SCV DRIVERS REVVING UP FOR THE BAJA 1000.

Byline: TIM HADDOCK MOTOR SPORTS

A handful of drivers and riders from the Santa Clarita Valley are expected among the 425 to enter the 39th annual running of the Baja 1000 off-road race Nov. 18.

The 1,050.83-mile course starts in Ensenada, Mexico, and ends in La Paz. Drivers and riders will have 43 hours to complete the course.

The race is the final event of the six-race 2006 SCORE Desert Series.

In the 38-year history of the Baja 1000, this will be the 32nd time the race has started in Ensenada and the 17th time it will finish in La Paz.

The race is scheduled to be televised as a one-hour special on NBC at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 10.

In Class 8 (full-size two-wheel drive trucks), Randy Salmont of Santa Clarita is teamed with Dave Sykes of Del Mar, Calif., in a Chevy Silverado. Eric Heiden of Castaic is entered to race with Greg Adler of Manhattan Beach and Erick Tucker of Redondo Beach in a Ford F-150.

In the Protruck (limited production trucks) class, Kevin McGillivray of Valencia will race with Joe Custer of Harrisburg, N.C., and Casey Folks of Las Vegas in a Chevy Silverado.

In the pro motorcycles, Class 22, Damon Cardone of Castaic will ride with Erick Welsh of Newbury Park and Chris Valdes of Quartz Hill on a Honda XR650R.

Daryl Hambleton of Acton, Matthew Lyman of Honolulu, Steve Trines of Kaneohe, Hawaii, Jimmy Roberts of Agua Dulce and Kevin Ward of Chatsworth are entered in Class 40, for riders over 40 years old, on a Honda XR650R.

Bruce Galien and Craig White of Santa Clarita will join Mike Reitmayer of Vista in the SPT UTV class on a Honda XR650R.

American Le Mans Series: Valencia's Bryan Herta and XM Satellite Radio will continue their business relationship in a pair of capacities for the 2007 season.

It was announced earlier this week that Herta will drive the Andretti Green Racing entry in the American Le Mans Series in 2007. The car will be sponsored by XM Satellite Radio.

XM was the primary sponsor on Herta's Indy Racing League entry for Andretti Green Racing in 2004-06.

``I'm really looking forward to continuing my relationship with XM Satellite Radio and also to spearhead Andretti Green Racing's entrance into the American Le Mans Series,'' said Herta, a Hart High of Newhall graduate.

This will be Andretti Green Racing's first season in the American Le Mans Series. Herta will drive an Acura Courage entry, its engine the first produced and developed at Honda Performance Development in Santa Clarita.

It was also announced that Herta will be one of the co-hosts on the new ``Andretti Green Racing Hour'' on XM Satellite Radio (XM 143).

``We're especially pleased to be part of Acura's debut season in the American Le Mans Series with Andretti Green Racing,'' said George Perry, director, partnership and event marketing, XM Satellite Radio. ``We're also looking forward to the launch of the new `Andretti Green Racing Hour' show that includes a behind-the-scenes look into the ALMS.''

timothy.haddock(at)dailynews.com

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