49 of SCORE's Toughest Desert Racers still in hunt
For 2004 Toyota True Grit and Milestone Awards
Drawing for starting positions for 36th Tecate SCORE Baja 500 Friday--
Over 260 entries expected in June 4-6 race

LOS ANGELES (April 19, 2004) -- Annually, the upcoming Tecate SCORE Baja 500 is the first grueling test of the season for SCORE Desert Racing's best. This year will be no exception as 49 competitors remain eligible for the annual SCORE Toyota True Grit and SCORE Toyota Milestone Awards heading to Mexico for the 36th renewal of this desert classic.

The computerized drawing for starting positions for the 23 Pro and 5 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs will be held Saturday at SCORE's Los Angeles headquarters. The race itself will be held in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, June 4-6.

As it has for the last 17 years, Toyota is presenting the prestigious awards to the desert racers who finish every mile of every race in the five-race 2004 SCORE Desert Racing Series, the World's Foremost Desert Racing Series.

Among the survivors of the first two SCORE races of 2004, 24 drivers in the non-factory-backed Classes 1-2/1600, 5, 10 and SCORE Lite remain eligible for the $12,000 SCORE Toyota True Grit Award, divided equally among the class point champion(s) in these four classes who are also SCORE Toyota Milestone Award winners.

After two races, 49 racers in 15 classes remain eligible for the hard-earned Toyota awards.

"Toyota is proud to honor the world's best desert racing drivers," said Les Unger, national motorsports manager at Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. "For 17 years, we have had the privilege of presenting the SCORE Toyota True Grit and Milestone Awards to the toughest racers on the planet."

In order to remain eligible for the SCORE Toyota Milestone and $12,000 SCORE Toyota True Grit awards, the following racers must finish the 36th Tecate SCORE Baja 500 (June 4-6), the 9th SCORE Las Vegas Primm 300 (Sept. 10-11) and the 37th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 (Nov. 17-21).

With over 260 entries expected, the green flag will drop at 6 a.m. on Saturday (June 5) for the motorcycle and ATV classes, followed by the car and truck classes two hours later at approximately 8:30 a.m. The starting line area will once again be adjacent to the Riviera del Pacifico Convention Center in downtown Ensenada. The finish line will be inside the Deportivo Antonio Palacios baseball stadium at 9th Street and Guadalupe Avenue in Ensenada.

For information contact:
SCORE International at its Los Angeles headquarters
(818) 225-8402 or visit
the official Optima SCORE Desert Series website at:
www.score-international.com

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