Inaugural Lucerna SCORE Baja 400: Weekend Preview
Sept. 19, 2019
UTVUG Staff
The second half of the 2019 SCORE World Desert Championship kicks off this weekend with the inaugural running of the Lucerna SCORE Baja 400 on Saturday. The brand new event isn’t just a point-scoring round in the four-race championship season, though: it will also determine starting positions for this November’s 52nd SCORE Baja 1000.
Of the 173 teams entered in this weekend’s event, 28 will tackle the race in UTVs. 17 will run in the Pro UTV Forced Induction class, making it the third-largest class in the event, while seven will run Normally Aspirated, three will compete in Unlimited, and one will compete in Pro Stock UTV. Cars, trucks, and UTVs will launch into the 400-mile course starting at 10AM PT.
The headline Pro UTV FI class is led by defending SCORE World Desert Champion Wayne Matlock, who will occupy his traditional position as the first rear-starter on the grid. With a win in the season-opening San Felipe 250 and fourth place in the Baja 500, Matlock holds a three-point lead over Marc Burnett, who will start fourth and has class podiums in both races. Cory Sappington drew the first starting spot and will look to build on a top-five result in the Baja 500.
Adrian Escandon will roll off first in Pro UTV NA, but the battle to watch is between Kaden Wells (starting third) and Kristen Matlock (first rear-starter). They’re tied at 168 points apiece after finishing 1-2 in the first events of the season, with Matlock winning in San Felipe and Wells returning serve in the Baja 500.
In the Unlimited class, Josh Herzing will look to extend his points lead over Jesus Mendez Jr. after both racers failed to finish the Baja 500. Pro 2 short course racer Rodrigo Ampudia will be the lone Pro Stock UTV competitor this weekend, and the second driver to take on the class after fellow short course veteran Brad Lovell made it to the finish at the Baja 500.
As always, the Lucerna SCORE Baja 400 can be streamed from score-international.com or the SCORE International Facebook page. Full entry lists, via SCORE, are below:
Adrian Escandon will roll off first in Pro UTV NA, but the battle to watch is between Kaden Wells (starting third) and Kristen Matlock (first rear-starter). They’re tied at 168 points apiece after finishing 1-2 in the first events of the season, with Matlock winning in San Felipe and Wells returning serve in the Baja 500.
In the Unlimited class, Josh Herzing will look to extend his points lead over Jesus Mendez Jr. after both racers failed to finish the Baja 500. Pro 2 short course racer Rodrigo Ampudia will be the lone Pro Stock UTV competitor this weekend, and the second driver to take on the class after fellow short course veteran Brad Lovell made it to the finish at the Baja 500.
As always, the Lucerna SCORE Baja 400 can be streamed from score-international.com or the SCORE International Facebook page. Full entry lists, via SCORE, are below:
