LOS ANGELES—On the eve of pre-running that begins
Saturday, Red Bull, the world’s leading energy
drink manufacturer, has officially become an associate
sponsor of November’s 39th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000
desert race, it was confirmed today by SCORE International.
For the first time in the storied history of the massive
event, Red Bull will provide four strategically located
Red Bull Energy Oasis’ for the entire month of
pre-running and during the grueling race will have Red
Bull Energy Oasis’ at all eight BFGoodrich Tire
pit locations along the course. Starting the weekend
of Oct. 21, the locations of the four Red Bull Energy
Oasis’ during pre-running will be San Felipe,
Coco’s Corner, San Ignacio and Loreto.
This year’s memorable adventure, to be held Nov.
15-18, will cover approximately 1,052 miles of the rugged
and tortuous Baja California, Mexico, peninsula, starting
in Ensenada on the Pacific Ocean side and stretching
across and down the majestic peninsula to the Sea of
Cortez side, back to the Pacific before winding back
again to the Sea of Cortez and the finish line in La
Paz.
The Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 race course from Ojos Negros
to San Ignacio will be marked and open for pre-running
starting this Saturday. From San Ignacio to La Paz,
SCORE is diligently working with the government of Baja
California Sur to repair sections of the course damaged
by Hurricane John. SCORE is making every effort to have
the bottom half marked and ready for pre-running by
Saturday as well, but will possibly be closed until
early next week.
Nearly 400 entries from nearly 35 U.S. States and 10
countries, competing in 28 Pro and 6 Sportsman classes
for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs will be part
of this year’s tribute to the sport of desert
racing. The granddaddy of all desert races is the season-finale
of the six-race 2006 SCORE Desert Series, the world’s
foremost desert racing series. Red Bull will also host
a special interactive race section this year on its
website at www.redbullusa.com/SCOREBaja1000.
“Red Bull is the No. 1 energy drink in the world
and it’s a natural fit to have them as an active
partner in the No. 1 desert race in the world and the
No. 1 desert racing organization in the world,”
said Sal Fish, SCORE CEO and President. “Red Bull
is an extremely proactive marketing partner with unique
concepts and the Red Bull Energy Oasis’ is another
great example of their ingenuity and creativity. This
race is the perfect showcase for the benefits that Red
Bull provides, such as increased concentration, alertness
and energy – things that are required for long-distance
driving and competition in general.”
“It is always wonderful to have a sponsor partner
who will do more than send a few banners to hang up.
SCORE is very fortunate to have many pro-active sponsors
and it’s great to add Red Bull to that illustrious
group for the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. Their marketing
slogan says ‘Red Bull gives you wiiings’
and SCORE will provide the landing gear.” With
massive crowds reaching over 300,000 anticipated to
again be spread out along the point-to-point race course,
the race will start for the 32nd time in Ensenada and
will finish for the 17th time in La Paz.
The motorcycle and ATV classes will start their journey
at 6:30 a.m. (Thursday, Nov. 16) with the car and truck
classes starting at approximately 10:30 a.m., or three
hours after the last ATV leaves the line. Vehicles will
leave in 30-second intervals in the elapsed-time race
and while the fastest finishers are expected to complete
the course in approximately 16 hours, the course will
remain open for 42 hours after the last vehicle leaves
the start line at approximately 12:30 p.m.
Red Bull will also be represented with two major race
vehicles and several racers. The two Red Bull teams
will be led by drivers Robby Gordon, Charlotte, N.C.,
and Travis Pastrana, Davidsonville, Md..
“I think it’s awesome that my truck’s
primary partner, Red Bull, is increasing their involvement
in desert racing with SCORE International and the SCORE
Baja 1000,” said Gordon, a two-time overall champion
of this race. “Desert racing takes the most endurance
of all motorsports, and it’s great that Red Bull
will give energy to the toughest desert race in the
world.” Gordon, NASCAR team owner/driver who continues
to compete in SCORE races annually when his schedule
allows, will share driving duties the No. 83 Red Bull
Chevy CK1500 in the marquee SCORE Trophy-Truck division
with 2005 SCORE Rookie of the Year Andy McMillin, Poway,
Calif. Gordon will be pulling another of his patented
double-duty weekends, competing both in the Tecate SCORE
Baja 1000 and the season finale of the NASCAR Nextel
Cup Series in Homestead, Fla., during the same week.
Pastrana, the XGames Freestyle Motocross legend who
won three gold medals in Los Angeles this year, will
be sharing driving duties with three-time SCORE season
class point champion Damen Jefferies, Oak Hills, Calif.,
in the No. 116 Red Bull HMS-Chevy in the unlimited Class
1.
Leading the individually-supported Red Bull racers into
Mexico will be SCORE desert racing motorcycle star Steve
Hengeveld, Oak Hills, Calif. Hengeveld, who has six
Class 22 motorcycle wins, five overalls including four
straight overall motorcycle wins in the Tecate SCORE
Baja 1000, will be rider of record on the No. 1x Red
Bull Honda CRF450X on the American Honda factory team.
Olympic skier Daron Rahlves, Truckee, Calif., will
be racing as a co-rider in the Sportsman motorcycle
over 250cc class led by rider of record Paul Crandell,
Pacific Palisades, Calif. Their team will ride the No.
236x Red Bull Honda XR650r. Pre-race festivities on
Wednesday, Nov. 15, for the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000,
including tech and contingency and the SCORE Manufacturer’s
Midway will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. across from
the San Nicolas Hotel. The pre-race mandatory driver/rider
briefing will be held Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Riviera
del Pacifico Cultural Center. Racer registration will
be held at the San Nicolas from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on
Tuesday, Nov. 14 and from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Wednesday,
Nov. 15.
While entries will be accepted up to race morning
(Nov. 16), late entries will be assigned the next available
number and starting position within each class. The
post-race Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 Survivor’s Celebration
will be held during the SCORE Fiesta on the Malecon
beachwalk in La Paz, which starts at noon on Saturday,
Nov. 18.
It’s the oldest and most well known of all desert
races, and it remains as the single most appealing accomplishment
to a driver. Since 1967, the mother of all desert races
has been run over the mysterious Baja California peninsula.
This year’s Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race
will be televised on a delayed basis as a one-hour NBC
Sports special for the third consecutive year, airing
at 2:30 p.m. (EST) on Sunday, Dec. 10 on the NBC Television
Network. It will also air on a delayed basis outside
of the U.S. on ESPN International.
Daily internet coverage during race week will be posted
on several internet sites, including: www.dirtnewz.com,
www.off-road.com
and www.race-dezert.com.
The 2006 SCORE Desert Series includes chase for the
$50,000 Kartek Off-Road contingency bonus to be awarded
to several qualified 2006 SCORE Class point champions.
The 2006 SCORE Desert Series also involves the hunt
for the annual Toyota Milestone and $12,000 Toyota True
Grit Awards. The prestigious Toyota Milestone Awards
are presented to every racer who completes every required
mile of every race in the 2006 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 several non-factory-backed classes.
SCORE official 2006 sponsors are: BFGoodrich Tires-official
tire, Sunoco Race Fuels/Bryant Petroleum-official fuel
supplier, Bilstein-official shock, Instant Mexico Auto
Insurance-official Mexican auto insurance, American
Racing ATX Wheels-official wheel, 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, Bendix, American
Suzuki, SignPros, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie’s
Performance Products and Advanced Color Graphics.
Additional associate sponsors, for the 2006 Tecate
SCORE Baja 1000 are Micron Technology, Red Bull North
America, Cotuco de Ensenada, Fideicomiso Publio para
la Promocion Turistica de Ensenada, the government of
Baja California Sur, the State Tourism Department of
Baja California Sur and the city tourism fund of Loreto.
For more information on the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000,
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.
