SCORE ready for fourth round

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      Not exactly a way to get a break from the summer heat, 14 Southern Nevada desert racers are among nearly 150 preregistered entries for Saturday's 28th SCORE Fireworks 250 in Barstow, Calif.
      And Las Vegas' Charlie Townsley gets his first opportunity to be the initial driver off the starting line in the unlimited Class 1, which features a race-high 30-car early entry field. Registration will continue through Friday's late registration in Barstow for Round 4 of the six-race 1999 Laughlin SCORE Desert Series.
      Racers will compete in 16 classes for cars and trucks in America's foremost desert racing series. The popular summer heatfest will air on the Speedvision Network in late August. One vehicle will start every 30 seconds, starting at 6 a.m., with the fastest vehicles expected to finish the grueling 236 total miles (four laps of 59 miles each) in just under five hours. The featured, high-powered Trophy-Truck division (with eight pre-registered entries) will be the first class to leave the start line, followed by Class 1.
      Townsley, who has methodically climbed up to eighth place in Class 1 points midway through the 1999 season, is excited about the prospects facing him Saturday after drawing the first starting position.
      "Our class is the most competitive in the entire Laughlin SCORE Desert Series and to get a head start will be a great opportunity for me," said Townsley, who pilots one of the popular Chenowth desert race cars. "We can run with these guys and to start the race physically out in front does give you somewhat of a psychological edge, but that's the good news. The not so good news is your adrenalin is up so high its tough not to put the front end right into the first boulder you come up on."