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Series announces 2011 schedule

Las Vegas Events approves new sponsorship for SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge; SCORE finalizing August/September race date and location pending BLM approval LOS ANGELES--Preparing to celebrate its 38th year as the world's foremost desert racing ...

Las Vegas Events approves new sponsorship for SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge; SCORE finalizing August/September race date and location pending BLM approval

LOS ANGELES--Preparing to celebrate its 38th year as the world's foremost desert racing sanctioning body, SCORE international officially announced today four of its five races scheduled for the 2011 SCORE Desert Series. SCORE CEO/President Sal Fish also confirmed that Las Vegas Events has approved a new sponsorship for January's SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge, noting that because of government restrictions, SCORE is reviewing options regarding its annual race in Primm, Nev.

"Although we aren't in a position to announce final plans for our August/September race date, SCORE is very pleased to officially announce the other four race dates for our five-race 2011 SCORE Desert Series," said Fish. "The U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife has determined that because of concerns with the desert tortoise, the Bureau of Land Management cannot permit any desert races during the month of September in the Primm area.

"This puts SCORE in a very tough situation regarding a relationship and a race we have enjoyed so much for 15 years in Primm. SCORE is exploring all options regarding this race, including a move to August and possibly moving our September race to another venue, although that is certainly not our first preference. Another very great concern of ours is to attempt as best we can not to schedule our races to conflict with other promoters' dates.

"Our three SCORE Baja races annually produce over $30 million in overall economic impact for Mexico and we are so well-received down there by the government and the fans it's a real treat for SCORE and our racers and we looking forward to racing in Baja every year."

Keeping the same venues and the same race weekends for four of its desert races, the 2011 SCORE Desert Series so far has one race in Southern Nevada and its three SCORE Baja races in Mexico. After being held a week later for several years, the season-opening SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge was moved back to its traditional dates on the Martin Luther King holiday weekend in 2010 and will be again in 2011. Las Vegas Events approved the sponsorship of the 2011 event in September.

"We have incredible marketing partners on both sides of the border, the world's greatest desert racers and the world's toughest race courses, so we are working diligently to finalize the details for our five race in 2011," added Fish. "Our race schedule in both the U.S. and Mexico offers tremendous variety for the racers, sponsors, media and fans."

"With necessary restrictions in place for spectators in the U.S. still our attendance continues to rise, but in Mexico, it's absolutely unbelievable. Our crowds for the last 12 races in Baja California have averaged over 250,000 (according to Baja California tourism officials), and SCORE racers are as popular in Baja California as any racing figures anywhere in the world."

The SCORE Desert Series, which features 31 Pro and six Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycle and ATVs, will kick off Jan. 14-16 with the popular 17th Annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge in the Southern Nevada resort city of Laughlin on the banks of the Colorado River. The season will conclude Nov. 17-20 with the 44th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, the granddaddy of all desert races, in Baja California, Mexico.

"The SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge is the most unique and one of the most popular desert races in the U.S. and the legendary Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 is the best known desert race in the world," added Fish, who has been at the head of SCORE since 1974. "These two races provide wonderful ways to start and finish our SCORE racing season."

The 2011 SCORE Desert Series will again start with the most unique and the shortest race of the season and finish with the oldest and most recognized desert race in the world. After starting the season in Laughlin, 90 miles south of Las Vegas, it will conclude with the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, which is always a unique and memorable special race.

Since its debut in 1995, the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge has helped establish Laughlin as a viable host for special events. Thousands of spectators join nearly 150 racers and their crews in converging on the city each year to watch the best of the best desert racers compete in a unique-format, two-day race that includes a temporary stadium surrounding the start/finish line area and the main pits.

A total of 20 different Pro and two Sportsman classes for cars and trucks are split into five groups in Laughlin, running half of the race each day. The SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge also includes a pre-race activity that is not part of any other race on the schedule--the $16,000 Laughlin Leap. The Laughlin Leap will be held under the lights for the second straight year on Friday evening of race week at the Laughlin Events Park.

Round 2 and 3 of the 2010 SCORE Desert Series will both be held in Mexico. The 25th MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 is set for March 11-13 in San Felipe, Baja California, followed by the 43rd anniversary of the vastly popular Tecate SCORE Baja 500, June 2-5, in Ensenada, Baja California.

When finalized Round 4 will be held in August or September. For the last 15 years this round has been the SCORE Las Vegas Terrible's Primm 300 in Primm, Nev.

SCORE officials will announce by the first part of next year exactly where the 2011 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 will start and finish.

SCORE International, founded in 1973 by the late Mickey Thompson and headed by Sal Fish since 1974, continues today as the premier sanctioning body in the sport of desert racing. SCORE races feature 20 Pro and three Sportsman classes for cars and trucks in the U.S. with 11 additional Pro and three more Sportsman classes for motorcycles and ATVs competing in the races in Mexico. SCORE races in the U.S. average 150 entries while the average in Mexico, with motorcycle and ATV classes running as well as the cars and trucks is 300.

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.

The SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge is sponsored by the Laughlin Tourism Commission, the Laughlin Visitors Bureau, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and Las Vegas Events.

Additional associate sponsors for SCORE Baja races are ProTurismo of Ensenada, the State Tourism Department of Baja California and Cotuco of Mexicali and San Felipe.

For more information regarding the series, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters 818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the 2011 SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com. J 2011 SCORE Desert Series

-source: score

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