Who's Gonna Die?!
Just Another Baja Race with more victims!
UPDATED! June 3, 2009
***CLICK HERE***
LIVE! WEBCAST JUNE 5, 2009
2009 Baja 500 - 20 Hours To Finish
RaceDay Saturday, June 6. The race will Start at 5 AM and Finish in front of the Riviera Convention Center on Boulevard Costero.
CHECKPOINT 1 – SANTA CATARINA CATTLE GUARD / MILE 87.3 – SATURDAY @ 11:00 PM.
CHECKPOINT 2 – BORREGO HWY 3 CROSSING / MILE 199.2 – SUNDAY @ 3:00 AM.
CHECKPOINT 3 – SAN VICENTE VINEYARDS / MILE 296.8 – SUNDAY @ 5:00 AM.
CHECKPOINT 4 – WEST OF OJOS NEGROS / MILE 389.8 – SUNDAY @ 6:00 AM.
FINISH LINE CLOSES ON SUNDAY JUNE 7, 8 AM.
PRE-RUN REPORTS
CLICK HERE PRE-RUNNING PICTURES CLICK HERE
Last Pre-Run Notes before the start:
Note 3: "Just returned from pre-running to race mile 200 or so. From about race mile 85 or so going up to the summit all the way down to borrego, it's got it all and it's in bad shape. Huge rocks, deep holes, silt beds after saldana, long deep whoop sections. very hard to get any rhythm and hard to get comfy. It's all torn to hell and will only get worse after the pre-run so tighten up your chinstraps." End Last Notes
Hot Talk: "McMillin Racing will be on hand for the Baja 500 this year. Just NOT racing. Observing. When Scott returns from Europe."
Another report: "The 2009 Baja 500, sanctioning body SCORE International, has lost 5 medics for rescue teams. The ambulance in Laughlin was hit by a race car, the volunteer non-profit service that owns it had to pay to fix, We will not chance the something with our trucks we use for rescue. The group of fire department guys just won't pay enough for the group to afford that we are sorry, we will miss you, if it affects you. So if you notice a shortage of crews for this years Baja 500, thank the German race team. Is that the same German race team that ran over the bike in the last 1k and then tried to cover it up? If it is maybe they need learn how to drive?" All German Motorsports in San Diego County.
From Gabriel Garcia:
"Contingency on Friday, June 5. The Carnaval de Ensenada
Each year, celebrations are held two very large and not just the traditional Carnival in this port, but the revisions of the mechanical Baja 1000 and 500, events that once became "family oriented" and had become the biggest booze-fest in Baja Mexico.
I'm not the only one who thinks this way and although it is a traditional off-road racing in events promoted by Score International in Ensenada ceased to be safe, when pitched battles all the time, children drinking alcohol in large quantities, few police officers in the area of contingency and exhibitions of youth taking off their clothes, only to receive the gift of more beer!
I have to see and feel the atmosphere of insecurity that living in a mechanical review (contingency), is too the number of fans attending this activity, there is so many police officers in the city to be aware of them, there is no review by of the entries in this event in order to prevent someone entering with a knife or in the worst case, armed with a pistol.
[During most contingencies in Ensenada by SCORE, lots of arrests and mayhem break out after all the booze is consumed. During the 2005 Baja 500, the press reporters of Baja Racing News.com had bottles of beer fly past their heads, as the begining of a widespread riot broke out at the contingent booze overflow exploded late on that Friday afternoon at the major Mexican CF]
Many people who are really passionate of Off-Road tell me that they prefer not to send their children to contingency, for fear of being beaten in a pitched fist fight or even suggest that the fans don't like music bumpin' loud, responsible for turning on the mood of the audience with dances and offensive morals and threatening the well being of fans attending the party where children and women are present, as it is time the authorities take the locals into consideration.
Score International is the responsible party, as they are for the security of participants and the racers, many of them prefer that their race trucks are reviewed in their hotel for fear of theft or damage by the same Vandals and pseudo-fans who are present in the contingency, the same criminals involved in the narco-crimes now bringing down the Republic."
Class 1 Racing Report:
"1) ojos to highway ,fast same old thing no silt yet at tres hermanos but I am sure there will be some by race day
2) highway to borrego, rocky , there are several lines coming down the summit right is longer but not as rocky, left is faster but a good chance at a flat. There are several lines at the bottom we stayed in the main wash and it was pretty fast.
take some time to check out the area just off the lake bed, there several lines and some silt beds starting to form.
lake bed to borrego is fast but rocky and theres a few well hidden rocks use caution
3) borrego to the power station watch for rocks up the wash in san matias
check for the faster lines on bikes coming into the power station
4) beach has just been graded take it easy prerunning there was some traffic on sunday
5) we found fuel in erendida in town by the galon (should have hit san vicente)
6) urapan to ojos some technical hills that will get worse on race day
nothing to bad for bikes unless your running behind and get caught with the trucks and buggies. 1130 am on sat there was no diesel in san felipe."
"We are staying in bajamar first part of the week, then in a little dive behind the Bronco Steak house. I will be back down this saturday. Plan on running ojos to trinidad saturday. San Vicente to ojos sunday. Running the summit a couple of time during the week. Red class 1, 4 seater, raw 4 seat alumicraft. The hill just off the freeway wasnt bad (yet). In fact most of the course is in fair shape. It will be bad race day,there are 2 diffrent outs for the hill one through the field to the right the other stay on the road and turn right at the gate. The section from the power station in trinidad to the road out to the pacific will be bad race day and theres just no way around it. The road down to the beach was fast just watch out for the washout at about rm300 as you coming down off the the hill. Check the beach turn off RM 310/311 it was almost faster to go straight then use the cutoff(cutoff was really rocky) I will be in 603 since our 1 car was totaled ( bad bad roll at plaster city testing)"
Kendall Racing PRE-RUN Report:
"We had a good pre run. It was between 90 and 102 degrees during the day on the section from Laguna Salada to San Matias. From San Matias to Valle T it cooled down to the 70's. There is a really rocky jeep trail section about 15 miles north of borrego that is interesting. It isn't very long but it did take out my skidplate around there. It took well over an hour to cross the border at 9pm on sunday night at Mexicali. It really sucked."
More: "All in all team Hammernutrition had a good weekend. We dropped off my brother and Mike at Ojos Negros Saturday morning to run all the way to San Mateis. We met them at race mile 97,(or so),just before Nuevo Junction to gas them up and send them over the summit. Ted and I then drove to San Mateis to suit up and leave the trucks there. The only real problem was my brother getting heat exhaustion between Laguna Salada and Borrego. Some really great guys stopped to help him and ride out with him to the highway,( one of them I believe was a trophy truck driver-Mark Barnett, thank's guys!!! It just show's how tight the off road community is, it doesn't matter what you race.).
Ted and I rode from San Mateis to San Vicente, gassed up in San V. and rode back to the course. Then we rode to Erindira, Santo Tomas, Uruapan, then to Ojos. Saturday we left San Mateis at 1:00pm and didn't arrive at Ojos until 9:30. We did the ride again Sunday starting at Valle T. at 12:15 and arrived at Ojos at 4:10.
The second day I tried to run as close to a race pace as I could to show the newb Ted what to expect. I rode the entire weekend, 380 miles or so on a Yz125,(Damn my butt hurts! And I can't hear so well either. I am really looking forward to the race. I fell asleep each night going over the course in my head a dozen times."
More: "Our two teams ran a 3-ring leapfrog from Rm 36 to RM 395 over Saturday and Sunday. Not alot of people out, and the course was fairly pristine on Saturday but silt starting to show on Sunday. Weather was perfect everywhere but a little toasty in Laguna Salada. No issues or incidents of prerun buffoonery.
The Baja 500 pits ran a class act at Saldana, in Laguna Salada about RM 160, offering prerunners free bbq tacos, water, drinks and gas for sale. I really hope prerunners, especially the joy riders not even entered in the race, stuffed his jar.
Ensenada is dead - the cruise ships have not been making port calls because of the purported flu scare. It will be interesting to see how Score routes the course from/to the Riviera Convention Center, since the traditional entrance into the sandwash is clobbered with bridge construction, and two other bridges are being built down the wash.
The 4-lane widening of Hwy 3 from Ensenada - Tecate north towards the wine country is coming along nicely. Much of it is completed, but there are still areas under construction. Be especially careful if driving this at night. There is one nasty, sudden 10 ft drop in the center median that raised an eyebrow. Tecate border crossing at 9:15PM Sunday night was 10 minutes."
More: "We also went down and pre ran Friday- Sunday. We did the entire course and being rookies we had never seen the 500 course before. I was surprised on how rocky the course was from rm 119 to the lake bed. We were lucky enough to do the 1000 last year so most of the course is the same. Our team only saw Roesler and bikes the first day, and then we saw a few more teams yesterday when we went from Rm 265- 395. I only saw a Norman/Roesler pre-runner and a 1600 car, otherwise just a bunch of bikes and quads. Most of the terrain I went through was still very solid and not chewed up yet. The weather could NOT have been better though."
Moto News:
Scott Myers sheds some light on his 2008 program, his team mates, sponsors and Team Green. According to class 30 vet Scott Myers, Team Green has given its support for his program but it’s not to be confused with Factory Kawasaki returning to Baja.
There was a time when Kawasaki was very much involved in Baja racing with SCORE, but after the tragic death of Danny Hamel, Team Green left Baja indefinitely. Myers reports that Kawi has no plans of returning to Baja under its current leadership.
So then, what’s the deal with Myers KLX450?
Unlike a full racing program, Team Green has made a commitment to Myers and team by allowing for as many bikes, engines and parts as needed if, for nothing else, to see how the KLX handles in Baja. This is quite different than Team Green “doing” a full program in Baja. By letting Myers run his team the way he see’s fit, it prevents the possibility of corporate meddling and potential failures by keeping too many chefs in the kitchen. Myers sums the relationship up as an R&D effort for Kawi, more like product development endeavors for the KLX450, “They wanted to see what the KLX could do.”
So it’s not a “factory” effort although there is support from Team Green. The bikes, motors and parts come gratis from high above, but the management of team operations stays under the command of Myers. Jeff Sheets of JMS electrical is the number one sponsor for Team Myers and Kawi is a close second. Sheets does writing (checks).
The bikes come from Kawi and the motors go back to the Team Green race department at Kawi headquarters in Irvine CA. After that, Myers and his head mechanic John, do all of the other race prep.
Myers asserts that he is in class 30 for the long haul and that you won’t see him enter in class 22 (open pro) in SCORE.
With a win in class 30 in the Baja 500 he and his team set their sights on the 2008 Baja 1000, a loop throughout Northern Baja this November. Onboard the KLX will be Myers, Shane Esposito, Steve Gernett, Francisco Septien and Jeff Sheets. From the sound of Myers’ voice, they are stoked!"
PRE-RUN REPORTS END
Sanctioning Body Last Notices Before Race
Baja 500 - Race Briefing (5/28/09)
1) The Competitors Meeting will be held on Friday, June 5th at 7:00pm in the Cathedral Room of the Riviera Convention Center.
2) All competitors are reminded that off road racing is an inherently dangerous activity that can result in serious injury or even
death. YOU MUST BEAR THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY.
3) The roads used for this race course are open to the public. You must expect at all times to encounter oncoming traffic.
Be advised that spectators may engage in malicious activity. When approaching a group of spectators, slow down and be alert.
4) The speed limit for all race vehicles on all highway speed zones is 60 mph. This speed limit will be enforced with the IRC
tracking device. Passing on the highway sections must be made on the left-hand side only and within the 60 MPH speed limit.
All participants MUST possess a valid driver license while operating the race vehicle.
5) HIGHWAY SPEED ZONES - The five locations and penalty information can be found on the reverse side of this bulletin.
6) All competitors must do their part to protect and preserve the Baja ecological environment. Please instruct your team that it
is very important to properly dispose of all solid and liquid waste. Do not litter, start fires or drive cross country.
7) The race course is marked with orange/white ribbon, yellow reflective tape, orange directional arrows, green wrong ways,
and mile markers every five miles. SCORE cannot guarantee that course markings will still be in place on race day. It is the
responsibility of each competitor to race in a controlled manner and be able to slow down to avoid danger spots.
8) Four Wheel vehicles that are in a position to pass a motorcycle or atv MUST NOT ATTEMPT TO PASS UNTIL THE RIDER
HAS MOVED TO THE SIDE OF THE COURSE. Motorcycles and ATVs must remain aware of approaching traffic and move
over as quickly as possible. Four Wheel vehicles are ultimately responsible for the safety of passing. USE YOUR HORN!!!
9) SCORE will use 151.625 (Weatherman Relay) for the main race operations radio frequency. Please use this frequency to
report an emergency or ask for help.
10) Stub Cans WILL NOT used at this race. You are required to enter the four checkpoints in a single file manner and come to
a complete stop at the stop sign. The checkpoint corridor is not considered part of the race. Entering and exiting all checkpoints
must be done in a safe and prudent manner in order to guarantee the safety of all checkpoint workers.
11) Passing is not permitted 300 feet before a checkpoint. Pitting is not permitted within 300 feet before and 100 feet after a
checkpoint. Pitting is not permitted within 100 feet before or 100 feet after a paved highway crossing. No towing, pushing or
pulling through a checkpoint or greater than 1% of the course, which at this race is 4.3 miles.
12) Towing is NOT permitted within one mile of the finish line. However, wristbanded vehicle occupants are permitted to push a
disabled race vehicle within one mile of the finish line.
13) A competitor who is late for his assigned start time will start at the back of the class that is currently starting. The elapsed
time of a late starter begins with his DESIGNATED START TIME, not the late start time.
14) All classes have 20 HOURS from their designated start time to complete the race, provided that each checkpoint is cleared
within the scheduled closing time. Checkpoint locations and closing times are as follows:
CHECKPOINT 1 – SANTA CATARINA CATTLE GUARD / MILE 87.3 – SATURDAY @ 11:00PM.
CHECKPOINT 2 – BORREGO HWY 3 CROSSING / MILE 199.2 – SUNDAY @ 3:00AM.
CHECKPOINT 3 – SAN VICENTE VINEYARDS / MILE 296.8 – SUNDAY @ 5:00AM.
CHECKPOINT 4 – WEST OF OJOS NEGROS / MILE 389.8 – SUNDAY @ 6:00AM.
15) The race will Start and Finish in front of the Riviera Convention Center on Boulevard Costero.
16) Motorcycle and ATV classes will report to staging at 5:30AM for a 6:00AM start. One every 30 seconds in the following
order: 22, 30, 40, 21, 50, 20, 60, 25, 24, SPTMOTO>, SPTMOTO<, SPTATV, 26.
17) There will be a three hour gap between the last ATV starter and the first SCORE Trophy Truck starter.
18) Four Wheel vehicles will begin staging at 9:00AM and will start at APPROXIMATELY 10:00AM. One every 30 seconds in
the following order: TT, 1, 10, SL, 8, PT, 1/2-1600, 5, 6, 7, 5-1600, 7SX, SF, SM, 9, 3, SPTK, SPBG, 11, SPUTV.
19) FOUR WHEEL CLASS STAGING TIMES - TT(9:00AM), 1(9:10AM), 10(9:15AM), SL(9:20AM), 8(9:25AM), PT(9:30AM),
1/2-1600(9:35AM), 5(9:40AM), 6(9:45AM), 7(9:50AM), 5-1600(9:55AM), 7SX(10:00AM), SF(10:05AM), SM(10:10AM),
9(10:15AM), 3(10:20AM), SPTK(10:25AM), SPBG(10:30AM), 11(10:35AM), SPUTV(10:40AM).
20) LATE REGISTRATION at the Start Line will open on Saturday morning at 5:30AM inside the Riviera Convention Center.
21) A technical protest MUST be filed no later than 30 minutes after the first finisher out of the money in your class.
22) Results will become OFFICIAL after all IRC tracking data has been reviewed. The review process will take several days to
complete and official results will be posted on the SCORE website.
23) All of the following will take place at the San Nicolas Hotel. Unofficial Results will be posted at 8:00AM. The Competition
Review Board will meet at 9:00AM. The Awards Ceremony will be held poolside at 10:00AM. End Briefing
IMPORTANT SECURITY INFORMATION
SCORE INTERNATIONAL is proud to present the 41st annual Tecate SCORE
Baja 500 in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico on June 5-7, 2009.
In a continuous effort to provide the maximum security and safety to all
participants, sponsors and spectators attending the event, SCORE has
conducted meetings with Federal, State and Municipal law enforcement
agencies to arrange the necessary conditions to assure a safe and incident
free race.
It is important to mention that thanks to the support of the authorities, the
2008 and 2009 SCORE races in Baja Mexico reported no incidents related to
security issues. The various law enforcement authorities have agreed to
implement the same security measures as in the past with the same amount
of security personnel.
However, we urge you to use common sense while traveling in Baja Mexico.
· Travel in caravans, during the day and always observe the traffic and
speed signs.
· Carry a cell phone, and in case of an emergency call 066, which is the
equivalent of USA 911. A bilingual dispatcher will take your report and
send help.
· Always carry a valid driver license along with an automobile insurance
policy issued for coverage in Mexico. If you are involved in an
accident, immediately call one of the adjustors listed on the policy.
Please note that starting on June 1st 2009, all United States citizens
returning back into the USA, will be required to present a valid US passport.
A birth certificate or driver license will be no longer accepted as proof of
citizenship.
Have a pleasant and safe race in Mexico! End letter
BAJA TRAVEL-RACE SITUATION UPDATE
CLICK HERE***CLICK HERE***CLICK HERE
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
THURSDAY, JUNE 4 / San Nicolas Hotel
Express Racer Registration - 1:00PM to 2:00PM
Regular Racer Registration - 2:00PM to 6:00PM
Media Registration - 2:00PM to 6:00PM
FRIDAY, JUNE 5 / San Nicolas Hotel
Express Racer Registration - 8:30AM to 10:30AM
Regular Racer Registration - 10:30AM to 4:30PM
Media Center - 9:00AM to 5:00PM
FRIDAY, JUNE 5 / Costero Blvd Riviera Center
Contingency Row - 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Technical Inspection - 10:00AM to 6:00PM
FRIDAY, JUNE 5 / Riviera Convention Center
Competitors Meeting - 7:00PM
SATURDAY, JUNE 6 / Riviera Convention Center
Late Registration & Tech - 5:30AM
Media Center - 5:30AM
SATURDAY, JUNE 6 / Costero Blvd Riviera Center
Motorcycle & ATV Start - 6:00AM
Four Wheel Start - 10:00AM
SUNDAY, JUNE 7 / San Nicolas Hotel
Posting of Unofficial Results - 8:00AM
Competition Review Board - 9:00AM
Awards Presentation (poolside) - 10:00AM
TIME LIMIT - All competitors will have 20 hours from
their designated start time to complete the race.
START/FINISH LINE - The race will start and finish on
Costero Blvd in front of the Riviera Convention Center.
MOTO & ATV START ORDER - One every 30 seconds
in the following order - 22, 30, 40, 21, 50, 20, 60, 25, 24,
SPTMOTO>, SPTMOTO<, SPTATV, UTILITYATV. MOTORCYCLE & ATV STARTING GAP - There will be a three (3) hour gap between the last ATV starter and the first Trophy Truck starter. FOUR WHEEL START #1 - One every 30 seconds in the following order - TT, 1, 10, SL, 8, PT, 1/2-1600, 5, 6, 7, 5-1600, 7SX, SF, SM, 9, 3, SPTK, SPBG, 11, SPUTV. NO STUB CANS: Stub Cans will NOT be used. PRERUNNING INFORMATION Prerunning opens on Friday, May 22 Begin prerun at race mile 36.81 Located at Ojos Negros / HWY 3 @ KM 39 End prerun at race mile 394.60 Located west of Ojos Negros / HWY 3 @ KM 35.5 The start section (outbound traffic) will be open for prerunning on Thursday, June 4 and Friday, June 5 Prerunning is NOT PERMITTED on the finish section (inbound traffic) from Ojos Negros back to Ensenada
On Memorial Day weekend and May 30-31, pit services will be set up at approx RM 162 in Laguna Salada, near Ejido Saldana. In the past, they have sold gasoline and have had tools, water, and carne asada available. Just beware if you get started early and you beat them there Saturday morning. Last years Baja 500 is very similar to this year's, the pit services near RM 162, about 7 miles west of Hwy 5 KM 87, down a stutter bump road.
Mid-course, picking up prerunners or hauling, you need to know this: It's 37 miles from the power station at Valle de Trinidad to Llano Colorado on Hwy 1. Chase trucks with trailers westbound on that road, but your truck and trailer should be in great shape. The trailer will take a beating and you should obviously carry a couple of spares. Once the switchbacks start, there is not alot of room to pull over and you should constantly monitor your rear for prerunners.
If your prerun starts at RM 160-170, that truck has a lot of ground to cover to keep up with your racer. Suggest the truck drop you off at Hwy 5 and you ride into the course and then meet truck again at Borrego (RM 200).
PRESS REPORTS
San Diego Union: Bill Center
In case you hadn't noticed – and how could you not? – these are not good times for motorsports.
Yes, those were empty seats you saw Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and television ratings for the Indy 500 reached record lows.
Plus, it also rained on NASCAR's day, figuratively and literally. And who knows where all the problems in the auto industry will leave NASCAR at the end of this season.
But off-road racing has been hit particularly hard in recent years, staggered by the 1-2 combination of the economy (particularly in the construction industry, which is the backbone of most off-road teams) and violence in Mexico.
With its 41st Baja 500 less than two weeks away (June 6 with start-finish in Ensenada), SCORE is denying rumors that it might move the Baja 500 and Baja 1000 out of Baja California due to the violence issue.
And seven-time national Supercross/motocross champion Rick Johnson is bringing his infant The Off-Road Championship Series to Perris Auto Speedway tomorrow and Saturday night, hoping to relaunch closed-course off-road racing in the wake of the economy-driven collapse of the Chula Vista-based CORR Series.
First, let's address the SCORE rumors.
“The only thing that would keep SCORE from racing in Baja California is that if there was no racing in Baja California,” said veteran SCORE spokesman Dominic Clark, who admitted SCORE President Sal Fish has been approached about staging a race in Sonora in mainland Mexico.
SCORE is having problems. The entry list for the Baja 500 stands at 275 combined for motorcycles and four-wheel vehicles, which is about the average for the history of the race but substantially below recent numbers.
Fifty of those entries represent Mexican teams with participation from United States teams being down. And because of the economy, the course is the same as 2008 in hopes that cash-strapped teams wouldn't need to spend as much time and money pre-running.
But the biggest problem facing the Baja races is the violence south of the border, which has reduced the number of drivers and spectators.
“The Mexican government recognizes the importance of our races to the economy of Baja California and has been doing everything it can,” said Clark. “Security last year was the strongest I've ever seen.” Editors Note: Don't forget the Mexican Pig Flu!
Publicity Pieces from SCORE
"While defending overall champions B.J. Baldwin in 4-wheel vehicles, Kendall Norman in motorcycles and Wayne Matlock in ATVs are all looking to repeat, there will be no shortage of former overall winners in the starting grid for this weekend’s 41st Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500 desert race.
Among nearly 275 entries expected to take the green flag in Ensenada on Saturday are 16 driver/riders who have combined to win 46 overall car/truck, motorcycle and/or ATV titles, including drivers and riders from the last seven straight four-wheel, 11 of the last 12 motorcycle and last year’s ATV overall winners. The field also includes 71 racers who have combined for 187 class wins in the Baja 500.
Round 3 of the five-race 2009 SCORE Desert Series, the second-oldest desert race in the world and part of the World’s Foremost Desert Racing Series, will feature racers competing in 28 Pro and 6 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs. It will be held Thursday through Sunday 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 41st anniversary of the Tecate SCORE Baja 500.
In the 4-Wheel competition, former overall winners in the field hoping to unseat Baldwin will be Larry Roeseler (11 overall wins including nine on motorcycles), Robby Gordon and Troy Herbst (3 each), Brian Collins (2) and Mike Julson (splitting driving this year with Robbie Pierce), Curt LeDuc (with Nick Vanderwey), Rob MacCachren (with Mark Post) and Alan Pflueger (1 each). All, except Troy Herbst, race in SCORE Trophy-Truck. Herbst drives in Class 1 in the legendary Smithbuilt-Ford open-wheeler.
Among the motorcycle riders, former overall winners besides Norman in the field are Steve Hengeveld (6 overall motorcycle wins), Johnny Campbell (5) and Mike Childress and Craig Smith (1 each).
With late entries accepted up to race morning, over 275 entries are expected for the 432.51-mile race from 25 U.S. States from Hawaii to Vermont along with the additional countries of Mexico, Austria, Canada, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan and Portugal.
The green flag will drop for the race at 6 a.m. on Saturday 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. With vehicles starting one every 30 seconds in the elapsed-time race, it will start and finish in front of the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center on Boulevard Costero in the heart of Ensenada, leaving and returning into the city through the spectator-laden Arroyo Wash. While the fastest vehicles are expected to cover the course in approximately nine hours, there will be a 20-hour time limit for each vehicle to become an official finisher.
Last year, in the closest race in the 36-year history of SCORE Baja racing, Las Vegas’ B.J. Baldwin won the overall 4-wheel vehicle title by a mere seven seconds over the team of Mark Post, Laguna Beach, Calif./Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas. Baldwin, the reigning SCORE Trophy-Truck season point champion, will start third this year in his No. 1 Baldwin Motorsports Chevy Silverado while Post/MacCachren, the 2007 SCORE Trophy-Truck season point champions will start second in the No. 3 Riviera Racing Ford F-150.
With a new riding teammate this year in motocross star Tim Weigand, Santa Clarita, Calif., Kendall Norman, Santa Barbara, Calif., will be looking for his fourth consecutive overall motorcycle win on the No. 4x Johnny Campbell Racing Honda CRF450X. The pair won this year’s Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 in March.
Wayne Matlock, El Cajon, Calif., was the 2008 SCORE Class 25 and Overall ATV season point champion and is back to defend his overall ATV win in the Tecate SCORE Baja 500 on the No. 1a Honda TRX700XX. Splitting the riding with Matlock this year will be Harold Goodman, Brownstown, Mich., Josh Caster, El Cajon, Calif., and Wes Miller, Fallbrook, Calif. The team, minus Miller, won this year’s race riding together in San Felipe and Matlock is looking for his fifth straight SCORE Desert Series race win.
“What can I say except that I relish being in this position as the defending overall 4-wheel vehicle race champion and driving the No. 1 SCORE Trophy-Truck,” said Baldwin, 29, who has three career SCORE Trophy-Truck race wins and has won the season point crown two of the last three years in the SCORE marquee racing division for high-tech, 800-horsepower, unlimited production trucks.
“Competition makes everyone work harder and work smarter and I thrive on this. We have a great field in this race, but then again, we have stellar fields at all SCORE Baja races. I learned a tough lesson a few years ago, though. You can’t race the competition like on a short-track. You run against the unforgiving Baja desert and sort out all of the rest after the checkered flag.”
Besides Troy Herbst, expected to lead the charge in the unlimited Class 1 field in the hunt for the overall 4-wheel vehicle win are brothers Ronny and Randy Wilson along with Germany’s Armin Schwarz and teammate Martin Christensen.
Both driving Chevy-powered Jimco open-wheel desert race cars, Ronny Wilson is leading the 2009 Class 1 point standings while Randy Wilson is second.
Schwarz, the veteran of 119 World Rally Championship races, and the veteran Christensen are the top returning unlimited Class 1 finishers from last year when they finished third in class and eighth overall in their All-German Motorsports Jimco-BMW.
A story from Schwarz-Christensen of All German Motorsports:
"Competing this weekend Andreas Aigner, the reigning Production Car World Rally Champion, onboard the All German Team. Andreas teams up with Armin Kremer, and I share the second (AGM) All German Motorsports, Buggy with my friend and team boss Martin Christensen.
In a file, team boss Joe has paid the entry fee for the Baja 500. He has. Good, then he can compete. So he pushes his desert monster to the technical inspection. In 20 years of the Baja, the gentlemen there have never seen anything like Joe's ideas. "Hey Joe, what have you got there?"
Joe explains that he's got a new idea for the shocks and with the weight distribution and, well, with the entire frame. "Aha," SCORE will always take money so he picks up the phone and calls Sal. Sal is the boss of the SCORE International Offroad Series, with the same status as Bernie Ecclestone in F1. And he says: "That sounds okay, we just have to create a new class for Joe." No sooner said than done. Joe rolls his monster to the start of the Baja 500 on June 6th and competes in his own class. After all, everyone deserves the chance to rocket through over 860 high-speed kilometres of desert.
SCORE is a cash and carry business, you got the cash, you can race. Safety? Who cares!
But first up we celebrate. Because if the Baja 500 isn't reason enough to party then what is? At sunrise the Costero Boulevard comes to life -- the four-lane highway of the starting place Ensenada on the Mexican Pacific coast -- is buzzing with people. The mayor is, of course, a fan of motorsport and has closed the Boulevard to traffic so that fans and race teams can party undisturbed. And it's huge. All the teams -- and that's almost 400 competitors in 2009 -- have to push their race vehicles along the Boulevard, first past Maria' desk and then to the technical inspection.
For everyone, the fans, the racers, the SCORE people, this "Contingency Row" and technical inspection is like a huge Mardi Gras, a cross between the Oktoberfest and the Le Mans 24 Hours under the Pacific sun. The jamboree goes late into the night, which means not all the fans, that enthusiastically drank margaritas and cervecas all day, will make it on Saturday morning to see the motorbikes and ATV head off into the desert and 6am, followed by the Buggys and Trucks from 10am.
Contingency is the biggest CF in motorsports, it all happens in a dirt lot in one of the filthiest cities in Mexico. Your'e lucky if you find a clean bathroom.
Martin and I take off as the second Buggy team behind 24 Trophy Trucks. Andreas and Armin follow eight start positions later.
Ten hours of driving through the desert is what the top teams calculate for this Baja 500. If you want to be classified you have to be back in Ensenada within 20 hours. And it pays to be fit. Because on Monday morning from 10am they award the prizes. And that has to be celebrated."
NASCAR Cup team owner/driver Robby Gordon, Charlotte, N.C., will be commuting from the NASCAR road race at Pocono International Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. Gordon, who has committed to the entire SCORE series this year, won in Laughlin and finished second in San Felipe to lead the 2009 SCORE Trophy-Truck point standings in his No. 77 Team Gordon Chevy CK1500. Gordon won this race in 2005 and finished second in 2007.
Brian Collins, Las Vegas, finished third in this race last year after winning it in both 2006 and 2007. Collins won this year’s Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 for the second straight year in March driving solo and he will split the driving this year at the Tecate SCORE Baja 500, like last year, with veteran Chuck Hovey, Escondido, Calif., in the No. 12 Collins Motorsports Dodge Ram1500.
Larry Roeseler, Boulevard, Calif., is the second driver this year for Roger Norman, Reno, Nev., in the No. 8 Norman Motorsports Ford F-150 SCORE Trophy-Truck. The duo won the last two races of the 2008 season and they are currently in 10th place in the 2009 point standings in SCORE Trophy-Truck. They were fifth overall and fourth in SCORE Trophy-Truck last year in this race, which was also their first race together.
In the Tecate SCORE Baja 500 Roeseler’s 11 overall wins are the most in race history.
Besides Roeseler, who has 16 class wins in the Tecate SCORE Baja 500, the other racers entered this year with the most class wins are: Richard Jackson-Class 60 and Jim O’Neal-Class 30 and Class 50 (12 each), Marcos Nunez-Class 5/1600 (8), Steve Hengeveld-Class 22 and Troy Herbst-Class 1 (7 each), Eric Solorzano-Class 11 and Nick Vanderwey-SCORE Trophy-Truck (6 each), Johnny Campbell-Class 22, Ted Hunnicutt Jr.-Class 8, Rob MacCachren-SCORE Trophy-Truck and Pancho Bio-Class 9 (5 each) and Robby Gordon-SCORE Trophy-Truck, Rick D. Johnson-SCORE Trophy-Truck and Jerry Penhall-Class 1 (4 each).
Included in nearly $400,000 in contingency posting and the cash purse for the race, Sunoco Race Fuels, the official race fuel of SCORE, has posted a special US $5,000 cash contingency bonus for the overall 4-wheel vehicle winner.
For the second straight year and just the second time in the 41-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 del Pacifico Cultural Center. It will be the second time in race history that both the pre-race activities and the finish will be held on this historic boulevard.
The SCORE Manufacturer’s Midway (Contingency) will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, on Blvd Costero. Racer registration will again be held in the Grand Ballroom of the San Nicolas Hotel. Registration hours will be from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday.
The awards celebration will be held poolside at the San Nicolas Hotel on Sunday at 10 a.m.
This popular SCORE summer race began in 1969 and SCORE began its enduring run with it on July 26, 1974. This year will be the 36th anniversary of the first SCORE race in Baja.
Baja 500
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
2008—B.J. Baldwin, Chevy
Robby Bell/Kendall Norman, Honda"
"Southern California’s Larry Roeseler, the all-time winningest active racer in all of desert racing, enters next week’s 41st Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500 with 16 class wins, including 11 overall victories in this race. Roeseler will lead nearly 275 vehicles expected to enter, including 68 racers who have already entered and who have combined for 183 class wins in this popular summer classic.
The Baja 500, the second-oldest desert race in the world and will feature over 275 entries, competing in 28 Pro and 6 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs. It will be held June 4-7 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 41st anniversary of the Tecate SCORE Baja 500.
Roeseler, 52, who has returned to Boulevard, Calif., in his native San Diego area after living several years in Hesperia and Huntington Beach, is the second driver this year for Roger Norman, Reno, Nev., in the No. 8 Norman Motorsports Ford F-150 SCORE Trophy-Truck. The duo won the last two races of the 2008 season and are currently in 10th place in the 2009 point standings in SCORE Trophy-Truck, the marquee SCORE racing division for high-tech, 800-horsepower, unlimited production trucks.
Besides the legendary SCORE Baja racer Malcolm Smith, Roeseler is the only active competitor in this race who has won the overall title in both a four-wheel vehicle and on a motorcycle. Roeseler’s incredible SCORE Baja racing record for the three races SCORE produces annually in Mexico has him with 39 class wins including 26 overall victories. Roeseler has 11 career SCORE season point titles.
In the Tecate SCORE Baja 500 his 11 overall wins (nine on motorcycles and two in 4-wheel) are the most in race history. His 16 career class wins in this race are third all-time behind semi-retired Rod Hall’s 18 and retired Ivan Stewart’s 17.
With late entries accepted up to race morning, over 275 entries are expected for the 432.51-mile race from 25 U.S. States from Hawaii to Vermont along with the additional countries of Mexico, Austria, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan and Portugal.
The green flag will drop for the race at 6 a.m. on Saturday (June 6) 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. With vehicles starting one every 30 seconds in the elapsed-time race, it will start and finish in front of the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center on Boulevard Costero in the heart of Ensenada, leaving and returning into the city through the spectator-laden Arroyo Wash.
“I know I have been very fortunate in my desert racing career to be a part of incredible teams, which is certainly a major, major reason why I have been so successful,” said Roeseler, who has not only raced for factory motorcycle teams, but also major four-wheel teams including Team MacPherson, Terrible Herbst Motorsports and now Norman Motorsports.
“It’s an understatement to say I really enjoy racing in Baja. The truth is that there is no better place to race in the world than the three SCORE Baja races. I am grateful to all of the amazing people who have helped my career along the way, but one I am compelled to single out at this time is my motorcycle mentor and riding partner for many races—Bruce Ogilvie, who recently passed away after a long battle with cancer. I will never forget Bruce and all that he did for me and so many in this sport.”
Besides Roeseler, the other racers entered this year with the most class wins in this race are: Richard Jackson and Jim O’Neal (12 each), Marcos Nunez (8), Steve Hengeveld and Troy Herbst (7 each), Eric Solorzano and Nick Vanderwey (6 each), Johnny Campbell, Ted Hunnicutt Jr. and Rob MacCachren (5 each) and Robby Gordon, Rick D. Johnson and Jerry Penhall (4 each).
The racers entered with three career class wins in the Tecate SCORE Baja 500 are: Craig Adams, Pancho Bio, Dan Chamlee, Brian Collins, John Holmes, Eizaburo Karasawa, Kendall Norman, Hector Sarabia and Darren Skilton.
While late entries will be accepted up to race morning, as of today, the Pro 4-Wheel vehicles classes with the most entries are: SCORE Trophy-Truck (24), the unlimited Class 1 and Class 1-2/1600 (18 each) and Class 7 (10).
Leading the Pro Motorcycle classes in entries so far are the open Class 22 (17), age group Class 30 (12) and under 250cc Class 21 (11). Class 24 leads the Pro ATV classes with 11 entries to date.
Among the Sportsman classes, SPT Motorcycles over 250cc has 28 entries and SPT Motorcycles under 250cc has 13. There are also 13 SPT ATVs to date.
This popular SCORE summer race began in 1969 under the auspices of the old NORRA organization and SCORE began its enduring run with it on July 26, 1974. This year will be the 36th anniversary of the first SCORE race in Baja.
Included in nearly $400,000 in contingency posting and the cash purse for the race, Sunoco Race Fuels, the official race fuel of SCORE, has posted a special US$5,000 cash contingency bonus for the overall 4-wheel vehicle winner.
For the second straight year and just the second time in the 41-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 del Pacifico Cultural Center. It will be first time in race history that both the pre-race activities and the finish will be held on this historic boulevard.
The SCORE Manufacturer’s Midway will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, June 5 on Blvd Costero. Racer registration will again be held in the Grand Ballroom of the San Nicolas Hotel. Registration hours will be from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 4 and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday June 5.
The awards celebration will be held poolside at the San Nicolas Hotel on Sunday, June 7 at 10 a.m.
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 32 drivers remain eligible.
June 4-7, 2009--Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
SCORE Baja 500 Multiple Class Champs-entered in this year’s race
(thru 2008)
DRIVER OF RECORD (Total, Years)
16--
Larry Roeseler – 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1990,
1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
12
Richard Jackson -- 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1992, 1995, 1996, 2000,
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
Jim O’Neal—1991, 2001, 2002 (2), 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 (2),
2007 (2), 2008
8--
Marcos Nunez -- 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006
7--
Steve Hengeveld -- 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007
Troy Herbst -- 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
6--
Eric Solorzano – 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
Nick Vanderwey -- 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007
5--
Johnny Campbell -- 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004
Rob MacCachren -- 1990, 1992, 1996, 2004, 2005
4--
Robby Gordon -- 1988, 1989, 1990, 2005
Rick D. Johnson -- 1995, 1998, 1999, 2004
Jerry Penhall -- 1994, 1997, 1998, 2002
3--
Craig Adams -- 2005, 2006, 2007
Pancho Bio -- 1990, 1991, 1993
Dan Chamlee -- 2006, 2007, 2008
Brian Collins – 1998, 2006, 2007
John Holmes (1992, 2005, 2006)
Eizaburo Karasawa – 1994, 1999, 2005
Kendall Norman -- 2006, 2007, 2008
Hector Sarabia -- 1993, 1995, 2000
Darren Skilton -- 1997, 1998, 2000
2
Rodrigo Ampudia Jr. – 1992, 1994
Cisco Bio – 1999, 2001
Vic Bruckmann – 1998, 1999
Brett Helm – 2007, 2008
Curt LeDuc – 1992, 1995
Jeff Kaplan – 1977, 1978
Ricardo Malo – 2003, 2005
Adam Pfankuch – 2003, 2008
Alan Pflueger – 2003, 2004
Gerardo Rojas – 2004, 2005
Lobsam Yee – 2004, 2007"
End Press 1
""16 defending class champs return to Baja 500 2009"
Busy pre-running begins Friday in Mexico on rugged 432.51-mile race course for 41st Tecate SCORE Baja 500
June 4-7 event in Ensenada has entries from 24 States, 12 countries.
With the release of the official course map, GPS files and course notes this past weekend, pre-race activity steps up significantly starting Friday when the world's best desert racers officially begin their pre-running and course logistics activities for next month's 41st Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500, the second-oldest desert race in the world. (BS)
Round 3 of the five-race 2009 SCORE Desert Series, the World's Foremost Desert Racing Series, will feature over 275 entries, competing in 28 Pro and 6 Sportsman classes forcars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs, will be held June 4-7 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 41st anniversary of the Tecate SCORE Baja 500.
With late entries accepted up to race morning, over 275 entries are expected for the 432.51-mile race from 25 U.S. States from Hawaii to Vermont along with the additional countries of Mexico, Austria, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan and Portugal.
The green flag will drop for the race at 6 a.m. on Saturday (June 6) 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. With vehicles starting one every 30 seconds in the elapsed-time race, it will start and finish in front of the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center on Boulevard Costero in the heart of Ensenada, leaving and returning into the city through the spectator-laden Arroyo Wash.
The talented field of veteran desert racers heading to Baja includes 16 defending class winners out of the 25 Pro classes that had finishers in last year's race, including the three overall winners--B.J. Baldwin (4-Wheel), Kendall Norman (2-Wheel) and Wayne Matlock (ATVs). Four of last year's class winners will be racing this year in different classes.
Also entered are the drivers who won the last seven overall 4-Wheel vehicle titles and the riders who have won the last nine overall 2-Wheel vehicle titles.
Driving the No. 1 Baldwin Motorsport Truck SCORE Trophy-Truck, B.J. Baldwin of Las Vegas, won the closest 4-wheel overall battle in SCORE Baja history last year when he defeated the team of Mark Post, Laguna Beach, Calif./Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, by a mere seven seconds. The Post/MacCachren duo is entered again in the No. 3 Riviera Racing Ford F-150 SCORE Trophy-Truck.
As SCORE CEO/President Sal Fish announced prior to the start of this season, the rugged course 432.51-mile course is a near-duplicate of last year's, accept just under 10 miles shorter. To help reduce the costs of pre-running, the course, which runs in a clockwise direction, resembles a deflating balloon, winding east to Ojos Negros, down to near San Felipe, back West to the Pacific Ocean near San Vicente and back north east through Santo Tomas on the way back to Ojos Negros and then Ensenada.
The only pre-running that will be allowed on the first 36.8 miles of the course will be outbound only and only on Thursday and Friday, June 4 and 5. No inbound pre-running on the last 36.8 miles of the course will be allowed. Pre-running of the rest of the course will start and finish in the Ojos Negros area.
The four official race checkpoints, where all vehicles are required to make a quick stop, will be located at race mile 87.32 (Santa Catarina), rm199.17 (Borrego), rm 296.81 (San Vicente) and rm389.76 Rancho San Antonio. All vehicles are also required to run International Rally Consultants tracking devices.
Kendall Norman, Santa Barbara, Calif., returns as the three-time defending overall motorcycle champion, but he will have a new teammate this year on his Johnny Campbell Racing Honda. Riding with Norman this year will be Timmy Weigand, Santa Clarita, Calif.
The pair opened this season with an overall motorcycle win in March at the Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 while the veteran Campbell, 38, San Clemente, Calif., who has five overall two-wheel wins in this race, is listed as a possible third rider, if needed, on both the Norman entry and his other American Honda-supported JCR team led by Colton Udall, who is also from San Clemente.
Wayne Matlock, El Cajon, Calif., is back as the defending overall ATV champion and will lead a four-rider team on a Honda TRX700XX. Riding with him again this year will be Harold Goodman, Brownstown, Mich., along with new teammates Wes Miller, Fallbrook, Calif. and Josh Caster, El Cajon, Calif. The Matlock/Goodman/Caster trio won this year's ATV overall title at the Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250.
While late entries will be accepted up to race morning, as of today, the Pro 4-Wheel vehicles classes with the most entries are: SCORE Trophy-Truck (24), Class 1 (17) and Class 1-2/1600 (16).
Leading the Pro Motorcycle classes in entries so far are Class 22 (17), Class 30 (12) and Class 21 (11). Class 24 leads the Pro ATV classes with 11 entries to date.
Among the Sportsman classes, SPT Motorcycles over 250cc has 27 entries and SPT Motorcycles under 250cc has 13. There are also 13 SPT ATVs to date.
This popular SCORE early summer race began in 1969 under the auspices of the old NORRA organization and SCORE began its enduring run with it on July 26, 1974. This year will be the 36th anniversary of the first SCORE race in Baja.
Included in nearly $400,000 in contingency posting and the cash purse for the race, Sunoco Race Fuels, the official race fuel of SCORE, has posted a special US$5,000 cash contingency bonus for the overall 4-wheel vehicle winner.
Besides B.J. Baldwin, Kendall Norman and Wayne Matlock, the other drivers and riders who will be attempting to defend their class wins from last year are: Kevin Carr, San Diego (Class 5, VW Baja Bug), Dan Chamlee, Carpenteria, Calif. (Class 7, Ford Ranger), Daniel Reyes Jr., Calexico, Calif. (Class 9, Venegas-VW), Jesus Gonzalez, Ensenada, Mexico (Class 10, Dunrite-Honda), Rick St. John, Encinitas, Calif. (SCORE Lite, Duvel-VW), Brett Helm, Poway, Calif. (Class 40, Honda CRF450X), Jim O'Neal, Simi Valley, Calif. (Class 50, Honda CRF450X) and Donald Lewis, Marlborough, Conn. (Class 60, Honda CRF450X.
Heidi Steele, San Clemente, Calif., is one of four female driver/rider of record this year and she is also one of the five racers who won their respective classes last year but will be competing in a different class this year. In Steele's case, however, she will be competing in two classes. After winning Class 7SX last year, she is racing with teammates in both Class 6 and Class 7 this year in different Ford Rangers.
Besides Heidi Steele, the other four racers who will be in different classes this year are Luis Ramirez Jr., Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, who is the second driver this year for Damen Jeferries in SCORE Trophy-Truck after winning Class 1 last year; Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad, Calif., who is the second driver in SCORE Lite for Rick St. John this year after winning Class 1-2/1600; Connor Penhall, Corona, Calif., who will lead a team in Class 22 after being the second rider for Chad Black while winning Class 20 last year; and Scott Myers, Sun City, Calif., who is the rider of record in Class 40 this year's for Brett Helm's team after leading a team to victory last year in Class 30.
For the second straight year and just the second time in the 41-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 del Pacifico Cultural Center. It will be first time in race history that both the pre-race activities and the finish will be held on this historic boulevard.
The SCORE Manufacturer's Midway will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, June 5 on Blvd Costero. Racer registration will again be held in the Grand Ballroom of the San Nicolas Hotel. Registration hours will be from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 4 and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday June 5.
The awards celebration will be held poolside at the San Nicolas Hotel on Sunday, June 7 at 10 a.m.
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 32 drivers remain eligible after Round 2 of the 2009 SCORE Desert Series."
End Press 2
BAJA 500 2009 COURSE
TOTAL MILEAGE: 432.51 miles (4 checkpoints)
Starts and finishes in downtown Ensenada on Boulevard Costero in front of the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center, marking the second time and second straight year this race has ever FINISHED on Blvd. Costero. Starting and finishing in Ensenada, this year’s tight and technical course will run in a clockwise direction for the fourth straight year. It includes a wide variety of terrain and over 100 miles that was run last year for the first time in over a decade in this race along with over 30 miles that was raced on for the first time last year. The course runs East to Ojos Negros area (race mile 30.65), South to El Alamo (rm66.80) then East and Northeast up over the top of the 5,000-foot Summit (rm109.54), South into the Laguna Salada desert (rm 151.09) running parallel to the Sea of Cortez to Borrego (rm203.47) and then back Northwest, Southwest past the Mike’s Sky Ranch turnoff, North to near Valle de la Trinidad (rm255.32), followed by a West travel section, turning north, then East, North and back West for the final charge back into Ensenada. The first 30.65 miles will be used both outgoing and incoming. The course also includes the traditional 30-plus mile run along the shores of the Pacific Ocean from race-mile 309.97 to 336.36. There are a total of five pavement areas on the course, totaling 15.5 miles, with a maximum speed limit of 60 miles per hour.
Checkpoints:
CK1-Santa Catarina, RM 87.32
CK2-Borrego, RM 199.17
CK3-San Vicente Vineyards, RM 296.81
CK4-Rancho San Antonio, RM 389.76
| 2009 TECATE SCORE BAJA 500 COURSE NOTES | |||
| BEGIN PRERUNNING IN OJOS NEGROS | |||
| HIGHWAY 3 @ KM 39 / RACE MILE 36.81 | |||
| LINE | RACE COURSE DESCRIPTION | TRIP | MILE |
| X | Start Line at Riviera Convention Center on Boulevard Costero | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| | | | |
| X | Right turn onto graded road at blue gate behind Ojos Negros | 30.65 | 30.65 |
| X | Right turn onto pavement at junkyard (60 MPH ZONE FOR 1.0 MILE) | 5.09 | 35.74 |
| X | Cross HWY 3 @ KM 39 | 1.07 | 36.81 |
| | | | |
| 1 | BEGIN PRERUNNING / HWY 3 @ KM 39 | 36.81 | 36.81 |
| 2 | Stay straight / Ojos Negros dump and chainlink fence on right | 3.55 | 40.36 |
| 3 | Go left at Y / Sign on right says "Rancho San Antonio" | 0.63 | 40.99 |
| 4 | Pass through gate | 1.42 | 42.41 |
| 5 | Go left and cross water | 0.23 | 42.64 |
| 6 | Pass through open fence | 1.44 | 44.08 |
| 7 | Stay straight - road comes in from left | 8.81 | 52.89 |
| 8 | Pass through gate, water tank on right / Tres Hermanos | 0.87 | 53.76 |
| 9 | Go left at Y / Straight goes to Uruapan | 0.01 | 53.77 |
| 10 | Stay straight - Either or | 0.79 | 54.56 |
| 11 | Straight through gate and right into wash | 0.77 | 55.33 |
| 12 | Top of hill - stay straight | 5.82 | 61.15 |
| 13 | Go left at Y | 5.14 | 66.29 |
| 14 | Left turn / El Alamo Village | 0.51 | 66.80 |
| 15 | Pass through open fence | 4.22 | 71.02 |
| 16 | Stay straight - road comes in from left | 7.01 | 78.03 |
| 17 | Right onto HWY 3 @ KM 77 (60 MPH ZONE FOR 1.2 MILES) | 0.24 | 78.27 |
| 18 | Left off HWY 3 @ KM 78 and cross over cattle guard | 1.18 | 79.45 |
| 19 | Go right at Y to avoid ranch | 0.42 | 79.87 |
| 20 | Merge right onto ranch road | 0.62 | 80.49 |
| 21 | Stay straight / Sign says "Rancho Candolfi" | 0.06 | 80.55 |
| 22 | Stay straight | 0.47 | 81.02 |
| 23 | Stay straight - road merges in from left | 1.27 | 82.29 |
| 24 | Pass over cattle guard | 0.50 | 82.79 |
| 25 | Right through open fence | 0.73 | 83.52 |
| 26 | Either or | 0.13 | 83.65 |
| 27 | Either or - left is shorter and faster | 0.17 | 83.82 |
| 28 | Stay left | 0.76 | 84.58 |
| 29 | Stay straight across field | 0.77 | 85.35 |
| 30 | Join graded road | 0.38 | 85.73 |
| 31 | Left at four way intersection / Right goes to HWY 3 @ KM 85 | 0.31 | 86.04 |
| 32 | Right over cattle guard / CHECKPOINT 1 | 1.28 | 87.32 |
| 33 | Left at Y | 0.21 | 87.53 |
| 34 | Stay straight - road merges in from left | 0.72 | 88.25 |
| 35 | Cross Santa Catarina Graded Road | 0.47 | 88.72 |
| 36 | Go right at Y | 0.72 | 89.44 |
| 37 | Go right at Y | 0.45 | 89.89 |
| 38 | Go left at Y and pass through open fence | 0.41 | 90.30 |
| 39 | Cross wash / Fenceline on right | 0.71 | 91.01 |
| 40 | Stay straight - road merges in from right | 0.78 | 91.79 |
| 41 | Right at T intersection | 3.88 | 95.67 |
| 42 | Right at four way intersection, then cross over cattle guard | 1.04 | 96.71 |
| 43 | Left turn at Nuevo Junction, then immediately go left at Y | 1.88 | 98.59 |
| 44 | Left off ranch road | 1.35 | 99.94 |
| 45 | Pass through gate and climb hill | 1.27 | 101.21 |
| 46 | Go right, left goes to dam | 1.61 | 102.82 |
| 47 | Go right - stay on new road | 1.17 | 103.99 |
| 48 | Left at T intersection | 1.20 | 105.19 |
| 49 | Either or | 4.11 | 109.30 |
| 50 | Top of Summit | 0.24 | 109.54 |
| 51 | Stay to the right | 0.03 | 109.57 |
| 52 | Stay to the left | 0.44 | 110.01 |
| 53 | Go right at Y | 0.19 | 110.20 |
| 54 | Either or | 0.10 | 110.30 |
| 55 | Either or - right is faster | 0.51 | 110.81 |
| 56 | Pass through open fence | 1.35 | 112.16 |
| 57 | Either or at junction of wash and high road / High road goes left | 3.56 | 115.72 |
| 58 | Either or | 3.03 | 118.75 |
| 59 | Go right at Y | 0.80 | 119.55 |
| 60 | Cross over cattle guard | 8.51 | 128.06 |
| 61 | Right turn / Cahabuzo Junction | 8.54 | 136.60 |
| 62 | Go right at Y | 10.81 | 147.41 |
| 63 | Enter Laguna Salada dry lake | 3.68 | 151.09 |
| 64 | Go left at Y toward interior of dry lake | 5.92 | 157.01 |
| 65 | Cross Ejido Saldana Graded Road / Left is access to HWY 5 @ KM 87 | 1.92 | 158.93 |
| 66 | Stay straight | 5.27 | 164.20 |
| 67 | Right at T intersection / Oasis Road | 1.73 | 165.93 |
| 68 | Stay straight - diesel generator on left | 3.88 | 169.81 |
| 69 | Left out of wash | 5.70 | 175.51 |
| 70 | Either or | 5.50 | 181.01 |
| 71 | Stay to right at dropoff | 7.52 | 188.53 |
| 72 | Possible Military Inspection Area | 5.40 | 193.93 |
| 73 | Cross HWY 3 @ KM 179 / CHECKPOINT 2 | 5.24 | 199.17 |
| 74 | BFG Pit on right | 0.13 | 199.30 |
| 75 | Go left at Y | 0.63 | 199.93 |
| 76 | Either or at powerline junction | 0.80 | 200.73 |
| 77 | Borrego Pit Area | 2.74 | 203.47 |
| 78 | Go right at Y at end of pit area | 0.17 | 203.64 |
| 79 | Go left and parallel HWY 3 / STAY OFF HIGHWAY | 2.59 | 206.23 |
| 80 | Cross Villa del Sol graded road / STAY OFF HIGHWAY | 3.71 | 209.94 |
| 81 | Cross road - sign says "Col San Martir" / STAY OFF HIGHWAY | 0.20 | 210.14 |
| 82 | Stay straight at highway access road / STAY OFF HIGHWAY | 3.71 | 213.85 |
| 83 | Pass very close to HWY 3 / STAY OFF HIGHWAY | 2.60 | 216.45 |
| 84 | Go left away from highway and drop into San Matias wash | 0.19 | 216.64 |
| 85 | Cross HWY 3 @ KM 150, then continue in wash | 1.07 | 217.71 |
| 86 | Go right at Y | 2.22 | 219.93 |
| 87 | Stay straight in dump area - Left is access to Highway 3 | 1.86 | 221.79 |
| 88 | Fenceline on right / STAY OFF HIGHWAY | 0.27 | 222.06 |
| 89 | Right on HWY 3 @ KM 142 / San Matias (60 MPH ZONE FOR 2.5 MILES) | 1.68 | 223.74 |
| 90 | Left off HWY 3 @ KM 137 / Mike's Sky Ranch turnoff | 2.43 | 226.17 |
| 91 | Go right - sign says "Rancho Mikes Sky" | 3.02 | 229.19 |
| 92 | Right turn onto crossover road / Course does NOT go to Mike's | 10.64 | 239.83 |
| 93 | Go right - road merges in from left | 0.46 | 240.29 |
| 94 | Go left at Y | 1.49 | 241.78 |
| 95 | Right at T intersection | 1.31 | 243.09 |
| 96 | Cross over cattle guard | 1.26 | 244.35 |
| 97 | Cross over cattle guard | 2.48 | 246.83 |
| 98 | Go right at Y | 2.46 | 249.29 |
| 99 | Right at T intersection / Llandro Valle Village | 1.12 | 250.41 |
| 100 | Left off graded road before cattle guard | 4.91 | 255.32 |
| 101 | Pass house on left, then go across field and merge with graded road | 7.92 | 263.24 |
| 102 | BFG Pit on left | 28.51 | 291.75 |
| 103 | Right onto HWY 1 @ KM 102 (60 MPH ZONE FOR 4.0 MILES) | 0.20 | 291.95 |
| 104 | Left off HWY 1 @ KM 96 | 4.02 | 295.97 |
| 105 | Right off graded road / CHECKPOINT 3 | 0.84 | 296.81 |
| 106 | Go right at Y, then cross field and go uphill | 0.06 | 296.87 |
| 107 | Go right at top of hill | 0.18 | 297.05 |
| 108 | Go right and down hill | 0.02 | 297.07 |
| 109 | Go right at Y | 2.25 | 299.32 |
| 110 | Drop down hill | 0.15 | 299.47 |
| 111 | Pass through ranch | 0.06 | 299.53 |
| 112 | Pass through gate and stay straight | 0.11 | 299.64 |
| 113 | Cross ditch and go left | 0.07 | 299.71 |
| 114 | Left onto graded road / Right is access to HWY 1 @ San Vicente | 0.05 | 299.76 |
| 115 | Stay Straight / Left goes to vineyards | 1.63 | 301.39 |
| 116 | Right off graded powerline road | 0.38 | 301.77 |
| 117 | Go left around water, then several either ors ahead | 6.57 | 308.34 |
| 118 | Merge right onto graded road | 1.21 | 309.55 |
| 119 | Either or / Drop to Pacific Ocean | 0.42 | 309.97 |
| 120 | Go right up hill - white cement structure on left | 1.28 | 311.25 |
| 121 | Pass through white concrete fence posts | 2.34 | 313.59 |
| 122 | Pass through gate | 0.61 | 314.20 |
| 123 | Stay straight | 0.41 | 314.61 |
| 124 | Stay straight and take second right | 0.09 | 314.70 |
| 125 | Stay straight and pass concrete structure on left | 0.03 | 314.73 |
| 126 | Stay straight and go uphill | 0.10 | 314.83 |
| 127 | Descend to Village of Erendira | 3.01 | 317.84 |
| 128 | Drop into wash, then turn left before pavement at Tecate Market | 0.80 | 318.64 |
| 129 | Cross road in wash | 0.30 | 318.94 |
| 130 | Cross road in wash / Use caution going around big ditch | 0.63 | 319.57 |
| 131 | End of wash / Turn right at beach | 0.32 | 319.89 |
| 132 | Stay straight | 0.23 | 320.12 |
| 133 | End of beach rock section / Go right through gate and cross field | 0.79 | 320.91 |
| 134 | Left onto graded road after beachfront houses | 0.29 | 321.20 |
| 135 | Off graded road / Bypass Coyote Cal's / Take shortcut over hill | 1.79 | 322.99 |
| 136 | Right turn back onto graded road | 0.54 | 323.53 |
| 137 | Cross cattle guard, then several either ors ahead | 3.11 | 326.64 |
| 138 | Right at T intersection | 9.72 | 336.36 |
| 139 | Stay straight - small village on right | 4.47 | 340.83 |
| 140 | Stay Straight - rock wall on right | 7.76 | 348.59 |
| 141 | Left at four way intersection, then follow residential street to highway | 1.51 | 350.10 |
| 142 | Left onto HWY 1 @ Santo Tomas (60 MPH ZONE FOR 6.8 MILES) | 0.15 | 350.25 |
| 143 | Military inspection area on highway before Uruapan | 4.93 | 355.18 |
| 144 | Right Off HWY 1 @ KM 40.5 / Acambaro Restaurant Bar & Market | 1.86 | 357.04 |
| 145 | Pass through two consecutive gates | 0.32 | 357.36 |
| 146 | Top of hill, then left downhill, then uphill through red gate | 0.25 | 357.61 |
| 147 | Stay straight / cross road | 0.46 | 358.07 |
| 148 | Either or, then pass through uphill gate | 0.15 | 358.22 |
| 149 | Right turn at tight T intersection | 0.19 | 358.41 |
| 150 | Go right through gate, then climb uphill | 0.52 | 358.93 |
| 151 | Either or / Go left to avoid steep hill climb | 0.10 | 359.03 |
| 152 | Go left at top of hill | 0.27 | 359.30 |
| 153 | Go left at T intersection / Right goes to cemetary | 0.30 | 359.60 |
| 154 | Hard right turn | 0.14 | 359.74 |
| 155 | Go right at Y and then go downhill | 0.33 | 360.07 |
| 156 | Left at T intersection, then pass through gate between fences | 0.27 | 360.34 |
| 157 | Stay straight at four way intersection | 0.27 | 360.61 |
| 158 | Stay straight at four way intersection | 0.10 | 360.71 |
| 159 | Pass through gate | 0.03 | 360.74 |
| 160 | Stay straight - road merges in from left | 0.06 | 360.80 |
| 161 | Pass through gate | 0.29 | 361.09 |
| 162 | Stay straight | 0.34 | 361.43 |
| 163 | Take middle road, then cross road | 0.11 | 361.54 |
| 164 | Cross road, then climb hill | 0.50 | 362.04 |
| 165 | Top of hill | 2.09 | 364.13 |
| 166 | Left and go uphill / Greenhouses on right | 1.01 | 365.14 |
| 167 | Caution !!! / Dropoff on right | 0.76 | 365.90 |
| 168 | Merge left and begin hill climb | 3.28 | 369.18 |
| 169 | Cross graded road | 1.44 | 370.62 |
| 170 | Pass through open fence with metal posts | 0.31 | 370.93 |
| 171 | Water crossing / tall trees section | 3.80 | 374.73 |
| 172 | Go left at Y in open field | 2.68 | 377.41 |
| 173 | Pass through gate | 0.83 | 378.24 |
| 174 | Either or | 0.34 | 378.58 |
| 175 | Go left at Y | 0.60 | 379.18 |
| 176 | Top of hill / view of Ojos Negros valley | 1.75 | 380.93 |
| 177 | Yellow metal post on right | 0.92 | 381.85 |
| 178 | Right at T intersection | 0.61 | 382.46 |
| 179 | Hard left turn / Tres Hermanos Road is straight | 0.71 | 383.17 |
| 180 | Pass through open fence, then go downhill | 1.37 | 384.54 |
| 181 | Go right at Y / Rancho San Antonio | 0.68 | 385.22 |
| 182 | Pass through open fence | 1.10 | 386.32 |
| 183 | Stay straight / road merges in from left | 0.33 | 386.65 |
| 184 | Go through open fence | 0.02 | 386.67 |
| 185 | Pass through white metal gate | 1.11 | 387.78 |
| 186 | Left off graded road | 0.05 | 387.83 |
| 187 | Go left at Y, then pass fenceline on right | 0.96 | 388.79 |
| 188 | Go left at Y | 0.60 | 389.39 |
| 189 | Pass through open fence | 0.09 | 389.48 |
| 190 | Left at T Intersection, Then Climb Hill / CHECKPOINT 4 | 0.28 | 389.76 |
| 191 | Either Or | 0.79 | 390.55 |
| 192 | Stay straight / road merges in from left | 0.45 | 391.00 |
| 193 | Pass through gate | 1.85 | 392.85 |
| 194 | Go left at Y | 0.09 | 392.94 |
| 195 | Go left at Y, then climb hill | 0.07 | 393.01 |
| 196 | Pass through gate | 0.75 | 393.76 |
| 197 | Pass through gate | 0.14 | 393.90 |
| 198 | END OF PRERUNNING / HWY 3 @ KM 35.5 is straight ahead | 0.70 | 394.60 |
| | | | |
| X | Course turns left to Finish Line, but no prerunning in this direction | X | X |
| X | Exit course by going straight across large field to HWY 3 @ KM 35.5 | X | X |
| | | | |
| X | Cross HWY 3 @ KM 33 / West of Ojos Negros | 1.85 | 396.45 |
| X | Finish Line At Riviera Convention Center On Boulevard Costero | 36.06 | 432.51 |
2009 BAJA 500 COURSE NOTES
BEGIN PRERUNNING IN OJOS NEGROS
HIGHWAY 3 @ KM 39 / RACE MILE 36.81
LINE RACE COURSE DESCRIPTION TRIP MILE
X Start Line at Riviera Convention Center on Boulevard Costero 0.00 0.00
X Right turn onto graded road at blue gate behind Ojos Negros 30.65 30.65
X Right turn onto pavement at junkyard (60 MPH ZONE FOR 1.0 MILE) 5.09 35.74
X Cross HWY 3 @ KM 39 1.07 36.81
1 BEGIN PRERUNNING / HWY 3 @ KM 39 36.81 36.81
2 Stay straight / Ojos Negros dump and chainlink fence on right 3.55 40.36
3 Go left at Y / Sign on right says "Rancho San Antonio" 0.63 40.99
4 Pass through gate 1.42 42.41
5 Go left and cross water 0.23 42.64
6 Pass through open fence 1.44 44.08
7 Stay straight - road comes in from left 8.81 52.89
8 Pass through gate, water tank on right / Tres Hermanos 0.87 53.76
9 Go left at Y / Straight goes to Uruapan 0.01 53.77
10 Stay straight - Either or 0.79 54.56
11 Straight through gate and right into wash 0.77 55.33
12 Top of hill - stay straight 5.82 61.15
13 Go left at Y 5.14 66.29
14 Left turn / El Alamo Village 0.51 66.80
15 Pass through open fence 4.22 71.02
16 Stay straight - road comes in from left 7.01 78.03
17 Right onto HWY 3 @ KM 77 (60 MPH ZONE FOR 1.2 MILES) 0.24 78.27
18 Left off HWY 3 @ KM 78 and cross over cattle guard 1.18 79.45
19 Go right at Y to avoid ranch 0.42 79.87
20 Merge right onto ranch road 0.62 80.49
21 Stay straight / Sign says "Rancho Candolfi" 0.06 80.55
22 Stay straight 0.47 81.02
23 Stay straight - road merges in from left 1.27 82.29
24 Pass over cattle guard 0.50 82.79
25 Right through open fence 0.73 83.52
26 Either or 0.13 83.65
27 Either or - left is shorter and faster 0.17 83.82
28 Stay left 0.76 84.58
29 Stay straight across field 0.77 85.35
30 Join graded road 0.38 85.73
31 Left at four way intersection / Right goes to HWY 3 @ KM 85 0.31 86.04
32 Right over cattle guard / CHECKPOINT 1 1.28 87.32
33 Left at Y 0.21 87.53
34 Stay straight - road merges in from left 0.72 88.25
35 Cross Santa Catarina Graded Road 0.47 88.72
36 Go right at Y 0.72 89.44
37 Go right at Y 0.45 89.89
38 Go left at Y and pass through open fence 0.41 90.30
39 Cross wash / Fenceline on right 0.71 91.01
40 Stay straight - road merges in from right 0.78 91.79
41 Right at T intersection 3.88 95.67
42 Right at four way intersection, then cross over cattle guard 1.04 96.71
43 Left turn at Nuevo Junction, then immediately go left at Y 1.88 98.59
44 Left off ranch road 1.35 99.94
45 Pass through gate and climb hill 1.27 101.21
46 Go right, left goes to dam 1.61 102.82
47 Go right - stay on new road 1.17 103.99
48 Left at T intersection 1.20 105.19
49 Either or 4.11 109.30
50 Top of Summit 0.24 109.54
51 Stay to the right 0.03 109.57
52 Stay to the left 0.44 110.01
53 Go right at Y 0.19 110.20
54 Either or 0.10 110.30
55 Either or - right is faster 0.51 110.81
56 Pass through open fence 1.35 112.16
57 Either or at junction of wash and high road / High road goes left 3.56 115.72
58 Either or 3.03 118.75
59 Go right at Y 0.80 119.55
60 Cross over cattle guard 8.51 128.06
61 Right turn / Cahabuzo Junction 8.54 136.60
62 Go right at Y 10.81 147.41
63 Enter Laguna Salada dry lake 3.68 151.09
64 Go left at Y toward interior of dry lake 5.92 157.01
65 Cross Ejido Saldana Graded Road / Left is access to HWY 5 @ KM 87 1.92 158.93
66 Stay straight 5.27 164.20
67 Right at T intersection / Oasis Road 1.73 165.93
68 Stay straight - diesel generator on left 3.88 169.81
69 Left out of wash 5.70 175.51
70 Either or 5.50 181.01
71 Stay to right at dropoff 7.52 188.53
72 Possible Military Inspection Area 5.40 193.93
73 Cross HWY 3 @ KM 179 / CHECKPOINT 2 5.24 199.17
74 BFG Pit on right 0.13 199.30
75 Go left at Y 0.63 199.93
76 Either or at powerline junction 0.80 200.73
77 Borrego Pit Area 2.74 203.47
78 Go right at Y at end of pit area 0.17 203.64
79 Go left and parallel HWY 3 / STAY OFF HIGHWAY 2.59 206.23
80 Cross Villa del Sol graded road / STAY OFF HIGHWAY 3.71 209.94
81 Cross road - sign says "Col San Martir" / STAY OFF HIGHWAY 0.20 210.14
82 Stay straight at highway access road / STAY OFF HIGHWAY 3.71 213.85
83 Pass very close to HWY 3 / STAY OFF HIGHWAY 2.60 216.45
84 Go left away from highway and drop into San Matias wash 0.19 216.64
85 Cross HWY 3 @ KM 150, then continue in wash 1.07 217.71
86 Go right at Y 2.22 219.93
87 Stay straight in dump area - Left is access to Highway 3 1.86 221.79
88 Fenceline on right / STAY OFF HIGHWAY 0.27 222.06
89 Right on HWY 3 @ KM 142 / San Matias (60 MPH ZONE FOR 2.5 MILES) 1.68 223.74
90 Left off HWY 3 @ KM 137 / Mike's Sky Ranch turnoff 2.43 226.17
91 Go right - sign says "Rancho Mikes Sky" 3.02 229.19
92 Right turn onto crossover road / Course does NOT go to Mike's 10.64 239.83
93 Go right - road merges in from left 0.46 240.29
94 Go left at Y 1.49 241.78
95 Right at T intersection 1.31 243.09
96 Cross over cattle guard 1.26 244.35
97 Cross over cattle guard 2.48 246.83
98 Go right at Y 2.46 249.29
99 Right at T intersection / Llandro Valle Village 1.12 250.41
100 Left off graded road before cattle guard 4.91 255.32
101 Pass house on left, then go across field and merge with graded road 7.92 263.24
102 BFG Pit on left 28.51 291.75
103 Right onto HWY 1 @ KM 102 (60 MPH ZONE FOR 4.0 MILES) 0.20 291.95
104 Left off HWY 1 @ KM 96 4.02 295.97
105 Right off graded road / CHECKPOINT 3 0.84 296.81
106 Go right at Y, then cross field and go uphill 0.06 296.87
107 Go right at top of hill 0.18 297.05
108 Go right and down hill 0.02 297.07
109 Go right at Y 2.25 299.32
110 Drop down hill 0.15 299.47
111 Pass through ranch 0.06 299.53
112 Pass through gate and stay straight 0.11 299.64
113 Cross ditch and go left 0.07 299.71
114 Left onto graded road / Right is access to HWY 1 @ San Vicente 0.05 299.76
115 Stay Straight / Left goes to vineyards 1.63 301.39
116 Right off graded powerline road 0.38 301.77
117 Go left around water, then several either ors ahead 6.57 308.34
118 Merge right onto graded road 1.21 309.55
119 Either or / Drop to Pacific Ocean 0.42 309.97
120 Go right up hill - white cement structure on left 1.28 311.25
121 Pass through white concrete fence posts 2.34 313.59
122 Pass through gate 0.61 314.20
123 Stay straight 0.41 314.61
124 Stay straight and take second right 0.09 314.70
125 Stay straight and pass concrete structure on left 0.03 314.73
126 Stay straight and go uphill 0.10 314.83
127 Descend to Village of Erendira 3.01 317.84
128 Drop into wash, then turn left before pavement at Tecate Market 0.80 318.64
129 Cross road in wash 0.30 318.94
130 Cross road in wash / Use caution going around big ditch 0.63 319.57
131 End of wash / Turn right at beach 0.32 319.89
132 Stay straight 0.23 320.12
133 End of beach rock section / Go right through gate and cross field 0.79 320.91
134 Left onto graded road after beachfront houses 0.29 321.20
135 Off graded road / Bypass Coyote Cal's / Take shortcut over hill 1.79 322.99
136 Right turn back onto graded road 0.54 323.53
137 Cross cattle guard, then several either ors ahead 3.11 326.64
138 Right at T intersection 9.72 336.36
139 Stay straight - small village on right 4.47 340.83
140 Stay Straight - rock wall on right 7.76 348.59
141 Left at four way intersection, then follow residential street to highway 1.51 350.10
142 Left onto HWY 1 @ Santo Tomas (60 MPH ZONE FOR 6.8 MILES) 0.15 350.25
143 Military inspection area on highway before Uruapan 4.93 355.18
144 Right Off HWY 1 @ KM 40.5 / Acambaro Restaurant Bar & Market 1.86 357.04
145 Pass through two consecutive gates 0.32 357.36
146 Top of hill, then left downhill, then uphill through red gate 0.25 357.61
147 Stay straight / cross road 0.46 358.07
148 Either or, then pass through uphill gate 0.15 358.22
149 Right turn at tight T intersection 0.19 358.41
150 Go right through gate, then climb uphill 0.52 358.93
151 Either or / Go left to avoid steep hill climb 0.10 359.03
152 Go left at top of hill 0.27 359.30
153 Go left at T intersection / Right goes to cemetary 0.30 359.60
154 Hard right turn 0.14 359.74
155 Go right at Y and then go downhill 0.33 360.07
156 Left at T intersection, then pass through gate between fences 0.27 360.34
157 Stay straight at four way intersection 0.27 360.61
158 Stay straight at four way intersection 0.10 360.71
159 Pass through gate 0.03 360.74
160 Stay straight - road merges in from left 0.06 360.80
161 Pass through gate 0.29 361.09
162 Stay straight 0.34 361.43
163 Take middle road, then cross road 0.11 361.54
164 Cross road, then climb hill 0.50 362.04
165 Top of hill 2.09 364.13
166 Left and go uphill / Greenhouses on right 1.01 365.14
167 Caution !!! / Dropoff on right 0.76 365.90
168 Merge left and begin hill climb 3.28 369.18
169 Cross graded road 1.44 370.62
170 Pass through open fence with metal posts 0.31 370.93
171 Water crossing / tall trees section 3.80 374.73
172 Go left at Y in open field 2.68 377.41
173 Pass through gate 0.83 378.24
174 Either or 0.34 378.58
175 Go left at Y 0.60 379.18
176 Top of hill / view of Ojos Negros valley 1.75 380.93
177 Yellow metal post on right 0.92 381.85
178 Right at T intersection 0.61 382.46
179 Hard left turn / Tres Hermanos Road is straight 0.71 383.17
180 Pass through open fence, then go downhill 1.37 384.54
181 Go right at Y / Rancho San Antonio 0.68 385.22
182 Pass through open fence 1.10 386.32
183 Stay straight / road merges in from left 0.33 386.65
184 Go through open fence 0.02 386.67
185 Pass through white metal gate 1.11 387.78
186 Left off graded road 0.05 387.83
187 Go left at Y, then pass fenceline on right 0.96 388.79
188 Go left at Y 0.60 389.39
189 Pass through open fence 0.09 389.48
190 Left at T Intersection, Then Climb Hill / CHECKPOINT 4 0.28 389.76
191 Either Or 0.79 390.55
192 Stay straight / road merges in from left 0.45 391.00
193 Pass through gate 1.85 392.85
194 Go left at Y 0.09 392.94
195 Go left at Y, then climb hill 0.07 393.01
196 Pass through gate 0.75 393.76
197 Pass through gate 0.14 393.90
198 END OF PRERUNNING / HWY 3 @ KM 35.5 is straight ahead 0.70 394.60
X Course turns left to Finish Line, but no prerunning in this direction X X
X Exit course by going straight across large field to HWY 3 @ KM 35.5 X X
X Cross HWY 3 @ KM 33 / West of Ojos Negros 1.85 396.45
X Finish Line At Riviera Convention Center On Boulevard Costero 36.06 432.51 END COURSE NOTES
41st Annual Baja 500 Entries
June 4-7, 2009--Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
Total Entries: 252 (as of 5/18/09)
Pro Cars & Trucks
TROPHY-TRUCK (24)
11 Greg Nunley
3 Mark Post
1 B.J. Baldwin
12 Brian Collins
19 Tim Herbst
77 Robby Gordon
24 Adam Householder
35 Robbie Pierce
13 Ed Stout
4 Gus Vildosola Jr.
2 Pete Sohren
84 Nick Vanderwey
8 Roger Norman
39 Ron Whitton
22 Damen Jefferies
38 Garron Cadiente
16 Cameron Steele
71 Rick D. Johnson
96 Bobby Baldwin
28 Alan Pflueger
47 James Bult
53 Jason Voss
51 Kory Scheeler
74 Rob Bruce
CLASS 1 (17)
101 Randy Wilson
102 Armin Schwarz
103 Ronny Wilson
104 Julio Herrera
105 Richard Boyle
106 Troy Herbst
107 Josh Rigsby
108 Dale Lenk
109 Jerry Penhall
110 Armin Kremer
111 Todd Romano
112 Rob Bruce
113 Josh Daniel
114 Harley Letner
115 Brian Parkhouse
117 Kenny Farmer
118 Enrique Bujanda
CLASS 1-2/1600 (16)
1601 Samuel Araiza
1602 David Caspino
1603 Hector Sarabia
1604 Mario Gastelum
1605 Arnoldo Ramirez
1606 Cisco Bio
1607 Brian Wilson
1608 Roman Pereyra
1609 Arturo Velazco
1610 Brad Wilson
1611 Luis Martinez
1612 Justin Smith
1613 Hector Garcia
1647 Eric Duran
1648 Ramiro Escobedo
1649 Marco Gallo
CLASS 3 (2)
348 Darren Skilton
349 Gerardo Barragan
CLASS 5 (3)
501 Shaun Dunbar
500 Kevin Carr
519 Carlos Albanez
CLASS 5/1600 (6)
551 Alonso Angulo
552 Oscar Venegas
553 Pedro Athie
577 Sergio Moreno
550 Marcos Nunez
579 Gustavo Avina
CLASS 6 (4)
601 Benjamin Wright
602 Heidi Steele
603 Marc Burnett
604 Robert Pickering
CLASS 7 (8)
701 Einer Gomez
700 Dan Chamlee
703 Bill Kunz
704 Jose Canchola Jr.
705 Heidi Steele
706 Brandon Walsh
707 Igor Galvan
708 Aaron Celiceo
CLASS 7SX (3)
741 Brandt Anderson
758 John Holmes
759 Eduardo Gonzalez
CLASS 8 (6)
801 Rodrigo Ampudia Jr.
802 Ted Hunnicutt Jr.
803 Clyde Stacy
804 Beny Canela
805 Rick Sanchez
806 Juan C. Lopez
CLASS 9 (3)
901 Luke Babb
902 Pancho Bio
900 Daniel Reyes Jr.
CLASS 10 (7)
1001 Scott Gailey
1002 Sergio Salgado
1003 Javier Robles
1004 Jesus Gonzalez
1000 Mike Lawrence
1006 Corey Keysar
1007 Will Higman
SCORE LITE (6)
1201 John Langley
1202 Lee Banning
1200 Rick St. John
1205 Brent Parkhouse
1206 Aaron Payne
1207 Michelle Bruckmann
CLASS 11 (3)
1101 Eric Solorzano
1102 Rene Rodriguez
1149 Gustavo Garayzar
STOCK FULL (2)
878 Justin Matney
879 Joe Bacal
STOCK MINI (1)
779 Gavin Skilton
PROTRUCK (2)
250 Gary Magness
240 Rob Kittleson
PRO MOTORCYCLES
CLASS 22 (17)
2x Ryan Penhall
3x Chuck Neugebauer
4x Kendall Norman
5x Connor Penhall
6x Steve Hengeveld
7x Terence Montelongo
8x Cameron Corfman
9x Guy Larocque
11x Adam Thissen
12x Adrian Butler
13x Gabriel Williams
14x Tony Navarro
15x Colton Udall
16x Ivan Ramirez
17x Mark Bradford
18x A.J. Stewart
19x Adam Neuwirth
CLASS 21 (11)
101x Baron Pickett
102x Jorge Perez
103x Bill Boyer
104x Dan Troy
105x Elias Hanna
106x Shane Esposito
107x Ronnie Wilson
108x Chad Thornton
109x Jeremy Purvines
110x Evan Heath
111x Carlos Becerril
CLASS 20 (5)
151x Marco Bernaldez
152x Hector Castillo
153x Manuel Reyes
150x Anna Cody
155x Jesus Rios
CLASS 30 (12)
301x Sean Bradley
302x Sol Saltzman
303x Mike Johnson
300x Jim O’Neal
305x Kurt Funk
306x Jean-Paul Cyr
307x Javier Hernandez
308x Miguel Caetano
309x Andy Padulo
310x Marc Haldeman
311x Sergio Villapando
349x Todd Melinn
CLASS 40 (8)
401x Hisahide Ueno
402x Glen McGuire
400x Scott Myers
404x Brian Campbell
405x Mike Prunty
406x Tom Vogt
448x Rodolfo Sanchez
449x Julio Abril
CLASS 50 (3)
501x Charlie Marshall
502x Eizaburo Karasawa
500x Jim O’Neal
CLASS 60 (2)
600x Donald Lewis
609x Richard Jackson
PRO ATVs
CLASS 25 (5)
2a Santos Perez
3a Adolfo Arellano
1a Wayne Matlock
5a Nick Nelson
6a Felipe Velez
CLASS 24 (11)
101a Benjamin Lopez
102a Victor Lopez
100a Craig Christy
104a Abraham Romero
105a Shawn Robins
106a Jose Juarez
107a Brian Harris
108a Roberto Ruiz
109a Luis Berumen
110a Jorge Valenzuela
111a Miguel Arellano
CLASS 26 (2)
201a Reid Rutherford
219a Rob Ransford
SPORTSMAN
SPT CAR (1)
1400 Peter Lang
SPT TRUCK (4)
1501 Miguel Jimenez
1502 Ken Fraizer
1503 Joe Aguayo
1549 Randy Swink
SPT UTV (5)
1801 Martin Aguirre
1802 Peter Hajas
1803 Reid Nordin
1804 Thomas Graves
1805 Brian Hewett
SPT M/C< (13)
201x Miguel Montenegro
203x Gregg Betz
204x Matt Ladendorf
205x Francisco Teran
207x Brody Kunz
208x Walter Lemonovich
209x Fred Sobke
210x Ryan Carville
212x Humberto Valle
213x Marco Cornejo
247x Patrick Williams
248x Louie Montano
249x Greg Willitts
SPT M/C> (27)
251x Eric Anderson
252x Peter Penttinen
253x Mike Murray
254x Mark Adams
255x Jeff Leonard
256x Albert Valenzula
257x Don Wadsworth
258x Cliff Morgan
259x Erik Litzenberg
260x Stephen Legate
261x Ron Tolman
262x Dennis Anderson
263x Craig Anstine
264x Thierry Mas
265x Warner Blom
266x Oscar Fazz
267x Vince Leonis
269x Akihiro Saito
270x Kenji Oikawa
271x Carlos Gracida
272x Tibi Imbuzan
273x Cornelio Garcia
274x Odin Moncada
275x Octavio Valle
276x Salvador Sainz
277x Levi Colton
278x Enrique Guerra
SPT ATV (13)
50a Joselito Muro
51a Angel Hoyos
52a Luciano Parada
53a Raul Arciniega
54a Adrian Valdez
55a Javier Guerrero
56a Alberto Maya
57a Juan Gonzalez
58a Ray Arriaga
59a Manuel Jimenez
60a Daniel Montano
61a Fernando Amador
99a Gustavo Ameca
End Racers List
Team Zorro in Ensenada, Baja California Mexico Baja Racing News.com Favorite!
Baja Racing News.com
CURRENT BAJA 500 ODDS
SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK (24)
11 Greg Nunley Railroad track bumper? 10 to 1
3 Mark Post Postman delivers 2 to 1
1 B.J. Baldwin Seldom denied 2 to 1
12 Brian Collins TOP TIP 2 to 1
19 Tim Herbst Out-of-league? 3 to 1
77 Robby Gordon Baja Racing News.com Favorite
24 Adam Householder Not a household name … 10 to 1
35 Robbie Pierce ” … Master of none” 6 to 1
13 Ed Stout Light-weight 10 to 1
4 Team Vildosola Baja Racing News.com Dark Horse Pick
2 Pete Sohren Tenacious, if nothing else 5 to 1
84 Nick Vanderwey Bull rider 7 to 1
8 Roger Norman Bad draw … 3 to 1
39 Ron Whitton Oldest DNF? 10 to 1
22 Damen Jefferies Not like like it used to be 10 to 1
38 Garron Cadiente OK on lap races 4 to 1
16 Cameron Steele Poor Man’s Travis? 6 to 1
71 Rick D. Johnson TOP TIP 4 to1
96 Bobby Baldwin “I’ll take four … ” 10 to 1
28 Alan Pflueger Hawaii, now? 4 to 1
47 James Bult Will be NOT 10 to 1
53 Jason Voss Unsportsmanlike 10 to 1
51 Kory Scheeler Could be HOT 2500F to 1
74 Rob Bruce Might hold up himself? 10 to 1
CLASS 1 (17)
101 Randy Wilson Team-Of-The-Meeting 3 to 2
102 Armin Schwarz Meat in Wilsonian sandwich 2 to 1
103 Ronny Wilson Someone has to be Second! 2 to 1
104 Julio Herrera Worth keeping an eye on 5 to 1
105 Richard Boyle “Go” or “Whoa” 3 to 1
106 Troy Herbst Best off-road car … ever! 3 to 1
107 Josh Rigsby Dilettante 10 to 1
108 Dale Lenk Not the weakest Lenk 4 to 1
109 Jerry Penhall Win on Saturday, sell on Monday 3 to 1
110 Armin Kremer Tries too much 5 to 1
111 Todd Romano Cheesy 10 to 1
112 Rob Bruce Come on, TWO cars? 10 to 1
113 Josh Daniel Kidding? 10 to 1
114 Harley Letner Overly-aggressive 3 to 1
115 Brian Parkhouse Inconsistent but fast 5 to 1
117 Kenny Farmer Goin agro? 10 to 1
118 Enrique Bujanda DARK CABALLO 3 to 1
CLASS 1-2/1600 (16)
1601 Samuel Araiza Unseen 5 to 1
1602 David Caspino Businesslike 2 to 1
1603 Hector Sarabia Unnoticed? 5 to 1
1604 Mario Gastelum Good chance 4 to 1
1605 Arnoldo Ramirez Quick, enough? 4 to 1
1606 Cisco Bio Winner? 3 to 1
1607 Brian Wilson Sibling rivalry 3 to 1
1608 Roman Pereyra Roamin’, unfortunately 4 to 1
1609 Arturo Velazco Must keep pressure on 3 to 1
1610 Brad Wilson Wouldn’t it be nice? 3 to 1
1611 Luis Martinez Middle of pack 6 to 1
1612 Justin Smith Hopes to finish 6 to 1
1613 Hector Garcia TOP TIP 3 to 1
1647 Eric Duran Over-due 3 to 1
1648 Ramiro Escobedo Falts, flats, flats 5 to 1
1649 Marco Gallo Top 5? 5 to 1
CLASS 3 (2)
348 Darren Skilton Should be easy Even
349 Gerardo Barragan A bad day … and night 10 to 1
CLASS 5 (3)
501 Shaun Dunbar Must stay close 4 to 1
500 Kevin Carr The “New George Seeley”? 3 to 1
519 Carlos Albanez Might challenge 5 to 1
CLASS 5/1600 (6)
551 Alonso Angulo Also-started 10 to 1
552 Oscar Venegas Finisher 4 to 1
553 Pedro Athie Abagado uber alles 4 to 1
577 Sergio Moreno Dark cloud 10 to 1
550 Marcos Nunez Virtually unbeatable Even
579 Gustavo Avina Sidelines 10 to 1
CLASS 6 (4)
601 Benjamin Wright Not wrong 3 to 1
602 Heidi Steele Too much to handle 3 to 1
603 Marc Burnett “No flats” 3 to 1
604 Robert Pickering Not cherry pickering 10 to 1
CLASS 7 (8)
701 Einer Gomez 1, 2, 3 .. 8th 10 to 1
700 Dan Chamlee Obvious choice 3 to 1
703 Bill Kunz Overdue bill? 10 to 1
704 Jose Canchola Jr. TOP TIP 3 to 1
705 Heidi Steele How can you be in two places at once? 5 to 1
706 Brandon Walsh Best outsider 4 to 1
707 Igor Galvan Has to hump it 10 to 1
708 Aaron Celiceo Might beat Einer 10 to 1
CLASS 7S
72x Heidi Steele Too much to handle 5 to 1
CLASS 7SX (3)
741 Brandt Anderson Last and least 10 to 1
758 John Holmes Should make it home Even
759 Eduardo Gonzalez 2nd Place 4 to 1
75x Heidi Steele Too much to handle 5 to 1
CLASS 8 (6)
801 Rodrigo Ampudia Jr. Ready 3 to 1
802 Ted Hunnicutt Jr. Promises unfulfilled 3 to 1
803 Clyde Stacy Steep learning curve 6 to 1
804 Beny Canela Savvy 3 to 1
805 Rick Sanchez Will wear out pit crews 10 to 1
806 Juan C. Lopez Fast, too fast? 3 to 1
CLASS 9 (3)
901 Luke Babb No luck for Luke 10 to 1
902 Pancho Bio People’s Choice Even
900 Daniel Reyes Jr. Finisher? 3 to 1
CLASS 10 (7)
1001 Scott Gailey Don’t think so 10 to 1
1002 Sergio Salgado Stuck in Laguna 10 to 1
1003 Javier Robles Quick 3 to 1
1004 Jesus Gonzalez Hard charger 4 to 1
1000 Mike Lawrence Relies upon Lou’s pits 5 to 1
1006 Corey Keysar DARK HORSE 4 to 1
1007 Will Higman Obvious 3 to 1
SCORE LITE (6)
1201 John Langley Cannot match Rick 10 to 1
1202 Lee Banning Challenger 2 to 1
1200 Rick St. John Goes without saying Even
1205 Brent Parkhouse Needs clear head 4 to 1
1206 Aaron Payne OUCH! 10 to 1
1207 Michelle Bruckmann Needs best effort 3 to 1
CLASS 11 (3)
1101 Eric Solorzano Should have it all his way Even
1102 Rene Rodriguez Hopes to get to Borrego 10 to 1
1149 Gustavo Garayzar Jack-and-Shovel Boy 10 to 1
STOCK FULL (2)
878 Justin Matney Will beat ex-Moo truck 5 to 1
879 Joe Bacal Joe King? 10 to 1
STOCK MINI (1)
79x Heidi Steele Too much to handle 5 to 1
779 Gavin Skilton PR Day 3 to 1
PROTRUCK (2)
250 Gary Magness Top 25 3 to 1
240 Rob Kittleson Top 30? 5 to 1
End Odds
Baja 500 CLASSES:
The race features 28 Pro & 6 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs:Pro Cars & Trucks
SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK (Unlimited Production Trucks)
CLASS 1 (Unlimited single or two-seaters)
CLASS 1-2/1600 (single or two-seaters to 1600cc)
CLASS 3 (Short wheelbase 4X4)
CLASS 5 (Unlimited Baja Bugs)
CLASS 5/1600 (1600cc Baja Bugs)
CLASS 6 (Unlimited, Production mini trucks)
CLASS 7 (Open mini trucks)
CLASS 7SX (Modified, Stock mini trucks)
CLASS 8 (Full-sized two-wheel drive trucks)
CLASS 9 (Short wheelbase, single or two-seaters)
CLASS 10 (Single or two-seaters to 1650cc)
SCORE LITE (Limited single-1776cc-or two-seaters-1835cc)
CLASS 11 (Stock VW Sedans)
STOCK FULL (Stock full-sized trucks)
STOCK MINI (Stock mini trucks)
PROTRUCK (Limited Production Trucks)
CLASS 17 (Modified, Class 3 Jeep Cherokees)
Pro Motorcycles
CLASS 22 (250cc or more)
CLASS 21 (126cc to 250cc)
CLASS 20 (Up to 125cc)
CLASS 30 (Riders over 30 years old)
CLASS 40 (Riders over 40 years old)
CLASS 50 (Riders over 50 years old)
CLASS 60 (Riders over 60 years old)
Pro ATVs
CLASS 25 (251cc or more)
CLASS 24 (250cc or less)
CLASS 26 (Limitied, Utility)
2008 TOP FINISHERS: 289 Total Starters, 195 Total Finishers
OVERALL CARS & TRUCKS :
1. B.J. Baldwin, Las Vegas, Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
2. Mark Post, Laguna Beach, Calif./Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
3. Brian Collins, Las Vegas/Chuck Hovey, Escondido, Calif., Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
4. Luis Ramirez Jr., Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, HMS-Chevy (Class 1)
5. Roger Norman, Reno, Nev./Larry Roeseler, Irvine, Calif., Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
6. Ron Whitton, Mesa, Ariz./Todd LeDuc, Cherry Valley, Calif., Ford-F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
7. Dale Ebberts, Wilton, Calif./Brad Etter, Villa Park, Calif., Porter-Chevy (Class 1)
8. Armin Schwarz, Germany/Martin Christensen, Escondido, Calif., Jimco-BMW (Class 1)
9. Brian Parkhouse, Bell Gardens, Calif./Tom Ridings, Los Alamitos, Calif., Jimco-Chevy (Class 1)
10. Rick St. John, Encinitas, Calif., Duvel-VW (SCORE Lite)
OVERALL MOTORCYCLE
Kendall Norman, Honda CRF450X (Class 22)
OVERALL ATV
1. Wayne Matlock, El Cajon, Calif./Marc Spaeth, Ramona, Calif./Rick Cecco, Brilings Springs, Penn., Honda TRX700XX (Class 25)
2007 TOP FINISHERS: 492 Total Starters, 282 Total Finishers
OVERALL CARS & TRUCKS :
1. Larry Ragland, Cave Creek, Ariz./Brian Collins, Las Vegas, Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
2. Robby Gordon, Chevy CK1500 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
3. B.J. Baldwin, Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
4. Mark Post, San Juan Capistrano, CA/Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
5. Josh Baldwin, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
6. David Scaroni/Matt Scaroni, Heber, Ford-F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
7. Garron Cadiente, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
8. Todd Wyllie, Chevy C1500 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
9. Gus Vildosola/Gus Vildosola Jr., Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
10. B.J. Richardson, Bunderson-Chevy (Class 1)
OVERALL MOTORCYCLE
1. Robby Bell/Kendall Norman, Steve Hengeveld, Honda CRF450X (Class 22)
OVERALL ATV
1. Danny Prather, Mike Cafro, Honda TRX450R (Class 25)
2006 TOP FINISHERS: 438 Total Starters, 221 Total Finishers
OVERALL CARS & TRUCKS :
1. Brian Collins, Las Vegas/Larry Ragland, Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
2. Alan Pflueger, Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
3. Josh Baldwin, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
4. Troy Herbst, Las Vegas/Larry Roeseler, Smithbuilt-Ford (Class 1)
5. B.J. Baldwin, Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
6. Garron Cadiente, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
7. Bob Shepard, Chevy CK1500 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
8. Ed Herbst/Tim Herbst, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
9. Dale Ebberts, Jimco-Toyota (Class 1)
10. Mark McMillin, Brian Ewalt, Jimco-Chevy (Class 1)
OVERALL MOTORCYCLE
1. Robby Bell, Kendall Norman, Honda CRF450X (Class 22)
OVERALL ATV Danny Prather, Mike Cafro, Honda TRX450R (Class 25)
2005 TOP FINISHERS: 345 Total Starters, 179 Total Finishers
OVERALL CARS & TRUCKS :
1. Robby Gordon, Chevy CK1500 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
2. Andy McMillin/Scott McMillin, Jimco-Chevy (Class 1)
3. Jason Baldwin, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
4. Mark Post/Curt LeDuc Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
6. Marty Coyne/Travis Coyne,Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
7. Tim Herbst/Ed Herbst, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
8. Brian Ickler, Steve Sourapas Jimco-Chevy (Class 1)
9. Corky McMillin/ Gary Arnold, Chenowth-Chevy (Class 1)
10. Brian Collins, Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
OVERALL MOTORCYCLE
1. Mike Childress, Mouse McCoy, Honda XR650R (Class 22)
OVERALL ATV
1. Josh Frederick, Moapa, Nev./Cyle Chislock, Murrieta, Calif./Levi Marana, Hemet, Calif., Honda TRX450R (Class 25)
2004 TOP FINISHERS: 300 Total Starters, 181 Total Finishers
OVERALL CARS & TRUCKS :
1. Alan Pflueger, Chevy Silverado (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
2. Troy Herbst/Larry Roeseler, Smithbuilt-Ford (Class 1)
3. Mark Post, Jerry Whelchel, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
4. Jason Baldwin, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
5. Josh Baldwin, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
6. Andy McMillin/Scott McMillin, Jimco-Chevy (Class 1)
7. B.J. Baldwin, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
8. Dan Smith/Dave Ashley, Ford F-150 (SCORE Trophy-Truck)
Jimco-Chevy (Class 1)
10. Mark McMillin, , Jimco-Chevy (Class 1)
OVERALL MOTORCYCLE
1. Steve Hengeveld, Johnny Campbell,Honda XR650R (Class 22)
OVERALL ATV 1. Ruben Martin/Gilberto Santana, Bombardier Baja X (Class 25)
OVERALL WINNERS RETURN:
Among the overall race winners returning are 15 drivers/riders who have combined to win 45 overall car/truck and/or motorcycle titles, including drivers and riders from the last seven straight 4-wheel overalls and 11 of the last 13 motorcycle overall winners, including nine straight. Leading the way with multiple overall wins in this race are Larry Roeseler with 11 (including nine on a motorcycle), Robby Gordon and Troy Herbst with three each in 4-Wheel, and in 2-wheel, Steve Hengeveld with six, Johnny Campbell with five, Ted Hunnicutt Jr. with four and Kendall Norman with three. Hunnicutt will be racing in a Class 8 truck this year.
MULTIPLE CLASS WINNERS RETURN:
In the field are 69 racers who have combined to win 183 combined class wins in the history of this race. Leading this prestigious group of returning multiple class winners is Larry Roeseler whose 16 class wins are the third-most in race history. The other racers with the most multiple class wins in this race who are back to add to their winning totals are: Richard Jackson and Jim O’Neal (12 each), Marcos Nunez (8), Steve Hengeveld and Troy Herbst (7 each), Eric Solorzano and Nick Vanderwey (6 each), Johnny Campbell, Ted Hunnicutt Jr. and Rob MacCachren (5 each) and Robby Gordon, Rick D. Johnson and Jerry Penhall (4 each)
DEFENDING CLASS CHAMPIONS:
A total of 16 of the 25 defending Pro class winners (2 classes had no finishers) from last year are entered so far this year, although five of them have switched classes. Besides B.J. Baldwin, Norman and Matlock other racers who will be back to defend their class titles are Kevin Carr, San Diego (Class 5, VW Baja Bug), Dan Chamlee, Carpenteria, Calif. (Class 7, Ford Ranger), Daniel Reyes Jr., Calexico, Calif. (Class 9, Venegas-VW), Jesus Gonzalez, Ensenada, Mexico (Class 10, Dunrite-Honda), Rick St. John, Encinitas, Calif. (SCORE Lite, Duvel-VW), Brett Helm, Poway, Calif. (Class 40, Honda CRF450X), Jim O’Neal, Simi Valley, Calif. (Class 50, Honda CRF450X) and Donald Lewis, Marlborough, Conn. (Class 60, Honda CRF450X.Heidi Steele, San Clemente, Calif., is one of four female driver/rider of record this year and she is also one of the five racers who won their respective classes last year but will be competing in a different class this year. In Steele’s case, however, she will be competing in two classes. After winning Class 7SX last year, she is racing with teammates in both Class 6 and Class 7 this year in different Ford Rangers. Besides Heidi Steele, the other four racers who will be in different classes this year are Luis Ramirez Jr., Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, who is the second driver this year for Damen Jeferries in SCORE Trophy-Truck after winning Class 1 last year; Adam Pfankuch, Carlsbad, Calif., who is the second driver in SCORE Lite for Rick St. John this year after winning Class 1-2/1600; Connor Penhall, Corona, Calif., who will lead a team in Class 22 after being the second rider for Chad Black while winning Class 20 last year; and Scott Myers, Sun City, Calif., who is the rider of record in Class 40 this year’s for Brett Helm’s team after leading a team to victory last year in Class 30.
CROSSOVER/CELEBRITY RACERS:
Among the crossover/celebrity racers entered in this year’s Tecate SCORE Baja 500 are:Robby Gordon, NASCAR Team Owner/Driver (No. 77 SCORE Trophy-Truck)Armin Schwarz, Germany, 119 World Rally Championship starts (No. 102 Class 1)Cameron Steele, TV Sports Announcer including X-Games (No. 16 SCORE Trophy-Truck)Armin Kremer, champion German Rally racer (No. 110, Class 1)Andreas Aigner, Austria, 2008 Production WRC World Champion (No. 110, Class 1)Timmy Weigand, national motocross veteran (No. 4x, Class 22)Scott Whipple, World Champion Top Fuel Sand Drag Racer (No. 1001, Class 10)Jeff Kargola, freestyle motocross star (No. 15x, Class 22)Joe Bacal, Performance Driving instructor, cancer survivor (No. 879, Stock Full).
FEMALE RACERS:
While there are numerous female co-drivers/riders, the 3 ladies who are driver/rider of record are:Heidi Steele, Cameron Steele’s wife, splitting driving in two classes with male drivers in different Ford Rangers (Class 6 & Class 7)Michelle Bruckmann, splitting driving with husband Vic Bruckmann (SCORE Lite)Anna Cody, leading a 4-rider all-female team in Class 20 (motorcycle, under 125cc).
2005 Baja 500 FLASHBACK STORY
NASCAR’s Robby Gordon takes Overall 4-Wheel Win at 2005 Baja 500
Returning to his racing roots, NASCAR team owner/driver Robby Gordon began his double-duty weekend with a stunning overall 4-wheel and SCORE Trophy-Truck victory in the 37th Tecate SCORE Baja 500 desert race that started and finished in Ensenada, Mexico. Leaving shortly after his Saturday win to return to Delaware to drive in Sunday’s NASCAR Nextel Cup race, Gordon charged to the front early in his No. 83 Red Bull Chevy CK1500 and stayed there, covering the brutal 419-mile course in 9 hours, 10 minutes, 32 seconds, averaging 45.66 miles per hour. “We earned this one,” said Gordon, who lives in Mooresville, N.C. and races out of his Robby Gordon desert race team shop in Anaheim, Calif. “The race was tough, it was a pretty slow average and a lot of rocks. It’s nice to win one – we’ve come so close so many times. It was a good run for us. I just drove an easy pace.”
Second among the motorcycles was the No. 1x American Honda A team of Steve Hengeveld, Oak Hills, Calif./Johnny Campbell, San Clemente, Calif., with a 8:49:45 time while third was the No. 9x Honda B team of Robby Bell, Murrieta, Calif./Kendall Norman, Santa Barbara, Calif., completing the course in 9:08:16. The fourth motorcycle finisher was the No. 3x Factory KTM team of Chris Blais, Apple Valley, Calif./Andy Grider, Los Olivos, Calif., running the route in 9:10:48.
“It was amazing – I loved it,” said the 21-year-old Childress. “It’s my first time ever to win a SCORE race. I’ve been doing this since I was 14 and it was a dream to win a race and now I did it. We were in fourth early on. Mike’s Sky Loop was the hardest part. I passed Johnny (Campbell) at Santo Tomás and never looked back.” The Childress/McCoy victory snapped the five-year winning streak in this race by Hengeveld, who won with Campbell three of those years.
Josh Frederick, Moapa, Nev., and teammates Cycle Chislock, Murrieta, Calif., and Levi Marana, Hemet, Calif., were the fastest Overall ATV this year, winning Class 25 in 10:16:14, averaging 40.80mph on their No. 10a Honda TRX450R.
Three women were drivers of record, and all finished the race. Michelle Bruckmann of Lemon Grove, Calif., placed second in Class 5 with her husband Vic, while Sigal Greenberg of Desert Hills, Ariz., was second in Class 9 while splitting the driving with John Hallal. Heidi Steele of San Clemente, Calif. whose husband Cameron finished fifteenth in SCORE Trophy-Truck, was the overall Sportsman Car champion. Steele had driving assistance from Justin Smith of Capistrano Beach, Calif. In addition, Bekki Wik of Las Vegas, Nev., drove half the race in Class 1 with driver of record Ronny Wilson of Long Beach, Calif. They finished sixth out of 31 starters in their class and 26th overall.
Held on June 4, 2005, the Baja 500 featured a near-record 345 starters from twenty U.S. states, Mexico, Canada and Japan. The large field, competing in 24 Pro and 5 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs, was the fourth-largest in the history of the summer desert classic. Because the already-rough course deteriorated so much as to cause several massive traffic jams behind stuck vehicles, SCORE officials extended the official finish time limit from 17 to 19 hours. A total of 180 survivors completed the race within the new time limit. Mexican officials estimated that there were more than 150,000 spectators spread out along the course.
For the first time in several years, the Tecate SCORE Baja 500 will be televised nationally on a delayed basis. With multiple showings, The Outdoor Life Network (OLN) will air the race as a one-hour primetime special. Aura 360 will produce the show.
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