2023 Point Titles on the line at 56th SCORE Baja 1000

By Dominic Clark / Photo by GetSomePhoto

November 12, 2023

     ENSENADA, Baja California, Mexico—‘Celebrating 50 Years of SCORE Desert Racing Excellence’ this year…for many, this week on Mexico’s rugged, mysterious and majestic Baja California peninsula is a sentimental journey down the proverbial ‘memory lane.’ For some it will be a first-time odyssey of a lifetime. For the majority however, this week will decide coveted season point championships in Pro and Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, UTVs, motorcycles and quads in the four-race 2023 SCORE World Desert Championship.

     To all, this magnificent, magical, one and only motorsports extravaganza is the ‘Granddaddy of All Desert Races.’

     This is the week that many wait for all year long and others wait nearly their entire lives to be a part of…it’s the BFGoodrich Tires 56th SCORE Baja 1000, presented by K&N.

     The SCORE Baja 1000 is at the pinnacle of motorsports as the oldest, most iconic, most prestigious, toughest, and longest continuously held desert race in the world.

     For all, this week will be a heart-warming, memory-building, risk-taking, energy-draining, emotion-charged very real nostalgic celebration of the world’s most epic desert race.

     SCORE International is well known around the globe as the ‘World’s Foremost Desert Racing Organization.’ Celebrating its 50th season in 2023, this race is the flagship event of the SCORE World Desert Championship.

SHOWDOWN

     This year’s epic Granddaddy of All Desert Races will be a radically rugged run of 1310.94 masterful miles UP Mexico’s majestic Baja California peninsula, starting for the first time in La Paz, Baja California Sur, and finishing for the 29th time in Ensenada, Baja California. Overall, this legendary event will run the length of the poetic peninsula for the 25th time in its 56-year history.

GREEN FLAG

     It is an elapsed-time race with staggered starts with the green flag dropping on Thursday (Nov. 16). Motorcycles and Quads will start at 1 a.m. MT, Cars, Trucks, and UTVs will start at 9 a.m. MT on Thursday (Nov. 16).

     While the fastest vehicles in the 1310.94-mile race are expected to finish in about 23 hours, the elapsed-time race will have a 50-hour time limit to become an official finisher.

A HAPPENING…

     Two days of the colorful pre-race Manufacturer’s Midway, Contingency and Tech inspection will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both Tuesday and Wednesday (Nov. 14-15) along the captivating El Malecon along the Sea of Cortez in La Paz.

CITY EXPRESS…

     The City Express Hotel on the Northeast end of El Malecon in La Paz, will host racer registration and media registration on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (Nov. 13-15).

     On Monday (Nov. 13), racer registration will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST. On Tuesday (Nov. 14) it will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST, and on Wednesday (Nov. 15) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST.

     SCORE Media Registration will be held at the City Express on Monday (Nov. 13) from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. MST and from 9 a.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday (Nov. 14-15) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST.

     The race will start along the picturesque El Malecon in La Paz.

SCORE LIVE

     From the new state-of-the art SCORE Studio in El Cajon, Calif., SCORE LIVE with host Brandon Johnson, will provide exclusive race coverage, along with vehicle tracking, live drone, and in-car camera footage from various locations around the race course.

     Legendary SCORE racers will be working with Johnson during the race-days show.

     Popular Rat Sult, in his eighth season with SCORE, will be the host announcer on the SCORE ramp during contingency and the race start and finish. Assisting Sult in-studio will be veteran voice Dave Arnold, and Mexico’s Gabriel Garcia, who will be assisting with finish-line interviews on the SCORE Ramp.

     SCORE LIVE may be viewed on the SCORE website, SCORE APP, SCORE Facebook page and the SCORE International YouTube Channel.

BAJA MIL!!!!!

     The world’s best desert racers will be in action at this year’s massive BFGoodrich Tires 56th SCORE Baja 1000, presented by K&N. There will be live streaming from two days of pre-race contingency and start-to-finish live coverage on the SCORE website and social media channels.

     Race week activities will be held Monday through Saturday (Nov. 13-18).

     Over 325 vehicles are expected at the start line with racers from nearly 40 U.S. States and as many as 20 countries anticipated. Pro and Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, UTVs, motorcycles and quads will be competing in the Granddaddy of All Desert Races.

     This year’s SCORE Baja 1000 is a point-to-point race of an exhilaratingly exhausting 1310.94 miles starting for the first time in La Paz, Baja California Sur and finishing for the 29th time in Ensenada, Baja California.

     La Paz is the Capital of Baja California Sur, located nearly 1000 miles from the U.S. Border at Calexico, Calif.

     Ensenada, “The Off-Road Racing Capital of the World” is a coastal city on the Bahia de Todos Santos area of the Pacific Ocean, 80 miles south of the U.S. border at San Diego.

     This race is annually the finale of the SCORE World Desert Championship, which has been held exclusively for the past eight years in Baja California.

ENTRIES TO DATE

     With over 330 entries anticipated at the start line, entering on-site, late registration this week in La Paz, 323 total entries have been received for the Granddaddy of All Desert Races, with racers representing 37 U.S. States, U.S. Territory Puerto Rico and 18 countries.

     U.S. States represented in the field of competitors to date are from Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

     The countries are United States, U.S. Territory Puerto Rico, host country Mexico, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, France, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Peru, Spain, and Venezuela.

DOUBLE DIGITS

     Several classes in this year’s race have double-digit entries. At the top is the marquee SCORE Trophy Truck division with 29 entries (including eight in SCORE TT Legend for drivers over 50 years old). Created by former SCORE Hall of Fame owner Sal Fish in 1994, SCORE Trophy Truck is the amazing class for high-tech, 1000-horsepower, unlimited, custom trucks.

     Also, with double digits so far among 4-wheel vehicle classes are Trophy Truck Spec with 36 entries, Class 1/2-1600 with 20 entries, Class 10 with 15, Pro UTV Open with 15, Pro UTV FI with 19, Pro UTV Stock with 16, and Class 1 with 10.

     Among the motorcycle and quad classes, leading so far with a class race-record 26 entries is the Pro Moto Ironman class for solo riders, Pro Moto Limited with 11, and Sportsman Quad with 11.

FEMALE RACERS

     While there are numerous female co-drivers/co-riders, crew members, among the female racers in this year’s SCORE Baja 1000, entered as driver of record are…

--Kristen Matlock—No. 1854, Pro UTV Open. Husband Wayne Matlock driving No. 1871, Pro UTV Open

--Britney Myers—No. 1023, Class 10

--Lucy Block—No. 3943K, Pro UTV Stock, widow of Ken Block

--Jordan Souza Price—No. 1610, Class 1/2-1600

--Eva Hernandez—No. 123a, Sportsman Quad

ALSO among additional drivers:

--Shelby Reid—additional driver, No. 168, Class 1 with her son Cody Reid as the DOR

--Chelsea Magness—additional driver, No. 45, SCORE Trophy Truck with her father Gary Magness

--Shelby Hall—granddaughter of Rod Hall, Rebelle Rally racer, additional driver, No. BC1, Baja Challenge

--Tamara Myers—additional driver, No. 1023, Class 10 with her sister Britney Myers

--Lia Block—additional driver, No. 3943K, Pro UTV Stock with her mother Lucy Block

--Ana Paula Flemate, additional driver, No. 244, Trophy Truck Spec, No. 1105, Class 11 and No. 1203, SCORE Lites with her father Oliver Flemate

THE POINT IS…

     While many of the entries are not in the hunt for a class championship but rather to be enraptured by the pure joy, beauty, inspiration, celebration, and adrenalin of competing in this legendary race, most of the racers are diligently trying to earn a SCORE season class point title at the SCORE Baja 1000.

OVERALL POINTS SHOWDOWN

     SoCal’s champion desert racer Jason McNeil continues to lead both the 2023 SCORE Overall and SCORE Trophy Truck Spec point standings following September’s K&N 4th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing Fuels.

     Driving solo again this season, McNeil was second in class in Round 1 of the four-race 2023 SCORE World Desert Championship in San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico. His Trophy Truck Spec class had a SCORE-record 43 starters in his class in San Felipe in April. He topped that finish by winning his class over a race-high 31 starters in Ensenada in the SCORE Baja 500 earlier in June and then backed it up by winning his class again over a race-high 37 starters in the SCORE Baja 400.

     After a third-place finish in the season opener in San Felipe, Las Vegas’ Bryce Menzies roared to the overall victories in the SCORE Baja 500 and the SCORE Baja 400 to keep a slim lead over Luke McMillin in the SCORE Trophy Truck season point standings. And he is also third in the SCORE overall points heading into the season finale.

     For Menzies, 36, his June victory in Ensenada was his fourth SCORE Trophy Truck and overall win in the SCORE Baja 500 and first in nine years. Racing since 2011, Menzies now has 10 career SCORE Trophy Truck race wins, which puts him sixth place on the all-time victory list which is led by fellow-Las Vegan Rob MacCachren, 58, who has 20 career SCORE Trophy Truck race wins.

Menzies currently has 376 season points.

TOP SIX IN OVERALL POINTS

     Behind McNeil, second-place Thor Herbst (Trophy Truck Spec), third-place Menzies and sixth-place E.J. Herbst (Trophy Truck Spec) in three of the top six spots, ‘The Luke’ McMillin, 30, of San Diego, who won the season-opening SCORE San Felipe 250, finished fourth in the SCORE Baja 500, and second in the SCORE Baja 400, is fourth in overall points and second in SCORE Trophy Truck points, just nine behind Menzies.

     Defending series season point champion Luke McMillin drives the No. 1 McMillin Racing Chevy 1500 AWD SCORE Trophy Truck built by Mason Motorsports and he has 367 season points.

Fifth in the overall season points standings is Michael Marsal, Millbrook, N.Y., who is third in Trophy Truck Spec points with 366 points in the No. 236 Brenthel-Chevy.

HEGER OVERALL UTV/PRO UTV OPEN LEADER

     Brock Heger, 23, El Centro, Calif., has excelled in every discipline of racing and has over 100 wins and 200 podiums on his resume despite his young age.

Most recently, Heger has raced in Pro-Lite short course trucks and Production UTVs in the Champ Off Road Series, earning championships in both classes as well as most recently as the second driver in the Trophy Truck Spec class in SCORE races.

     Heger drives the No. 1896 SCI Motorsports Polaris Pro-R. He opened the new campaign with a 10th place finish in his new class. He finished 10th in his class in the SCORE San Felipe 250 to open the season and then won his competitive class in both the SCORE Baja 500 and the SCORE Baja 400 to keep him in the point lead in his Pro UTV Open class and move him into the SCORE Overall UTV point lead in the SCORE World Desert Championship with 333 points. Heger is also 14th in the SCORE Overall point standings after three races.

FOUR-WAY TIE FOR OVERALL MOTORCYCLE LEADER

     For the first time in the 49-plus-year history of SCORE, there is a four-way tie for the SCORE Overall Motorcycle point lead heading into the season finale. With 315 points and three class wins this year to lead their respective classes in points are Peru’s Jano Montoya in Pro Moto 30, New Zealand’s Robert Creemers in Pro Moto 50, and Kevin Ward, Longview, Texas, in Pro Moto 60. Also, with 315 points with one win and leading his class points is Brandon Wright, Oak Hills, Calif., in the Pro Moto Ironman class for solo riders.

     Picking up again where he left off in 2022, Wright, 46, Oak Hills, Calif., so far in 2023, he has a third-place, a first-place, and a second-place finish against a total of 23 total riders in his class this season. Wright rides the No. 700x Husqvarna FE501 motorcycle.

     In 2022, following several seasons co-rider on winning Pro motorcycle age group classes, Wright not only won the Pro Moto Ironman (for solo riders) class in last year’s King Shocks SCORE San Felipe 250 over 10 starters in his class, he won the season championship in his class and earned the 2022 SCORE Overall Motorcycle title as well with second-place finishes in the second and third SCORE Baja races and a third-place finish in the SCORE Baja 1000 out of 20 starters last year.

     Each undefeated this season, Montoya, who lives in Winter Park, Fla., and his team rides the No. 300x KTM 450EXCF, Creemers and his all-Kiwi team rides the No. 501x Honda CRF450X, while Ward, who is originally from Chatsworth, Calif., and his tenacious team of aging super stars, rides the No. 644x Honda CRF450X.

VILDOSOLA SR—SCORE TT LEGEND

     Mexico’s veteran SCORE champion Gustavo Vildosola Sr backed up his 2022 season point championship in SCORE TT Legend (drivers over 50 years old) following his undefeated season of four straight class wins with his third 2023 victory in this year’s K&N 4th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing Fuels, in September.

     Vildosola Sr, 70, Mexicali, also won the SCORE TT Legend season point championship in 2018 with Scott Bailey as a second driver.

     He won all four 2022 races and the first three in 2023 with help from legendary Hall of Fame racer Ricky Johnson, 58, El Cajon, Calif. who drove the first half of each race in the Vildosola Racing No. 1L AWD Ford Raptor built by Mason Motorsports.

Vildosola Sr has 323 season points after winning against eight starters in his class in San Felipe and seven in the SCORE Baja 500 and eight in the SCORE Baja 400. He also finished eighth overall out of 285 starters in this year’s San Felipe race and ninth overall out of 240 starters in the SCORE Baja 500 in Ensenada.

     Vildosola Sr also has three career SCORE Trophy Truck race wins in his illustrious career in SCORE desert racing.

6 CLASS POINT LEADERS IN TOP 26 OVERALL

     Including Jason McNeil in Trophy Truck Spec, Bryce Menzies in SCORE Trophy Truck, Brock Heger in Pro UTV Open, and Gustavo Vildosola Sr in SCORE TT Legend, six classes have at least one racer in the top 26 SCORE Overall 4-wheel point standings after three races the four-race 2023 SCORE World Desert Championship.

     The other classes with a racer in the top 26 are Class 10, and Pro UTV FI.

     Fourth a field of 19 starters to win in his class in San Felipe, winning his class out of 16 starters in the SCORE Baja 500, and winning it again out of 12 starters in the SCORE Baja 400, Francisco Vera, 32, El Rosario, Mexico, leads Class 10 with 334 points and is tied for 13th in overall points after three races in his No. 1091 Alumi Craft Chevy.

     Leading the Pro UTV FI (Forced Induction) point standings and 18th in the overall points with 327 points is Jason Murray, North Tustin, Calif., in his No. 2917 Can-Am X3. He has finishes this year in class of 12th, second and fourth place.

TRIPLE WINNERS/CLASS LEADERS

     A total of eight SCORE racers have won their classes in both races to obviously lead the point standings in their respective classes, four in Pro car and truck classes, four in Pro motorcycle classes and two in Pro quad classes.

     At the top of the list is Vildosola Sr who leads the SCORE TT Legend class for SCORE Trophy Truck drivers over 50 years old.

     The other three-time winners and class point leaders among four-wheel vehicles are Eli Yee, 49, Tijuana, Mexico (Class 5, No. 511 Jake’s-Chevy), and Oliver Flemate, 46, Ensenada, Mexico (Class 11, No. 1105, VW Sedan).

     The unbeaten two-wheel class point leaders are Jano Montoya, Winter Garden, Fla. (Pro Moto 30, No. 3200x KTM 450EXCF), Kevin Ward, 61, Longview, Texas (Chatsworth, Calif.) (Pro Moto 60, No. 644x Honda CRF450x), and Robert Creemers, 58, New Zealand (Pro Moto 50, No. 501x Honda CRF50X).

     In Pro Quad, the undefeated point leaders are Faelly Lopez, 39, Puerto Rico (Pro Quad Ironman, No. 83a Honda TRX450R) and Nicolas Velez, 17, San Felipe, Mexico (Pro Quad No. 1a Honda TRX450R).

DOUBLE WINNERS/CLASS LEADERS

     Besides Menzies, McNeil, Vera, and Heger, with two wins to lead the respective classes heading into the SCORE Baja 1000 are Chase Swanson, 24, Honolulu (Trophy Lite, No. 6049 Trophy Lite-Chevy), Daniel Chamlee, Montecito, Calif. (Class 7, No. 700 Ford Ranger), Oscar Alvarez, McAllen, Texas (SCORE Lites, No. 1211 OSO-VW), Alirio Amado, 45, The Woodlands, Texas (Pro Moto 40, No. 441 Yamaha WR450F), Armando Ortiz, Tijuana, Mexico (SPT Moto, No. 249x Honda CRF450X), and Sergio Jimenez, Valle de Mexicali, Mexico (SPT Quad, No. 139a Honda TRX450R).

MORE PRO CLASS POINT LEADERS

    Among the other 2023 SCORE World Desert Championship class point leaders are, Cody Reid, 31, Apple Valley, Calif., one class win (Class 1, No. 168 Alumi Craft-Chevy), Antlonio Mendez, Puebla, Mexico (Pro UTS Stock, No. 3959 Polaris RZR XP4, one class win, Joe Bolton, 65, Corona, Calif., one class win (Pro UTV NA, No. 1957 Polaris RZR XP1000), Edward Muncey, 52, San Diego, one class win (Baja Challenge, BC4 BTC-Subaru), and Fernando Beltran, Ensenada, Mexico, one class win (Pro Moto Limited, No. 100x Honda CRF450X).

ANOTHER MILESTONE

     When veteran SCORE motorcycle age-group champion racer Jim O’Neal, 76, Simi Valley, Calif., puts his hands on the grips as one of the riders for Giovanni Spinali’s Pro Moto 50 class team this year, he will set another SCORE motorcycle record. This will be O’Neal’s 42nd consecutive SCORE Baja 1000, the most by any motorcycle racer in history. In the SCORE Baja 1000, O’Neal, the noted apparel manufacturer of the company that bears his name, has 15 career class victories.

     The late Hall of Famer Ron Bishop rode in the first 40 straight SCORE Baja 1000 races and the late Hall of Famer Rod Hall has the overall mark in this category, having driven in a truck the first 50 consecutive SCORE Baja 1000 races (1967-2017).

BAJA RUTA MUY ESPECIAL!

    The race features a course, fully plotted, and marked by SCORE President/Race Director Jose A. Grijalva, and Assistant Race Director Rodolfo Fernandez, of 1310.94 miles of rugged Baja California terrain.

     The challenging, predominantly up-hill rugged race course is another memorable example of all that Mexico’s Baja California has to offer, including high-speed dirt trails, sandy, rocky, and silty natural terrain, majestic Baja washes and canyons, stretches along the seashore with elevations from sea level to over 4,000 feet. The course is another crown jewel reflecting the stark beauty of Baja California.

     The 1310.94-mile race course, the longest ever between La Paz and Ensenada for the BFGoodrich Tires 56th SCORE Baja 1000, presented by K&N, runs for the first time from La Paz to Ensenada, UP Mexico’s magnificent Baja California peninsula.

     The iconic race will start for the first time on the picturesque El Malecon in La Paz along the Sea of Cortez and finish on Boulevard Costero, adjacent to the historic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center in the heart of Ensenada.

     The incredibly beautiful, and ridiculously rugged race course has 31 Speed Zones for a total of 201.81 miles, 324 total Virtual Check Points, three physical, full-stop Check Points, and feature nine BFGoodrich Tires Pits.

     Physical Check Point No. 1 is at race mile 233.88 (Valle de Santo Domingo), CP 2 is at RM 599.34 (South of Vizcaino) and CP3 is at RM 922.25 (South of Catavina).

     After leaving El Malecon in La Paz, the course begins its windy road North from the Mexican State of Baja California Sur to the Mexican State of Baja California. The race course passes near several of the legendary Spanish Missions on its way North.

     From RM 50 across Arroyo Seco, the course runs adjacent to the Pacific Ocean for the first time up to RM 220.

     At RM 277.46 the course passes by Mission de San Javier on top of the Sierra de La Giganta and at RM 300.05 for the first time in SCORE history, the race course goes through El Malecon in Loreto, again by the Sea of Cortez.

     At RM 632.75, the course crosses from Baja California Sur into Baja California for the final half of the race.

     At RM 821.35, the course is near the Pacific Ocean for the final time near Bahia Blanco.

     While the race course includes numerous Baja washes, at race-mile 1014.24, the course will begin a treacherous trek through six of the gloriously majestic washes around San Felipe: Matomi, Azufre, Boulder Canyon, Huatamote, Chanate, and Amarillas.

     At RM 1200.75, the course passes Valle de Trinidad and up the infamous Goat Trail, behind Santa Catarina (RM 1226.36) by Rancho El Mezcal to Ojos Negros (RM 1277.04) and to the finish line in Ensenada.

     For safety reasons, all the Sportsman classes along with Class 11 and Class 7SX will run a reduced course of 1197.04 miles.

BFGOODRICH TIRES UNMATCHED

     BFGoodrich Tires, the official tire of SCORE for 47 years, was honored after the 2022 season as the SCORE Contingency Company of the year for the 32nd time.

     BFGoodrich Tires has been the choice of 35 of the 55 overall winners of the popular SCORE Baja 500 and 34 of the 55 overall winners of the legendary SCORE Baja 1000. BFGoodrich Tires is also the title sponsor of both iconic races again in 2023.

     BFGoodrich Tires also has been the choice of 30 of the 36 overall winners of the SCORE San Felipe 250, all three SCORE Desert Challenge races, the lone SCORE Challenge of Champions in San Felipe, the one SCORE Baja Sur 500 and one of the four overall winners in the SCORE Baja 400.

     This year’s SCORE San Felipe 250 overall victory by San Diego’s Luke McMillin marked the 103rd SCORE Baja overall race win for BFGoodrich Tires.

BFG BIG BONUS

     SCORE major sponsor BFGoodrich Tires has posted a US$25,000 contingency bonus for the overall 4-wheel race winner to help commemorate the Granddaddy of all Desert Races.

US$20,000 PRO MOTO UNLTD PURSE

     Through the coordination and efforts of SCORE Motorcycle liaison, Andy Kirker, a former SCORE motorcycle racer, four companies have combined to put up a special $20,000 bonus purse exclusively for the Pro Moto Unlimited Class, the fastest class on two wheels.

     The four companies posting this unprecedented purse for this year’s SCORE Baja 1000 are: Anube, from Spain, Taco Moto Company from Las Vegas, Baja Bound of Mexico, and AHM Factory Services of Yorba Linda, Calif.

    This unique payout will be for first through fifth place on the official results: first-$10,000, second-$5,000, third-$3,000, fourth-$1,500 and fifth-$500.

GRANDEST MARSHAL FOR GOLDEN YEAR

     Sal Fish, admired as the iconic ‘godfather’ of SCORE desert racing who is a foundational pillar of the organization, is the Grand Marshal of the Year for the entire four-race 2023 SCORE World Desert Championship.

     Revered all over Baja California, Fish, who turned 84 in May of this year, is a former publisher of Hot Rod Magazine and a 2006 inductee into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame. He led SCORE for 38 years, from 1974 until he sold the organization on Dec. 20, 2012.

     His footprint left an indelible mark on all of desert racing as he was an extraordinary innovator and visionary for SCORE and the entire world of desert racing.

     He expanded TV coverage of SCORE races and in 1994 created the SCORE Trophy Truck class, the marquee racing division in the sport of desert racing.

SCORE SPONSORS…

     Official SCORE Sponsors: BFGoodrich Tires-Official Tire and Race Title Sponsor, Ford-Official Truck and SUV, King Shocks-Official Shock Absorber and Race Title Sponsor, Polaris RZR-Official UTV, VP Racing Fuels-Official Fuel and race presenting sponsor, Baja Vida-Official Snacks and race presenting sponsor, Optima Batteries-Official Batteries, Rugged Radios-Official Radio Communications, Wide Open Excursions-Official Arrive and Drive Company, Crystal Bay Casino-Official Casino.

     SCORE Official Partners: The Satellite Phone Store, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance.

     Additional SCORE Associate Partners: Baja California Secretary of Tourism, MEXICO Secretary of Tourism, San Felipe Foundational Municipal Council, Ensenada Municipal Government, San Felipe Marketing Tourism Committee, Ensenada Marketing Tourism Committee, Ensenada Hotel and Motel Association, Proturismo Ensenada, Cruz Roja Mexicana, Baja California Sur State Secretary of Tourism and Economy, Baja California Sur State Tourism Trust (FITUES), Municipal Government of La Paz, Municipal Government of Comondu, Municipal Government of Loreto, and the Municipal Government of Mulege.

     For more information regarding SCORE, visit the official website of the SCORE World Desert Championship at www.SCORE-International.com.

‘Celebrating 50 Years of SCORE Desert Racing Excellence’

BFGoodrich Tires 56th SCORE Baja 1000, presented by K&N

Finale of four-race 2023 SCORE World Desert Championship

Nov. 13-18 – 1310.94 miles – La Paz, Baja California Sur to Ensenada, Baja California

• Schedule of Events•(All times local Time)

LA PAZ (All times La Paz Time)

Monday, November 13, 2023

8am-6pm                 Chassis Inspections           by appointment, tech@SCORE-International.com

8am-6pm                 Stella install/Device pickup by appointment, tech@SCORE-International.com

8am-5pm                 Racer Registration             City Express Hotel

1pm-5pm                 Media Registration             City Express Hotel

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

8am-5pm                 Racer Registration             City Express Hotel

                               No new entries after 4 p.m.

8am-6pm                 Stella install/Device pickup by appointment, tech@SCORE-International.com

8am-5pm—Contingency Row-Motos/Quads/UTVs      El Malecon, La Paz

8am-6pm—Tech Inspection-Motos/Quads/UTVs         End of Contingency Row

9am-5pm                Media Registration                       City Express Hotel

7pm                        Mandatory Moto/Quad Rider Meeting     La Paz International Convention Center

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

8am-5pm                 Racer Registration                       City Express Hotel

                               No new entries after 4 p.m.

8am-5pm                 Contingency Row                        El Malecon, La Paz

8am-6pm                 Tech Inspection                           El Malecon, La Paz

9am-5pm                 Media Registration                       City Express Hotel

6pm                        Mandatory Pilot Conference Call           +818.452.0198

7pm                        Mandatory Driver Meeting            La Paz International Convention Center

Thursday, November 16, 2023

START LINE-          El Malecon, La Paz, Baja California Sur—1,310.94 miles; SPT, Class 11, Class 7SX—1,197.04 miles

FINISH LINE-Adjacent to Riviera del Pacifico CC, Ensenada, Baja California

START – Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023—1am MT Motorcycles, Quads (Pro Moto Unlimited one-minute intervals. All other moto, quad classes--30-second intervals). Order Subject to Change— Pro Moto Unltd, Pro Moto 30, Pro Moto Ltd, Pro Moto 50, Pro Moto 40, Pro Moto 60, Pro Moto Ironman, Pro Quad, Pro Quad Ironman, Pro Baja-e Moto/Quad, SPT Moto, SPT Quad

12:30am to 11am    SCORE Media Center                  City Express Hotel

8am                        Opening Ceremony                    start line area, El Malecon, La Paz, BCS

START – Thursday, November 16, 2023—9am MT Cars, Trucks, UTVS (TT-one-minute intervals--three-minute gap to rest of classes. Other classes-30 second intervals).

Order Subject to Change— TT/TT Legend, 1, TT Spec, 10, Pro UTV Open, Pro UTV FI, 7, SL, Pro UTV NA, 5, Pro UTV Unltd, Pro UTV Stock, 1/2-1600, 8, Heavy Metal, Hammer Truck, 3, 5-1600, BC, Stock Mid-Size, 7F, 7SX, SF, TL, Baja-e Truck, Baja-e Car, Baja-e UTV, 2, 11, SPT Truck, SPT Open-Wheel, SPT UTV

     TIME LIMIT: 50-hour time limit from the time each vehicle starts to complete the course

ENSENADA: (All times Pacific Time)

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

9am-5pm                SCORE Media Center       Salon Rojo, Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center

Thursday, Nov. 16---Saturday, November 18, 2023

5pm-close of course SCORE Media Center       Salon Rojo, Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center

Saturday, November 18, 2023

3:30pm                    Unofficial Results Posted   SCORE Website, SCORE Office/SCORE Media Center

4:30pm-5:45pm       Racer Inquiry period          SCORE Ensenada Office

6:30pm                   Official results posted        SCORE Website, SCORE Ensenada Office

7:30pm                    Awards Celebration            Cathedral Room, Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center