Racing

Polaris Wins Big at Baja 1000

Polaris RZRs win two classes at the 2022 race.

December 1, 2022

Branden Sims won the UTV Open class at the 2022 Baja 1000 in a 2022 Polaris RZR Pro R.Polaris

A fleet of UTVs in five classes took the fight to the Baja Peninsula for the 2022 SCORE Baja 1000. Plenty of those UTVs got knocked out before the end of the 828-mile bout, but Polaris RZR factory drivers Branden Sims and Eric Borgen delivered the knockout. Starting from eighth, the No. 1869 RZR Pro R won the top-tier Pro UTV Open class. Sims and co-driver Skyler Howell drove the first 475 miles, Eric Borgen and his co-driver Matt Holmes manned the rest of the way.

Sims finished the event 24th overall, less than 20 minutes behind a much more powerful trophy truck.Polaris

Of the 137 finishers in the entire race, Sims and Borgen crossed the line in 24th overall, less than 18 minutes behind a trophy truck, almost 40 minutes ahead of the next UTV. It was Sims’ second overall Baja 1000 victory.

Kaden Wells and co-driver Emma Cornwell won the Pro UTV NA class in a race-prepped Polaris RZR XP 1000.Polaris

Some of the mods powering the winners were Fox 3.0 Live Valve shocks with Lone Star Racing upper and lower control arms, Shock Therapy tie-rods, 26 inches of rear suspension travel, a dry-break quick fuel filler, and a set of lightweight Method 412 Bead Grip wheels wearing Tensor DSR 37-inch tires. The mods couldn’t help when Sims twice got stuck behind Trophy Trucks blocking the trail. The upgrades definitely earned their price when Sims broke free, the driver saying he hit 107.5 mph trying to catch the UTVs that hadn’t been impeded and were way up the trail.

Wells and Cornwell toast their victory.Polaris

Polaris Racing snagged another win in the naturally aspirated Pro UTV NA class thanks to Kaden Wells and co-driver Emma Cornwell. That duo crossed the line 48th overall in a Polaris RZR XP 1000. This is Wells’ first Baja 1000 win, joining his two Baja 500 victories, four Baja 400 victories, and 18 consecutive Baja podiums.

Polaris Racing Mexico made it a hat trick for the global mothership thanks to victory in the Pro Stock UTV class. Antonio Mendez and Alonso Gonzalez drove a Polaris RZR XP 4 Turbo S to the checkered flag.

The Polaris team is finished for the year. It hits the dirt again at the 2023 King of the Hammers, February 2–11, 2023.

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