ENSENADA, Mexico — Christopher Polvoorde, 26, Heber City, Utah, took the first step toward pursuing victory in the seventh edition of the SCORE Baja 400 by winning the Method Race Wheels Qualifying both overall and in SCORE Trophy Truck.
He earned the first starting position this Saturday on fan-friendly Boulevard Costero in the heart of Ensenada’s tourist district in Baja California, Mexico.
Polvoorde conquered the 2.65-mile qualifying course at Rancho Grijalva in Ojos Negros with a time of 3 minutes, 46.920 seconds in his No. 94 Ford Raptor Mason AWD.
It marked his second consecutive pole position in the 2026 SCORE World Desert Championship after also winning the Method Race Wheels Qualifying for the BFGoodrich Tires 58th SCORE Baja 500 in June.
A standout behind the wheel in both Off-Road and short-course racing, Christopher Polvoorde is pursuing his second career SCORE Trophy Truck victory and his first SCORE Baja 400 overall win in the youngest race in the SCORE International universe.
“I had a couple of tense moments, but I’m happy. With this new rule, it’s a little scary because if you make a big mistake, you can end up in 50th place. I really enjoy the BFGoodrich tires; I think they work incredibly well down here in Baja. I love them. They feel great, and I really appreciate the support from BFGoodrich,”.
Ensenada’s Alan Ampudia, 35, the reigning two-time SCORE Trophy Truck champion, recorded the second-fastest time in both the class and overall at 3 minutes, 50.049 seconds behind the wheel of the No. 1 Team Papas and Beer Ford Raptor Mason AWD. Ampudia is the defending overall winner of the SCORE Baja 400.
Luke McMillin posted the third-fastest time in Method Race Wheels Qualifying in the No. 83 McMillin Racing Ford Raptor Mason AWD, stopping the clock at 3 minutes, 51.869 seconds. McMillin currently leads the championship standings in ‘The Monsters of the Desert’ with 224 points after winning the first two rounds of the season—the SCORE San Felipe 250 in San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico, and the SCORE Baja 500 in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.
Nine of the Top 10 finishers in Method Race Wheels Qualifying came from the SCORE Trophy Truck ranks, with Justin Davis of Trophy Truck Spec the only driver from another class to crack the Top 10, an early demonstration of the dominance at the SCORE Baja 400 by the marquee class created by Sal Fish in 1994.
Justin Davis, 33, Colton, Calif,. posted the fastest time in Trophy Truck Spec, clocking a 4:01.880 in the No. 285 Green Army Motorsports TSCO-Chevy. Davis also recorded the 10th-fastest time overall in Method Race Wheels Qualifying, which was broadcast worldwide across SCORE International’s social media platforms.
Apdaly Lopez, 31, Tecate, Mexico, finished with the second-fastest time in Trophy Truck Spec, driving the No. 273 Brenthel-Chevy to a 4:03.538. López continues his pursuit of his first SCORE International victory of the year.
Cantina Racing’s ‘new weapon,’ Rody Amaya Jr., Ciudad Constitucion, Mexico, not only captured the fastest time in SCORE Trophy Truck 2WD, but also broke into the overall Top 15 with a time of 4:05.714 in the No. 40T Geiser Bros Ford F-150.
Amaya Jr., a Class 1 champion in Baja California Sur Off-Road racing, displayed his surgical driving skills while battling an intense heat wave in Ojos Negros. He will join forces with Chris Miller this Saturday in pursuit of a historic victory for Mexican Off-Road racing in the class that is now in just its second year of competition.
Roberto Romo Jr., 21, Mexicali, Mexico, will start 16th overall after recording the second-fastest time in SCORE Trophy Truck 2WD, clocking a 4:06.299 in the No. 33T Coast Aluminum Racing Ford Raptor Racer.
Once again, Supercross legend Ricky Johnson, 62, El Cajon, Calif., delivered an outstanding performance for Vildosola Racing, finishing 11th overall in Method Race Wheels Qualifying while taking the top spot in SCORE Trophy Truck Legend, the class for drivers 50 years of age and older.
Johnson, sharing driving duties with Mexicali’s Gustavo ‘Gus’ Vildosola Sr., 73, Mexicali, Mexico, masterfully drove the No. 1L Vildosola Racing Ford Raptor Mason AWD to a time of 4:02.935. Johnson and Vildosola Sr. have won the last four consecutive editions of the SCORE Baja 400.
In Class 1, Tim Willson, 29, Henderson, Nev., was the fastest qualifier and will once again join forces with former NASCAR driver Brendan Gaughan, 51, Las Vegas. Willson also finished inside the overall Top 20, recording a time of 4:11.336 in the No. 162 South Point Motorsports HSM-Chevy.
Gaughan and Willson have won the first two rounds of the season in Class 1—the King Shocks 39th SCORE San Felipe 250 and the BFGoodrich Tires 58th SCORE Baja 500. Combining experience and youth behind the wheel, the duo will look to conquer the 423.16-mile race course that will travel through Ojos Negros, Mike’s Sky Ranch, San Quintin, and Erendira Beach.
