The world’s oldest and most prestigious off-road race is set to reset the history books this morning, as nearly 300 entries from around the globe (32 U.S. states, and 18 countries) will take the green flag for the 57th BFGoodrich SCORE Baja 1000. Pre-running over a 864.13-mile course that begins and ends in Ensenada, Baja has taken place for the past two weeks, with pre-race qualifying for the top two truck categories set the grid on Tuesday afternoon.
Despite some dire predictions that a sinking economy would dampen a sport largely funded by well-heeled private teams, the race will feature 35 entries in the premiere SCORE Trophy Truck division (Including eight in SCORE TT Legend for SCORE Trophy-Truck drivers over 50 years old).
Indeed, the SCORE Baja 1000 today is not our father’s versions of this vaunted endurance classic. It isn’t even our older brother’s.
For greater perspective, most of the top Trophy-Trucks are all-wheel drive machines featuring carbon fiber bodies, 1,100hp Joe Gibbs Racing engines, paddle-shift five-speed Xtrac gearboxes and electronics packages that rival the most sophisticated in racing. All of this comes at a cost, of course, as the newest trucks now eclipse the $1 million price tag without a spares package.
Besides SCORE Trophy Truck, the other Pro four-wheel vehicle classes with double figure entries and their totals are Trophy Truck Spec with 26 entries, Pro UTV FI with 20 entries, Pro UTV Open with 19 entries, Class 10 with 14 entries, and Pro UTV Stock with 14 entries.
Among two-wheel classes in this race, Pro Moto Unlimited has 14 entries, Pro Moto 30 has 11, and Pro Motorcycle Ironman (solo riders) has a SCORE-record 32 entries.
On Tuesday 24-year-old phenom Christopher Polvoorde gave notice that his growing reputation for performance is well earned. The former short-course off-road star piloted the No.1 Red Bull/Optima/Toyo Tire all-wheel drive Ford Raptor to first starting position for Las Vegas-based Menzies Motorsports. Polvoorde will join current SCORE Trophy Truck points leader Bryce Menzies in splitting driving duties.
Polvoorde completed the four-mile Method Wheels qualifying course in 5m09s, taking pole position by more than 5s.
“It is always a little scary qualifying another man’s truck, but overall, pretty good. It is just so much different; such a different package than what I am used to, but I am thankful to Bryce for trusting me,” said Polvoorde. “I grew up watching Bryce, and he comes on the radio and says, ‘Nice job, bud’. It is a surreal moment.”
Also laying down a wicked qualifying lap was off-road legend Rob MacCachren, who, at 59 years old, piloted the McMillin Racing Beast Unleashed/BFGoodrich No. 83 all-wheel drive Ford Raptor. MacCachren is teamed with Luke McMillin, with the team hoping to repeat the duo’s consecutive overall Baja 1000 race victories in 2021 and ’22.
The potent McMillin Racing team also claimed the third-fastest time, with Luke’s cousin Andy McMillin driving the nearly identical No. 23 Monster Energy/BFGoodrich Ford Raptor. Keeping it all in the family, Andy will be joined by Luke’s brother Dan McMillin to split time behind the wheel.
While most racers will admit that winning the Baja 1000 trumps any SCORE season title, Menzies will be trying to maintain his prestigious red No.1 number plate that designates the defending series champion. Going into the final event of a four race 2024 SCORE season, Menzies is tied with talented Mexican racer Alan Ampudia, who is just five points ahead of fellow countryman Tavo Vildosola.
In 2024, the economic landscape is skewed with a distinctively unique tilt. While the unlimited class are primarily supported by private funding and endemic lifestyle and industry sponsors, there are several factory efforts of note in the more restricted categories. Ford has come into the sport in a serious manner with the birth of high-performance factory off-road production trucks like the Raptor (now in its third generation). In recent years that focus has shifted to the Ford Bronco, and there are two of these race prepared machines in Baja.
This season an even more serious and well-funded factory effort has been put forth by Polaris. With a large full time staff based in Vista, California and even two dedicated race engineers within Polaris Minnesota headquarters, the once lauded performance of these ubiquitous side-by-sides has shaken the sport at its core. The factory Polaris team has won all three SCORE races in 2024 and is bringing their latest and best to Baja for the 1000.
SCORE’s Internationals ambitious live coverage package incorporates live drones, live tracking, and event cameras around the course, along with a separate game day studio steaming from the San Diego. Viewers can watch the action on the SCORE website or the SCORE International YouTube channel.