When the dust finally settled at the 57th SCORE Baja 500, one thing was crystal clear: Polaris didn’t just win the race—it dominated it.
The legendary 468-mile desert challenge has a way of exposing weaknesses. Baja rewards patience, punishes mistakes, and demands reliability from both machine and driver. This year, Polaris checked every box, sweeping the UTV overall podium and claiming the top nine overall finishing positions in one of off-road racing’s most grueling events.
Leading the charge was longtime Polaris racer Branden Sims, who piloted his RZR Pro R Factory to the overall UTV victory. Wayne Matlock followed in second, while first-year RZR Factory Racing driver Ethan Groom completed the all-Polaris podium in third.
Sims Returns To The Top
For Sims, the victory marked a significant milestone. A former Baja 500 and Baja 1000 champion, he entered the race looking for his first SCORE victory since 2022. Starting sixth on the grid, he took a measured approach, methodically working through the field while avoiding the costly mistakes that often define Baja races.
Rather than forcing the issue early, Sims remained within striking distance of the leaders throughout the day. When an opportunity presented itself late in the race, he was perfectly positioned to capitalize. After taking over the lead, he never looked back, securing the overall class victory in just his second race behind the wheel of the new RZR Pro R Factory.
“Today was incredible, and it feels so good to get back on top and earn a win,” said Sims. “To come away with the overall victory against such a talented field is really special. My new RZR Pro R Factory was absolutely dialed in and performed flawlessly all day long. We had a smart race plan, maintained a strong pace, picked our lines carefully, and put ourselves in position to capitalize when it mattered most. This is only my second race in the car, but the confidence it gives me behind the wheel is unbelievable.”
An All-Polaris Podium
While Sims grabbed the headlines, Matlock and Groom delivered equally impressive performances. Starting ninth and outside the top 10, respectively, both drivers steadily worked their way forward throughout the race, helping Polaris secure a clean sweep of the overall podium.
It was the kind of result manufacturers dream about and competitors dread—a complete lockout of the top three positions in one of the sport’s premier events.
Locking Out The Top Nine
The domination didn’t stop there.
Polaris racers locked out the top nine overall UTV finishing positions at the Baja 500. Mitch Guthrie Jr. finished fourth, followed by Dallas Gonzalez in fifth. Joe Terrana and co-driver Rodrigo Ampudia claimed sixth, while Mike Cafro, Sebastian Marquez, and Kristen Matlock rounded out the top nine in seventh, eighth, and ninth.
Securing every spot in the top nine is an extraordinary achievement at Baja, where mechanical failures, navigation issues, and the brutal terrain routinely shake up the running order.
The RZR Pro R Factory Continues To Deliver
The results also underscored the strength of the RZR Pro R Factory platform. The machine occupied the top six overall finishing positions, with Sims, Matlock, Groom, Guthrie Jr., Gonzalez, and Terrana all piloting the championship-proven vehicle across Baja’s punishing terrain.
In an event where durability is every bit as important as speed, the RZR Pro R Factory once again demonstrated why it has become the benchmark in UTV desert racing. The platform handled the relentless demands of Baja while delivering the performance and reliability needed to compete at the highest level.
A Team Effort
“We couldn’t be prouder of our Polaris racers and the entire team behind this program,” said Alex Scheuerell, Polaris’ Director of Off-Road Motorsports. “To sweep the podium at the Baja 500, secure the top nine overall UTV finishing positions, and see RZR Pro R Factory machines claim the top six spots overall is an incredible accomplishment. The RZR Pro R Factory continues to prove itself as the benchmark in off-road racing, delivering the performance, durability, and reliability needed to win in the toughest conditions. This achievement is a testament to the dedication, talent, and relentless effort of everyone involved in this program.”
Eyes On Vegas To Reno
With another dominant Baja performance now in the books, the focus shifts back to the United States. The RZR Factory Racing team will return to action at Best In The Desert’s Vegas to Reno race, scheduled for August 12-16. As one of the longest and most demanding off-road races in the country, it presents another opportunity for Polaris to build on the momentum generated by its Baja 500 sweep.
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