The 57th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500: Your Essential Guide To The 2025 Race Dates, Schedule, And Off-Road Legends

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The 57th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500 is officially set to roar to life from June 4–8, 2025, marking the second and arguably most challenging round of the new SCORE World Desert Championship season. This legendary off-road motorsport race returns to its spiritual home in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, promising a punishing single-loop course that will test the world’s elite drivers and their state-of-the-art machinery. As of today, December 24, 2025, the full event schedule has been released, confirming the dates for registration, qualifying, and the main event, ensuring fans and competitors alike can finalize their plans for this iconic mid-year desert battle. The Baja 500 is not merely a race; it is a grueling endurance test and a cornerstone of desert racing history, attracting a global field of competitors eager to conquer the unforgiving terrain of the Baja California Peninsula. The 2025 edition, which celebrates the 57th running of the event, will once again showcase the sheer power of the Trophy Truck class, the skill of veteran drivers like Larry "The Legend" Roeseler, and the relentless pursuit of speed across approximately 500 miles of the world's most brutal landscape.

Official 2025 SCORE Baja 500 Schedule and Event Logistics

The 2025 SCORE Baja 500 is the second of four races in the SCORE World Desert Championship, following the season-opening San Felipe 250. The event's base of operations, including the start and finish lines, will be the picturesque coastal city of Ensenada, known affectionately as "The Cinderella of the Pacific." The week-long event is meticulously planned by SCORE International, the sanctioning body, ensuring a smooth flow from vehicle inspection to the final checkered flag.

Key Baja 500 2025 Dates

  • Event Dates: Wednesday, June 4 – Sunday, June 8, 2025
  • Host City: Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
  • Pre-Running Opens: Saturday, May 24, 2025
  • Start/Finish: Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
  • Race Distance: Approximately 500 miles (804 km)

Detailed Event Schedule Breakdown

The official schedule begins well before the race day itself, with critical logistical and technical checks. * Wednesday, June 4: Early registration and driver qualification for the Trophy Truck and Trophy Truck Spec classes. This qualifying session is crucial as it determines the starting order for the fastest vehicles. * Thursday, June 5: Final registration, technical inspection (Tech & Contingency), and the mandatory driver's meeting. Tech & Contingency is a massive public event where fans can get up close to the race vehicles and meet the drivers. * Friday, June 6: The main event begins. The motorcycle and quad classes typically start first, followed by the car and truck classes, including the Trophy Trucks, a few hours later. * Saturday, June 7: The race continues throughout the day and into the night. The fastest vehicles will complete the course in under nine hours, but the course remains open for slower classes and those facing mechanical issues. The official finish line closes late on Saturday. * Sunday, June 8: The official awards ceremony is held, celebrating the class winners and the overall champion of the 57th running. The Pre-Running period, opening on May 24, is vital for teams. It allows drivers and navigators to scout the course, mark dangerous sections, and finalize their race strategy before the official green flag drops. However, teams must strictly adhere to SCORE’s rules regarding pre-running to ensure local safety and compliance.

The Brutality of the Baja 500 Course: A True Test of Endurance

The Baja 500 is renowned for its diverse and punishing terrain, which is why it is considered one of the most prestigious desert races globally. The single-loop course, which starts and finishes in Ensenada, typically ventures into the treacherous mountains, rocky canyons, and wide-open silt beds of the Baja Peninsula. The course is designed to challenge every aspect of a team's preparation: the vehicle's durability, the driver's skill, the navigator's precision, and the pit crew's efficiency. Competitors must battle massive elevation changes, deep ruts, and the infamous "whoops"—a series of rhythmic bumps that can destroy a vehicle's suspension at high speed. The route for the 57th edition is expected to feature a mix of high-speed sections and highly technical, rock-strewn areas, demanding constant focus from the drivers. The approximately 500-mile distance is a perfect blend of speed and endurance, acting as a crucial warm-up for the season-ending Baja 1000.

The Off-Road Titans: Key Classes and Legends to Watch in 2025

The Baja 500 draws entries from over 30 professional and amateur classes, but the spotlight is always on the premier categories. The race is a magnet for the biggest names and most advanced off-road technology, guaranteeing a spectacular showdown.

The Premier Race Classes

1. SCORE Trophy Truck: This is the undisputed King Class. These are unlimited-class off-road racing trucks, featuring massive horsepower (over 850 hp), long-travel suspension, and custom-built chassis. They are the fastest vehicles on the course and compete for the overall win. Drivers like Alan Ampudia, who won the overall title in a previous running, are the stars of this class. 2. Trophy Truck Spec: A highly competitive class featuring trucks built to a more restricted specification, using a sealed engine package. This class serves as a proving ground for future Trophy Truck stars and often boasts some of the largest entry fields. 3. Class 1: The unlimited open-wheel class. These custom-built, high-performance buggies are incredibly fast and agile, capable of challenging the Trophy Trucks for the overall victory, as demonstrated by past champions like Harley Letner. 4. Trophy Truck Legends: Reserved for drivers aged 50 and over, this class features some of the most experienced and famous names in the sport. The class is often won by desert racing icon Larry "The Legend" Roeseler, who holds a remarkable 17 class wins in the Baja 500.

Entities and Off-Road Legends

To truly understand the prestige of the Baja 500, one must know the names of the drivers and teams that have cemented its legacy. The 2025 race will see the next generation of drivers competing against seasoned veterans. * Larry Roeseler: A multi-time overall winner and a living legend of the sport, still fiercely competitive in the Trophy Truck Legends class. * Ivan Stewart: "The Ironman," a historical figure known for his solo victories in the event. * Rod Hall: A record-holder for consecutive finishes, representing the history of the sport. * Rick D. Johnson: Another key figure in the history of the Trophy Truck class. * BFGoodrich Tires: The title sponsor, whose tires are the choice for many top teams, highlighting the importance of tire durability on the brutal Baja terrain. * SCORE International: The organization that has sanctioned and promoted the race since its inception, maintaining the high standards of the World Desert Championship. The 57th SCORE Baja 500 in June 2025 is shaping up to be a spectacular event, promising high-octane action, intense competition, and a true test of man and machine against the raw, untamed beauty of the Baja desert.
The 57th BFGoodrich Tires SCORE Baja 500: Your Essential Guide to the 2025 Race Dates, Schedule, and Off-Road Legends
baja 500 dates 2025
baja 500 dates 2025

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