Race in Primm pivotal

Desert racers have been planning for the prestigious SCORE Baja 1000, but Saturday they won’t be looking beyond Primm, where the 12th annual Terrible’s Primm 300 will be held.

The Nov. 12-15 Baja 1000 has added meaning this year because it marks the 40th anniversary of the famed race. But the nearly 200 entries for the Primm event know the penultimate race behind Buffalo Bill’s will weigh heavily on determining series champions.

Only 22 points separate the top five drivers in the standings, and each team has at least one Southern Nevada driver.

The Bunderson buggy with Chevrolet power driven by B.J. Richardson of Las Vegas is first in Class 1 and the overall SCORE points leader. Three points back is Las Vegan B.J. Baldwin, who leads SCORE Trophy Trucks.

They are followed by the Mark Post of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., with Las Vegan Rob MacCachren; Brian Collins of Las Vegas with Arizonan Larry Ragland; and Sammy Ehrenberg of Las Vegas with L.J. Kennedy of Orange, Calif.

The course has changed this year. Las Vegas-based Herbst Gaming, which owns Primm Valley Resorts, worked with Reliant Energy to obtain use of Reliant’s paved bridge so racers can cross railroad tracks on the 72-mile loop course.

That allowed the start/finish line area and grandstands to be moved back to being adjacent to the rear parking lot of Buffalo Bill’s after it was forced to relocate two miles east to a dry lake bed the past two years.

Starting will be split into two groups: Slower classes begin at 6 a.m. Saturday, with the Class 1 and Trophy Trucks leading the last group at 1 p.m. on the course located 45 miles south of Las Vegas along Interstate 15.

• DRAG RACING — The NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series will expand by one event next year with the addition of a 24th race on Sept. 11-14.

The site is believed to be Lowe’s Motor Speedway near Charlotte, N.C., where a new drag strip is being planned.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which like Lowe’s is owned by Speedway Motorsports Inc., will host two national events. The SummitRacing.com Nationals will be April 10-13, and the AC Delco Las Vegas Nationals is Oct. 30-Nov. 2. …

Funny Car driver Gary Scelzi said Thursday he will not take next year off and plans to return with Don Schumacher Racing. Scelzi’s reason for not racing was to spend more time with his business and family in Fresno, Calif., but Las Vegan Ken Black Sr. has offered to use one of the jets he leases to help Scelzi get to races.

• MOTOCROSS — Four riders are in contention to win the AMA Motocross championship heading into Sunday’s final race at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, Calif.

Grant Langston, Andrew Short, Tim Ferry and Mike Alesi can win the title. …

Ricky Carmichael, who quit racing full time this year, will compete in the Oct. 12-14 U.S. Open at MGM Grand Garden. For information: ussx.com. …

NASCAR powerhouse Joe Gibbs Racing has formed a Supercross/motocross team with riders Josh Hansen and Jose Summey.

• NASCAR — Kenny Wallace will replace Ricky Rudd in the No. 88 Ford this weekend in the Nextel Cup race at Richmond International Raceway.

Rudd suffered a separated left shoulder in a crash Sunday at California Speedway after making his 900th start. It will the first time in his career Rudd misses a race due to injury.

• BLOOD DRIVE — Las Vegas Motor Speedway will hold a blood drive 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday in its infield media center.

Every donor will get a ticket to the Sept. 22 Smith’s Las Vegas 350 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at the track.

For information: 632-8242.