The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

Off Road: Vortec-Powered Chevy Trailblazer wins in debut at Baja 500

5 June 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Ragland Continues Winning Career

ENSENADA, B.C., Mexico - Behind the wheel of GM's all-new Vortec-powered Chevrolet TrailBlazer, veteran-racer Larry Ragland captured both the overall four-wheel vehicle win and the Trophy-Truck divisional title at the famed 32nd annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500 desert race.

Ragland completed the grueling 440.6-mile loop-style trek in 8 hours, 56 minutes and 43 seconds. He collected his third overall win (1982, '84, '00) and fourth class title (1982, '84, '91, '00) in the history of the race.

"What a fantastic way to debut this new TrailBlazer and its powerful Vortec inline six-cylinder engine," said Ragland of Phoenix, Ariz. "It went head-to-head with the V8's all day. We had some wheel problems, but that was all. It ran strong. Our Hydra-Matic transmission was flawless, and our BFG tires really held up."

Ragland edged out reigning Trophy-Truck champions, Ed and Tim Herbst, who clocked a second-place time of 9:18:59 in their Ford F-150. Third went to Dan Smith, also in a Ford. A second Herzog Motorsports Chevy Trailblazer, driven by Ricky Johnson and Brian Stewart, finished fourth.

Radically different from any other entry, the new Chevy TrailBlazer was specifically designed to compete in the SCORE Trophy-Truck division.

"The TrailBlazer sport utility vehicle (SUV) features a computer-designed carbon-fiber body mounted on a tube frame chassis," said Brian Miller, GM Racing off-road program manager. "It is powered by a race specific all-aluminum 5.0-liter Vortec I6 engine featuring dual over head camshafts. The engine produces approximately 600 horsepower at 7500 rpm and 450 lb-ft of torque at 6000 rpm."

The Baja 500 was the first of three events on GM's off-road desert racing calendar this year. The pair of Vortec-powered TrailBlazers will also compete in the Best In The Desert Nevada 2000 in July and in the SCORE Baja 2000 in November.

"When GM Racing first told me they wanted to build a new truck with a six-cylinder motor, I have to admit I was skeptical," said Ragland, a long-time off-road racing champion and five-time Baja 1000 winner. "But when we started testing in the desert, I began to see the durability and efficiency of the Vortec engine. The Baja 500 was the perfect way to showcase the power of the six-cylinder against the V8 competitors.

"It takes a powerful, durable truck to win a race as tough as this and that's what GM Racing has put under me," added Ragland. "It's a winning package. This truck is ready to go another 500 miles."

The first of four telecasts of the Tecate SCORE Baja 500 will air on the Speedvision Network on Friday, July 14 at 6 and 9:00 p.m. PDT.

Text provided by Nancy Wager

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.