Mexico’s Rodrigo Ampudia Captures UTV Overall Win at SCORE San Felipe 250
Record Number of UTV Drivers Battle Challenging Course at 36th Annual Event
Words: Heather Wilson
Photos: GETSOME Photo
The San Felipe 250 always provides a true test of machine capability and endurance, as well as driver navigation and strategy. A little luck doesn’t hurt either. With more than 28 percent of competitors unable to finish the race due to factors like mechanical issues or racer fatigue, those who are fortunate enough to see the checkered flag waving at the finish line as fans cheer them on have a great deal to celebrate, no matter what position they finish. Of course, winning makes the months of preparation, stress, late nights and travel a whole lot more rewarding, and may even reward the wallet after sponsors hear the good news.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023, SCORE International kicked off this year’s four-race World Desert Championship series with the 36th annual SCORE San Felipe 250. Sal Fish, former SCORE president, and Pat Butler, creator of the 35,000-acre El Dorado Ranch, served as two of the grand marshals for the event in addition to Dan Cornwell, the first-ever overall winner of the race in 1982.
In the months leading up to the April 1st race, teams prepared their UTVs to take on the unforgiving desert south of the U.S. border, not only putting in an immense amount of time and effort but making a large financial commitment as well. Drivers anxiously waited for the official GPS file to drop on March 16th. Then they began plotting their race strategies and prepared to pre-run select course sections that opened on March 18th. Finally, nearing race day, tech inspection and contingency began on March 30. A total of 285 competitors hailed from 28 states in the US, one US territory, and 12 additional countries.
On race day, the sun was shining and a light breeze flowed through the desert as drivers were treated to temperatures in the mid-70s. The oceanside town of San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico, welcomed a record number of 67 UTV drivers in five different classes who had prepared their machines for battle on the 262-mile course. At 8:15 am, UTV drivers staged for a staggered start shortly after 9 am.
Starting from the El Malecon (the boardwalk in downtown San Felipe), drivers left the calm view of the Sea of Cortez and pointed their machines north for approximately 80 miles of chaos and uncertainty on the Baja Peninsula. They navigated a rugged course before turning counter-clockwise to head south for an additional 150 miles, with a pit stop at mile 121.
Four-wheel competitors saw 113 virtual checkpoints throughout the day, and one full-stop checkpoint at the 165-mile mark. The teams continually confirmed their position with the GPS and mile markers placed every five miles. They navigated through four infamous Baja washes, including Amarillas Wash, Chanate Wash, Huatamote Wash and Azufre Wash. Drivers then navigated Boulder Canyon on their way back north to reach the checkered flag back in San Felipe.
Thousands of fans scattered across the desert cheered as high-powered machines ripped through the desert at high speed in front of them. Other fans watched in amazement as some machines strategically wrestled their way through technical sections of the course.
In the end, 38-year-old Rodrigo Ampudia (2910) of Ensenada, Mexico, was victorious. He captured the overall UTV win as well as the Pro UTV Forced Induction class win. He piloted his Can-Am X3 XRS Turbo R through the rocky and whooped-out sandy terrain at a blistering pace to finish in just six hours and 16 minutes. That meant he finished just one hour and 47 minutes behind overall event winner Luke McMillin in a much more powerful and robust trophy truck.
“It was a good race up until the last sixty miles,” said Ampudia. “…the car kept turning off and we had to troubleshoot it, reset the whole system four or five times, and lost time.”
Pro UTV Open class driver and Polaris Factory Racing’s team principal Craig Scanlon (1831) tallied the second-best UTV time at six hours and 22 minutes. Over the last seven miles, he had to pace himself to avoid running out of fuel before they reached the finish line.
“It went great,” Scanlon commented. “We are finishing with the same four tires we started with and all the same parts.”
Scanlon credited his navigator, Max Eddy Jr., for their win in the Pro UTV Open class and runner-up overall UTV finish.
“Every part of this race was him,” said Scanlon. “He kept us calm when we needed to be calm. He called every single line perfectly.”
Alpine, California resident and fellow Pro UTV Open driver Wayne Matlock (1871) rounded out the overall UTV podium in his Polaris, taking second in class. Last year’s Pro UTV Open class champion and Polaris RZR Pro R pilot Mike Cafro (1876) took third. Cafro is no stranger to the event, with 30 years of San Felipe 250 experience under his belt. However, even his experience couldn’t have predicted hitting a hidden rock on the course, which set him back a bit.
Young gun Cayden MacCachren (1821), 2021 SCORE Rookie of the Year and son of multi-time off-road champion Rob MacCachren, drove his SCI Motorsports Polaris RZR to a fourth-place finish in the class, and was one of only 13 class competitors who were able to make it all the way through the hard-hitting course to cross the finish line.
Even for the most well-equipped machines with superior suspension, the course can dole out a beating. The Pro UTV Forced Induction class saw 30 starters, but only 21 finishers. With Ampudia taking the overall win, Edgar Garcia Leon (2987) of Trabuco Canyon, California was second in class to take the checkers after overcoming adversity throughout the day.
“It was super dusty and hot,” said Edgar Garcia Leon. “My wife, Nancy, is my co-driver. We had a couple CV issues, brakes, and the GPS was no good. We had two flat tires, some tree branches.”
Arizona’s PJ Jones (2998) rounded out the Pro UTV Forced Induction podium. He noted a trouble-free race except for one flat. To make matters worse, the jack broke and lost even more crucial time in the repair process.
In the Pro UTV Naturally-Aspirated class, SCORE motorcycle champion and Californian Joe Bolton (1957) won the UTV class for the second-straight year. The 65-year-old navigated his Polaris RZR XP1000 past the checkered flag at the seven-hour 30-minute mark. Although fellow Californians Gabe Matthews (1980) and Quirino Rene Gutierrez (1909) faced penalties, they still managed to take the second and third step of the podium, respectively.
Forty-year-old Anibal Lopez (3900) of Mexicali, Mexico, captured the Pro UTV Stock win in his Polaris RZR Turbo R by more than 36 minutes over Randy Emberton (3933) of Arizona. Manuel Norzagaray (3967) of Casa Grande, Arizona, finished third in his Can-Am.
With more names added to the record books, another San Felipe 250 event is now just a memory. Drivers turn their focus to preparing for the 55th SCORE Baja 500, the next of the four-race series, to take place May 31 through June 4.
View full event results at https://score-international.com/raceinfo/class-summary-unofficial/
Watch the replay of the action at https://scoremediahouse.com/
TOP FINISHERS
All results posted are unofficial. To see the full current results, visit: https://score-international.com/raceinfo/class-summary-unofficial/
*Penalty applied
Pro UTV Open
- Craig Scanlon (1831), 06:22:56.294
- Wayne Matlock (1871), 06:31:19.117
- Mike Cafro (1876), 06:35:34.178
- Cayden MacCachren (1821), 06:48:27.753
- *Kolton Hustead (1838), 06:56:15.308
Pro UTV Forced Induction
- *Rodrigo Ampudia (2910), 06:16:17.770
- Edgar Garcia Leon (2987), 06:32:29.756
- PJ Jones (2998), 06:35:16.035
- Jessica Lopez (2996), 07:11:52.321
- Ricky Arslanian (2915), 07:17:25.107
Pro Stock UTV
- Anibal Lopez (3900), 07:42:19.239
- Randy Emberton (3933), 08:19:19.158
- Manuel Norzagaray (3967), 08:59:40.093
- Scott Bergen (3908), 09:22:01.517
- Bret Franson (3939), 10:15:07.357
Pro UTV Naturally-Aspirated
- Joe Bolton (1957), 07:30:00.706
- *Gabe Matthews (1980), 07:40:33.514
- *Quirino Rene Gutierrez (1909), 10:49:39.364
- Lawrence Janesky (1914), 12:18:48.043
About the Author: Heather Wilson is a motorsports communications and marketing consultant. She’s ridden motorcycles since the age of five and loves teaching others to ride as well. Besides loving all things racing, she enjoys traveling and glamping (that’s right) with her fiancé and two golden retrievers. HighGearSuccess.com
