Ragland, Fortin win Baja

Monday, Nov. 17, 1997 | 12:47 p.m.

Larry Ragland and Doug Fortin each collected a piece of history by claiming overall victories in the 30th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race in Ensenada, B.C., Mexico.

Ragland won the featured Trophy-Truck division for the third straight year and Fortin claimed the overall pro and unlimited Class 1 victory.

Ten of the 16 Southern Nevada racers entered finished the grueling two-day race. Brad Maurer and Tony McCormick were the top local finishers. Maurer captured Class 1-2/1600 in his Jimco desert race car while McCormick co-drove with Dave Westhem in a Chevrolet C1500 pickup to win Class 8.

Kevin Bunderson of North Las Vegas co-drove with James Rice, Golden, Colo., to finish second in Class 10 and Rob MacCachren was second in Stock Full in a Ford F-150. Steve Olliges picked up third in the Stock Full class in another Ford F-150 while Bill Menchen co-rode the third-place KTM motorcycle in Class 50 for riders over 50.

Ed and Tim Herbst finished sixth in the featured Trophy-Truck race in a Ford F-150. The third racing Herbst, Troy, claimed the unlimited Class 1 season championship by while finishing eighth.

Tom Bradley of Las Vegas finished seventh in Class 1 and Chuck Harris finished fourth to clinch the Protruck title.

Candidates for the hard-luck story at this year's Baja 1000 were Las Vegas racers Brian Collins and Dale White, who entered the season finale in first and third place in Class 8 points. Seemingly a lock for one of the teammates to win the class championship for the year and with White going for his third straight win in the Baja 1000, neither was able to finish the race.

Both spent time leading the race in Class 8. Collins was the first to leave the race as his motor let go 310 miles into the race. White went out just 75 miles from the finish after a big accident.

White's Chevrolet truck rolled six times, literally ripping the rear end apart.

The pair of DNFs, coupled with the third-place finish by the team of David Ashley/Dan Smith, give Ashley/Smith the 1997 Class 8 championship.