More than a dozen local desert racers entered in 28th SCORE Fireworks 250

Friday, July 9, 1999 | 9:35 a.m.

Not exactly a way to get a break from the summer heat, 14 Southern Nevada desert racers are among nearly 150 pre-registered entries for next Saturday's 28th SCORE Fireworks 250 in Barstow, Calif.

Charlie Townsley of Las Vegas gets his first chance to be the initial driver off the starting line in the unlimited Class 1, which features a race-high 30-car early entry field.

Racers will compete in 16 classes for cars and trucks in America's premier desert racing series. The popular summer heatfest, Round 4 of the six-race 1999 Laughlin SCORE Desert Series, will air on the Speedvision Network in late August.

One vehicle will start every 30 seconds, beginning at 6 a.m., with the fastest vehicles expected to finish the grueling 236-mile race (four laps of 59 miles each) in just under five hours. The featured, high-powered Trophy-Truck division (with eight pre-registered entries) will be the first class to leave the start line, followed by Class 1.

Townsley has methodically climbed up to eighth place in Class 1 points midway through the 1999 season and has drawn the first starting position this weekend.

After the SCORE Fireworks 250, the final two races on the 1999 Laughlin SCORE Desert Series schedule will be the 5th Annual SCORE Las Vegas Primm 300 in Primm (Sept. 11) and the 33rd annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 in Ensenada, Mexico (Nov. 6-7).