Wayne Matlock wins the 2026 SCORE Baja 400, taking the UTV Overall victory behind the wheel of a Polaris RZR Pro R Factory and collecting the $50,000 Polaris SCORE Challenge prize. Matlock led an impressive showing for the RZR Pro R Factory platform, with Ethan Groom finishing second and Dallas Gonzalez Jr. taking third to complete an all-Polaris podium.
Wayne Matlock Wins 2026 SCORE Baja 400
The 2026 SCORE Baja 400 added another major victory to Wayne Matlock’s off-road racing career. Competing in the Pro UTV Open class, Matlock put together a strong run through Baja to capture the UTV Overall victory in his Polaris RZR Pro R Factory.
Matlock finished the race in 9 hours, 54 minutes and 28 seconds, earning his first SCORE Baja 400 victory while also becoming the first racer to collect Polaris’ $50,000 SCORE Challenge prize.
Behind Matlock, RZR Factory Racing driver Ethan Groom battled his way to second overall after starting third in the Pro UTV Open class. Dallas Gonzalez Jr. followed in third, putting three RZR Pro R Factory race vehicles on the UTV Overall podium.
Wayne Matlock Wins 2026 SCORE Baja 400
Matlock Claims the $50,000 Polaris SCORE Challenge
Polaris announced its SCORE Challenge in July, putting up a $50,000 prize for any eligible UTV racer who could beat the RZR Factory Racing team and claim the UTV Overall victory at a SCORE race.
Matlock answered the challenge at the Baja 400. The twist is that he did it aboard a Polaris RZR Pro R Factory, beating the factory-backed team while competing with the same purpose-built RZR race platform.
“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.”
Wayne Matlock Wins 2026 SCORE Baja 400
Polaris RZR Pro R Factory Sweeps Baja 400 Podium
The 2026 SCORE Baja 400 turned into a showcase for the Polaris RZR Pro R Factory, with Matlock, Groom and Gonzalez Jr. sweeping the first three UTV Overall finishing positions.
The results extended beyond the podium. RZR Pro R Factory race vehicles accounted for five of the top 10 finishing positions at the Baja 400, showing the growing number of independent racers competing aboard the platform in addition to Polaris’ factory-backed team.
The RZR Pro R Factory was developed specifically for off-road racing and has competed in some of the biggest desert races in North America and Mexico. While the RZR Factory Racing team continues to campaign the vehicle, the race platform has increasingly found its way into the hands of private and independent teams.
Wayne Matlock Wins 2026 SCORE Baja 400
Wayne Matlock Adds Another Baja Victory
The 2026 SCORE Baja 400 victory adds another major accomplishment to Matlock’s long off-road racing career. Matlock has competed extensively in SCORE and other major desert racing series, with experience spanning both UTVs and four-wheel vehicles.
This time, Matlock not only walked away with the UTV Overall victory but also earned an additional $50,000 for beating the Polaris factory team for the Polaris SCORE Challenge.
For Polaris, having an independent RZR Pro R Factory racer win its own challenge while the factory team finished directly behind him produced an unusual but impressive result: the company paid out the prize while still putting RZR Pro R Factory vehicles in all three UTV Overall podium positions.
Wayne Matlock Wins 2026 SCORE Baja 400
Polaris Heads to the 2026 SCORE Baja 1000
With the 2026 SCORE Baja 400 complete, attention now turns toward the biggest race remaining on the schedule.
The Polaris RZR Factory Racing team is scheduled to return for the SCORE Baja 1000, November 9-15. The season finale will give the team and independent RZR Pro R Factory racers another opportunity to battle for the UTV Overall victory in one of the toughest and most prestigious off-road races in the world.
After Wayne Matlock’s 2026 SCORE Baja 400 victory and an all-RZR Pro R Factory podium sweep, the stage is set for another fight at the front of the UTV field when the SCORE season concludes at the Baja 1000.
