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Red Bull partnership for Baja 1000 announced

SCORE and associate sponsor Red Bull to partner During 39th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race Red Bull to host four Energy Oasis stations starting Oct. 21; eight at BFGoodrich pits during Peninsula race, Nov. 15-18, in Mexico from Ensenada, ...

SCORE and associate sponsor Red Bull to partner During 39th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race

Red Bull to host four Energy Oasis stations starting Oct. 21; eight at BFGoodrich pits during

Peninsula race, Nov. 15-18, in Mexico from Ensenada, Baja California to La Paz, Baja California Sur

LOS ANGELES--On the eve of pre-running that begins Saturday, Red Bull, the world's leading energy drink manufacturer, has officially become an associate sponsor of November's 39th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race, it was confirmed today by SCORE International.

For the first time in the storied history of the massive event, Red Bull will provide four strategically located Red Bull Energy Oasis' for the entire month of pre-running and during the grueling race will have Red Bull Energy Oasis' at all eight BFGoodrich Tire pit locations along the course. Starting the weekend of Oct. 21, the locations of the four Red Bull Energy Oasis' during pre-running will be San Felipe, Coco's Corner, San Ignacio and Loreto.

This year's memorable adventure, to be held Nov. 15-18, will cover approximately 1,052 miles of the rugged and tortuous Baja California, Mexico, peninsula, starting in Ensenada on the Pacific Ocean side and stretching across and down the majestic peninsula to the Sea of Cortez side, back to the Pacific before winding back again to the Sea of Cortez and the finish line in La Paz.

The Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 race course from Ojos Negros to San Ignacio will be marked and open for pre-running starting this Saturday. From San Ignacio to La Paz, SCORE is diligently working with the government of Baja California Sur to repair sections of the course damaged by Hurricane John. SCORE is making every effort to have the bottom half marked and ready for pre-running by Saturday as well, but will possibly be closed until early next week.

Nearly 400 entries from nearly 35 U.S. States and 10 countries, competing in 28 Pro and 6 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs will be part of this year's tribute to the sport of desert racing. The granddaddy of all desert races is the season-finale of the six-race 2006 SCORE Desert Series, the world's foremost desert racing series.

Red Bull will also host a special interactive race section this year on its website at www.redbullusa.com/SCOREBaja1000.

"Red Bull is the No. 1 energy drink in the world and it's a natural fit to have them as an active partner in the No. 1 desert race in the world and the No. 1 desert racing organization in the world," said Sal Fish, SCORE CEO and President. "Red Bull is an extremely proactive marketing partner with unique concepts and the Red Bull Energy Oasis' is another great example of their ingenuity and creativity. This race is the perfect showcase for the benefits that Red Bull provides, such as increased concentration, alertness and energy -- things that are required for long-distance driving and competition in general."

"It is always wonderful to have a sponsor partner who will do more than send a few banners to hang up. SCORE is very fortunate to have many pro-active sponsors and it's great to add Red Bull to that illustrious group for the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. Their marketing slogan says 'Red Bull gives you wiiings' and SCORE will provide the landing gear."

With massive crowds reaching over 300,000 anticipated to again be spread out along the point-to-point race course, the race will start for the 32nd time in Ensenada and will finish for the 17th time in La Paz.

The motorcycle and ATV classes will start their journey at 6:30 a.m. (Thursday, Nov. 16) with the car and truck classes starting at approximately 10:30 a.m., or three hours after the last ATV leaves the line. Vehicles will leave in 30-second intervals in the elapsed-time race and while the fastest finishers are expected to complete the course in approximately 16 hours, the course will remain open for 42 hours after the last vehicle leaves the start line at approximately 12:30 p.m.

Red Bull will also be represented with two major race vehicles and several racers. The two Red Bull teams will be led by drivers Robby Gordon, Charlotte, N.C., and Travis Pastrana, Davidsonville, Md..

"I think it's awesome that my truck's primary partner, Red Bull, is increasing their involvement in desert racing with SCORE International and the SCORE Baja 1000," said Gordon, a two-time overall champion of this race. "Desert racing takes the most endurance of all motorsports, and it's great that Red Bull will give energy to the toughest desert race in the world."

Gordon, NASCAR team owner/driver who continues to compete in SCORE races annually when his schedule allows, will share driving duties the No. 83 Red Bull Chevy CK1500 in the marquee SCORE Trophy-Truck division with 2005 SCORE Rookie of the Year Andy McMillin, Poway, Calif. Gordon will be pulling another of his patented double-duty weekends, competing both in the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 and the season finale of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series in Homestead, Fla., during the same week.

Pastrana, the XGames Freestyle Motocross legend who won three gold medals in Los Angeles this year, will be sharing driving duties with three-time SCORE season class point champion Damen Jefferies, Oak Hills, Calif., in the No. 116 Red Bull HMS-Chevy in the unlimited Class 1.

Leading the individually-supported Red Bull racers into Mexico will be SCORE desert racing motorcycle star Steve Hengeveld, Oak Hills, Calif. Hengeveld, who has six Class 22 motorcycle wins, five overalls including four straight overall motorcycle wins in the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, will be rider of record on the No. 1x Red Bull Honda CRF450X on the American Honda factory team.

Olympic skier Daron Rahlves, Truckee, Calif., will be racing as a co-rider in the Sportsman motorcycle over 250cc class led by rider of record Paul Crandell, Pacific Palisades, Calif. Their team will ride the No. 236x Red Bull Honda XR650r

Pre-race festivities on Wednesday, Nov. 15, for the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, including tech and contingency and the SCORE Manufacturer's Midway will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. across from the San Nicolas Hotel. The pre-race mandatory driver/rider briefing will be held Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center. Racer registration will be held at the San Nicolas from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 14 and from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 15.

While entries will be accepted up to race morning (Nov. 16), late entries will be assigned the next available number and starting position within each class.

The post-race Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 Survivor's Celebration will be held during the SCORE Fiesta on the Malecon beachwalk in La Paz, which starts at noon on Saturday, Nov. 18.

It's the oldest and most well known of all desert races, and it remains as the single most appealing accomplishment to a driver. Since 1967, the mother of all desert races has been run over the mysterious Baja California peninsula.

This year's Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race will be televised on a delayed basis as a one-hour NBC Sports special for the third consecutive year, airing at 2:30 p.m. (EST) on Sunday, Dec. 10 on the NBC Television Network. It will also air on a delayed basis outside of the U.S. on ESPN International.

Daily internet coverage during race week will be posted on several internet sites, including: www.dirtnewz.com, www.off-road.com and www.race-dezert.com.

The 2006 SCORE Desert Series includes chase for the $50,000 Kartek Off-Road contingency bonus to be awarded to several qualified 2006 SCORE Class point champions.

The 2006 SCORE Desert Series also involves the hunt for the annual Toyota Milestone and $12,000 Toyota True Grit Awards. The prestigious Toyota Milestone Awards are presented to every racer who completes every required mile of every race in the 2006 SCORE Desert Series. The $12,000 Toyota True Grit purse is split among the SCORE season point champions who are also Toyota Milestone award winners in several non-factory-backed classes.

SCORE official 2006 sponsors are: BFGoodrich Tires-official tire, Sunoco Race Fuels/Bryant Petroleum-official fuel supplier, Bilstein-official shock, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance-official Mexican auto insurance, American Racing ATX Wheels-official wheel, Airstar America-official space lighting provider. Associate sponsors are: Tecate Beer, Coca-Cola of Mexico, Las Vegas Events, Terrible Herbst Inc., Kartek Off-Road, Centrix Financial, NAPA Chassis, Fram, Autolite, Prestone, Bendix, American Suzuki, SignPros, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie's Performance Products and Advanced Color Graphics.

Additional associate sponsors, for the 2006 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 are Micron Technology, Red Bull North America, Cotuco de Ensenada, Fideicomiso Publio para la Promocion Turistica de Ensenada, the government of Baja California Sur, the State Tourism Department of Baja California Sur and the city tourism fund of Loreto.

For more information on the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters 818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the 2006 SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com.

-credit: score

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