SCORE Primm race slated for Sept. 11

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      Second-generation racers Ed and Tim Herbst return to the Southern Nevada desert Sept. 10 and 11 to defend their overall title in the Fourth SCORE Las Vegas Primm 300 off-road desert race, to be staged 35 miles south of Las Vegas at the Nevada/California border.
      The Herbst brothers, owners of several Southern Nevada businesses that range from car washes to casinos, will race their Ford F-150 in the featured Trophy-Truck division.
      Nearly 150 vehicles from 10 states and Mexico, competing in 16 classes for cars and trucks, are scheduled to take part in the race, which begins at 7 a.m. on Sept. 11. It's the fifth race in the six-race 1999 Laughlin SCORE Desert Series.
      Vehicles will leave the start/finish area, located in the special events compound on the grounds of Buffalo Bill's Hotel and Casino in Primm, once every 30 seconds in the elapsed-time race.
      All but four of the classes will be required to cover four laps of the 83.7-mile race course within an 11-hour time limit to become official finishers in the 334.8-mile race. Classes 3, 11, Stock Mini and Stock Full will be required to cover three laps for a distance of 251.1 miles within the 11-hour time limit.
      Among the top challengers for the overall title will be the youngest of the Herbst brothers, 33-year old Troy Herbst. Troy, who unlike his brothers drives solo in his open-wheel desert race car, is the points leader in unlimited Class 1. His older brothers have won three straight races in the Trophy-Truck division, and four of five this season, to lead the point standings.
      Troy Herbst is the defending overall and two-time defending Class 1 points champion in the SCORE Laughlin Desert Series. He was the overall winner in the SCORE Fireworks 250 in July, with brothers Ed and Tim finishing second. Both won their respective class titles.
      Larry Roeseler, the veteran desert motorcycle racer from Hesperia, Calif., now drives trucks, and his Team MacPherson Chevrolet K1500 has drawn the first starting position in the Trophy-Truck class and will be the first vehicle off the line at Primm.
      Besides the Herbst brothers, several other local drivers could be factors in the battle for class victories, as nearly 20 Southern Nevada racers are expected in the final starting field.
      Henderson's Bekki Freeman, the only regular female driver in the SCORE Desert Series this year, is second overall in Class 1-2/1600, and finished second in her class in last year's Las Vegas Primm 300.
      Las Vegas' Brian Collins and Dale White have their White Lightning Chevrolet C1500 at the top of the Class 8 standings this year, and finished second last year in Primm.
      Las Vegas' Danny Anderson, currently second in Class 10 points, finished fourth last year in the slightly slower SCORE Lite class in Primm.
      Also entered in Class 1 are John Gaughan, Kory Scheeler, Mike Tieman, Pat Dean and Charlie Townsley of Las Vegas. Mark Bunderson, a chassis builder from North Las Vegas, will race in Class 9 in his own Bunderson desert race car.
      In Class 1-2/1600, Freeman's older brother, Kenny Freeman Jr., who also lives in Henderson, will drive a Bunderson, and Las Vegas' Brad Mauer and Rudy Cortez are also entered in the race.
      Henderson's Lonny Helmbolt will drive a Dodge Ram 1500 in the Trophy-Truck division and Mark Hutchins, also of Henderson, will compete in Class 10.
      Pre-race festivities will include the manufacturer's midway and technical inspection of all race vehicles from noon to 7 p.m. on Sept. 10. High-speed testing will also be staged that day on a 2-mile stretch of desert one-half mile north of Whiskey Pete's Hotel and Casino from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Also on Sept. 10, a special course orientation single practice lap, run at controlled speeds, will be open to all participants, starting at 8 a.m.
      Post-race festivities will start with a barbecue at the Star of the Desert Arena at Buffalo Bill's at 7 p.m., followed by the awards celebration at 9 p.m.
      Admission is free for spectators at the start/finish line area in the special events compound at Buffalo Bill's resort.
      Those interested can contact SCORE at (818) 225-8402, or visit its Web site at www.score-inter national.com.