SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1528094
ON A WINNING STREAK Cayden MacCachren Wins Four SCORE Races In A Row By Larry Saavedra Photos by Get Some Photo Polaris factory team racer Cayden MacCachren in the No. 1821 Polaris RZR Pro R, showed no signs of letting up after winning UTV Overall and the UTV Pro Class win at the 5th SCORE Baja 400 presented by VP Racing. Asked by SCORE Journal if he’s getting tired of all the celebrations, he replied, “I’m getting used to it.” MacCachren is humble, yet knows his strengths once inside the SCI Motorsports Polaris RZR Pro R, and he’s also aware that competitors are gunning for him. “This one was very close,” he said. “All through the race, I didn’t know where my factory teammate Brock Heger was on the course. I figured I had lost the race after physically crossing the finish four seconds behind Heger. I was okay with the second-place finish. Then I heard he got some penalties, and it moved me into first.” It’s still a win in the books as MacCachren sees it. “It’s SCORE off-road racing and there’s no fault on anybody. Heger had a minor speed zone penalty, and it happened.” MacCachren started first off the grid in Ensenada, but it’s not the position he necessarily enjoys. “When you start first you are behind other bigger classes and that means more dust,” he said. “This race was special though, and the average speed was slower. But I never saw another UTV all day. I got into a rhythm on the course and got it done.” MacCachren didn’t have any mechanical failures and finished the race with one fuel stop. The single fuel stop strategy was a call that Polaris made before the start. “It’s an aggressive strategy,” MacCacharen said. “The RZR Pro R seems to get better every race and I’m happy with what Polaris is doing.” With his season on fire winning every race since the 2023 SCORE Baja 1000, MacCachren said stress goes along with the wins. “A lot of people probably think off-road racing is fun and games. That’s not what it’s like for us. It’s super stressful. There’s heat, dust, and the other competitors are constantly gunning for you. But thankfully, with the development time Polaris placed on the race car, I’m finally starting to have fun. I even find myself smiling, which isn’t normal for me.” If MacCachren wins the next race, he will have had a perfect season. “I’ll see what happens at the SCORE Baja 1000,” he said. “I think I’ll start first, but who knows. I don’t know if it matters. I go to every race trying to win so nothing has changed for me. If I win that’s great, but there is still the points race.” This victory brings MacCachren one step closer to the coveted SCORE Pro UTV Open Championship, as he maintains his lead in the points standings with only the SCORE Baja 1000 remaining. SJ VIDEO: Cayden MacCachren and the SCI Motorsports Factory Polaris Team