LOS ANGELES (February 16, 2004) -- Ensenada, Mexico, has been selected as site and host city of two of the oldest and most famous desert races in the world, it was confirmed today by SCORE International, the world's foremost desert racing sanctioning body. June's 36th Tecate SCORE Baja 500 will start and finish in Ensenada and November's season-ending 37th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 peninsula run, the granddaddy of all desert races, will start in Ensenada.

While anticipated since last December, the contract was officially finalized and executed between SCORE and Ensenada government and tourism officials last week. The contract is being finalized for the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 to be in La Paz, on the Sea of Cortez side of the foreboding Baja California peninsula.

Round 3 of the five-race 2004 SCORE Desert Series will be held June 4-6 while the season-finale will be held Nov. 18-21. Ensenada is located on Todos Santos Bay on the Pacific Ocean side of the Baja California peninsula, 65 miles south of the U.S. Border near San Diego.

"SCORE International, Baja California and the city of Ensenada have enjoyed a long and wonderful relationship and SCORE is very happy to again hold this year's Tecate SCORE Baja 500 in city of Ensenada and to also start the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 there," said Sal Fish, the SCORE CEO and President who was part of the first SCORE-produced SCORE Baja 500 in 1974 in Ensenada. "We have witnessed some incredible history together and as SCORE begins its fourth decade of championship desert racing, we know that this year in Ensenada we will add even more incredible memories to our legacy. The world's best desert racers compete in SCORE races in Baja and we all have enjoyed the warm hospitality of Ensenada."

Host to more SCORE races than any other city on either side of the border, SCORE has made Ensenada the desert racing capital of the world. For the Tecate SCORE Baja 500, which averages about 250 starters, this will be the 31st time it has started and 28th time it has finished in Ensenada.

Averaging about 220 starters, this will be the 30th time the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 has started in Ensenada.

Reflecting the sentiments of his city, Ensenada Mayor Dr. Jorge Antonio Catalan Sosa said, "Once again, the people and city government of Ensenada are pleased to host two more SCORE desert races. We are very thankful that SCORE has made Ensenada the home of the premier desert racing in the world. SCORE International and the Citty of Ensenada have had a wonderful relationship of over 30 years, and for that we thank Sal Fish and all of the SCORE racers and their crews."

Both races, which feature 24 Pro and 5 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs, will start adjacent to the Riviera del Pacifico Convention Center in downtown Ensenada. The Tecate SCORE Baja 500 is scheduled to finish for the first time inside of the Deportivo Antonio Palacios baseball stadium at 9th Street and Guadalupe Avenue in the heart of Ensenada, the third largest city in Baja California.

The 36th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500 will be held June 4-6, in Ensenada. More than 250 vehicles, competing in 24 Pro and 5 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs, are expected to take the green flag in Ensenada on June 5.

Besides these two races in Ensenada, the 2004 SCORE Desert Series schedule includes one completed race and two additional events. The season began on Jan. 15-18 at the 10th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge in Laughlin, Nev., and will continue Feb. 27-28 with the 18th Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 in Baja California, Mexico. In between the two races in Ensenada will be the 9th SCORE Las Vegas Primm 300 Sept. 10-11 in Primm, Nevada.

SCORE official sponsors for 2004 are: BFGoodrich Tires-official tire, Southern California Ford Dealers-official vehicle, CL Bryant-official fuel supplier and Rental Service Corporation-official equipment supplier. Associate sponsors are: Tecate Beer, Coca-Cola of Mexico, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance, Fram, Autolite, Prestone, Bilstein, Signpros, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie's, and Advanced Color Graphics.

Additional associate sponsors, so far, for both the Tecate SCORE Baja 500 and Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 are Cotuco and Fideicomiso Publio para la Promocion Turistica de Ensenada.