SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1506040
THE RACE TO BE FIRST Preview To The K&N 4th SCORE BaJa 400 Presented By VP Racing Fuels By Dan Sanchez Photos by Get Some Photo Since the start of the SCORE Baja 400, racers have taken it seriously as it serves not just as a shake-down for the SCORE Baja 1000, but because it is a pre-qualifier for their starting positions for the SCORE Baja 1000– the biggest race of the SCORE Season. But as the SCORE Baja 400 competition increases, winning is difficult. Because this is the newest race in the SCORE World Desert Championship Series, the stats are interesting for the Overall winners of the SCORE Baja 400 and SCORE Baja 1000. So far, three of the Overall winners of the Baja 400 did not win the Overall at the Baja 1000 race. In the inaugural event, Ryan Arciero was the first Overall SCORE Baja 400 winner. Unfortunately, he was not able to finish the race, leaving Alan Ampudia, who finished fifth at the Baja 400, to win the Baja 1000 Overall that year. The race was postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but when it returned in 2021, Bryce Menzies won the SCORE Baja 400 Overall but was also not able to finish at the SCORE Baja 1000. Instead, the Overall win went to Larry Roeseler, who started in eighth place. The following year in 2022, Bryce Menzies won the Overall at the SCORE Baja 400 again, making him the first racer to win it two-times in-a-row. But in a stroke of bad luck that followed, he DNF’d at the Baja 1000, and the Overall win went to Luke McMillin; he started the race second behind Menzies. Winning the race, however, not only increases your chances at the Baja 1000, but also adds valuable points toward winning the season championship. Moto racers are the exception; many who have won the Baja 400 have gone on to win the Baja 1000 in their class. Some winners include Justin Morgan, Santiago Creel, Juan Carlos Salvatierra and others. COUNTDOWN TO RACE DAY An expected 225 entries to this race will make it the largest in its short history and an exciting race to watch, as some of this season’s top racers will compete. The race takes place the week of September 13th-17th on a 386.2-mile course. Pre-running begins Saturday, September 2nd, while Qualifying will take place on a separate course on Thursday, September 14th, for SCORE Trophy Truck, Trophy Truck Legend, Class 1, and SCORE Trophy Truck Spec classes. All other classes will enter a draw for their starting positions. With excitement building for the race, much of the focus is on the SCORE Trophy Trucks premiere class. The heavy competition will come from racers such as Luke McMillin, Bryce Menzies, Alan Ampudia, Rob MacCachren, Tavo Vildosola, Tim Herbst, Larry Roeseler, and more, bringing the Trophy Truck field to over 32 entries at the time of this printing. Some teams in this class are also beginning to emerge. To the delight of SCORE fans, Andy McMillin will return to the race, partnering with the Menzies Motorsports team in the #31 truck alongside Menzies in his No. 7 truck. Cameron Steele and the Desert Assassins are also teaming up with 2019 SCORE Baja 400 winner Ryan Arcerio, both driving the No. 16 truck. The Meyers family will also return to SCORE with Dan Meyers driving the No. 6 TE Motorsports Toyota Tundra and his brother and NASCAR racer Andy Meyers driving the No. 69 Toyota Tundra. Christopher Polvoorde, who had been winning races in the SCORE TT Spec Class, will also be moving into the SCORE Trophy Truck class at the SCORE Baja 400. Polvoorde will be driving the Walser Motorsports No. 91 Optima Battery truck, who partnered with Mike Walser and will be driving the No. 89 truck. They will also race together at the SCORE Baja 1000, driving the No. 89 truck. CONTINGENCY DAY SCORE Fans will flock to downtown Ensenada, Mexico, for Tech and Contingency Day, scheduled for Friday, September 15th. Held in front of the Riviera del Pacifico Center on Boulevard Costero, the streets will be filled with racers, teams, fans, and product sponsors showcasing the latest in race gear and offering support for racers. Up on the main ramp, SCORE Emcees Rat Sult and Dave Arnold will be interviewing racers and broadcasting live on the large SCOREVision screen on site, as well as the SCORE app, website, and across SCORE’s social media platforms that reach fans in the U.S. and worldwide. RACE DAY EVENTS On Race Day, Saturday, September 16th, the Motorcycle and Quad classes will line up before dawn at 5:00 am to leave the starting line adjacent to the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center on Blvd. Costero by 6:00 am. As the morning progresses, the Starting Ceremonies begin at 7:30 am, followed by the SCORE Trophy Truck classes leaving the starting line at 8:15 for the ceremonial start for all the 4-Wheel Classes. Watching the various race classes leave off the starting line is an exciting and integral part of experiencing a SCORE race. Once all the vehicles are gone, fans can grab some lunch at local restaurants or from street vendors, and enjoy the amenities the city of Ensenada offers. Fans typically return in the early afternoon to see the motorcyclists come to the finish line, followed a few hours later by the first SCORE Trophy Trucks. Those fans watching the SCORE Live Streaming feed will have additional insight into the racer’s positions on the course from the Live Tracking on the SCORE Website and app, and from the Live Stream on SCORE Social Media pages. For those fans that stick around until Sunday, September 17th, the on-site SCORE Awards Celebration at 11:30 am in the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center will honor all the first through third place racers in every class.