Baja 500 Draw date news 2010-04-11

April 24, 1 p.m. -- New MasterCraft Safety facility site of 'Live' drawing for starting positions for 42nd Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500 desert race

Over 300 entries expected June 3-6 in Ensenada, Mexico, for Rd 3 of five-race 2010 SCORE Desert Series; Real time results from the start draw to be posted on www.race-dezert.com

LOS ANGELES--Launching pre-race festivities, a special 'live' drawing for start positions for June's 42nd Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500 desert race will be held on Saturday, April 24, at the new MasterCraft Safety facility in Santee, Calif. Being hosted by Robbie Pierce's MasterCraft Racing, the event will also include a charity raffle, several SCORE race vehicles, racer appearances, 'Fighting Cancer with Tacos' charity, music and vendor displays from several of the leading companies in the industry.

Round 3 of the five-race 2010 SCORE Desert Series, the World's Foremost Desert Racing Series, will feature over 300 entries, competing in 28 Pro and 7 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs, will be held June 3-6 in Ensenada, Mexico. Traditionally one of the most popular events on the SCORE schedule, over 100,000 spectators are expected to enjoy the world's best desert racers in action at this year's Tecate SCORE Baja 500.

Conducting the drawing will be SCORE International CEO/President Sal Fish, in his fourth decade leading the world's foremost desert racing organization. SCORE was founded in 1973 by the late motorsports legend Mickey Thompson and Fish was quickly lured away from his position as publisher of noted Hot Rod Magazine to run the pioneering company.

The Tecate SCORE Baja 500 drawing will be streamed live on the internet at www.race-dezert.com.

"It's always a lot of fun to get together with our SCORE racing family away from the pressure and tension of race weekend and it's a great change of pace to have a live drawing for start positions instead of the regular computerized drawing we normally have," said Fish, who began his SCORE career in 1974. "We sincerely appreciate Robbie Pierce and his MasterCraft Safety welcoming us and also the effort by MasterCraft Racing to put together another memorable event for SCORE."

The festivities will start with Taco bar along with vehicle and vendor displays at 11 a.m. and the live drawing will start at 1 p.m. at MasterCraft Safety's new complex, located at 9335 Stevens Road in Santee, Calif.

The relocation moves the company's operations from the previous facility on the west side of the 67 Freeway to a newly purchased and renovated facility located just east of the 67 Freeway and north of Woodside Avenue in Santee.

"MasterCraft Safety is extremely grateful to be able to continue to support the SCORE Desert Series," said Robbie Pierce, MasterCraft CEO who also drives one of three MasterCraft Racing Chevy Silverado race trucks in the marquee SCORE Trophy-Truck division. "We are honored to host our fellow competitors and industry friends at the drawing party for the 42nd running of the Tecate SCORE Baja 500 and look forward to showcasing our new corporate facility and nearby off-road businesses like Jimco Racing, Fox Shox, AlumiCraft, Racer X, and Stewart Race Works."

The newest official member of the SCORE sponsor family this year, MasterCraft Safety completed its first year of a three-year agreement as the co-title sponsor of the MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe desert race.

The SCORE Trophy-Truck team of San Felipe co-title sponsor MasterCraft Safety celebrated with all three of its Jimco-built Chevy Silverado race trucks finishing in the top 10 in class.

The team was led by MasterCraft Safety CEO Robbie Pierce, Santee, Calif., who finished a career-high fourth in SCORE Trophy-Truck and seventh overall while teammates Rob MacCachren, Las Vegas and Will Staats, Valencia, Calif., who were eighth and ninth respectively out of 27 sturdy starters in SCORE Trophy-Truck.

MasterCraft has rolled over its special $10,000 cash contingency purse from San Felipe to this year's Tecate SCORE Baja 500.

The Locos Mocos Pit team will be serving the tacos with proceeds to benefit the Castro-Limon Cancer Foundation for children. The raffle will also benefit the same foundation with a variety of prizes including numerous items from MasterCraft along with a set of four BFGoodrich Tires.

Among the other companies in addition to Jimco, Fox Shox, AlumiCraft, Racer X and Stewart Race Works who are expected to have displays at the event are: Walker Evans Racing, 4 Wheel Parts, Off-Road Warehouse, Racer Services and Offroad Evolution.

In order to be included in the April 24 live drawing, entries must be received in the SCORE office via FAX, overnight delivery or regular mail on or before next Monday, April 19. 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 10 finishers in both SCORE Trophy-Truck and the unlimited Class 1 in the previous SCORE Baja race who are entered in this race by April 19. The qualified racers are from this year's MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250.

The top 10 SCORE Trophy-Truck finishers in San Felipe were: Jesse Jones, Robby Gordon, Chet Huffman, Robbie Pierce, B.J. Baldwin, Andy McMillin, Ed Stout, Rob MacCachren, Will Staats and Rob Bruce.

The top 10 Class 1 finishers in San Felipe were: Armin Schwarz, Daniel McMillin, Randy Wilson, Dan Martin, Eric Chase, Cody Parkhouse, Paul Keller, Conan Barker, Mario Acosta and Kory Halopoff.

Founded in 1970, MasterCraft Safety is an industry-leading international manufacturer and innovator of performance and recreational safety devices, best known for the suspension seats that have nearly become standard issue in the harsh environment of desert racing. In addition, Mastercraft Safety's diverse product line includes SFI-approved restraints used in NASCAR, suspension seats used in military response vehicles, and window safety nets and suspension limit straps used for short course racing. More information on MasterCraft Safety's full-line of products can be found by visiting www.mastercraftsafety.com.

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, Slime-official tire sealant and Red Bull-official energy drink. Associate sponsors are: Tecate Beer, Coca-Cola of Mexico, Las Vegas Events, MasterCraft Safety, Blue C Advertising, SignPros, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie's Performance Products and Advanced Color Graphics.

Additional sponsors in Baja are the Secretary of Tourism of Baja California and ProTurismo de Ensenada.

For more information regarding the series, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters 818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the 2010 SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com.

-source: score