SONS OF STARS TACKLE THE BAJA.

Byline: Tim Haddock Auto Racing

For John Clark Gable, the Tecate/SCORE Baja 500 is old hat. For Dodd Darin, the 500-mile off-road race through the Mexican peninsula will be a new experience.

The pair from Malibu have decided to team up in the Tropy Truck division for this year's June 3 Baja 500 with high expectations and future races in mind.

Gable, son of actor Clark Gable, has competed in off-road racing in Baja for nearly two decades. He got his racing start on off-road motorcycles when he was 5 and growing up on his father's 22-acre Encino ranch.

But he injured his knee in an accident while racing at Indian Dunes in 1982. As a result, Gable switched from dirt bikes to trucks.

Darin, the son of singer Bobby Darin and actress Sandra Dee, followed a similar path. Darin and Gable have been friends since they were 5 and used to ride their dirt bikes on the Gable ranch. Darin later switched to racing go-karts. Some 33 years later, Darin still sees a future in open-wheel racing. He wants to eventually become a CART team owner with Gable and sees the Baja 500 as a way to gain exposure.

While Darin, 38, has his sights on eventually owning a team, Gable is more concerned with the immediate future of racing in the Baja 500.

This will be Gable's first Baja 500 since 1992.

``We've been going down and doing some prerunning,'' said Gable, 39, who is also racing motocross to get himself in shape for the Baja 500. ``I got to get used to driving again.''

--Third to first: Rod Johnson of Canyon Country, the defending Irwindale Speedway NASCAR Super Late Model champion, scored a win after track officials disqualified the first- and second-place drivers from Saturday's race.

Ben Walker of Canyon Country and Brandon Loverock of Santa Fe Springs lost their prize money and points. Walker was penalized for using noncomforming parts in his engine, Loverock for using nonconforming cylinder heads. Walker also had to forfeit his $1,000 prize for winning the Food 4 Less ``Fast 4 Shootout,'' a four-lap trophy dash.

Rip Michels of Mission Hills won the NASCAR Grand American Modified main event, his second victory in three races this season. And if not for a blown engine on opening night, Michels might be perfect this season.

``I ain't getting greedy,'' Michels said. ``Sometimes things go right and sometimes they don't. Right now they're going right for us.''

--Going to The Show: Ron Hornaday Jr. of Palmdale, the top rookie on the NASCAR Busch Grand National Division, will be making his first trip for a points race to Lowe's Motor Speedway for Saturday's Charlotte 300.

But that doesn't mean he doesn't have any experience at the 1.5-mile oval.

Driving identical convertible Winston Cup cars, Hornaday beat NASCAR Winston Cup driver Jimmy Spencer during last year's Summer Shootout at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

While testing at Dover Downs this week, Hornaday was clocked at 29.005 seconds, nearly .2 seconds faster than the pole qualifying time for the Busch series race there last year. As a result, crew chief Gere Kennon decided to use the same car at Lowe's Motor Speedway this weekend.

``We had a great test at Charlotte two weeks ago, and I was pleased with how we gained on everyone all day long,'' Hornaday said. ``We didn't start out real good, but Gere, Steve (Hmiel) and everyone on the NAPA Auto Parts team kept thrashing and we were as good as anyone on the second day. But then we went to Dover and that car was awesome. It was the best Busch car I have ever driven. We all decided we had to bring the Dover car to Charlotte, and so I am even more excited than I was before.''

--Hearn in Indy: Pasadena High graduate Richie Hearn qualified 23rd for Sunday's Indianapolis 500. He will be driving the Pagan Racing Team Dallara-Aurora in the race.