Heger Goes Solo
and Dominates UTV Field in RZR Pro R Factory, Securing Impressive
Seventh Overall Amongst All Four-Wheel Vehicles
Polaris-Supported Racer Branden Sims Finishes
Second in Race-Prepped RZR Pro R
MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 19,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Polaris Factory Racing's
Brock Heger delivered a historic
performance, going solo behind the wheel of his Polaris RZR Pro R
Factory and dominating the field this past weekend at the 57th
running of the prestigious SCORE Baja 1000. Heger's first Baja 1000
victory was made all the more impressive by not only dominating the
entire UTV field, but finishing seventh amongst all four-wheeled
vehicles, including the elite Trophy Truck classes - the highest
finish by a UTV since the UTV classes were introduced to the race
in 2007. Heger's victory secured the necessary points to come from
behind and clinch the 2024 SCORE UTV Pro Open Class Series
Championship for the second consecutive year. Heger won the race by
45 minutes over Polaris-supported racer Branden Sims, who finished second in a
race-modified Polaris RZR Pro R. This Baja 1000 triumph capped off
a second consecutive undefeated season for Polaris Factory Racing,
with UTV overall wins at all four SCORE series events, and marked
Polaris' third straight Baja 1000 victory.
"After a pretty rough run at the first three events this season,
I entered this final race with nothing to lose and a hell of a lot
to gain, and it felt like the best move was to take matters into my
own hands and run the entire race on my own," said Heger. "To win
my first Baja 1000 and turn my entire season around in such a
dramatic fashion is pretty special, but it comes with a ton of
mixed feelings. I feel terrible for Cayden. He's been spectacular
this entire season, and to have it all slip away so close to the
finish is absolutely terrible. I'm incredibly grateful to the
entire RZR Factory Racing team, our dedicated support crew and
everyone back at Polaris engineering who work tirelessly to make
the RZR Pro R Factory the most dominant UTV in the sport and put me
in the best position to win at every race."
Heger owned the race from start to finish, leading nearly every
mile of the grueling 864.13-mile course. The race began just
outside of Ensenada, where Heger
quickly surged to the front, establishing a strong pace early. By
mile 77, he held the lead, followed by teammates Cayden MacCachren
in 6th. It's worth noting that MacCachren had opted to start at the
back of the field, making his impressive climb through the ranks
all the more notable. Heger and MacCachren continued to impress,
with Heger still leading by mile 167 while MacCachren advanced to
third. Heger's RZR Pro R Factory showcased its unmatched
combination of power, strength and control, performing flawlessly
throughout the unrelenting Baja terrain.
As the race approached mile marker 211, Heger extended his lead
to four minutes, while MacCachren slipped back to fifth. Near the
halfway point, Heger remained the first UTV, skillfully extending
his lead after briefly getting stuck in a bottleneck. By this
stage, he had climbed to an impressive 13th overall among all
four-wheel vehicles, with his RZR Pro R Factory continuing to
deliver exceptional performance across the punishing desert
landscape.
During the second half of the race, Heger continued to dominate
while MacCachren sliced and diced through the field, working his
way into second and closing the gap by mile 720. Over the final 100
miles, Heger never relented, powering ahead to secure the UTV
Overall and UTV Pro Open class victory. Unfortunately, with only 78
miles remaining, MacCachren's race ended in heartbreaking fashion,
as unforeseen challenges forced him to retire, dashing his hopes
for the championship.
"Another incredible season for Polaris Factory Racing is in the
books, and going undefeated again in the SCORE series, capped off
with another prestigious Baja 1000 win and the UTV Pro Open
Championship, is nothing short of extraordinary," said Alex Scheuerell, Polaris Factory Racing
Technical Director. "It's kind of appropriate that we currently
have a 'Tough Doesn't Quit' marketing campaign, because that is
exactly what Brock demonstrated with his incredible performance.
The toughness, grit and determination that he showcased today - not
only racing the 864 miles on his own, but absolutely dominating the
field, is remarkable. This victory, and the entire season,
highlight the strength of our Polaris Factory Racing program, the
expertise and dedication of our design and engineering teams and
the incredible capabilities of the RZR Pro R platform."
To learn more, please visit Polaris.com/RZR or join the
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About Polaris
As the global leader in powersports,
Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII) pioneers product breakthroughs and
enriching experiences and services that have invited people to
discover the joy of being outdoors since our founding in 1954.
Polaris' high-quality product line-up includes the RANGER, RZR and Polaris XPEDITION and GENERAL
side-by-side off-road vehicles; Sportsman all-terrain off-road
vehicles; military and commercial off-road vehicles; snowmobiles;
Indian Motorcycle mid-size and heavyweight motorcycles; Slingshot
moto-roadsters; Aixam quadricycles; Goupil electric vehicles; and
pontoon and deck boats, including industry-leading Bennington
pontoons. Polaris enhances the riding experience with a robust
portfolio of parts, garments, and accessories. Headquartered in
Minnesota, Polaris serves nearly
100 countries across the globe. www.polaris.com
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SOURCE Polaris Inc.
