SCORE Journal

SCORE-Journal-May-2022

SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing

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Polaris Baja Support Team Mexico Polaris Dealership Group Offers Extra Baja Racing Pit Support By Stuart Bourdon   Photos: Art Eugenio and courtesy of Polaris ORV Racing One of the newest pit organizations to begin supporting racers during the SCORE International Off-Road Racing series is the Polaris Baja Support Team. In its second season of operation, the Polaris Baja Support Team, created in 2021 through the Polaris Mexico dealership group and supported by Polaris, has begun to provide factory-level pit services to Polaris UTV competitors racing through the rugged and beautiful landscape of Baja California. Brett Carpenter, Polaris Manager ORV Racing, gave us an overview of the Polaris Baja Support Team. “Polaris Mexico has been offering support services for their Baja racing teams. We collaborate with marketing and support, but Polaris Mexico is really in charge of its operation south of the border. They activate on our behalf at the Baja races, and although the Polaris Baja Support Team was created to serve Polaris Mexico-sponsored teams, the pit is open to anybody who needs assistance.” Baja Race Team Support  “We have two sponsored teams currently running the SCORE Baja races,” said Andrea Lobo, Polaris Marketing Manager. “They are Anibal Lopez of Mexicali (who stood on the podium in second place driving a Pro Stock UTV at the 2022 San Felipe 250) and Omar Saucedo of Guadalajara (finished fifth in Pro Stock UTV at the same race). We also support two drivers who often compete in another series, Michelle Barazza and Fernanda Montiel.” Barazza has competed in some SCORE races, and both are planning to run the SCORE Baja 400. All four are part of the Polaris Mexico racing group. Lobo continued, “The Polaris Baja Support Team pit was created to offer an extra service location during the races. The teams all have their own crews and support systems, but we can help them make sure they have all the bases covered during a race. They can expand their pit efforts through the Polaris Baja Support Team pit to help cover the entire race course without having to move their own personnel around to stay ahead of the race car.” Polaris Mexico dealerships (located in Mexicali, Los Cabos, Hermosillo, and a fourth is opening soon in Tijuana) operate the Polaris Baja Support Team pit during races and can provide anything from gas to parts to mechanical service. Lobo added, “However, we can also support their efforts by helping to find unique or hard-to-find parts for their race vehicles. We can search for parts through our entire network of dealerships, including those in Mexico and the US.” “We can also offer sponsorships and help our teams locate other companies that might be interested in partnering with them for support efforts.” Lobo told us, “We have been talking to a fuel supplier, as gasoline is a huge part of the cost of operating a racing operation with support vehicles, pre-runners, and race cars.” Helping Drivers Go Faster Hanzel Monge, Associate Marketing Manager ORV, wanted to make it clear, “The mechanics that are a part of the Polaris Baja Support Team are factory certified technicians. They are on top of the latest performance parts and newest technology. They know the vehicles better than anybody.” When the Polaris Baja Support Team got started, there were a lot of discussions about how to make things work as smoothly as possible between the driver’s crews and the Polaris factory-certified mechanics. Monge told us, “There was a lot of information going back and forth between the two groups that helps everyone perform at their highest level.” Polaris engineers would tell the teams about the limits of the vehicle and its parts, and what can and cannot be done. The drivers would then tell the Polaris engineers things they had done to the vehicle or to a part that made it work better. Monge said, “The race teams had also figured out ways to get a little more speed out of the vehicle without compromising the car’s integrity. Both sides learned from each other. In the end, the cars ran better and faster.” Connect With Polaris Mexico The Polaris Baja Support Team is currently working on a website page where teams can register for support services so the pit can be ready for them. Until that website is launched, racers can reach out to one of the Polaris Mexico dealerships and make the arrangements to make the support pit part of their team’s plan and network. Brett Carpenter had the last word, letting us know, “Polaris Mexico (dealership group) has a booth and presence at tech inspection and contingency during all the SCORE International off-road races in Baja. Racers interested in getting extra pit support should stop by the booth before race day and talk to us about the Polaris Baja Support Team.” SJ

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