Polaris RZR Factory Racing closed out the 2025 SCORE Desert Series with a commanding performance at the 58th Baja 1000, cementing its place as the benchmark in open UTV competition. Cayden MacCachren and co-driver Ethan Groom battled through 835 miles of punishing terrain—rocks, silt, bottlenecks, and the infamous San Felipe whoops—to secure a hard-earned win in the #1821 Polaris RZR Pro R Factory.
Groom opened the race before handing the car off to MacCachren around race mile 411 for the final push. From there, MacCachren delivered a relentless, calculated drive to claim his second career Baja 1000 victory and his long-awaited breakthrough of the season.
“Ending the season with a Baja 1000 win feels incredible,” MacCachren said. “I’m grateful to my co-driver Ethan Groom, my navigator Hailey Hein, the entire RZR Factory Racing crew and to Polaris engineering for building the most dominant UTV in the sport.”
A Baja-Proven Machine
The Polaris RZR Pro R Factory platform once again proved why it has become the standard for desert competition. All four factory entries started inside the top five and quickly settled into a strong, controlled race pace. The machine’s reinforced chassis, long-travel suspension, and 255 horsepower high-output engine allowed drivers to stay ahead of the chaos that sidelined many competitors.
Through clean pits, disciplined driving, and exceptional endurance, Polaris racers maintained front-running positions for nearly the entire race.
Heger Clinches Third Straight SCORE Championship
While MacCachren took the Baja 1000 win, Brock Heger executed a smart, composed race that secured him a fifth-place finish—more than enough to lock down his third-consecutive SCORE Pro UTV Open Championship.
Combined with MacCachren’s Baja 1000 victory and strong performances across the season, Polaris and the RZR Factory Racing Team completed a sweep of the 2025 points standings.
“Winning the Baja 1000 takes more than speed — it takes a machine you can trust and a team that never quits,” said Alex Scheuerell, Director of Off-Road Motorsports at Polaris. “The RZR Pro R Factory delivered unmatched performance and reliability from the first mile to the last.”
Revised Results Shift Second and Third
After the official race results were released and the original race report was distributed, SCORE International announced a correction to the final standings. The organization removed missed VCP (Virtual Check Point) penalties from multiple teams, altering the order behind MacCachren.
With the revised scoring, Branden Sims—originally listed in third—was moved up into second place. RZR Factory Racing’s Max Eddy Jr., who had initially been credited with second, shifted to third.
Despite the adjustment, Cayden MacCachren remained the undisputed 2025 Baja 1000 champion, and Brock Heger’s fifth-place finish still secured his third straight season title.
A Season—and a Baja 1000—to Remember
Even with the post-race scoring shakeup, Polaris RZR Factory Racing leaves the 2025 Baja 1000 with a victory, a podium sweep (revised but intact), a season championship, and a powerful reminder of what the RZR Pro R Factory is capable of when the stakes are highest.
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