RACE RECAP | 2022 SCORE International Baja 400 - UTV Sports (2024)

One of the many things that sets desert racing apart from all other types of motorsports are the unique challenges posed by racing in natural terrain. No matter how much time is spent pre-running the course, chances are that on race day it will be different; and usually not for the better. At the SCORE Baja 400, Round 3 of the four-race 2022 SCORE World Desert Championship held in Ensenada, Baja Mexico, course conditions were even more challenging due to the arrival of Hurricane Kay. Winds of up to 70 miles per hour and 4 to 8 inches of rain battered the Baja peninsula just a week before the event.

Flood waters made many familiar locations unrecognizable. Washes were turned into huge flowing rivers that carried away anything and everything in their way, even roads and bridges. As soon as the storm subsided, people sprang into action to make roads passable and help each other repair their homes. The Baja peninsula is no stranger to harsh weather and Baja culture is based on making things work regardless of the challenges; a philosophy shared by the racers.

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After the storm, much of the course was left under water or covered by deep mud. The conditions posed a dilemma for teams preparing to pre-run a course sure to change before the start. Do you pre-run in the mud, or wait until the sun has a chance to bake things for a day or two? Some areas were beyond repair and SCORE made necessary changes. But despite their best efforts, some of the damage could not be avoided; mud pits and water crossings now accompanied the rocks, silt, dust, and ruts normally expected on the course. This year’s 393.82-mile-long route was another masterpiece devised by race director Jose A. Grijalva and featured elevations ranging from sea level to 4,972 feet.

Two physical full-stop checkpoints and 170 virtual checkpoints were set up to keep racers on course. Technical terrain made passing difficult and put pressure on the teams to get everything right. If they wanted to win; no time, or more importantly track position, could be lost due to problems or repairs. Everyone sets out to have a perfect day, but very few achieve one. Most find success quickly and efficiently overcoming any problems as they arise. Even with perfect execution by the team, some predicaments are practically guaranteed to happen. Parts fail, vehicles get stuck, and tires get lacerated by sharp rocks in any desert race.

One racer to defy the odds was overall UTV winner Austin Weiland. Not only did he have a perfect day in terms of flat tires and mechanical issues, but he and his co-driver Justin Wragg perfectly navigated the course with zero penalties after starting 15th off the line.

UTV SportsPhoto by GETSOME

UTV SportsPhoto by GETSOME

Rodrigo Ampudia was second to Weiland. To say he pushed as hard as possible is an understatement; the man crossed the finish line on three wheels while missing an entire rear hub assembly. Rodrigo was penalized 11 minutes due to a missed VCP (virtual check point). His trailing arm had no bearing, but neither did the penalty in the end. Weiland’s time of 09:30:18.495 was still quicker than Ampudia’s 09:46:34.618 without the penalty. No matter how many wheels stayed attached, Rodrigo never gave up.

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Wes Miller put his Polaris RZR on the podium in third place behind the Can Am’s of Weiland and Ampudia. “We were running up front for 350 miles until we had some issues that slowed us up,” said Miller. “We ran in the top 3 all day. I think a third place will keep us in the points chase. We always race to win but are also looking at a championship.”

The Pro UTV Open class started up front but were overtaken by the Turbo cars about halfway through the race. The lead was swapped back and forth between Mike Pratt, Kristen Matlock and Mike Cafro. Coming down towards the coast after going over the loop behind Mike’s Sky Ranch, Mike Pratt suffered an issue that caused some downtime and cost him the win. Kristen Matlock took a turn up front, but she too had a problem and was removed from contention. The battle came down to Mike Cafro and Craig Scanlon for the win. Both managed to pick up time penalties for missing VCPs. Scanlon got docked 10 minutes; Cafro lost 20 minutes but still prevailed. His years of Baja racing experience came in handy.

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“It’s a new car; we had a couple issues, but it’s a great start,” said Craig Scanlon. “This is going to be fun for us when we get it dialed. We finished second which means we start second at the 1000. That’s what we came here to do.”

In the Naturally Aspirated class there were only three entries, but they put on a good show. Kaden Wells came away with another win. Joe and Austin Bolton finished second and third. Bradley Millner suffered a DNF. “We lost our clutch, but Austin and the crew were right there,” says Joe Bolton. “We lost about 20 minutes. We are already looking forward to the Baja 1000. We can finish right behind Kaden (Wells) to take the championship, but we’d like to be ahead of him and also take the win.”

UTV SportsPhoto by GETSOME

UTV SportsPhoto by GETSOME

With a challenging race behind them, the competitors are focusing 100% on the Baja 1000. Everyone wants to win the iconic race, but championships are also at stake. Those who are not in the points chase are a huge threat with nothing to lose and the ability to push paces beyond reason. Let’s hope we don’t have any more weather events before the race, it’s going to be challenging enough.

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