The 2025 SCORE Baja 500, held Saturday, June 7th, proved once again why it's one of the toughest off-road races on the planet. Just like it’s big brother, the Baja 1000, this race is a test for the racers, teams, and machines. As is typical, deep silt beds developed, virtually swallowing the trucks in their attempt to drive through them. There were also some massive rain ruts and the rocky, tight canyon roads and washes that challenged the 169 four-wheeled entrants, of which only 97 crossed the finish line. In other words, 57% of those that started, finished. That attrition rate tells you everything you need to know about this year’s course.
Polvoorde Out in Turn 3 Stunning Everyone
The story that stunned many of us right out of the gate was the early exit of pole-sitter and fan-favorite Christopher Polvoorde, representing Ford in his Trophy Truck. Just three turns and about 30 seconds into the race, Polvoorde was forced to make a split-second maneuver to avoid a photographer that was standing in his preferred pre-run line. The evasive action threw him into a deep rut, snapping the front end of his truck and ending his Baja 500 before it had barely begun. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the disappointment was evident, and of course, left everyone shocked including the race team, that had spent weeks prepping for this race.
Vaughn Hits a Boulder and Is Out
Also representing Ford in the Trophy Truck division was Vaughn Gittin Jr., piloting his stunning Bronco-inspired rig, decked out in RTR livery. This was Vaughn’s first run at the Baja 500 but unfortunately ended prematurely at race mile 201, in a particularly remote stretch of the course. After “striking a rock the size of a Maytag” halted his truck, a challenging chase mission began.
Getting parts to the location required navigating a long, unforgiving ranch road and paying a small “fee” to a local rancher. But first on scene? None other than Baja racing legend (24 Baja Wins) Curt LeDuc and his co-driver Kimmy, who showed up in what else? A Baja tested Bronco Raptor—armed with tacos, cerveza, and team spirit. As the parts were still hours away, a decision was made to remove the racers and allow the truck to be fixed later. Darin Spreadbury, Ford Performance mechanic, got the broken front end repaired around midnight, and the truck was driven out to a waiting trailer for the pavement drive back to Ensenada. Still, Vaughn’s efforts came up short of a finish, marking a DNF in his Baja 500 debut.
Healy Reaches Ensenada, Just Misses Podium
But it wasn’t all heartbreak for Ford. Loren Healy, in vehicle #68, put in a strong performance and kept his rig intact. He crossed the finish line 4th in class and 13th overall, with a time of 9:55:24, beating the 10-hour mark and well within the time allotted over the grueling 460-mile course. His in-car live feed offered us a thrilling look at the terrain, we watched them pass a roll over, pausing to make sure there were no injuries, and saw the teamwork and communication it took to conquer Baja, and not to miss any checkpoints. Healy’s finish was a silver lining, although just missing the podium, in an otherwise punishing day for the Ford-backed teams.
Navigating From Colorado
This year's Baja 500 reminded everyone that this race is less about racing your competition and more about your vehicle surviving the course. “You can’t finish first if first you don’t finish”. Even at home, we found ourselves swept into the action as we received a call asking us to scout roads to find a route to Vaughn’s remote breakdown site. That small role made us feel part of the action, and it underscored what makes Baja so special: it’s more than a race, it’s a community. Curt told us we were a tool in his toolbox. I’ve never been so honored to be called a tool.
Out of three Ford contenders, only one finished, but that’s Baja, and that’s racing. And as they say, a tough day in Baja still beats a good day in the office.
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