SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
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REACHING FOR THE BRASS RING Ampudia Turns His 2025 SCORE Baja 400 Win Into A Grand Slam Story by Stuart Bourdon Photos by Get Some Photo Winning an off-road race overall is something every driver wants. Two in a row is even better. Three in a row is downright impressive. That remarkable and historic feat was achieved at the 2025 SCORE 6th SCORE Baja 400 when Alan Ampudia drove the Team Papas and Beer Ford Raptor Mason AWD to the first-place SCORE Trophy Truck victory and the overall win. Ampudia battled a legion of talented and capable drivers across a rocky, dusty, and treacherous 427-mile racecourse, leading the way to the finish line in 8 hours, 12 minutes, and 29 seconds. That win racked up his third consecutive overall finish, following his victory at the King Shocks 38th SCORE San Felipe 250 in March and the BFGoodrich Tires 57th SCORE Baja 500 in June. Ampudia’s overall finish in the 2025 Baja 400 has also put him in the history books as the first Mexican driver to achieve three consecutive overall race wins in the 52-year history of SCORE International. The 2025 Baja 400 included another action-packed rivalry between Ampudia and Australia’s Toby Price and Paul Weel. The two had reached the Pacific about the same time. Ampudia told us, “They were in front of me just like the last race (2025 Baja 500). All I could think was, ‘Here we go again; this is going to be another battle to the end.’ They got a flat, and I was able to get by them around Ojos Negros. From there on, we were running through clean air, no dust, and we knew there was no pressure from behind. I knew I just needed to take care of the truck and bring it on home.” Ampudia’s father, Rodrigo Sr. added that after Alan had taken the lead from Price, the No. 1 truck also got a flat near Los Llanos. “We changed the tire in 30-seconds,” said Ampudia Sr. It was something he and his team had been practicing to shorten their pit stop times and it paid off. “Once the tire was changed, it allowed Alan and Kyle to drive the truck comfortably to the finish line without a worry.” Co-driver Kyle Craft remarked on the harsh racecourse conditions after crossing the finish line. “My body was rocked. It was a long day. It was obviously a fruitful day, but it was very long, and the pace was tremendous. We knew what was on the line and what we had to do, but it also required them not to do what they had to do. One of us was going to get it. Luck was on our side today, and that takes nothing away from the Toby Price-Paul Weel team.” For some perspective on Ampudia’s success, consider this. The field of competitors he faces every race is crowded with astonishing talent and powerful vehicles. Today, the SCORE Trophy Truck class is won or lost over hair-thin measures of time. The top 10 four-wheel qualifiers for the 2025 Baja 400 were within an 18-second span. First and second place qualifiers had about a six-second difference. The top 10 four-wheel finishers were within about 44 minutes of each other. First and second place finishers were within about two minutes of each other over a 427-mile-long race. Beyond his three-in-a-row winning streak, Ampudia now shares bragging rights with only Bryce Menzies: both have earned the SCORE Grand Slam—an overall win in all four of the SCORE schedule races. The Ampudia team win at the 2019 BFGoodrich SCORE 52nd Baja 1000 marked an early Trophy Truck career highlight as they bested veterans like Luke McMillin, and Rob MacCachren. When asked about plans for the 2025 SCORE Baja 1000, Ampudia said, “We have three out of three now. We are going to go for the perfect season at the Baja 1000.” • Rodrigo Ampudia Sr. On His Team’s Overall And Trophy Truck SCORE Baja 400 Win