SHOWN HERE
WINNING AT THE
SCORE BAJA 500,
AMPUDIA WENT ON
TO WIN THE 1/2 1600
CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP
IN 2015.
1/2 1600 class began three
years ago, and since the
start, he's been winning races
until it all culminated with his
championship in the class. "It
felt great," said Ampudia. "We
put in a lot of work into the
"We put in a lot
of work into
the 2015 program
and the results
showed. But the
best thing was
that I was able
to do it with my
family." -- Aaron
Ampudia
2015 program and the results
showed. But the best thing was
that I was able to do it with my
family." According to Ampudia,
his father is perhaps his most
influential family member to
support his racing efforts. "He
has been a huge influence in
racing and personal life," said
Ampudia. "The best advice
he's given me over the years
and has definitely been by his
example is that there is nothing
I can't accomplish as long as
I set my mind to it and grind
away I will make it happen."
For most drivers participating
in the 1/2 1600 class, the
experience offers a unique
opportunity in which driving
a vehicle with a little bit of
horsepower, can be a stepping
stone into some of the most
powerful off-road vehicles on
the planet. Most veteran SCORE
Trophy Truck drivers such as Rob
MacCachren, Tavo Vildosola,
Steven Eugenio, and others, had
their experiences driving 1/2
1600 and moved on to getting
into the Trophy Truck division.
"The 1/2 1600 class is definitely
a pure driver's class," said
Ampudia. "You don't have a lot
of horsepower or suspension,
so you need to learn to keep
your momentum in the turns
and have a good set-up for
those killer Baja whoops. What
I enjoyed the most out of 1/2
064
SCORE JOURNAL
