SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1547140
THE BAPTISM TO VICTORY Torrential Rains Drench Four-Wheel Classes By Dan Sanchez, Ariana Medrano, Isaac Flores, Alberto Lopez Photos by Get Some Photo The 7th SCORE Baja 400 was a race against time and tough competition, but for the four-wheel classes, it was also a race to get ahead of the oncoming torrential downpours that hit Baja, when most were half-way through the 423.16-mile course. One of the first to experience it was Class 7 Champion Dan Chamlee, who pushed through the downpour and deep pools of water crossings to make it to the finish line and win the class. “It down poured on us, and then we drove out the other side of it, and the ground was dry again. So that’s the desert for you,” said Chamlee. “But our BF Goodrich tires had zero flats and hooked up great. It was a rough course, but our King Shocks work beautifully all the way around. It was a good day, we never had to get out of the car, never got stuck, never got a flat.” With this win, Chamlee continues his points lead in Class 7 to gain another class championship. He had a streak of 19 Class 7 Championships up until losing it during the 2004 season. He won it back in 2005 and looks to win his 21st in 2026, if he finishes the SCORE Baja 1000 race. Many Racers DNF’d The rain and the tough course conditions took out many of the other remaining competitors in the four-wheel classes, but a few managed to survive. One of them was Class 1/2-1600 Champion Daniel Goodrich who finished the race in 14:16:04 to win the class. Goodrich also leads the class in championship points and can also clinch it with a finish at the SCORE Baja 1000 this November. Class 3 racer RJ Zanon in the No. 301 Ford Bronco also weathered the rain, mud, dust, and technical sections of the course to finish the race in a time of 15:35:26 and take the class win. Zanon also leads in points towards a class championship this season. In a Class Championship that is ultimately awarded for pure determination, legendary Class 11 racer and ORMHOF Inductee Eric Solorzano, leads Class11 in points this season after finishing the SCORE Baja 400, but because he crossed the finish line after the allotted time limit, it did not reflect as a win.