LOS ANGELES—Following the first four of five races in the 2009 SCORE Desert Series, 16 of SCORE’s toughest drivers remain in the hunt to earn 2009 SCORE Toyota Milestone Awards.

Leading the way are two racers in the featured SCORE Trophy-Truck division along with six in Class 1-2/1600 for 1600cc VW-powered open-wheelers.

The two SCORE Trophy-Truck drivers who have completed every race mile so far this season are: Robby Gordon, Charlotte, N.C. (No. 77 Chevy CK1500) and Ed Stout, Santa Ana, Calif. (No. 13 Chevy Silverado).

Over 275 entries are expected to compete in 28 Pro and 6 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs in the upcoming season-ending 42nd Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. The final round of the five-race 2009 SCORE Desert Series will be held Nov. 19-22 in Ensenada, Mexico.

The computerized drawing for starting positions, by class, will be held this Saturday at the SCORE International headquarters in Los Angeles.

Toyota is presenting these prestigious awards to the world’s toughest desert racers for the 24th consecutive year. The Toyota Milestone awards will go to those pro car and truck drivers who finish every required mile in the five-race 2009 SCORE Desert Series, the World’s Foremost Desert Racing Series.

“Toyota is proud to honor the world’s best desert racing drivers,” said Les Unger, national motorsports manager at Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. “For over two decades, we have had the privilege of presenting the SCORE Toyota Milestone Awards to the toughest racers on the planet.”

Racers from at least 30 U.S. States, Austria, Canada, Denmark, England, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Mexico are expected to compete in this year’s Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. 

The loop race will start and finish on Costero Boulevard in front of the historic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center adjacent to the Bahia de Todos Santos in the heart of Ensenada. Over 200,000 spectators are expected to line the race route which covers much of the northern part of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula.  On Friday, Nov. 20, which is Mexican Revolution Day, Motorcycles and ATVs will start first in the elapsed-time race at 6:30 a.m. followed by the cars and trucks at 10:30 a.m.

2009 SCORE Toyota Milestone Awards
(Through Round 4, 16 Racers have completed every required mile in the 2009 SCORE Desert Series)

SCORE Trophy-Truck
Robby Gordon
Ed Stout

Class 1
Randy Wilson

Class 1-2/1600
Brian Wilson
Justin Smith
Cody Robinson
Mario Gastelum
Eric Duran
Samuel Araiza

Class 5/1600
Alonso Angulo

Class 7
Dan Chamlee

Class 8
Clyde Stacy

Class 10
Mike Lawrence
Scott Gailey

SCORE Lite
Brent Parkhouse

Stock Mini
Gavin Skilton