

PRO MOTO 30 (4)

300x Ryan Liebelt

333x Chad Thornton

360x Santiago Creel

377x Justin Hansen

PRO MOTO 50 (2)

506x Mark Adams

510x Giovanni Spinali

PRO MOTO LIMITED (1)

100x Santiago Creel

PRO MOTO IRONMAN (5)

714x Lawrence Janesky

722x Liz Karcz

730x Francisco Septien

775x Tanner Janesky

799x Tomer Tal

PRO MOTO 60 (2)

602x Oscar Ochoa

608x Eizaburo Karaswa

Pro Quads

Pro Quad (1)

1a Said Sanchez

Sportsman

SPT M/C (9)

210x Arturo Parada

213x Bradley Loveday

226x Jeremy Baker

235x Brad Baker

236x Tadao Ezure

237x Bobby Wilbanks

247x Michael Boge

250x Alimirio Amado

275x Eric Saltzer

SPT QUAD (2)

123a Ismael Hernandez

150a Richard Epperson