ENSENADA, Mexico — Alan Ampudia, 34, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, is experiencing the best moment of his off-road career after winning the Overall at the BFGoodrich Tires 57th SCORE Baja 500 in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, leading 202 teams from Asia, Europe, Oceania and the Americas.
The Round 2 of the 2025 SCORE International Desert World Championship featured a majestic 461.03-mile race course that traversed the northern region of the stunning Baja California Peninsula, including the municipalities of Ensenada and San Quintin.
A strong field of 202 desert racers began the adventure on Ensenada Bulevar Costero, with 131 crossing the finish line both at Rancho Nelson in the Piedras Gordas ejido and the Bulevar Costero, resulting in a 65% finisher rate. Competitors from 27 U.S. states, the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, Spain, France, India, England, Canada, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and host country Mexico were present at the SCORE Baja 500.
Ampudia delivered another masterclass in driving across the deserts, mountains, and beaches of Baja California, crossing the finish line in his No. 10 Ford Raptor Mason AWD Papas and Beer with an official time of 8 hours, 39 minutes, and 34 seconds. This was his second victory this season in the SCORE Trophy Truck, after winning the 38th King Shocks SCORE San Felipe 250 in April.
In doing so, Alan Ampudia joined an exclusive list of racers who have won Overall the ‘Baja Triple Crown’: the SCORE Baja 1000, SCORE Baja 500, and SCORE San Felipe 250. This list includes legendary names such as Dan Smith, Ivan Stewart, Rob MacCachren, Robby Gordon, Larry Ragland, and Dave Ashley, among other Baja legends.
He is also one of three Mexican drivers to have won the overall car title in the SCORE Baja 500, alongside Carlos Apdaly Lopez, 30, Tecate, Baja California, Mexico, and Gustavo ‘Tavo’ Vildosola Jr., 43, Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico.
Former Dakar Rally motorcycle champion Toby Price, 37, finished second overall and in the SCORE Trophy Truck alongside Paul Weel, 45, Australia, driving the No. 46 Chevy Silverado Mason AWD Team Australia, crossing the finish line in 8 hours, 40 minutes, and 28 seconds.
Dan McMillin, 37, San Diego, Calif. had an excellent SCORE Baja 500, securing a top-three finish in the SCORE Trophy Truck by driving his No. 23 Ford Raptor Mason AWD McMillin Racing, finishing with a time of 9:34:18.
Former ESPN X-Games commentator and action sports for the IndyCar series, Cameron Steele, 58, San Clemente, Calif. won his second consecutive SCORE International race in the SCORE Trophy Truck 2WD category (for trucks equipped with the latest technology, 850 horsepower engines, and two-wheel drive), teaming up with Dave Mason Jr., 31, Valley Center, Calif.
Steele and Mason Jr. shared driving duties aboard the No. 16T Ford F-150 Geiser Dessert Assasins, finishing with a time of 9:28:55, becoming the standout competitors in the newly created class established this year by SCORE President Jose A. Grijalva.
Ethan Ebert, 19, Marana, Calif. and Richard Glasczak, 48, Oceanside, Calif., secured second place in the SCORE Trophy Truck 2WD, driving the No. 81T Honda Passport TSCO Honda Racing, with an official time of 9:47:25.
Gustavo Vildosola Sr. 72, Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, and Ricky Johnson, 60, El Cajon, California, achieved their 14th consecutive victory in the SCORE Trophy Truck Legend, marking over three years at the top of SCORE International.
Johnson started the race on Ensenada Bulevar Costero, then handed the wheel to ‘Gus’ Vildosola in the No. 1L Ford Raptor Mason AWD Vildosola Racing, completing the 461.03-mile race course in 9:19 minutes:40, which earned them a top-three overall finish among cars in the SCORE Baja 500.
Justin Davis, 32, Chino Hills, Calif. won the SCORE Baja 500 in the Trophy Truck Spec class for the second consecutive year, driving his No. 285 Chevy-Silverado TSCO Green Army Motorsports, finishing in 9 hours and 31 minutes.
This was Davis’s fourth SCORE Baja 500 victory, having previously won the iconic race in 2018, 2019, and 2024. Jack Olliges finished second in the Trophy Truck Spec class in his No. 227 Ford Raptor 1 Nine Industries, and Michael Marsal completed the podium with his No. 236 Chevy-Silverado Brenthel.
The Polaris Factory Team/SCI Motorsports secured a 1-2-3 finish in the SCORE Baja 500 Pro UTV Open class, with Brock Heger taking the victory, Cayden MacCachren finishing second, and Justin Morgan, 35, El Cajon, Calif. placing third—all behind the wheel of Polaris RZR Pro R.
Heger extended his SCORE winning streak to three in a row, having won the SCORE Baja 1000 in November and the SCORE San Felipe 250 in April, before conquering the SCORE Baja 500 with a time of 9:38:23.
In Class 1, Kyle Quinn and Greg DiStefano won the SCORE Baja 500, driving the No. 138 Jimco Chevy Wilson Motorsports; Eliott Watson was the winner in Class 10; Kaden Wells took first place in the Pro UTV FI class; Rhys Millen crossed the finish line first in Class 7, and Antonio Mendez secured the top spot in the Pro UTV Stock class.
After missing the 38th King Shocks SCORE San Felipe 250 in April, Oliver Flemate, 47, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, made a swift return to the winners’ circle by triumphing in Class 11 at the SCORE Baja 500, with Antonio Espinoza, 31, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, serving as a prestigious second driver in his No. 1100 VW-Flemate.
Flemate and Espinoza were the only competitors in Class 11 to cross the finish line within the official time—17 hours, 2 minutes, and 1 second—completing a 416.43-mile race course that was also used by desert racers in the Sportsman classes for bikes and cars.
