SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1530871
UTV ATTACK Teams Show Their Vehicle’s Speed And Capabilities By Dan Sanchez, Paul Hanson, Isaac Flores, Ariana Medrano, Adilene Ponce Photos By Get Some Photo SCORE’s UTV classes had something to prove at this year’s 57th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000 race. Not only did they attack the course with a tremendous effort, but they also showed they could run up the course and compete against Class 1 and SCORE Trophy Trucks. Heading an impressive UTV effort, was the SCI Motorsports Factory Polaris team, with 2023 SCORE UTV Open Class champion Brock Heger finishing first in class, first Overall UTV, and seventh Overall in the No. 1896 Polaris RZR Pro-R. Heger started first and stayed ahead of 34 other competitors in the class. Add the fact that he drove the entire course by himself and with navigator Justin Wilson, it was a major accomplishment for Heger, the team, and Polaris. “We had a picture-perfect day,” he said. “ Thank you to SCORE for everything and Polaris for letting me come out here and compete. Thank you to all the Mexican fans cheering us on the side of the course. It was much appreciated, especially soloing and coming into Ensenada at the end.” Finishing second in class was Branden Sims in the No. 1886 Polaris, with Oscar Alvarez in the No. 1824 Polaris in third place, giving the Polaris the top podium finishes in the toughest race of the year. In Pro UTV FI, Phil Blurton won in three of the four races this season, adding the SCORE Baja 1000 to the list. The former UTV champion got a DNF at the SCORE Baja 400 so he was out of contention for a 2024 Class Championship, but he gave it his best. “We lost a fuel pump around race mile 700, as well as a spare tire,” said Blurton. “Besides that, we just cruised along. It was cold and wet at the end there. Within the Pro Stock UTV Class, the race win for Kaden Wells in the No. 3925 Can-Am was the end of a perfect season. While he raced with his fiancé Emma Cornwell as navigator for most of the season, Wells had navigator Rudy Cannon for this race, in which the team didn’t skip a beat. “ It was pretty rough but quicker than I thought,” said Wells. “I normally have Emma in the co-seat and this time I have Rudy. We never had to get out of the car for anything the entire race. Just gas and go. There were two bottlenecks but it only slowed us for a couple minutes. It was cold this morning.” Pro UTV N/A racer Michael McFayden had only raced the SCORE Baja 500 this year and entered the SCORE Baja 1000 to compete in his No. 1925 Honda Talon. Representing America Honda Powersports, Fayden and co-driver Zach Sizelove fought through the competition to finish first in class for their only win of the season, giving the team and Honda a big boost. “The race was awesome and super long,” said McFayden. “I think 22 hours. I drove the start to race mile 480, and then my teammate, Zach Sizelove, got in. He did a great job holding down his section. Then I got back in with 150 miles ago. It was pretty dusty and blown out by the time we got through there. But we didn’t have any issues with the car.” Finishing second in class was the No. 1957 Polaris of Joe Bolton, his best race finish of the season. “It was very rough and a long night…ten hours,” said co-driver Austin Bolton at the finish. “I could have gone faster and caught first place, but I didn’t. No issues most of the day, just one five-minute stop.” In the UTV Sportsman Open/Stock Class, Alfredo Omeld from Argentina in the No. 1819 UTV, started and ended the race for the team, who wanted to finish, but also came home with the class victory. “For us as a team, it was all very exciting,” he said. “We prepared very much as a team, and that is why we were able to make it to the end after a hard and demanding course. Getting to the finish line is a triumph, and coming from Argentina is a double triumph. We had a couple of mechanical issues, but we took care of them after about two hours and continued on to the finish.” SJ AFTERTHOUGHTS