Matlocks lead latest entries for 4th SCORE Baja 400

SCORE MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Clark, Dominic@SCORE-International.com
 
August 8, 2023
 
‘Celebrating 50 Years of SCORE Desert Racing Excellence’
4th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing Fuels
M/M Matlock, Helland/Johnson, Grabowski Bros, Creel,
Beltran, Sims, Weel/Price, Ward all among new entries
 
spectacular event is Round 3 of four-race 2023 SCORE World Desert Championship;
September 13-17 in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico; more info at…
 https://score-international.com/raceinfo/2023-baja-400-sept-12-17-2023/
 
#SCORE Baja 400
NOTE: Current unofficial number/name entry list located at bottom of text
 
     ENSENADA, Baja California, Mexico—‘Celebrating 50 Years of SCORE Desert Racing Excellence’ this year, just one week into the very busy online racer registration, early entries for the upcoming 4th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing Fuels, include husband and wife Wayne and Kristen Matlock in separate vehicles, Rolf Helland/Rick D. Johnson, Jack Grabowski, Santiago Creel, Fernando Beltran, Branden Sims, Paul Weel/Toby Price, and Kevin Ward.
WHEN
The youngest race in the long and storied 50-year history of the World’s Foremost Desert Racing Organization will be held Sept. 13-17 in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.
EARLY BIRDS
Among the latest group of entries, part of 109 of the over 225 official entries expected in this newest of the legendary SCORE Baja races, are Wayne Matlock, Alpine, Calif. (Pro UTV Open), Kristen Matlock, Alpine, Calif. (Pro UTV Open), Rolf Helland, Morris, Ill./Rick D. Johnson, Barstow, Calif. (SCORE TT Legend), Jack Grabowski, Upland, Calif. (Trophy Truck Spec), Santiago Creel, Mexico City, Mexico (Trophy Truck Spec), Fernando Beltran, Ensenada, Mexico (Pro Moto Limited), Branden Sims, Prescott Valley, Ariz. (Pro UTV Open) and Australia’s Paul Weel/Toby Price (SCORE Trophy Truck), and Kevin Ward, Chatsworth, Calif. (Pro Moto 60).
WHAT
Online racer registration along with a detailed schedule of events both are available on the SCORE website for Round 3 of the four-race 2023 SCORE World Desert Championship. Entries from across the United States and around the world are anticipated for the upcoming desert race in Mexico’s Baja California.
Inaugurated in 2019, the SCORE Baja 400 was not held in 2020 because of the international pandemic and in 2021 started and finished without spectators Northeast of the central city and returned to the heart of the city in 2022.
The three defending overall and SCORE Trophy Truck champions in this new race are Ryan Arciero, Foothill Ranch, Calif. (2019) and Las Vegas’ Bryce Menzies (2021 and 2022).
ONLINE RACER REGISTRATION
Online registration, by class, for Pro and Sportsman cars, trucks, UTVs, motorcycles and quads, is ongoing through the SCORE website. Information on all SCORE races can be found on the home page under the Race Info tab.
Online racer registration will close at 5 p.m. PDT on Friday, Sept. 1. In person registration will be held in the SCORE Ensenada office until 5 p.m. PDT on Thursday, Sept. 7.
For more info, visit
https://score-international.com/raceinfo/2023-baja-400-sept-12-17-2023/
WHERE
The race and pre-race festivities will be in the heart of Ensenada, the seaside port on the Pacific Ocean, 80 miles south of San Diego. All race festivities including racer registration, media registration pre-race contingency and the start/finish line compound will all be held in or adjacent to the iconic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center. Contingency and the start/finish line area will once again be the fantastic, fan-friendly Boulevard Costero.
THE FIELD
Nearly 225 vehicles are expected at the start line for this third-time SCORE race with racers from as many as 25 U.S. States and 10 countries anticipated. Pro and Sportsman Classes are offered for cars, trucks, UTVs, motorcycles and quads. In just seven days since online registration opened, there are racers from 23 U.S. States, host country Mexico, Australia, Canada, France, Israel, and New Zealand.
Leading the list of entries to date are SCORE Trophy Truck with 32 entries (including five in SCORE TT Legend for drivers over 50 years old), Trophy Truck Spec with 29 entries, and Pro UTV Open with 12 entries.
MR & MRS MATLOCK
After many championship seasons and race wins driving in separate classes, Wayne Matlock and his wife Kristen Matlock, of Alpine, Calif. are entered in the same class for the 2023 SCORE World Desert Championship for the second straight year.
Both are racing in the Pro UTV Open class in separate (but equal) new Polaris RZR Pro R UTVs. Each vehicle has a chassis built by Newline Products.
Wayne pilots the No. 1871 Polaris RZR Pro R UTV and Kristen is behind the wheel of the No. 1854 Polaris RZR Pro R UTV. Both will be solo drivers in Ensenada.
In the SCORE Baja 400, Wayne Matlock, 45, finished fifth in 2019 and endured DNFs in both 2021 and 2022.
Kristen Matlock, 42, who has been racing many far less years than her husband, has results of DNF, followed by two third-place podium finishes in the SCORE Baja 400.
In the 2022 Pro UTV Open season points, Kristen Matlock finished on the podium in third place in class while Wayne Matlock finished in fifth. In season-ending SCORE Baja 1000 Wayne Matlock finished third in class while his wife Kristen Matlock was fourth.
In this year’s season-opening SCORE San Felipe 250, Wayne Matlock finished second in Pro TV Open while Kristen Matlock suffered a DNF in the same class. In the SCORE Baja 500, Wayne finished fifth in class while Kristen was on the podium again in third place.
In 2023 SCORE Pro UTV Open points, Wayne is currently second while Kristen is 12th.
NORSEMAN RACING
Leading one of the top teams in the SCORE TT Legend class for SCORE Trophy Truck drivers over 50 years old is Rolf Helland, 63, a prominent businessman in the trucking industry from Morris, Ill.
Somewhat of a late bloomer in starting to compete in SCORE Baja racing the last several years, Helland and his driving teammate veteran champion SCORE racer Rick D. Johnson, 57, Barstow, Calif., were the 2021 SCORE TT Legend class point champions after a brilliant undefeated four-race season in the 2021 SCORE World Desert Championship.
Helland and Johnson, who has one career SCORE Trophy Truck class win (2009 SCORE Baja 500), split the driving in Helland’s No. 37L Norseman Racing Ford Raptor built by Mason Motorsports.
In last year’s SCORE Baja 400, Helland suffered a DNF in SCORE TT Legend, he finished second in 2019 and won his class in 2021.
This year, Helland had a DNF in San Felipe and finished second in class in the SCORE Baja 500. He is currently fifth in season points in SCORE TT Legend.
GRABOWSKI BROTHERS RACING
All from Upland, Calif., the three Grabowski brothers are following in dad Neal Grabowski’s tracks in SCORE Baja racing as second-generation champion desert racers.
For this year’s SCORE Baja 400, Grabowski Brothers Racing has one entry in Trophy Truck Spec for one brother while the other two are second drivers for two other entries in the same class.
Jack Grabowski, 24, is the driver of record in this race in the Grabowski Brothers No. 272 Herbst/Smith Chevy.
Eldest brother Dustin Grabowski, 26, will be a second driver for Ryan Hancock, Yuma, Ariz., in the No. 228 TSCO-Ford while the youngest Grabowski brother, Troy Grabowski, 21, will be the additional driver for Michael Marsal, Millbrook, N.Y., in the No. 236 Brenthel-Chevy.
The brothers are the son of former SCORE champion racer Neal Grabowski. Dustin teamed with his father to win Class 5 in the 2019 SCORE Baja 500.
Opening the 2022 SCORE World Desert Championship in San Felipe, Dustin finished 26 out of 36 starters in Trophy Truck Spec and Jack and Troy won Class 5 over six starters. In the SCORE Baja 500, Dustin finished fifth out of 32 starters in his class while Jack and Troy were an unfortunate DNF in their class.
SANTIAGO CREEL
International Motorcycle Rally Racer and prominent Mexico City entrepreneur Santiago Creel, 36, has entered the 55th SCORE Baja 500 in the Trophy Truck Spec class.
Creel, 37, who only started SCORE racing in 2017, has compiled an enviable record of five season class point titles including two class wins in the SCORE Baja 500, 2019 in Pro Moto Limited and 2020 in Trophy Truck Spec as the second driver for Jorge Sampietro.
Creel has won an impressive eight Rod Hall SCORE Milestone Awards, presented by Toyota Escondido, including a SCORE-record three in 2019, when he led teams as the Rider of Record in Pro Moto Unlimited, Pro Moto Limited and Pro Moto 30.
As DOR in Trophy Truck Spec this year, Creel started his 2023 campaign with a 16th place finish out of a SCORE-record 43 starters in San Felipe. In this year’s SCORE Baja 500, 20th out of 31 starters in his class. He drives his No. 260 Monkey Business Jimco-Chevy.
In last year’s SCORE Baja 400, he was an additional driver in two classes, finishing 11th in Trophy Truck Spec and sixth in Pro UTV FI.
TEAM BELTRAN
Mexico’s SCORE veteran motorcycle champion Fernando Beltran, 46, of Ensenada, has picked up in 2023 where he left off all of 2022, winning Pro Moto Limited in San Felipe and again in the SCORE Baja 500.
Beltran has won his class eight times since 2021, including all four in 2022 in his Pro Moto Limited class and currently has three career SCORE season point championships (2014, 2020, 2022).
Beltran leads his talented team on his No. 100x Honda CRF450x motorcycle.
Co-riders for this year’s SCORE Baja 400 for Beltran will be Larry Serna, 27, San Diego, Luis Flores, 21, Mexicali, Mexico, Mauri Herrera, 24, Ensenada, Mexico, and Dilan Avalos, 17, N. Palm Springs, Calif.
The Beltran team, which leads the 2023 Pro Moto Limited point standings, rides the No. 100x CRF450X.
SIMS
Branden Sims, 37, Prescott Valley, Ariz., has entered his No. 1886 Polaris Pro R in the Pro UTV Open class coming off a major victory in last year’s SCORE Baja 1000.
     Defeating 54 starters in five different UTV classes in last year’s SCORE Baja 1000, Sims also emerged as the Overall UTV and Pro UTV Open class winner in last year’s race. He drove his Polaris Pro R to the fastest time among the UTVs, finishing nearly 40 minutes ahead of the second-place UTV in the race.
Also in 2022, Sims finished second in the Pro UTV FI class in the SCORE Baja 500.
In the 2021 SCORE World Desert Championship, Sims raced twice in the Pro UTV FI class, finishing first in class in the SCORE Baja 500 and second in class in the SCORE Baja 1000.
In the SCORE Baja 400, Sims will be racing this race for the first time.
Sims started his 2023 season by winning his UTV class in the King of the Hammers.
Unfortunately, in his 2023 SCORE debut in San Felipe he endured a rare DNF. He followed that up with a second-place podium finish in the SCORE Baja 500.
DOWN UNDER DUO
Returning after a stunning fifth-place debut out of 34 starters in SCORE Trophy Truck in last year’s SCORE Baja 400 will be the Australian duo Paul Weel, 43, and multi-time Dakar Rally motorcycle champion Toby Price, 35, in their AWD No. 46 Chevy Silverado-Mason.
Price finished second overall and in SCORE Trophy Truck in the 2019 SCORE Baja 1000 as the second driver for Qatar’s Nasser Al-Atiyah.
Weel is a veteran Australian off-road racer and former supercar driver.
Price is an eight-time KTM factory racer in the Dakar Rally race having won the motorcycle division in both 2016 and 2019 and finishing on the podium in second place this year and in third place in 2015, 2018 and 2020.
The Aussie duo raced together in last year’s SCORE Baja 1000 as well, but suffered mechanical issues that put them out of the race.
The Down Under duo unfortunately started their 2023 SCORE World Desert Championship season with two DNFs in their new AWD Mason SCORE Trophy Truck.
KEVIN WARD
Long a veteran champion in SCORE desert racing, noted Hollywood Producer/Cinematographer/Screenwriter Kevin Ward, is racing the entire 2023 SCORE World Desert Championship as the rider of record in the Pro Moto 60 class for riders over 60 years old.
Ward, 61, who lives in Chatsworth, Calif but is originally from Longview, Texas, is undefeated after two races in his class for ageless motorcycle warriors. He rides on the No. 644x Honda CRF450X and this year is sharing riding duties with a pair of SCORE champion racers.
Part of Ward’s team are Jeff Kaplan, 63, Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Doug Smith, 68, Upland, Calif.
In his main vocation, Ward has a major part of such films as ‘Taken Alive’ in 1994, the ‘Long Shots’ in 2008, and the SCORE classic ‘Dust to Glory’ in 2005.
Among his victories, Ward are two class wins in the iconic SCORE Baja 1000. He won Pro Moto 30 in 2002 and Pro Moto 50 in 2019.
This will be the first time for all three riders to compete in the SCORE Baja 400.
GREEN FLAG
It is an elapsed-time race with staggered starts with the green flag dropping on Saturday (Sept. 16). Motorcycles and Quads will start at 5:30 a.m. PT, Cars, Trucks, and UTVs will start at 8:15. When finalized, the race course will be 386.42 miles. While the fastest vehicles will finish in about eight hours, the elapsed-time race will have a 16-hour time limit to become an official finisher.
THE FIELD
Over 225 vehicles are expected at the start line for this fourth-time SCORE race with racers from as many as 25 U.S. States and 10 countries anticipated. Pro and Sportsman Classes are offered for cars, trucks, UTVs, motorcycles and quads.
START GRID-SCORE BAJA 1000
The results of the SCORE Baja 400 also will determine the start order within each class for November’s iconic season-ending BFGoodrich Tires 56th SCORE Baja 1000.
DRAW DEADLINE
The starting order within each class for this race (except for the classes that are qualifying), will be determined by a random drawing for those entries received online and paid in full by 5 p.m. (PDT) on Friday, Sept. 1.
No additional online entries will be accepted after 5 p.m. PDT on Friday, Sept. 1.
Late, on-site racer registration will be held on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (Sept. 13-15).
In person registration will be held in the SCORE Ensenada office until 5 p.m. PDT on Thursday, Sept. 7.
PRE-RUNNING
Official practice, or pre-running, on the official 386.42-mile race course for this year’s 4th SCORE Baja 400 will open at 8 a.m. PDT on Saturday, Sept. 2. Pre-running will begin at race mile 38.92, ending at race-mile 345.49. The first section to up race mile 38.92, which will be used in both directions during the race, will be available for pre-running only on Thursday (Sept. 14) and Friday (Sept. 15) and only in the outbound direction.
QUALIFYING
     Qualifying for starting positions within their respective classes will be held on Wednesday (Sept. 13), starting at 7 a.m. PDT. Classes that will be qualifying for the 4th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing Fuels, are SCORE Trophy Truck, SCORE TT Legend, and the Trophy Truck Spec class. Starting order for qualifying will be determined by the order in which each vehicle enters the race.
MAIN COURSE
The race will feature a course, when fully plotted and then marked over the next several weeks by SCORE President/Race Director Jose A. Grijalva, of 386.42 miles of rugged Baja California terrain.
The challenging race course will be 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 3,000 feet. The course will be another jewel reflecting the stark beauty of Baja California.
A HAPPENING…
Colorful race week festivities will start on Wednesday, Sept. 13 to help celebrate this newest SCORE Baja race. They will be held in or adjacent to the landmark Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center in the heart of Ensenada.
Chassis inspections and pre-tech/Stella device check and installation will be held on Wednesday (Sept. 13) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT by appointment (619.572.8245) and on Thursday (Sept. 14) chassis inspection/pre-tech/Stella bracket check and installation will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT on Blvd. Costero just past the start/finish ramp.
Friday (Sept. 15) will see the colorful day-long, pre-race Manufacturer’s Midway and contingency festival in the start finish line area in Ensenada. From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT contingency row will be held for all classes. Tech inspection/Transponder checks/Stella/SPICA device pickup will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. PDT on Friday as well at the end of the manufacturer’s row.
During the race on Saturday, Sept. 16 until the course closes on Sunday morning, Sept. 17, the start/finish line compound will include the massive double-sided SCOREvision LED screen broadcasting race festivities, the start, live race action from around the course and finish line interviews.
Popular Rat Sult will once again serve as host of the SCORE Live streaming. Assisting Sult will be veteran voice Dave Arnold.
Contingency and the race itself will be streamed live, airing via the internet on the SCORE website. Included in the exclusive race coverage, along with vehicle tracking, will be live drone and in-car camera footage from various locations around the race course. There will also be hosts in the SCORE Studio bringing live updates during the race.
AT THE RIVIERA…
The historic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center, in the heart of Ensenada, will again be the site of many of the activities surrounding the 4th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing Fuels. Racer registration and media registration will both be held in Salon Rojo on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (Sept. 13-15).
On Wednesday (Sept. 13 for qualifying teams only) racer registration will be held from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. PDT. On Thursday (Sept. 14) it will run from 9a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT, and on Friday (Sept. 16) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
On Wednesday, no new entries will be accepted after 7 p.m. PDT, on Thursday and Friday after 4 p.m. PDT.
SCORE Media Registration will be held in Salon Rojo at the Riviera on Wednesday (Sept. 13) from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. PDT and on Thursday and Friday (Sept. 14-15) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT.
The start/finish line for the race will once again be adjacent to the iconic Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center on Blvd. Costero.
SCOREscope
2023 GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY SCHEDULE
Here are the dates for the remaining two races in the four-race 2023 SCORE World Desert Championship Golden Anniversary season, ‘Celebrating 50 Years of SCORE Desert Racing Excellence’, which are being held totally in Baja California, Mexico for the eighth consecutive year:
4th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing Fuels—
September 13-17, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
BFGoodrich Tires 56th SCORE Baja 1000—
November 13-18, La Paz, Baja California Sur to Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
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 and Cruz Roja Mexicana.
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’
4th SCORE Baja 400, presented by VP Racing Fuels
Round 3 of four-race 2023 SCORE World Desert Championship
Sept. 13-17 - Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico – 386.42 miles
Total Entries: 109 (as of 8/08/23)
(from 23 U.S. States, host Mexico, Australia, Canada, France, Israel, New Zealand)
(Numerical order, by class)
Pro Cars/Trucks/UTVs
SCORE TROPHY TRUCK (32*)
1 Luke McMillin
*1L Gustavo Vildosola Sr
6 Dan Myers
7 Bryce Menzies
10 Alan Ampudia
11 Rob MacCachren
16 Cameron Steele
19 Tim Herbst
21 Gustavo ‘Tavo’ Vildosola
23 Dan McMillin
26 Dave Taylor
28 Ryan Daniel
31 Andy McMillin
33 Roberto Romo Jr
*37L Rolf Helland
38 Eric Hustead
43 Larry Roeseler
46 Paul Weel
58 Tracy Graf
*61L David Payne
69 Andrew Myers
70 Kevin Thompson
71 Harley Letner
*79L Russell Buehler
80 Josh Daniel
82 Sam Baldi
85 Mikey Lawrence
*85L Clay Lawrence
87 Dallas Lutrell
89 Mike Walser
91 Christopher Polvoorde
92 Paul Nauleau
*SCORE TT LEGEND
CLASS 1 (1)
168 Cody Reid
TROPHY TRUCK SPEC (29)
200 Jorge Sampietro
205 Joe Delucie
206 Joshua Cobb
207 Mason Cullen
211 Pat Sims
219 Thor Herbst
225 Scott McNeil
228 Ryan Hancock
231 Carlos Ramos
234 Jason McNeil
235 Zach Lumsden
236 Michael Marsal
238 Elijah Kiger
240 Chris Miller
247 Scott Shields
249 Dustin Swanson
260 Santiago Creel
263 EJ Herbst
270 Jimmy Diaz
272 Jack Grabowski
277 Travis Williams
280 Bryan Scheible
281 Damon Lewis
282 Brent Fox
289 Tanner Rust
294 Vincent Munoz
295 William Hedrick Jr
298 Jordan Dean (DOR-Riley Herbst)
299 Charles Dorrance
CLASS 10 (2)
1020 Carlos Guillen
1047 Zack McLaren
PRO UTV OPEN (12)
1821 Cayden MacCachren
1827 Austin Weiland
1831 Craig Scanlon
1854 Kristen Matlock
1867 Mike Pratt
1868 Bernie Gomez
1869 Justin Lambert
1871 Wayne Matlock
1886 Branden Sims
1888 Roger Norman
1895 Kaden Wells
1896 Brock Heger
PRO UTV FI (5)
2915 Rickey Arslanian
2917 Jason Murray
2940 Erick Kozin
2948 Matt Burroughs
2987 Edgar Garcia
PRO UTV NA (2)
1914 Lawrence Janesky
1980 Gabe Matthews
PRO UTV STOCK (5)
3916 Jeffrey Embree
3930 Douglas Cornwell
3933 Randy Emberton
3943 Dennis Romero
3967 Manuel Norzagaray
CLASS 7F (1)
714F Justin Park
TROPHY LITE (1)
6049 Chase Swanson
CLASS 11 (1)
1111 Eric Solorzano
Pro Motorcycles
PRO MOTO UNLIMITED (3)
11x Arturo Salas Jr
13x Adrian Ortiz
15x Eric Holt
PRO MOTO 30 (2)
319x David Smith
377x Joseph Putrino
PRO MOTO LIMITED (2)
100x Fernando Beltran
119x Oscar Garcia
PRO MOTO 50 (1)
501x Robert Creemers
PRO MOTO 40 (1)
441x Alirio Amado
PRO MOTO IRONMAN (3)
700x Brandon Wright
728x Sam Murphy
737x Virgilio Lozano
PRO MOTO 60 (1)
644x Kevin Ward
Pro Quads
Pro Quad (1)
1a Nicolas Velez
Sportsman
SPT M/C (2)
210x Brayan Verduzco
215x Gabi Abayov
SPT QUAD (2)
123a Eva Hernandez
138a Gabriel Vazquez