The Baja 1000 was covered by Jim McKay in 1968 .
From 1967 to 1972 , the race was organized by the National Off-Road Racing Association ( NORRA ) and grew in popularity with ABC 's `` Wide World of Sports '' sending Jim McKay to cover the 1965 event and attracting new participants like the late Mickey Thompson , Indy 500 winner Parnelli Jones , movie actor James Garner , and Mary McGee , the first woman to compete in the event .