Bell/Norman win in Motorcycles

Collins/Ragland roar to Overall & SCORE Trophy-Truck win Saturday

Herbst/Roeseler capture Class 1 at 38th Tecate SCORE Baja 500

Mammoth race features race-record 438 starters as nearly 200,000 race fans stretch across rugged 424.29-mile course

ENSENADA, Mexico—Making up for lost time from a slow start to their racing season, teammates Brian Collins, Las Vegas, and Larry Ragland, Cave Creek, Ariz., stormed through a race-record field of 438 starters to capture a stunning overall 4-Wheel and SCORE Trophy-Truck victory Saturday in the 38th Tecate SCORE Baja 500 desert race. Starting and finishing in Ensenada, Mexico, Collins drove the first 150-miles in the No. 12 Collins Motorsports Chevy Silverado before turning the wheel over to Ragland to drive to the finish, covering the challenging, dust-filled 424.29-mile course in 9 hours, 36 minutes and 49 seconds, averaging 44.13 miles per hour.

Collins and Ragland, captured the 4-wheel vehicle win with a flawless, flat-free race over a boulder-strewn, silt-grabbing desert course in front of a massive crowd estimated at nearly 200,000 spread out along the course by Mexican tourism officials. The record-setting race was filmed for television by Aura360, SCORE’S TV production partner, to air in December as a one-hour special on NBC in the U.S. and ESPN International worldwide.

The race featured a race-record 438 starters, from 28 U.S. States, Mexico, Canada, Colombia, France, New Zealand and Japan, for round 3 of the six-race 2006 SCORE Desert Series, the World’s Foremost Desert Racing Series. The large field, competing in 25 Pro and 6 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs, was the largest in the storied history of the summer desert classic, easily eclipsing the event record of 384 that was set and then tied in 1976 and 1977. It is also the largest starting field in the three-decade-plus history for SCORE race in Mexico, and second-most in the entire history of SCORE, behind the 1988 SCORE Parker 400 which had 452 starters.

With the marquee SCORE Trophy-Trucks claiming an impressive 11 of the first 15 overall finishing positions in the race, a total of 222 survivors out of 438 starters made it to finish line within the 18-hour limit. The 222 finishers represent the largest number of finishers ever in a SCORE race in Mexico.

Beating an impressive SCORE-record field of 37 SCORE Trophy-Trucks for his first Tecate SCORE Baja 500 win in the marquee SCORE racing division for 800-horsepower, high-tech, unlimited production trucks, Collins claimed his third class win and first overall 4-Wheel crown. His previous class wins were in 1997 and 1998 in Class 8 and the win was also his third career race win in SCORE Trophy-Truck.

For Ragland, the win was sixth class triumph and fourth overall victory in this race as well as his ninth career SCORE Trophy-Truck race win.

“We are very happy Larry Ragland took the truck home,” Collins, a second-generation desert racer said. “He had wonderful day. I had a great day, not a flat tire all day long; the truck ran perfect. It’s nice to have a day where you have no problems - it makes it look easy but we put a lot of work into it, our sponsors put a lot of work into it. We are very fortunate to get to win. I drove the first 155 miles; it was really scary because I was going very slow because the course was so tight, twisty and technical. To win the race with the largest field in the history of SCORE Baja racing is humbling and remarkable at the same time.”

After maintaining a slight early lead on corrected time, Honolulu’s Alan Pflueger drove solo in his No. 28 Pflueger Racing Chevy Silverado in his best race of the season with a second-place overall and SCORE Trophy-Truck finish, seven minutes, 16 seconds behind Collins/Ragland.

Third overall and in SCORE Trophy-Truck was the Josh Baldwin, Newport Beach, Calif., in 10:03:40 in the No. 86 Baldwin Racing Ford F-150

Winning the unlimited Class 1 with a dominating 14 minute, 23 second class victory margin, the team of Troy Herbst, Las Vegas, and Larry Roeseler, Canyon Lake, Calif., finished fourth overall in a time of 10:09:20 in the Terrible Herbst Motorsports Ford-powered Smithbuilt open-wheel desert race car.

For Herbst, who will turn 40 on June 7 and is the youngest of the three racing Herbst brothers, it was an amazing seventh Class 1 win in this race since 1996 and his fourth with Roeseler, who picking up his 16 career class win in the Tecate SCORE Baja 500.

Las Vegas’ B.J. Baldwin, the current SCORE Trophy-Truck season point leader, pushed his No. 97 Chevy Silverado to a fifth place overall and fourth in class in 10:10:02. Maintaining his season point lead, he raced with his left ankle and foot in a cast from a recent wrestling accident.

SCORE Trophy-Trucks also claimed the sixth, seventh and eighth overall 4-wheel finishing positions.

SCORE rookie Garron Cadiente, Mesa, Ariz., who won March’s Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250, was sixth overall and fifth in class in a time of 10:10:54 in the No. 38 G&R Racing Ford F-150.

Seventh overall and sixth in class was Phoenix’s Bob Shepard, the 2005 SCORE Trophy-Truck season point champion, covered the course in 10:18:32 in the No. 1 Shepard Racing Chevy CK1500.

Brothers Ed and Tim Herbst of Las Vegas, overcame some mechanical difficulties to give their family two top 10 overall finishing vehicles by finishing eighth overall and seventh in SCORE Trophy-Truck, clocking a time in 10:23:31 in the No. 19 Terrible Herbst Motorsports Ford F-150.

A pair of Class 1 vehicles completed the top 10 overall finishers list.

The team of Dale Ebberts, Canyon Lake, Calif./Ernie Castro Jr., Newport Beach, Calif., had their best finish of the season, finished ninth overall and second in Class 1 with a finishing time of 10:23:42 in their Jimco-Toyota.

Mark McMillin of El Cajon, Calif., the reigning SCORE Class 1 season point champion, and long-time teammate Brian Ewalt, were 10th overall and third in Class 1, completing the course in 10:25:21 in their Jimco-Chevy.

The two vehicles that covered the course the fastest, however, were both motorcycles. The two factory Honda teams captured the top two overall motorcycle positions and Class 22 win. Riding a Honda CRF450X, they gave a Honda four-stroke it’s first victory ever in this race, Robby Bell, Murrieta, Calif., and his teammate Kendall Norman, Santa Barbara, Calif., completing the course in 8:59:04, averaging 47.22mph.

Second overall and in Class 22 was the American Honda team of Steve Hengeveld, Oak Hills, Calif., and Mike Childress, Wrightwood, Calif., in 9:09:20, on a Honda XR650R.

In a remarkable and unprecedented finish in SCORE racing, Class 30 riders Brian Pinard and Ron Wilson, tied for the class win and third overall among motorcycles in an identical time of 9:45:10. Pinard, Murrieta, Calif. and teammates Taber Murphy, Wenatchee, Wash.,/Jonah Street, Ellensburg, Wash., rode a Honda XR650R while Wilson, Encinitas, Calif. and teammate Scott Myers, Sun City, Calif., raced on a Honda CRF450X.

“It was a lot of fun out there, the start especially was really cool.,” said Bell after his and Norman won their second straight SCORE race. “There were people everywhere, it was incredible. The course was tighter so it wasn´t as dusty. Mike´s loop is fun. It´s was getting rougher and rougher, but I enjoyed it. I know we had a big lead, but a win won´t sink in until they cross the line more than six minutes behind us (which they did). Kendall rode the pine forest section and the coast. He was on fire. He rode really well. He put a lot of time on Steve (Hengeveld). So I was able to take it easy coming into the finish. All I did was watch out for booby traps and livestock. I passed a few cows, but they were on the opposite way, which was a good thing. The bike ran flawless. Honda and Precision Concepts built an amazing bike. It ran strong from start to finish.”

Danny Prather, Ramona, Calif., and teammate Mike Cafro, Carlsbad, Calif., were the fastest Overall ATV this year, outdueling this year’s Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 winners Wayne Matlock, El Cajon, Calif. and Chad Prull, Laveen, Ariz. Both teams rode Honda TRX450R ATVs, with the Prather/Cafro team finishing in 10:23:45 (40.81mph), one minute, 40 seconds faster than Matlock/Prull.

Jim O’Neal, Chatsworth, Calif., became the first rider to win two classes in two different years in the Tecate SCORE Baja 500 as he led separate teams to victory, in both Class 40 (motorcycle riders over 40 years old) and Class 50 (motorcycle riders over 50 years old). With his double victories, both on Honda XR650R motorcycles, O’Neal has now has eight classes wins in this race in the last six years, the longest consecutive race streak of any racer in this event.

In Class 40, O’Neal’s teammates for this historic run were: Craig Adams, Oceanside, Calif./Tom Willis, Las Vegas, and Eric Brown, Phoenix. Riding with the noted apparel manufacturer to earn the Class 50 win were: Doug Heil, Monrovia, Calif./Mike Sixberry, Bullhead City, Ariz./Rick Gill, Carpenteria, Calif./Andy Kircker, Orange, Calif.

Returning to this race for the first time in 12 years, ageless legend Rod Hall, 67 of Reno, Nev., stayed tied with Larry Roeseler with 16 class wins in this race. Hall won the Stock Mini class in a Hummer H3, methodically plodding his way to the finish line 17:46:24, with just over 13 minutes remaining in the 18-hour time limit. Hall is the only racer who had competed (with 17 class wins as well) in every Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 in its 38-year history.

In the car and truck classes, remaining undefeated with three wins this year was Donald Moss, Sacramento, Calif./Kenneth Moss, Marysvile, Calif. (Class 3, Ford Bronco), his fourth class win in this event.

Picking up his eighth class win in this race by capturing Class 5/1600 in his 1600cc VW Baja Bug was Mexico’s Marco Nunez.

The Nick Vanderwey, Phoenix/Larry Vanderwey, Litchfield Park, Ariz., brought their GMC Sierra to the winner’s circle in Class 8 for the sixth time in this race.

In Class 9, Mexico’s Eric Fisher picked up his fifth class win in this race in a Garibay-VW.

Other class winners included: John Holmes, Olvenhain, Calif. (Class 7SX, Ford Ranger), David Bonner, Norco, Calif. (Class 5, VW Baja Bug), Dan Chamlee, Summerland, Calif. (Class 7, Ford Ranger), Tim Noe/Tom Watson/Travis Clarke, El Centro, Calif. (SCORE Lite, Jimco-VW), Darren Hardesty, Ramona, Calif./Mark Randazzo, Poway, Calif. (Class 10, AlumiCraft-VW) and Rob Reintertson, Woodside, Calif./Rick D. Johnson, Barstow, Calif., (Protruck, Ford F-150).

Pulling triple duty in the race was Cameron Steele, San Clemente, Calif., whose teams finished 14th in SCORE Trophy-Truck, ninth in SCORE Lite and 10th in Class 22.

NASCAR Team owner/driver Robby Gordon, the defending overall 4-wheel champion, was pulling his own triple duty with two vehicles in SCORE Trophy-Truck as well as commuting back and forth this week to Dover, Del., where he is driving today. His Hummer H3 did not finish because of mechanical problems, and the Chevy CK1500 he won last year’s race in, overcame some challenging issues including an on board fire and a malfunctioning fire extinguisher. After Gordon drove the first half of the race, Andy McMillin, driver of record for Team Gordon for this year’s SCORE Desert Series, managed to bring the team’s truck to the finish line 11th out of 20 starters.

In addition to nearly $400,000 in purse and contingency postings, the race was also part of the annual Toyota Milestone Awards and $12,000 Toyota True Grit programs. The prestigious Toyota Milestone Awards are presented to every racer who completes every required mile of every race in the 2005 SCORE Desert Series. The $12,000 Toyota True Grit purse is split among the SCORE season point champions who are also Toyota Milestone award winners in four non-factory-backed classes. This is the 21st consecutive year that Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. has teamed with SCORE to present these prestigious awards.

Next on the 2006 SCORE Desert Series schedule is the SCORE Las Vegas Terrible’s Cup II, a special non-points race July 227-29 on The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The newest SCORE event will be held on a unique, man-made 1.5-mile ‘Chunk of Baja’ course featuring the SCORE Trophy-Truck and the unlimited Class 1 racing divisions along with Class 1-2/1600 and combined groups for Class 10/SCORE Lite and Classes 7/7S/7SX.

Current SCORE official 2006 sponsors are: BFGoodrich Tires-official tire, Sunoco Race Fuels/C.L. Bryant-official fuel supplier, Bilstein-official shock, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance-official Mexican auto insurance, Airstar America-official space lighting provider. Associate sponsors are: Tecate Beer, Coca-Cola of Mexico, Las Vegas Events, Terrible Herbst Inc., Kartek Off-Road, Centrix Financial, NAPA Chassis, Fram, Autolite, Prestone, Suzuki, SignPros, Cotuco, Fideicomiso Publico para la Promocion Turistica de Ensenada, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie’s Performance Products and Advanced Color Graphics.

For more information, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters 818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the 2006 SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com.

For more information, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters 818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the 2005 SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com.

Tecate SCORE Baja 500

A l l - T i m e O v e r a l l C h a m p i o n s

Year, Cars & Trucks/Motorcycles (second line)

1969--Bud Ekins/Guy Jones

Doug Douglas/Jim McClurg

1970--Parnelli Jones

Bill Silverthorn/Gene Fetty

1971--Bobby Ferro

Malcolm Smith/J.N. Roberts

1972--Bobby Ferro

Gene Fetty/Bill Silverthorn

1973--Parnelli Jones

Howard Utsey/Mickey Quade

1974--Ivan Stewart/Bill Hrynko

Al Baker/Steve Holladay

1975--Ivan Stewart

Larry Roeseler/Bruce Ogilvie

1976--Bobby Ferro/Ivan Stewart

Larry Roeseler/A.C. Bakken

1977--Ivan Stewart

Larry Roeseler/Jack Johnson

1978--Bud Feldkamp/Malcolm Smith

Brent Wallingsford/Scot Harden

1979--Malcolm Smith/Bud Feldkamp

Jack Johnson

1980--Bob Gordon

Bruce Ogilvie/Chuck Miller

1981--Malcolm Smith/Bill Newbury

Larry Roeseler/Bruce Ogilvie

1982--Larry Ragland

Larry Roeseler/Chuck Miller

1983--Corky & Scott McMillin

Dan Ashcraft

1984--Larry Ragland

Dan Smith/Dan Ashcraft

1985--Ron Gardner/Bud Feldkamp

Kurt Pfeiffer/Scot Harden

1986--Corky & Scott McMillin

Garth Sweetland/Scot Harden

1987--Bob Gordon/Tim Crabtree

Larry Roeseler/Ted Hunnicutt Jr.

1988--Mark McMillin

Dan Ashcraft/Kurt Pfeiffer

1989--Robby Gordon

(no motorcycles)

1990--Robby Gordon

Larry Roeseler/Danny LaPorte

1991--Ivan Stewart

Garth Sweetland/Paul Krause

1992--Ivan Stewart

Larry Roeseler/T. Hunnicutt Jr./P. Krause

1993--Ivan Stewart

Danny Hamel/L. Roeseler/T. Hunnicutt Jr.

1994--Ivan Stewart

Paul Krause/Ted Hunnicutt Jr.

1995--Curt LeDuc

Paul Krause/Craig Smith

1996--Rob MacCachren

Paul Krause/Ty Davis

1997--Ivan Stewart

Johnny Campbell/Bruce Ogilvie

1998--Ivan Stewart

Johnny Campbell/Bruce Ogilvie

1999--Ivan Stewart

Jonah Street/Torsten Borstrom

2000--Larry Ragland

Jonah Street/Steve Hengeveld

2001--Mark McMillin

Steve Hengeveld/Jonah Street

2002--Troy Herbst/Larry Roeseler

Steve Hengeveld/Johnny Campbell

2003--Troy Herbst/Larry Roeseler

Steve Hengeveld/Johnny Campbell

2004--Alan Pflueger

Steve Hengeveld/Johnny Campbell

2005—Robby Gordon

Mike Childress/Mouse McCoy

2006—Brian Collins/Larry Ragland

Robby Bell/Norman Kendall

Tecate SCORE Baja 500

----- Multiple Overall Champions -----

Cars & Trucks

11 Ivan Stewart

Larry Roeseler*

4 Malcolm Smith**

Larry Ragland

3 Bud Feldkamp

Bobby Ferro

Robby Gordon

2 Bob Gordon

Troy Herbst

Parnelli Jones

Corky McMillin

Mark McMillin

Scott McMillin

*Nine on motorcycle

**One on motorcycle

Motorcycles

5 Paul Krause

Bruce Ogilvie

Steve Hengeveld

Johnny Campbell

4 Ted Hunnicutt Jr.

3 Jonah Street

Scot Harden

2 Gene Fetty

Jack Johnson

Chuck Miller

Kurt Pfeiffer

Bil Silverthorn