SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
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RACE PREVIEW The Third Race Of The Season Sets Up For Championship Teams By Dan Sanchez Photos by Get Some Photo In its short seven years as SCORE’s fourth race of the season, the SCORE Baja 400 has become the center stage for teams looking to push ahead of their competition towards a season championship. For others, the race is an opportunity to add their names onto SCORE’s Grand Slam, a very exclusive list of racers who have won all four of SCORE races overall. To date, only Bryce Menzies and Alan Ampudia in the SCORE Trophy Truck Class have this title. Luke McMillin, however, is poised to win this race, especially after his spectacular wins in both the SCORE San Felipe 250 and the SCORE Baja 500 this season. The competition is extremely tough, however, as Menzies has won this race four times in a row. The SCORE Baja 400 was introduced in 2019, and it created a fourth event in the SCORE World Desert Championship that would serve as both a challenge and, at first, as a qualifier for the starting positions in the coveted SCORE Baja 1000. In 2020, the race was unfortunately postponed due to the worldwide pandemic, but continued in 2021. The use of the race as a qualifier for the SCORE Baja 1000 changed during the 2025 and 2026 seasons, as SCORE moved forward with running its Method Race Wheels Qualifying events held before each race, which continue into the 2026 season. Nevertheless, the race has become as popular among SCORE Fans and racers alike, especially for teams who are testing out their latest equipment and to provide crucial seat time for team members who are added as co-drivers in preparation for the SCORE Baja 1000. Relive The Action At The 2025 Method Race Wheel Qualifying for the SCORE Baja 400 This year’s SCORE Baja 400 also offers a unique opportunity for UTV racers. Polaris, the official UTV of SCORE International, posted a $50K award to any UTV racer who can finish first ahead of the SCI Motorsports Factory Polaris team, and take the SCORE Baja 400 UTV Overall title. It’s a lot of money for a good number of talented racers who are sure to step up their game for this race. On The Podium in 2025 Winning his first Overall and SCORE Trophy Truck class SCORE Baja 400 race was Alan Ampudia in the No. 10 truck. It was his first win in this event. RJ Stidham in the No. 78T truck won in the SCORE 2WD Trophy Truck Class, and Gustavo Vildosola with Ricky Johnson took their 15th consecutive win in the SCORE Trophy Truck Legends Class in the !L truck. Jason McNeil in the No. 234 truck won in the SCORE TT Spec class. In Pro Moto Unlimited, the team of Tyler Lynn and Carter Klein took home another victory, which would ultimately lead to a perfect season for the team in this class. Angel Aguirre on the 716x bike took home the SCORE Pro Moto Ironman win in what was another very competitive competition. In the large UTV category, it was the SCI Motorsports Factory Polaris team that continued their domination of the SCORE Pro UTV Open class, with Brock Hegar in the No. 1896 Polaris RZR Pro R winning the class and Overall UTV. Tech And Contingency Day Tech and Contingency Day takes place on Friday, September 11th, on the Boulevard Costero in the center of Ensenada. It’s where SCORE Fans gather by the thousands to watch race teams and their vehicles line up and parade down the street to speak with SCORE Emcee Rat Sult. Interviews during Tech and Contingency are broadcast live on the large SCORE Vision screen above the starting ramp, and on SCORE’s social media, app, and website. 2025 SCORE Baja 400 Tech & Contingency Countdown To Race Day The week of September 9-13 will bring out the best off-road racers to take on this year’s SCORE Baja 400; more than 200 entries are expected to compete. Entries have come from 35 U.S. States and 20 other countries, including Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ecuador, England, France, Greece, India, Israel, New Zealand, Peru, South Africa, Thailand, and Venezuela. The race will start and end in Ensenada, Mexico, with the start and finish line in front of the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center. SCORE Trophy Truck Classes and Class 1 vehicles will have a chance to improve their starting positions in the Method Race Wheels Qualifying event. This event, as well as the rest of the 7th SCORE Baja 400, will be live-streamed across SCORE International’s social media pages and websites. The race begins in the pre-dawn hours on Saturday, September 12th, for the Motorcycle and Quad classes. Around 9 am, the four-wheel classes line up for the start of the race. Race day in Ensenada is nothing less than a festival. The city buzzes with energy as racers prepare themselves for the long ride ahead, while local vendors fill the air with the scents of street food and celebration. The iconic ceremonial start sees vehicles rumble down Boulevard Costero as the green flag is waved. SCORE fans can be found all along the race course, cheering on every team as they drive and ride by. While the SCORE Baja 400 is a great spectacle, the economic impact on the region is significant, providing hotels, restaurants, and local shops a surge in Ensenada business. Those fans watching the SCORE Live Streaming feed will have additional insight into the racers’ positions on the course from cameras with live feed, and with commentary from SCORE’s Studio Hosts and guests giving updates from the Live Tracking, available on the SCORE Website, social media pages, and SCORE app. RELIVE THE 2025 SCORE BAJA 400 LIVE STREAM VIDEOS Race Day Race Finish Part 1 Race Finish Part 2