Ensenada, Baja California — Bryce Menzies, 37, Las Vegas, Nevada, won the overall in the 5th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing, while Justin Morgan and Tyler Lynn were the overall motorcycle winners with the Slam Life Racing team.
Menzies crossed the finish line on Boulevard Costero Ensenada, driving his Ford Raptor No. 1 from the Menzies Motorsports team, in 7 hours, 53 minutes, and 57 seconds. This was his fourth consecutive win in the SCORE Baja 400 and his first in the 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship.
This was his 11th victory in the history of SCORE Trophy Truck, a class created by the “Godfather of Off-Road,” Sal Fish, tying him with legends of the sport like former NASCAR Series and IndyCar Series driver Robby Gordon, Larry Ragland, Ed Herbst and Tim Herbst.
Alan Ampudia, 33, Ensenada, Baja California, finished second in the SCORE Trophy Truck No. 10 of Team Papas and Beer after 7:56:51 of intense battle through Ensenada, marking his second podium in the 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship.
A total of 192 race teams participated in the SCORE Baja 400, which featured two start and finish sites: Boulevard Costero in Ensenada and Rancho Nelson in the Piedras Gordas ejido. Of these, 140 crossed the finish line, resulting in a 72.91% finish rate.
This SCORE Baja 400 has participants from U.S. territory Puerto Rico, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, the United States, Ecuador, France, New Zealand, Venezuela and host country Mexico.
According to Baja California tourism officials, the economic impact of the race is expected to be $8.5 million of dollars, with more than three weeks of events for the competing teams, including track reconnaissance, the awards ceremony held at the Riviera Social and Cultural Center Salon Catedral, and their return to their home countries via the Scenic Highway.
MORGAN AND LYNN END SALAS’ DOMINANCE
Justin Morgan, 34, El Cajon, California, and Tyler Lynn, 23, Mona, Utah, from the Slam Life Racing team, were the overall Motorcycle winners of the SCORE Baja 400, ending Arturo Salas Junior’s two-race winning streak. Salas, 22, Tecate, Baja California, finished second after a very intense battle along the 434.52-mile race course.
Morgan and Lynn shared time on the No. 7x Honda CRF450X motorcycle, taking the checkered flag after 8:46:56. Salas Junior crossed the finish line in 9:01:24, setting the stage for another epic battle in November during the BFGoodrich Tires 57th SCORE Baja 1000, which will be held from November 10 to 17 in Ensenada, Baja California.
VILDOSOLA & JOHNSON UNBEATEN
Gustavo Vildósola Sr., from Mexicali, Baja California, and Ricky Johnson achieved their 11th consecutive win in the SCORE TT Legend class (SCORE Trophy Truck drivers over 50 years old, driving their Ford Raptor Number 1L from the Vildósola Racing team, with a time of 8:24:25.
With this victory celebrating Mexico’s 214th Independence anniversary, Vildosola Sr. and Johnson are aiming for a new sweep in the SCORE season, while Tim Herbst and Pat Dean finished second in the SCORE Trophy Truck Legend, making their debut in this class after previously competing in the SCORE Trophy Truck.
SPECTACULAR WIN FOR QUINN AND HERDER
In Class 1, the Wilson Motorsports team emerged victorious with their Jimco No. 138 open-wheel desert race car, with Kyle Quinn, Long Beach, Calif., and John Herder, Tucson, Ariz., sharing driving duties along the route, marking their second win of the SCORE season with a time of 8:44:27.
Quinn and Herder outperformed a group of seven participants, with Cody Reid, Apple Valley, Calif., finishing second in Class 1. Reid drove his Alumi Craft-Chevrolet open-wheeler through the deserts, beaches and mountains of Baja California.
VIVA MEXICO AND SAMPIETRO
Jorge Sampietro, 33, Ensenada, Baja California, won the SCORE Baja 400 in the Trophy Truck Spec class with his Mason Truck-Chevrolet, with an official time of 8:31:57. This is his first win in the 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship, dedicating his victory to the people of Mexico for the 214th anniversary of their country’s independence.
In Class 10, Bruce Yee, 24, from Rosarito Beach, Baja California, secured victory driving solo in his Alumi Craft-Honda open-wheel desert race car from the Yees Motorsports team, against a group of 12 rivals from the United States and Mexico. Yee also won the 37th edition of the King Shocks SCORE San Felipe 250 earlier this year.
Rodrigo Ampudia Junior, 39, Ensenada, Baja California, won the Pro UTV Forced Induction class, another great result for “The Mexican Armada” in the SCORE Baja 400, with an official time of 9 hours, 48 minutes, and 42 seconds in his No. 2910 Can-Am Maverick R from Team Papas and Beer.
‘MINI MAC’ PERFECT SEASON
In the Pro UTV Open class, Cayden MacCachren, 22, Las Vegas, achieved his fourth consecutive SCORE win and third of the year for the official Polaris team. He is on a direct path to the annual title, creating a stellar story in Off-Road, just as his legendary father, Rob MacCachren, continues to do.
Cayden drove his Polaris RZR Pro R No. 1821 to the finish on Boulevard Costero of Ensenada, stopping the clock at 9:5:51, beating his teammate Brock Heger, El Centro, Calif. by almost 2 minutes in a magical adventure on Mexican soil.
ROBERTS, A “STEEL ATHLETE”
In the Pro Moto Ironman class, Brian Roberts, 35, Hemet, Calif., became the winner after completing the 434.52-mile race course without relays on his Honda CRF450X No. 788x motorcycle, with a time of 10:48:29 seconds. This was his first win of the year.
MILLEN, A WINNING CELEBRITY IN BAJA
Action movie star Rhys Millen, 51, New Zealand, won in Class 7, substituting for Richard Fant, who could not attend the race. Millen finished with a time of 10:20:22 seconds.
DOUBLE VICTORY FOR FLEMATE
Oliver Flemate, 46, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, achieved a double win in the SCORE Baja 400, first in SCORE Lites and then in Class 11, with the support of Antonio Espinoza, 30, Ensenada, Baja California. Flemate had a busy week in his city, with limited time due to his multiple activities. He completed the SCORE Lites race with a time of 10:50:59 over the 424.96-mile route, and in Class 11, his time was 15 hours, 21 minutes, and 14 seconds, marking his third win of 2024 in this class.