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Granddaddy of All Desert Races has lasting legacy--SCORE Baja 1000
SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Clark, dominic@score-international October 30, 2019 Race Presented by 4 Wheel Parts
Prelude to BFGoodrich Tires 52nd SCORE Baja 1000—special race notes, statistics from the world’s most iconic desert race
To date—185 total entries from 30 U.S. States, 17 countries part of field;
Race week-Nov. 19-24; Pre-running underway—800.5-mile course in BC, Mexico;Start/Finish adjacent to Ensenada’s Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center
for iconic season-finale of four-race 2019 SCORE World Desert Championship;
Granddaddy of All Desert Races to be televised on ABC’s World of X Games
Scroll to bottom—2019 SCORE Baja 1000 Number/Name Entry List…
ENSENADA, Mexico—More than five decades in the making, November’s BFGoodrich Tires 52nd annual SCORE Baja 1000, presented by 4 Wheel Parts, has a perspective like no other on the history of desert racing.
Advance racer-registration continues until 8 p.m. (PT) on Monday, Nov.11 at www.score-international.com for this year’s legendary competition. The race and race-week festivities will be held Nov. 19-24 in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.
GOLDEN PLUS 2
Over 250 entries, from over 30 U.S. States and nearly 20 countries are expected to compete in this year’s 52nd anniversary celebration of the BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000, presented by 4 Wheel Parts. There are multiple Pro and Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, utvs, motorcycles and quads.
The world’s most iconic, oldest, prestigious, toughest and longest continuously held desert race, this year’s BFGoodrich Tires 52nd SCORE Baja 1000, presented by 4 Wheel Parts will be held over a rugged 800.5-mile race course over the Northern part of Mexico’s majestic Baja California peninsula, starting and finish in Ensenada. Long-time SCORE sponsor BFGoodrich Tires has also posted a US$40,000 contingency bonus for the overall 4-wheel winner to help commemorate the renewal of this legendary SCORE race.
It will start for the 45th time and finish for the 26th time in Ensenada and the race is annually the finale of the four-race SCORE World Desert Championship, which has been held exclusively for the past four years on Mexico’s Baja California peninsula.
The race and its festivities will be held primarily in and around the historic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center in the heart of Ensenada and the start and finish of the legendary race will be adjacent to the Riviera.
With a total time limit of 34 hours in the elapsed-time race, the motorcycle and quad classes will start at 3 a.m. (PT) on Friday, Nov. 22 and the car, truck and UTV classes will follow with their start on at 10:30 a.m. (PT) on Friday, Nov. 22. While the fastest vehicles are expected to cover the course in approximately 16 hours, all vehicles will have 34 hours from the time each starts to become an official finisher.
LASTING LEGACY
Here’s a brief look back at some of the plethora of special memories that this Granddaddy of all Desert Races has etched indelibly into the sands of time…
LEGACY—SCORE Baja 1000, No. 1
On November 19-24 of this year, the iconic SCORE Baja 1000, the world’s most iconic, oldest, prestigious, toughest and longest continuously held desert race, will celebrate its 52nd birthday, starting and finishing in Ensenada. We salute some of the stars and memories of this race.
Launching this legacy tribute, we recall two of the greatest racers who have participated in the SCORE Baja 1000—the late Rod Hall and Larry Roeseler.
Hall, who passed away earlier this year at 81 after a long illness, competed in all of the first 50 SCORE Baja 1000 races and earned a race-record 25 class wins in his long and illustrious career.
Roeseler will be at the starting line again for this year’s odyssey in Ensenada. Roeseler is second in all-time class wins with 17. Roeseler is the leader in overall race wins with 13, including 10 on a motorcycle, two on an open-wheel desert race car and one in a SCORE Trophy Truck.
LEGACY—SCORE Baja 1000, No. 2
Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Famer Sal Fish was President of SCORE from 1974 until Dec. 20, 2012.
The famous and not-so-famous have tried their hand at conquering the Baja and they have come from all walks of life. Mark Thatcher, son of Great Britain’s then-prime minister Margaret Thatcher, raced in the 1982 SCORE Baja 1000. Celebrities James Garner, Ted Nugent and the late Steve McQueen all battled the Baja in the early 1970s and many racers from other forms of motorsports crossed over to try their skills.
LEGACY—SCORE Baja 1000, No. 3
The famous and not-so-famous have tried their hand at conquering the Baja and they have come from all walks of life. Mark Thatcher, son of Great Britain’s then-prime minister Margaret Thatcher, raced in the 1982 SCORE Baja 1000. Celebrities James Garner, Ted Nugent and the late Steve McQueen all battled the Baja in the early 1970s and many racers from other forms of motorsports crossed over to try their skills.
Among the drivers from other arenas who have tested the Baja were Indy Car racers Rick and Roger Mears, Parnelli Jones, Danny Ongias, Danny Sullivan, Jimmy Vasser, Buddy Rice, Sebastien Bourdais, Alexander Rossi, Oriol Servia, Roberto Guerrero, Michel Jourdain Jr., Johnny Unser and Mike and Robbie Groff, NASCAR’s Robby Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Boris Said and Brendan Gaughan, SCCA legend Elliot Forbes-Robinson, World Rally Championships’ Armin Schwarz, Armin Kremer, Andreas Aigner and Harri Pavanpera,, Pikes Peak Hill Climb record holder Rod Millen, Formula Drift and Pikes Peak champion Rhys Millen, world motorcycle champions Malcolm Smith, Larry Roeseler and Destry Abbott, Motocross legends Ricky Johnson and Jeremy McGrath, XGames star Travis Pastrana, drag racers Don Prudhomme and Larry Minor and legendary SCORE founder and motorsports innovator Mickey Thompson.
The late Academy Award winning actor, racer and race team owner Paul Newman raced in the 2004 event. Jesse James, of ‘Monster Garage’ fame, and Hollywood film and TV star Patrick Dempsey both have raced in this classic several times.
Among the other Hollywood celebrities that have competed in this race are Chuck Norris, Aaron Norris, Michael Nesmith and Larry Wilcox.
LEGACY—SCORE Baja 1000, No. 4
With entries expected from over 30 U.S. States and as many as 20 countries, here are the countries that have had at least one entry in the Granddaddy of All Desert Races over the years:
The SCORE Baja 1000 has captured the imagination of the entire world as entries have come not only from every state in the United States, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories Guam and Puerto Rico, but also has attracted racers from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Columbia, China, Cyprus, Ecuador, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Morocco, Norway, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Uruguay, Yugoslavia as well as the host country of Mexico.
Over the years, SCORE races have been televised in more than 100 nations worldwide.
LEGACY—SCORE Baja 1000, No. 5
Part of the legacy of this iconic race, SCORE presents the racers who have been overall winners of the SCORE San Felipe 250, SCORE Baja 500 and SCORE Baja 1000 the SCORE Baja Triple Crown Award.
The nine individuals who have earned this amazing honor are: Dave Ashley, Robby Gordon, Rob MacCachren, Andy McMillin, Scott McMillin, Larry Ragland, Dan Smith, Ivan Stewart and Gustavo ‘Tavo’ Vildosola Jr.
LEGACY—SCORE Baja 1000, No. 6
The first SCORE Baja 1000 in 1967 (called the NORRA Mexican 1000) started in Tijuana by the bull ring and finished in La Paz.
Since then the only other time the race has started in Tijuana was in 1995 when it also finished in La Paz.
Since those humble beginnings, Ensenada has hosted the majority of the SCORE Baja 1000 races. The race officially became the SCORE Baja 1000 in 1975 after the worldwide event was not held in 1974 because of the international fuel crisis.
While the race has been point-to-point around once every three years, it has finished twice in Cabo San Lucas (2000 and in 2007).
Overall, the world’s most well-known desert race has started 44 times in Ensenada, three times in Mexicali, twice in Tijuana, once in Ojos Negros and once in Santo Tomas.
Overall, the SCORE Baja 1000 has finished in 25 times in Ensenada, 21 times in La Paz, twice in Mexicali, twice in Cabo San Lucas and once in Ojos Negros.
LEGACY—SCORE Baja 1000, No. 7
This race has been the proving grounds for racers and manufacturers. Looking first at the drivers with the most overall wins in the race, Larry Roeseler is clearly on top with 13 (including 10 on a motorcycle, two in an open-wheel desert race car and once in a SCORE Trophy Truck (driving with Roger Norman in 2008).
Tied for second in overall 4-wheel vehicle wins with five each are Andy McMillin, his uncle Mark McMillin, Larry Ragland and Malcolm Smith (including two on motorcycles). With four overall victories each are Rob MacCachren (including three straight years-2014, 2015, 2016) and Dan Smith (which includes one on a motorcycle).
With three overall 4-wheel vehicle wins are Dave Ashley, Doug Fortin, Robby Gordon, Ralph Paxton and Ivan Stewart.
Besides Roeseler with 10, the leaders in overall motorcycle wins are Johnny Campbell (11), Steve Hengeveld (8), Kendall Norman (6) and with four each are Quinn Cody, Ty Davis, Ted Hunnicutt Jr, Jack Johnson, Mark Samuels, Tim Staab and Colton Udall.
LEGACY—SCORE Baja 1000, No. 8
In the battle of manufacturers, several categories are presented.
Leaders in overall car/truck wins are Ford Truck (13), Chevy Truck (10), Chenowth-VW (5) and Ford Bronco (4).
Leaders in overall Tire manufacturers’ wins for cars/trucks are BFGoodrich Tires (30), Western Auto (6), Firestone (4) and tied with three each are Calahan Cap and Toyo Tires.
The leaders in overall motorcycle wins are Honda (28), Husqvarna (11), Kawasaki (10) and Yamaha (2).
Combining all classes together, motorcycles have had the fastest of the fastest times of all vehicles 38 times and cars or trucks 13 times. SCORE Trophy Trucks have had the overall fastest time in six of the last 10 years including the three by Rob MacCachren (2014, 2015, 2016).
LEGACY—SCORE Baja 1000, No. 9
With the 51st SCORE Baja 500 this past June in Ensenada, it is interesting to note that there are 11 racers who have overall victories in both that race and the SCORE Baja 1000.
Clearly leading with way was legendary Larry Roeseler who has 13 overall wins in the SCORE Baja 1000 and 11 in the SCORE Baja 500. Second was Larry Ragland who has five in each of the iconic SCORE races.
The other races who have overall victories in both races and were racing in June in the SCORE Baja 500 along with their overall wins in each race are Andy McMillin (3 SCORE Baja 500, 5 SCORE Baja 1000), Robby Gordon (4, 3), Rob MacCachren (2, 4), Troy Herbst (3, 2), Scott McMillin (3, 2), B.J. Baldwin (1, 2), Gus Vildosola Jr (1, 1), Justin Morgan (4, 2) and Mark Samuels (3, 4).
LEGACY—SCORE Baja 1000, No. 10
This year’s SCORE Baja 100 is anticipating over 250 entries from over 30 U.S. states and as many as 20 countries. In addition to over 200 news media personnel from around the world, this year’s race will be featured as a one-hour special on ABC TV’s World of X Games programming.
LEGACY—SCORE Baja 1000, No. 11
In 51 years of this great race, non-U.S. drivers have been the fastest overall winners in this race only four times, twice in the motorcycle division and twice in the four-wheel vehicle division.
In 1971 and 1972, Sweden’s Gunnar Nilsson won the motorcycle division of the race. In 1971 he team with legendary American desert racing star Malcolm Smith and in 1972 he won with follow Swedish countryman Rolf Tibblin. In both years, Nilsson won on Husqvarna motorcycles.
In 2010, Mexico son/father team of Gus ‘Tavo’ Vildosola Jr/Gus Vildosola Sr became the first Mexican nationals and first non-Americans to win the four-wheel vehicle division when they drove their Ford F-150 to victory in the Ensenada to La Paz peninsula run.
In 2017 at the 50th anniversary race, Mexico son/father team of Carlos ‘Apdaly’ Lopez/Juan C. Lopez became the second Mexican nationals to win the four-wheel vehicle division when they drove their Chevy Rally Truck to victory in the Ensenada to La Paz Golden celebration peninsula run.
Also of note in the motorcycle division in the 2016 race, Australia’s Daymon Stokie was one of three co-riders for the U.S.-based Ox Motorsports team with Colton Udall as rider of record.
LEGACY—SCORE Baja 1000, No. 12
Looking at some overall stats from this legendary race, a total of 13,673 vehicles have started the first 51 races for an average of 268 starters per race. A total of 6,742 vehicles have finished the first 51 races for an average of 132 finishers per race. Percentage-wise, 49.3% is the average finishing rate for this great race.
In the first 51 years, the most ever starters came in 2006 when 431 vehicles left the start line and second most starters was the 40th anniversary race in 2007 when there were 424 total starters. Third most starters was the 50th anniversary race in 2017 when there were 404 total starters
In the first 51 years, the most ever finishers came in 2007 when 237 finished the 40th anniversary race, tied for first most finishers was the 50th anniversary race in 2017 when 237 also finished. The third most finishers in race history was in 2006 when 234 vehicles finished the race.
In the first 51 years of the world’s most famous desert race, the fewest number of starters was the first race back in 1967 when there were 68 starters and the race with second fewest number of starters was in 1973 when 143 started.
In the first 51 years of this iconic race, the fewest number of finishers was in 1967 when there were 31 finishers and the second fewest number of finishers was back in 1978 when there were 56 finishers.
LEGACY—SCORE Baja 1000, No. 13
Four of the most inspiring SCORE Baja 1000 legends are SCORE Baja icons Dr. Bud Feldkamp, Bobby Ferro, Malcolm Smith and Mark Stahl.
Between them, these four innovating desert racing pioneers accumulated 10 overall victories and 15 class wins in the SCORE Baja 1000.
Leading with five overall and eight class wins is Smith who had two overalls on a motorcycle and three in an open-wheel desert race cars. Two of Smith’s overalls were with Dr. Feldkamp (1975 and 1977) and one with ‘Baja’ Bob Gordon (1987).
Ferro, who is a legendary racer and Hollywood stunt driver, won the overall in 1973.
Stahl, who went on to race in NASCAR’s Cup series for 12 years and the ARCA stock car series for another 13 years, won the overall at the SCORE Baja 1000 in 1978 and 1980.
LEGACY—SCORE Baja 1000, No. 14
While the magnificent mystery of the Baja peninsula speaks for itself, the masters of Baja have etched their names in the lasting legacy of the Granddaddy of all Desert Races with their class wins in the SCORE Baja 1000.
There are 16 sturdy desert racers who have earned 11 or more class victories in this race. History shows the master to clearly be the incomparable Rod Hall, who passed away this year at 81 as the only person to have competed in all 50 of the first SCORE Baja 1000 races while earning a race-record 25 class wins in this race, eight more than second-place Larry Roeseler who has 17 including a race-high 13 overall victories.
Tied for third on the all-time multiple class win list with 15 each in this race are Craig Adams, Chris Haines, Richard Jackson and Johnny Johnson. Tied with 14 class wins each are age group motorcycle racers Jim O’Neal and Jeff Kaplan. Tied with 12 class wins each are Steve Hengeveld, Bob Johnson, Jack Johnson and Donald Moss.
Tied with 11 all-time class wins in this race are Johnny Campbell, Lou Franco, Chad Hall and Francisco Septien.
Many of these SCORE Baja legends are expected to compete in this year’s race, including Roeseler, O’Neal, Kaplan, Hengeveld, Franco, Rod Hall’s son—Chad Hall, Moss and Septien.
LEGACY—SCORE Baja 1000, No. 15
As of today, included in the first 185 official entries of the more than 250 anticipated for this year’s renewal of the world’s most iconic desert race are competitors from 30 U.S. States and 17 countries.
U.S. States represented in the field of competitors to date are from Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New York, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington.
Besides the United States and host Mexico, countries represented to date in the total entry field are from Australia, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, France, India, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, Qatar and Spain.
SCOREscope
2019 REMAINING SCHEDULE
- BFGoodrich Tires 52nd SCORE Baja 1000, presented by 4 Wheel Parts, Nov.19-24, Ensenada, Mexico
- 34th SCORE San Felipe 250, March 25-29, San Felipe, Mexico
- BFGoodrich Tires 52nd SCORE Baja 500, presented by 4 Wheel Parts, June 3-7, Ensenada, Mexico
- 2nd SCORE Baja 400, Sept. 16-20, Ensenada, Mexico
- BFGoodrich Tires 53rd SCORE Baja 1000, Nov.16-21, presented by 4 Wheel Parts, Ensenada, Baja California to La Paz, Baja California Sur
BFGoodrich Tires 52nd SCORE Baja 1000, presented by 4 Wheel Parts
Final round of the four-race 2019 SCORE World Desert Championship
Nov. 19-24, 2019—800.5 miles–Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
Total Entries: 185 (as of 10/30/19)
(from 30 U.S. States, host Mexico, Australia, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador,
France, India, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, Qatar, Spain)
(Numerical order)
Pro Cars/Trucks/UTVs
SCORE TROPHY TRUCK (27)
4 Justin Matney
9 Carlos ‘Apdaly’ Lopez
10 Alan Ampudia
11 Rob MacCachren
14 Bobby Pecoy
16 Cameron Steele
21 Gustavo ‘Tavo’ Vildosola Jr
26 Dave Taylor
27 Jonathan Brenthel
30 Robbie Pierce
31 Andy McMillin
32 Ryan Arciero
40 Chris Miller
41 Justin Lofton
42 Casey Mears
44 Jayson Strachan
45 Gary Magness
50 Zak Langley
54 Troy Herbst
70 Kevin Thompson
76 Jesse Jones
77 Robby Gordon
83 Luke McMillin
85 Mike Lawrence
89 Mike Walser
90 Raul Gomez
97 Robert ‘BJ’ Baldwin
SCORE TT LEGEND (6)
1L Scott Bailey
5L Clyde Stacy
25L Mark Winkelman
37L Rolf Helland
55L Jose de jesus Flores
72L Rob Reinertson
CLASS 1 (14)
100 Brad Wilson
105 Mason Cullen
106 Derek Fletcher
107 John Currier
129 Brandon Bailey
130 Jim Anderson
138 Brian Wilson
150 Morgan Langley
162 Brendan Gaughan
163 Ruben Torres
167 Rhys Millen
168 Shelby Reid
188 Sergio Salgado
198 Michael Mclean
TROPHY TRUCK SPEC (18)
202 Chad Broughton
204 Sara Price
208 Andrew Entwistle
210 Ted Moncure
211 Pat Sims
220 Craig Christy
230 Chad Hall
232 Chelsea Magness
237 Robert Malone
240 Bobby Patton
250 John Langley
260 Luis Javier Pelayo
269 Guillermo Zamacona-RS
274 Elias Hanna
276 Gerardo Iribe
279 Austin ‘A.J.’ Jones
294 Vincent Munoz
299 Charles Dorrance
HAMMER TRUCK UNLTD (2)
4402 Casey Currie
4421 Mike Hales-RS
CLASS 10 (11)
1002 Clay Lawrence
1016 Hiram Duran
1033 Stefano Palacios
1036 Corey Goin
1048 Kevin Price
1058 Jeremy Davis
1062 J.J. Schnarr
1068 Cody Reid
1069 Daniel Berg
1075 Eliseo Garcia
1096 Steve Baron
CLASS 7 (2)
709 Jeff Proctor
710 Mike Shaffer
CLASS 5 (2)
507 Greg Sullivan
510 Gerardo Ibarra-RS
PRO UTV FI (19)
2902 Jason Stewart
2905 Marc Burnett
2912 Tony Riggs
2917 Jason Murray
2918 Justin Lambert
2919 Brandon Schueler
2921 Brett Comiskey
2926 Christine Giampaoli Zonca
2927 Justin Smith
2930 Sean Cook
2931 Craig Scanlon
2948 Matt Burroughs
2971 Wayne Matlock
2978 Jose Juarez
2979 Julio Garza
2984 Kristopher McCoy
2987 Edgar Garcia Leon
2989 Wes Miller
2995 Daniel Parker
SCORE LITES (7)
1205 Miguel Cortez
1206 Freddie Willert
1224 Javier Rochin
1234 Steve Jones
1247 Wes McKenzie
1255 Darren Walsh
1266 James Butler
PRO UTV NA (9)
1902 Trent Backus
1908 John Andrew Entwistle
1922 Zack McKinley
1944 Christopher Boyle
1954 Kristen Matlock-RS
1956 Joe Bolton
1978 T. Bradley Millner
1995 Kaden Wells
1996 Jim Daniels
CLASS 1/2-1600 (2)
1609 J. David Ruvalcaba-RS
1616 Angel Barajas-RS
PRO UTV UNLIMITED (0)
PRO UTV STOCK (1)
3930 Douglas Cornwell
CLASS 8 (1)
852 Spencer Morgan
CLASS 3 (1)
302 Donald Moss
CLASS 3000 (3)
6054 Phil Fogg
6066 Joshua Cobb
6088 Dennis Romero
BAJA CHALLENGE (0)
CLASS 5-1600 (3)
585 Matt Barnes
569 Ruben Garcia
588 Erich Reisen
CLASS 7F (1)
714F Justin Park
CLASS 7SX (0)
VINTAGE INNOVATOR (1)
169v Peter Alesi III
CLASS 11 (3)
1111 Eric Solorzano
1113 Kent Thygerson
1156 Arthur Penner
Sportsman
SPT UNLTD TRUCK (3)
1405 Doug Lawler
1414 Jessalyn Sells
1494 Johnathon Sopsic
SPT UTV STOCK (1)
3979 Ryan Ennis
SPT OPEN-WHEEL (2)
1559 Brady Richard
1587 Adam Gonzalez
Pro Motorcycles
PRO MOTO UNLIMITED (5)
1x Justin Morgan
5x Colton Udall
24x Mike Frick
35x Nick Gust
66x Santiago Creel
PRO MOTO LIMITED (3)
100x Santiago Creel
120x Marco Pena
123x Jason Ennis
PRO MOTO 40 (3)
424x William St. Laurent
437x Mauricio Santana
444x Jason Trubey
PRO MOTO 30 (8)
308x Ryan Liebelt
310x Enrique Fuhrken
325x Jano Montoya
344x David Von Schmidt
360x Santiago Creel
365x Nick Lanning
366x Alejandro Del Mazo
370x Francisco Septien
PRO MOTO IRONMAN (12)
707x Matthew Lund
714x Lawrence Janesky
724x Christopher Horel
729x Michael Skurkis
734x Bob Kimber
735x Dustin Ashe-Everest
753x Garrett VanDerSys
757x Rick Thornton
774x Florian Schwarcz
775x Tanner Janesky
777x Dave Dunn
792x Justin Wilber
PRO MOTO 50 (2)
500x Giovanni Spinali
555x Jeff Kaplan
Pro Quads
Pro Quad (0)
Sportsman
SPT QUAD (0)
SPT M/C (13)
201x Scott Borden
211x Patrick Culligan
212x Carlos Silva
219x Hisashi Kitamura
237x Indrajeet Sen
242x John Meek
254x Tyler Harvey
266x Anthony Matter
277x Stephen Gholson
284x Shane Schorno
285x Aaron McDowell
294x Christopher Colmenero
297x Adrian Montecino