What is the SCORE Baja 400 Race?

The Baja 400 is a standout event in the world of off-road racing, offering a mix of excitement, challenge, and prestige. As a mid-length race in the famed SCORE Baja series, it sits between its sister events, the Baja 500 and the legendary Baja 1000. Spanning approximately 400 miles, the race is perfect for teams looking to test their endurance without the extreme length of the Baja 1000. The course runs through the rugged terrain of Baja California, Mexico, pushing both drivers and vehicles to their limits with a mix of desert, mountains, rocky paths, and coastal sections.

One of the unique roles the Baja 400 plays is in preparation for the Baja 1000. Many teams use this race to fine-tune their strategies and test their vehicles on similar terrain before the November event. As such, it serves as a critical race for teams gearing up for the toughest off-road challenge in the world, giving them a final major test before the season’s climax.

The race also boasts a diverse mix of competitors, from professional teams to ambitious amateurs. This creates an electric atmosphere, as privateers have the opportunity to compete against legendary off-road drivers like Bryce Menzies, Rob MacCachren, and Luke McMillin. The variety extends to the types of vehicles competing, with powerful SCORE Trophy Trucks®, Trophy Truck® Spec vehicles, UTVs, buggies, and motorcycles all taking part. This broad range of classes showcases the versatility and adaptability needed in off-road racing.

Strategically, the Baja 400 is an important part of the SCORE World Desert Championship series. Racers accumulate points throughout the season, and this race can significantly impact championship standings. Its position toward the end of the season adds extra pressure, making every second on the course crucial for those vying for the title.

What also sets the Baja 400 apart is the cultural significance it holds within the Baja California region. The local community embraces the event, with fans lining the course, especially in places like Ensenada, where the race starts and finishes. This isn’t just a race; it’s a celebration of Baja culture, with fans camping out and creating a festival-like atmosphere along the route.

The race’s rally-style format adds to its complexity. Teams not only have to navigate the challenging terrain but also manage logistics like pit stops, fuel management, and mechanical repairs in remote areas. In fact, the terrain is often so extreme that many teams rely on helicopters for support, ready to handle any breakdowns or emergencies that might occur in the wilderness.

In summary, the Baja 400 offers a thrilling blend of competition, culture, and strategy. Its role as a preparation race for the Baja 1000, combined with the diversity of competitors and vehicles, makes it a unique event in the off-road racing world. For both professionals and amateurs, it’s a race that tests endurance, skill, and the resilience needed to conquer the harsh and unpredictable Baja terrain.

All three Ensenada races start and finish in front of the iconic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center on Blvd. Costero (Mexico Highway No. 1).

Insights from the 2024 SCORE Baja 400 4-Wheel Race Results:

1. Time Between First and Last Finishers

• The first finisher, Bryce Menzies in the SCORE Trophy Truck® class, completed the race with a corrected time of 7 hours and 53 minutes.
• The last recorded finisher, Erick Kozin in the Pro UTV Forced Induction class, finished with a corrected time of 10 hours and 28 minutes.
• This represents a gap of 2 hours and 35 minutes between the first and last finishers, which reflects the endurance required for this type of off-road race, where vehicle performance and race conditions vary significantly.

2. Time Between Top 10 Finishers

• The difference between the top 10 finishers spans about 39 minutes. Bryce Menzies finished first with a time of 7 hours and 53 minutes, and Tracy Graf, who finished 10th, completed the race with a time of 8 hours and 33 minutes.
• The tight grouping of top finishers indicates strong competition among the top racers in the SCORE Trophy Truck® class, with only minutes separating most of them.

3. Class Trends and Dominance

• The SCORE Trophy Truck® class dominates the top positions, occupying 14 of the top 20 places, which reflects the high performance and reliability of these vehicles in the challenging Baja terrain. This suggests that the SCORE Trophy Truck® class remains the premier category for top overall finishes in this race.
• Trophy Truck® Spec is the next most successful class, with several strong finishes, including Jorge Sampietro, who finished in 9th place overall with a time of 8 hours and 31 minutes.
• The Pro UTV Open class also had a strong showing, with Cayden MacCachren finishing in 27th place overall and first in his class with a time of 9 hours and 5 minutes.

4. DNF (Did Not Finish) and Class Insights

• There were 46 DNFs recorded in the race, highlighting the grueling conditions of the Baja 400. Notably, several high-profile racers, including Rob MacCachren and Luke McMillin, both driving SCORE Trophy Truck® vehicles, did not finish the race, which is a testament to the unpredictable nature of off-road endurance racing.
• The Trophy Truck® Spec and Pro UTV Forced Induction classes also had a significant number of DNFs, indicating that while these vehicles are competitive, they face high attrition rates.

5. Vehicle Manufacturer Insights

• Ford had a dominant presence in the top finishes, especially in the SCORE Trophy Truck® class, where many of the top competitors, including Bryce Menzies, Alan Ampudia, and Christopher Polvoorde, drove Ford-powered trucks.
• In the UTV categories, Polaris performed well, especially in the Pro UTV Open and Pro UTV Forced Induction classes, with Cayden MacCachren and Brock Heger finishing strong in their respective categories.

6. Penalties/Credits and Adjustments

• Several racers had asterisks (*) next to their times, indicating penalties or credits were applied. These adjustments could have played a critical role in their final standings, particularly in such a competitive field.

7. Class Diversity

• While SCORE Trophy Truck® trucks dominate the top spots, there is significant diversity in vehicle classes throughout the race, ranging from Trophy Truck® Spec to Pro UTV Open and Class 1. This variety shows the inclusiveness of the Baja 400, with a range of vehicle types competing under the same extreme conditions.

The 2024 SCORE Baja 400 4-Wheel race showcased intense competition in the SCORE Trophy Truck® and Trophy Truck® Spec classes, with tight finish times among the top competitors. The significant number of DNFs, particularly among high-profile racers and UTV classes, reflects the challenging nature of this race. Ford and Polaris vehicles performed exceptionally well, leading in their respective categories. Overall, the data reveals a race of endurance, high competition, and the unpredictable outcomes typical of Baja racing.

Top 10 Finishers (Moto/Quad) in the 2024 Baja 400

A total of 11 racers did not finish (DNF) the race, while 2 racers were disqualified (DQ). The gap between the top and bottom finishers is significant, with **Justin Morgan** securing first place in the **Pro Moto Unlimited** class with a time of **8 hours and 46 minutes**, while the last finisher, **Ryan Liebelt**, crossed the line in the **Pro Moto 30** class with a time of **15 hours and 5 minutes**—a difference of over six hours. This highlights the endurance and challenging nature of the race, as competitors faced vastly different finishing times depending on their class and individual performance.

Interesting Facts:

1. Honda Dominance: Honda is a dominant brand in the race results, especially in the Pro Moto Unlimited class, with racers like Justin Morgan, Arturo Salas, and Adrian Ortiz finishing in the top spots. In fact, out of the 46 racers, Honda appears 19 times across various classes.
2. Pro Moto Unlimited Class: This class saw close competition, with the top 5 finishers all completing the race within approximately 35 minutes of each other. Justin Morgan took first place with a time of 8:46:56.963, while Austin Eddy, finishing fifth, crossed the line just 35 minutes later at 9:22:00.278.
3. Sportsman Quad Category: The Sportsman Quad category saw a strong finish, with Irlamm Gutierrez placing first in his category and finishing with a corrected time of 10:19:06.510.
4. DNF and DQ Insights: The high number of DNFs, especially among the quad and adventure categories, might indicate challenging race conditions. Interestingly, Eric Holt, competing in the Pro Moto Unlimited class, had a DNF despite being recorded with a finish time of 16:28:01.921, suggesting he may have finished after the allowed race time or due to penalties.
5. Unique Class Competitors: The race featured some unique classes, including Pro Moto Adventure and Pro Moto 50, highlighting the variety of categories involved. Mike Prunty’s first place in the Pro Moto 50 category with a time of 11:16:49.316 is noteworthy, as this class typically features older racers.

This data highlights Honda’s strong performance, close competition in some classes, and the challenging nature of the Baja 400, evidenced by the high number of DNFs.

Top 10 Finishers in the 2023 Baja 400

In the previous year, the stakes were even higher in the top 10 spots. It goes to further show that any little mistakes or mishaps can ruin your chances of coming in first place.