SCORE titles on the line

Marquee names like NASCAR racer Robby Gordon and actor Patrick Dempsey are among celebrities dotting today's starting lineup for the 40th annual SCORE Baja 1000.

But they are window dressing for the real battles to be waged for SCORE season championships in the 1,296-mile race from Ensenada to Cabo San Lucas on Mexico's Baja California peninsula.

Entries reached nearly 450 Monday with competitors in 28 Pro and six Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs.

The most dramatic race will be the one for the overall series title that also could determine the winner of the SCORE Trophy-Truck division.

Mark Post of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., and co-driver Rob MacCachren of Las Vegas hold a one-point lead over B.J. Baldwin, also of Las Vegas. Through six SCORE races, Post and MacCachren have won twice with five top-four finishes.

Baldwin, 28, the reigning Trophy-Truck season champion, has won once and finished fourth or better five times.

In unlimited Class 1, Troy Herbst of Las Vegas and teammate Larry Roeseler of Hesperia, Calif., will go for an unprecedented fourth straight class title.

Only 33 points separate the top 10 in overall series points, which are determined by finishing position and number of vehicles competing in the class.

Motorcycle and ATV classes will begin at 6:30 a.m. with cars and trucks to follow at 11 a.m.