Disclaimer:
As a service to the sport we all love and follow, Rally-Raid Network posts numerous media releases from a wide variety of sources on our website. Due to the large number, and some times short time available, it is nearly impossible to review each public release. These articles are written by reporters or press officers who work for various organizers, teams, drivers, riders, and other parties, and they do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Rally-Raid Network.
Baja 1000 2024: ‘The Luke’ and the 'G.O.A.T' the big winners of the 57th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000
Gustavo Vildosola Sr. won in the SCORE Trophy Truck Legend class, Thor Herbst was the winner in the Trophy Truck Spec, and Matias Arjona IV triumphed in Class 10 during Round 4 of the 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship
#SCOREBaja1000
ENSENADA, Baja California, Mexico— Luke McMillin, 31, San Diego, Calif., and Rob MacCachren, 59, Las Vegas, Nevada, took a year to return to the top, winning the 57th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000 in Ensenada, Baja California, as part of Round 4 of the 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship, with a field of 282 teams.
‘The Luke’ McMillin won "The Grandaddy of All Off-Road Races" for the fourth time in the last five years, dominating the 864.13-mile race course in his No. 83 McMillin Racing Chevrolet 1500 Mason AWD, after taking the wheel from Rob ‘G.O.A.T’ MacCachren, 59, Las Vegas, Nevada, who claimed his 21st win in the SCORE Trophy Truck, extending his lead as the all-time top winner in the class created in 1994 by Sal Fish.
The time recorded by McMillin and MacCachren was 15 hours, 4 minutes, and 38 seconds, with an average speed of 54.31 miles per hour, marking BFGoodrich Tires' 34th overall victory in the SCORE Baja 1000, further solidifying its dominance over other tire brands.
‘THE LUKE’ ANECDOTES
Following his huge Overall and SCORE Trophy Truck victory, ‘The Luke’ commented at the finish line, “It went great. Not a single flat tire. We just kept moving and moving. Rob brought it to me in the lead, flawless, like you would expect Rob Mac to do, and we never looked back. I knew Toby was back there and would be coming so we hit the dirt running and put a few minutes on him.”
“I may have pushed it a little too hard, but no flats. I had an issue with my speed limiter. When I got on the highway, it didn’t take over. But today the truck felt good, an effortless flow. Like Larry Roeseler says, you just gotta flow and keep momentum. Thank you to Rob MacCachren and Amber and the entire MacCachren Motorsports. They did an amazing job. BFGoodrich tires were amazing, Method race wheels has the strongest, lightest wheel; it is the best tire and wheel combo out there. They deserve this win.”
MEXICO ON THE PODIUM
Gustavo ‘Tavo’ Vildosola Jr., 42, Mexicali, Baja California, finished second overall alongside Jason McNeil, 47, El Cajon, California, in the SCORE Trophy Truck, with his No. 21 Ford Raptor Vildosola. They completed the race in 16:00:29, with an average speed of 53.98 miles per hour across the deserts, beaches, and mountains of Baja California.
One of the fans' favorite drivers in Mexico, Alan Ampudia, 33, Ensenada, Baja California, crossed the finish line in third place without a driver change in his No. 10 Ford Raptor Mason AWD, with a time of 17:12:58, averaging 50.19 miles per hour.
MORGAN BACK ON TOP
The Slam Life Racing team won the overall motorcycle category, with Justin Morgan, 34, El Cajon, Calif., Tyler Lynn, 23, Mona, Utah, Brandon Prieto, 33, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, and Ryan Surratt, 27, Corona, Calif., allowing Honda to reclaim the top spot at the SCORE Baja 1000, following last year's victory by Bolivia's Juan Carlos ‘Chavo’ Salvatierra, riding a KTM motorcycle.
Morgan, Lynn, Prieto, and Surratt dominated the 864.13-mile course in 17 hours, 52 minutes, and 34 seconds, aboard the Honda CRF450X Number 7x in the Pro Moto Unlimited class, marking Morgan's seventh overall win in the history of the race.
Lynn spoke at the finish line about his first Baja 1000 victory: “It was an awesome day. I started the race at 1am. Took the bike to race mile 260 with a ten-minute lead. Then Brandon Prieto extended that lead, even though we had some wire stuck in the wheel. We got that fixed. Then Justin Morgan jumped on and we got an even bigger lead. Then Tyler Surratt jumped on and got us an even bigger lead. It was a near-perfect day. The bike never touched the ground. No flaws. Nothing broke. Could not ask for a better day. To win the SCORE Baja 1000 on my first try is pretty cool. It was hot, it was cold. Sand to rocks. Every type of terrain.”
VILDOSOLA AND JOHNSON, BAJA LEGENDS
The winners of the SCORE Trophy Truck Legends were Gustavo Vildosola Sr., 71, from Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, Ricky Johnson, 60, El Cajon, Calif., and Mike Coleman, San Diego, Calif., They finished in third place overall with their No. 1L Ford Raptor Mason Vildosola Racing, completing the race in 17:01:39, with an average speed of 50.76 miles per hour.
This marks the 12th consecutive victory for Vildosola, Johnson, and Coleman in the class for drivers aged 50 and over, a class they have dominated effortlessly, thanks to the preparation work done at the Vildosola Racing shop by Andres ‘Lechero’ Rodriguez.
MUY TERRIBLES
The Herbst family won the Trophy Truck Spec class for the second consecutive year at the SCORE Baja 1000, thanks to the flawless driving of Thor Herbst, Pierce Herbst, and NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Riley Herbst, aboard their No. 219 1 Nine Industries Chevrolet truck. They completed the race in 17:57:43, with an average speed of 48.10 miles per hour.
For the new generation of the Terrible Herbst team, it was a very important sixth-place overall finish in the race, after battling through intense duels along the course with the Jordan Brenthel team, Carlos ‘Apdaly’ Lopez, and Roy Tompkins, who finished second in the class with their No. 273 Brenthel Chevy Truck.
HEGER OVERALL UTV WINNER
Brock Heger returned to the winner’s circle, taking first place in the Pro UTV Open class with the SCI Motorsports/Polaris Factory Racing at the 57th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000, completing the race without a driver change in his No. 1896 Polaris RZR Pro R.
Heger crossed the finish line with a time of 18:06:35, at an average speed of 47.72 miles per hour, securing Polaris' sweep of the 2024 SCORE World Desert Championship. The three previous races had all been won by Cayden MacCachren, also a member of the SCI Motorsports/Polaris Factory Racing.
CABRERA AND A RECORD-BREAKING WIN
Patricio Cabrera, Chile, won the Pro Moto Ironman class, which had a record 32 participants in any SCORE race, with an official time of 24:27:58.
Cabrera, a Kawasaki brand athlete, has competed multiple times in the Dakar Rally and won for the first time in SCORE, after several attempts through the magical deserts of Baja California.
FLEMATE, THE KING OF CLASS 11
Oliver Flemate, 46, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, achieved his 9th consecutive victory in SCORE, winning Class 11 alongside Antonio Espinoza, 35, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico and Oscar Flores, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. They completed a shorter course of 736.61 miles with a time of 30: 12:29, driving their No. 1100 Flemate-VW.
All of SCORE's events in 2024 were held in Mexico, within the majestic Baja California Peninsula, a tradition that has been repeated for the ninth consecutive year.
Source: Score International / Baja 1000
Photo: GetSome Photo.
Helder