LOS ANGELES—Launching pre-race festivities, the computerized drawing for start positions, by class, for June’s 43rd Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500 desert race will be held on Saturday at the SCORE headquarters in Los Angeles.
Round 3 of the five-race 2011 SCORE Desert Series, the World’s Foremost Desert Racing Series, will feature over 250 entries, competing in 28 Pro and 7 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs, will be held June 2-5 in Ensenada, Mexico. Traditionally one of the most popular events on the SCORE schedule, most of the world’s best desert racers are expected to be in action at this year’s Tecate SCORE Baja 500.
In its 38th year as the world’s foremost desert racing organization, SCORE was founded in 1973 by the late motorsports legend Mickey Thompson and current CEO/President Sal Fish was quickly lured away from his position as publisher of noted Hot Rod Magazine to run the pioneering company. The first SCORE race in Mexico was the SCORE Baja 500, held on July 26, 1974.
“The Tecate SCORE Baja 500 is at the foundation of SCORE International and it has always been a memorable race for everyone concerned,” said Fish, who began his SCORE career in 1974. “As we continue to go through a variety of changes with the economy, and all of the details involved with producing our races we continue to be very grateful to the government and people of Mexico for all of the hospitality that they continue to show us. We are finalizing another very challenging race course which will provide many more colorful stories from SCORE Baja racing.”
Last year’s overall race champions are expected to be entered in time for Saturday’s drawing. The over 4-wheel winner was the son/father team of Andy and Scott Millin, National City, Calif., who drive the No. 31 Ford F-150 SCORE Trophy-Truck. Recording the fastest overall time while leading all motorcycles in last year’s race was the JCR Honda Racing Team riders Kendall Norman, Santa Barbara, Calif./Quinn Cody, Buellton, Calif., on a Honda CRF450X while the fastest ATV was the Honda TRX700X riding by Wayne Matlock/Hose Caster, El Cajon, Calif./West Miller, Fallbrook, Calif.
In order to be included in Saturday’s drawing, entries must be received in the SCORE office via FAX, overnight delivery or regular mail on or before Wednesday.  Late entries will be accepted up until race morning with each vehicle receiving the next available start position and number within the class.
As with all SCORE Baja races, a special drawing will be held for the top 12 placement positions in both SCORE Trophy-Truck and the unlimited Class 1 in the previous SCORE Baja race who are entered in this race by April 20. The qualified racers are from this year’s MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250.
The top 12 SCORE Trophy-Truck placement positions in San Felipe were: Rob MacCachren, Jesse Jones, Andy McMillin, Nick Vanderwey, Gary Weyhrich, Bryce Menzies, Adam Householder, Jesse James, Mark McMillin, Tim Herbst, Cameron Steele, Dave Crinklaw.
The top 12 Class 1 placement positions in San Felipe were: Justin Davis, Brian Parkhouse, Damen Jefferies, Randy Wilson, Steve Appleton, Josh Rigsby, Daniel
McMillin, Conan Barker, Mark Lawrence, David Greenhill, Dan Martin and Ronny Wilson.
Competition in the SCORE Desert Series has never been closer as veteran SCORE Trophy-Truck driver Jesse Jones and young gun unlimited Class 1 racer Justin Davis lead their respective classes and are tied at the top of SCORE point leaderborad following the recent 25th MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250.
SCORE points are based on starting, finishing, placement and number of official starters within each class, Jones, 45, of Litchfield Park, Ariz., and Davis, 17 of Chino Hills, Calif., not only lead their respective classes following Round 2 of the five-race 2011 SCORE Desert Series, they are tied for the SCORE Overall point lead with 139 point each.
Jones, the reigning SCORE Trophy-Truck and SCORE Overall point champion, has finished a very close second in both of the first two races of the season in the No. 1 Jones Motorsports Ford F-250 SCORE Trophy-Truck, while Davis, last year’s SCORE Lite point champion, has won Class 1 in both races in the Green Army Motorsports Chevy-powered ESM open-wheel desert race car.
With extremely tight competition, just 40 points separate the top 25 overall point leaders following the first two rounds of the 2011 SCORE Desert Series. And SCORE Trophy-Trucks eight of the top 10 spots in overall points.
While 20 points separate the top five drivers in the SCORE overall point standings, just three points separate the next nine overall leaders.
In addition to season class point championships, the racers are also competing for part of the nearly $400,000 in cash purse and contingency postings each race. Drivers in the Pro car and truck classes are attempting to earn prestigious SCORE Toyota Milestone Awards given to all car and truck class drivers who complete every required mile of the five-race season.  Being presented by Toyota Motorsports for the 26th consecutive year, a total of 38 drivers remain eligible after Round 2 of the 2011 SCORE Desert Series. Racers are also competing for the annual SCORE Off-Roadsman of the Year awards, including the MasterCraft Safety SCORE Rookie of the Year award.
Current SCORE official annual sponsors are: BFGoodrich Tires-official tire, Volkswagen of America-official vehicle, Sunoco Race Fuels -official fuel supplier, Bilstein-official shock, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance-official Mexican auto insurance and Slime-official tire sealant. Associate sponsors are: Tecate Beer, Coca-Cola of Mexico, Las Vegas Events, Blue C Advertising, SignPros, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie’s Performance Products and Advanced Color Graphics.
While Tecate is title sponsor of the 43rd Tecate SCORE Baja 500, additional race sponsors are the Office of the Secretary of Tourism of Baja California and ProTurismo de Ensenada.
For more information, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters 818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the 2011 SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com.
2011 SCORE Desert Series Race-by-Race Class Winners
17th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge
Laughlin, Nevada     •     Jan. 14-116, 2011
Total Starters: 124      Total Finishers: 72
Pro Cars & Trucks
TROPHY-TRUCK—Bryce Menzies, Las Vegas, Ford F-150
CLASS 1—Justin Davis, Chino Hills, Calif., ESM-Chevy
CLASS 1-2/1600—Daniel McMillin, El Cajon, Calif., Jimco-VW
CLASS 5—Kevin Carr, San Diego, VW Baja Bug
CLASS 6—David Caspino, Woodland Hills, Calif., Ford Ranger
CLASS 7—Dan Chamlee, Carpenteria, Calif., Ford Ranger
CLASS 7SX—Elias Hanna, Ensenada, Mexico, Ford Ranger
CLASS 8—Justin Matney, Bristol, Tenn., Chevy Silverado
CLASS 10—Michael LaPaglia, Murrieta, Calif., Racer-Chevy
SCORE LITE—Jaime Huerta, San Luis, Ariz., Curry-VW
CLASS 11—Justin Matney, Bristol, Tenn., VW Sedan
STOCK FULL—Wes Bevly III, Corpus Christi, Texas, Ford F-150
PROTRUCK—Jessica McMillin, National City, Calif., Ford F-150
CLASS 7-2—Wes Bevly IV, Corpus Christi, Texas, BajaLite-Chevy
CLASS 4—Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Va., PSD-Chevy

SPORTSMAN
SPT TRUCK—No Finishers

25th MasterCraft Safety Tecate
SCORE San Felipe 250
San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico   March 12, 2011
Total Starters: 220    Total Finishers: 145

Pro Cars & Trucks
TROPHY-TRUCK—Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas, Ford F-150
CLASS 1—Justin Davis, Chino Hills, Calif.,ESM-Chevy
CLASS 1-2/1600—Cody Robinson, El Centro, Calif./Roberto Romo, Mexicali, Mexico, Romo-VW
CLASS 5—Kevin Carr, San Diego, VW Baja Bug
CLASS 5/1600—Emilio Salcido, Mexicali, Mexico, VW Baja Bug
CLASS 6—Heidi Steele, San Clemente, Calif., Ford Ranger
CLASS 7—Dan Chamlee, Carperteria, Calif., Ford Ranger
CLASS 7SX—Elias Hanna, Ensenada, Mexico, Ford Ranger
CLASS 8—Noah Ostanik, Encinitas, Calif., Ford F-150
CLASS 9—No Finishers
CLASS 10—Matt Cullen, Long Beach, Calif., AlumiCraft-VW
SCORE LITE—Steven Eugenio, Alpine, Calif., Prill-VW
CLASS 11—No Finishers
STOCK FULL—John Matney, Bristol, Va., Dodge Ram2500
PROTRUCK—Jessica McMillin, National City, Calif., Ford F-150
CLASS 7-2—Bruce Finchum, Mesa, Ariz., TrophyLite-Chevy
CLASS 4—Clyde Stacy, Bristol, Va., PSD-Chevy

Pro Motorcycles
CLASS 22—Colton Udall/Jeff Kargola, San Clemente, Calif., Honda CRF450X
CLASS 21—David Gonzalez Jr/Carlos Casas, Chula Vista, Calif., KTM450XCW
CLASS 30—Mike Johnson, El Paso, Texas/Steve Garnett, Carson City, Nev., Honda CRF450X
CLASS 40—Mike Prunty, Temecula, Calif., Honda CRF450X
CLASS 50—Jim Dizney, Alpine, Calif./Doug Smith, Upland, Calif./Eric McKenna, Loomis, Calif./Steve Williams, Tehachapi, Calif./Paul Doebereiner, La Quinta, Calif., Honda CRF450X
CLASS 60—Donald Lewis, Marlborough, Conn./Sam Dempsey, Lake Balboa, Calif./Bob Gates, Hesperia, Calif./Jim O’Neal, Simi Valley, Calif./Randy Dugan, Upland, Calif., Honda CRF450X,

Pro ATVs
CLASS 25—Roberto Ruiz, El Centro, Calif., Honda TRX450R
CLASS 24—Brandon Brown, Umatilla, Ore./Jorie Williams, Longview, Wash./Kenny Sanford, Tacoma, Wash./Robbie Mitchell, Price, Utah, Honda TRX450R
CLASS 26—Joe Rice, Lomita, Calif./Tim Winiarski, Carson, Calif., Can-Am 4X4

SPORTSMAN
SPT CAR—Peter Lang, Santa Rosa, Calif., Homebuilt-Buick
SPT TRUCK—Nick Tonelli, Huntington Beach, Calif., Ford Ranger
SPT UTV—Bill Morris, Bakersfield, Calif., Polaris RZR4
SPT M/C<—Issac Cisneros, San Diego, Yamaha YZF450
SPT M/C>—Ulises Fierro, Tijuana, Mexico, Honda CRF450X
SPT ATV—Ivan Espinoza, Mexicali, Honda TRX450R