SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1536633
AMPUDIA BEATS BAJA AGAIN Two Wins In The 2025 Season Story by Stuart Bourdon Photography by Get Some Photo The reigning 2024 SCORE Trophy Truck World Desert Champion Alan Ampudia from Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, is hot on the trail to another class championship. His impressive performance at the 2025 King Shocks 38th SCORE San Felipe 250 was followed by another dynamic victory at the 2025 BFGoodrich Tires 37th SCORE Baja 500. Ampudia had done some pre-running, and after qualifying in fifth for the Trophy Truck start, he told us, “We just literally tried to keep the car clean. Not hit anything. Just making our marks. Kyle Craft (navigator) did a great job calling all the notes, and yeah, we were ready for the race. But not everything went as planned. “We went off a cliff at one point because it was super muddy. It had just rained. I think we were probably the first ones through there, and we just went off of it. The car was fine, we were fine. At the end of the day, it’s pre-running. That’s when you can make mistakes and have a little fun.” The 2025 SCORE Baja 500 offered up a 461.03-mile racecourse that covered just about every terrain type the Baja peninsula has to offer, ranging from wide-open throttle desert to high-elevation pine-forested mountains and scenic beach runs along the Pacific Ocean. They crossed the finish line for a first in class and first overall in the No. 10 Ford Papas and Beer Trophy Truck with an official time of 8 hours, 39 minutes, and 34 seconds. Ampudia once again proved he and this team have got what it takes. After pulling off this helmet, Ampudia talked about his race day. “We were just trying to keep up with the bunch. At first, I just needed to get a little used to the car, you know, not driving it that often, so it took a couple of miles. And then we lost front-wheel drive between Ojos and Valley T, so that sucked. Then my brakes weren’t really that good; the pedal was going a little too deep. Just little things that happened along the way.” “At our first pit stop we didn’t have pressure from behind, so we took a little time to fix the brakes. That worked for a little bit, but then they went out again. Then Tavo and Luke hit a big rock over by Vicente Guerrero, and I got by both of them. Then, I needed to get Toby. He was five minutes ahead. When we got to the coast, it was time to send it, and damn, we did.” During the trophy presentation, a smiling and obviously happy Ampudia said, “We’ve got two wins, and we look to do the same at the SCORE Baja 400. Thanks to all the SCORE officials, my family, my dad, and everyone!” This Baja 500 win placed Ampudia among a small group of racers who have won the SCORE Baja 1000, SCORE Baja 500, and SCORE San Felipe 250. Winning the SCORE Baja 400 would put him into winning the “Grand Slam” of SCORE, with a win in each of the four races, alongside Bryce Menzies. He is also one of three Mexican drivers (including Carlos Apdaly Lopez and Gustavo ‘Tavo’ Vildosola Jr.) to have won the overall title in the SCORE Baja 500. SJ • Video: Ampudia Post Race On His Win (In Spanish)