Wayne Matlock Wins SCORE Baja 400 in Polaris RZR Pro R Factory, Claims $50,000 Polaris SCORE Challenge
RZR Factory Racing’s Ethan Groom Finishes Second, Dallas Gonzalez Jr. Takes
Third to Complete All-RZR Pro R Factory Podium Sweep
MINNEAPOLIS, MN (September 14, 2026) – Polaris continued
its dominance in SCORE series this past weekend, sweeping the UTV Overall
podium at the 7th SCORE Baja 400. Piloting his Polaris RZR Pro R Factory to
the UTV Overall win, Wayne Matlock claimed Polaris’ $50,000 SCORE Challenge
prize purse. Joining Matlock on the podium with a second-place finish was
RZR Factory Racing Team driver Ethan Groom and Dallas Gonzalez, who rounded
out the all-RZR Pro R Factory podium sweep with a third-place
finish.
Behind Matlock, Groom delivered another strong performance for the RZR
Factory Racing Team. Starting third in Pro UTV Open, Groom battled
throughout the day to secure second overall, while Gonzalez followed in
third to give Polaris a clean sweep of the UTV Overall podium and further
showcase the performance, durability and depth of Polaris’ purpose-built
race platform.
Announced in July, the SCORE Challenge was created to raise the level of
competition within the UTV Pro class, offering a $50,000 prize to any
eligible UTV racer who could defeat the RZR Factory Racing team and capture
the UTV Overall victory. Matlock answered the challenge, adding Baja 400 to
his decorated off-road racing career.
“Wayne put together an incredible race, and we couldn’t think of a more
deserving competitor to be the first to claim the Polaris SCORE Challenge,”
said Alex Scheuerell, Polaris’ Director of Off-Road Motorsports. “We created
this challenge to raise the stakes and fuel competition, and Wayne did
exactly that. To see him earn the victory and the $50,000 prize aboard a RZR
Pro R Factory, while Ethan and Dallas completed an all-RZR Pro R Factory
podium, speaks volumes about the strength of this vehicle and the racers who
continue to push it to its limits.”
The podium sweep further underscores the growing presence of the RZR Pro R
Factory race vehicle across off-road racing, extending well beyond Polaris’
factory-backed RZR Factory Racing team. Developed from the same platform
that has powered RZR Factory Racing to victories across the sport’s most
demanding desert races, the purpose-built race vehicle is increasingly being
chosen by independent racers looking to compete at the front of the field.
That growing adoption was on full display at this year’s Baja 400, with RZR
Pro R Factory machines securing five of the top ten finishing
positions.
The Polaris RZR Factory Racing team will return to action at the Baja 1000,
November 9-15, as it looks to finish the SCORE season with a win in arguably
the toughest off-road race in the world.
Source: www.polaris.com