What is this? What’s going on?
The Baltimore 500K, a grueling, vehicle endurance race to 500,000 miles, launches in the Inner Harbor on July 4th and continues until a driver reaches 500,000 miles on their odometer.

The Baltimore 500K, a grueling, vehicle endurance race to 500,000 miles, launches in the Inner Harbor on July 4th and continues until a driver reaches 500,000 miles on their odometer.

Three drivers will compete for the Otto Wrench, named after Nicolaus Otto, inventor of the internal combustion engine, and a cash prize of $500,000. All three drivers hail from Baltimore and the surrounding area. Jerry Lee Ray is from Frederick, Holly Huntley is from Hampden, and Walter Randolph III is from Roland Park.

"This is the first endurance race of its kind," said Commissioner John Hightower, "We are very excited that the City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland are hosting the 500K. It was a perfect fit; Baltimoreans have always loved racing. And the Baltimore Beltway is very conducive to our needs. Having this event here just made a lot of sense."

Each driver and their team conducted an exhaustive search for a car. The original mileage of the car, up to 200,000 miles, counts towards the race. Therefore, each team had the challenge of finding a car with significant mileage that would hold up to the rigors of the race.

With the help of the race's sponsor, Precision Tune Auto Care, contestants had a month to make improvements on their cars. Teams could not exceed $1,500 in repairs.

"We found a 1991 Geo Metro which seems like a good choice. It's a light car and it'll go," said Holly "The Hon" Huntley.

Race officials have plans to expand the race to most of the East Coast over the next five years.

"The fan support has been amazing. We''ve had letters of interest from all around the world. We're very excited about the excitement that this race has created," said Hightower.

The race kickoff event is free to the public, as are all the races. Drivers can be seen on major thoroughfares in and around in the Baltimore area.

Who is in the race?
There are three drivers from around the Baltimore area. Holly Huntley is from Hamden, Jerry Lee Ray is from Frederick, and Walter Randolph III is from Roland Park.

What's the point?
This is the first race of its kind although there have been some endurance runs, like Cannon Ball Run and the Aussie Desert Classic, but this is the first long-term endurance race. It's a true test of the driver and vehicle that many people experience in their everyday lives. It's like the ultimate commuter race.

How does it work?
Drivers are limited to areas designated by the League. Those areas may change throughout the race, but the focus is on the I-695 Beltway. Drivers check in at 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. for an official odometer check.

Where does the check in occur?
The odometer checkpoints change on a daily basis so it is a fair distance for all drivers.

When will the race end?
The race will end when the first driver reaches 500,000 miles on their odometer.

What can they win?
The winning driver will receive $500,000 and a lifetime of free auto care from Precision Tune Auto Care.

How were the drivers chosen?
Drivers submitted entry forms online and a panel of judges selected the drivers based on their experience and initial qualifying times.

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