SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1525626
400 MILES TO GLORY Preview To The 5th SCORE Baja 400 Presented by VP Racing By Dan Sanchez Photos by Get Some Photo The SCORE Baja 400 race has been the new halfway point of the season and a chance to get closer to a championship year for many racers and teams. For many, this fast-paced race is often a great shake-down and test for the SCORE Baja 1000. For some, it's an important race to win as the SCORE Baja 400 can also help to cement a class championship by providing additional points. For those wanting a Rod Hall Milestone Award Presented by Toyota Escondido at the end of the season, it's also a race they must finish. A SHORT HISTORY This being the fifth running of the SCORE Baja 400, it has a short but exciting history. The SCORE Baja 400 began in 2019 in which Ryan Arciero won Overall and in the SCORE Trophy Truck Class. The race was postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but returned in 2021, with Bryce Menzies winning Overall. He then won the race again in 2022, and 2023, when in that same year, he went on to win his first SCORE Baja 1000 with co-drivers Andy McMillin and Tavo Vildosola. This put Bryce Menzies in a category of his own. He is the only racer to have won all four current SCORE Races, the San Felipe 250, SCORE Baja 500, SCORE Baja 400, and SCORE Baja 1000, making him the first person to earn the SCORE "Grand Slam" title. MOTO WINNERS Pro Moto Overall winners in this race include the Pro Moto Unlimited teams of Justin Morgan, Mark Samuels, and Ricky Dietrich winning the race in 2019. The team of Shane Redline, Phillip Herrera, Chris Phillips, Larry Serna, Carlos Padrini, and Brandon Prieto won it in 2021. In 2022, it was Juan Carlos Salvatierra, along with Arturo Salas Jr., Shane Logan and Clayton Roberts who took the Moto Overall win in this race. THE CLASS OF 2023 RACE HIGHLIGHTS Last year, fans saw Bryce Menzies win his third SCORE Baja 400 race in a row. Toby Price and Paul Weel had qualified first, with Menzies starting in sixth place. He began focusing and chasing down all his competitors and tried to be in first place by the time the course reached the beach section. He played it smart and won the race Overall with Luke McMillin second and Andy McMillin in third place. Gus Vildosola Sr. and Ricky Johnson continued dominating the SCORE Trophy Truck Legend Class. They continued to have trouble-free races and at this race last year, won their seventh-straight SCORE race in a row. They would complete the 2023 SCORE World Desert Championship Season with a perfect record, winning the Class Championship and starting this 2024 season with an additional win at the SCORE San Felipe 250, and SCORE Baja 500. In the increasingly competitive SCORE Trophy Truck Spec Class, Jason McNeil in the No. 234 truck was able to finish first, adding to his other podium finishes in this class. McNeil started second and although wanting to take a conservative approach to the race, had to increase his pace due to the competition behind him. After driving into a short ravine, and having driveshaft troubles, they maintained their position on the course which led to their ultimate victory. The 2023 SCORE Baja 400 was a milestone victory for Damen Jefferies in Class 1. For him, it felt like an "old school" Baja race and although starting last in class, he excelled in the technical terrain and passed his competitors for the win. He commented that it was the perfect race he had ever had, and it was his first win of the 2023 season. He used an older buggy he had built for a customer and outfitted it with 40-inch BFGoodrich tires. In the Pro Moto Unlimited class, penalties were handed out to several teams, causing a rollercoaster of emotions at the finish line. The Salvatierra 1x team had broken down along the course with a blown-out muffler putting them third on the course. The 3x team of Ciaran Naran crossed the finish line first, followed by the 11x team of Arturo Salas Jr. The initial celebrations didn't last long, however, as penalties were served to both teams, leaving the 1x Salvatierra team with the win. Taking the top spot in the Four-Wheel Classes was the veteran, Dan Chamlee in his Class 7 Ford Raptor. Despite having to replace the entire transmission of the truck after the case had developed a crack, Chamlee went on to win. He also suffered a broken brake line and no turbo pressure on the Ford engine. He persevered and pushed on showing the dedication it takes to be a consistent winner in this class. Winning the coveted SCORE Pro UTV Overall, was Factory Polaris and SCI Motorsports driver Brock Heger. This was the third consecutive victory for the SCI Motorsports team and Heger said he felt it was his course management skills that led to the win. After starting 13th he found it difficult to get clean air, but with a patient attitude, his conservative first half of the race paid off when he began catching up to the leaders. He took the win, despite a broken shock, and fewer penalties than the other racers in class. COUNTDOWN TO RACE DAY More than 200 entries are expected for this race. The 5th SCORE Baja 400 Presented by VP Racing will take place September 10 - 15th in Ensenada, Mexico, with the start and finish in front of the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center. Pre-running begins August 31st across certain sections of the 394.7-mile course. As with all of the races during the 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship season, qualifying for SCORE Trophy Truck, Trophy Truck Legend, SCORE Trophy Truck Spec will take place during the Method Race Wheel Qualifying Wednesday, September 11th, on a separate course. All other classes will enter a draw for their starting positions. TECH AND CONTINGENCY DAY Tech and Contingency Day takes place Friday, September 13th, where SCORE fans can mingle with race teams, take photos, get free team swag, and talk to product sponsors and race accessory vendors along Manufacturer's Row. Racers and teams will also line up along the Boulevard Costero for an opportunity to talk to SCORE emcee Rat Sult about how they will tackle this race and prepare for the upcoming SCORE Baja 1000. Interviews during Contingency will also be broadcast live on the large SCORE Vision screen above the starting ramp, and on SCORE's social media, app, and website. RACE DAY START On Race Day, Saturday, September 14th, the Motorcycle and Quad classes will line up before dawn at 3:45 am to leave the starting line by 4:15 am along the Boulevard Costero. As the morning progresses, the Opening Ceremonies with the Mexican Honor Guard and Flag Ceremonies begin at 8:15 with the SCORE Trophy Truck classes leaving the starting line at 9:am 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. Those fans watching the SCORE Live Streaming feed will have additional insight into the racer’s positions on the course from cameras with live feed, and with commentary from SCORE's Studio Hosts and guests giving updates from the Live Tracking, available on the SCORE Website, social media pages, and SCORE app. 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. SJ