Nearly 30 Nevada entries set for SCORE race

Friday, Nov. 3, 2000 | 11:02 a.m.

Nevadans are known for having adventuresome spirit, and 26 entries in next Sunday's once-in-a-lifetime Tecate SCORE Baja 2000 desert race have at least one driver/rider who is from the Silver State.

While entries will be accepted through pre-race registration in Ensenada Nov. 10-11, the current 261-vehicle field includes 180 cars and trucks and 81 motorcycles and ATVs. The longest non-stop, point-to-point (1,726.97 miles) and richest desert race in history will include a total purse of more than $500,000 in cash and contingency posting.

SCORE's tribute to the new millennium will start Nov. 12 in Ensenada and finish in Cabo San Lucas, on the southernmost tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula. While the fastest finishes in the elapsed-time race are expected to complete the incredibly rugged course in approximately 35-36 hours, all vehicles will have an 80-hour time limit to become official finishers.

Leading the Nevada contingent into what may well be their toughest challenge ever include: the Herbst Brothers, Bekki Freeman, Sammy Ehrenberg, Mark Hutchins, Brendan Gaughan, Jack Johnson and Rob MacCachren.

Las Vegas-based Collins Motorsports team owner Brian Collins announced Thursday that he would withdraw his Trophy Truck and Class 8 vehicle due to a family emergency. Collins was to pilot his team's Trophy Truck while Billy Goerke was slated to drive the Class 8 vehicle.

Tim and Ed Herbst will co-drive the No. 1 Ford F-150 in the featured SCORE Trophy-Truck division. Troy Herbst, the youngest of the three Herbst brothers, will co-drive the No. 100 Ford-powered Smithbuilt open-wheel desert race car in the unlimited Class 1 with NASCAR Winston Cup and Craftsman Truck Series owner Jim Smith.

Gaughan, son of Las Vegas casino owner Michael Gaughan, will split driving time with nine-time SCORE Baja 1000 champ Walker Evans in the Trophy-Truck division.