Toyo Tires and Bryce Menzies Win SCORE Baja 1000, 2023 World Desert Championship

Toyo Story

Bryce Menzies, with co-drivers Andy McMillin and Tavo Vildósola, and Toyo Tires took the overall win at the 56th SCORE Baja 1000 and secured the 2023 SCORE World Desert Championship. This milestone victory is Menzies’ first Baja 1000 win of his decorated racing career as he finishes with three overall victories out of four races in the SCORE season. In addition, Christopher Polvoorde, with co-drivers Ray Griffith and Mike Walser, took third overall in SCORE Trophy Truck class.

Concurrently, Gustavo Vildósola Sr. took first again making him undefeated for the season and the overall season class point championship in the SCORE Trophy Truck Legends class, and Jason McNeil clinched the overall season class point championship in the Trophy Truck Spec class. Adding to this incredible result for Team Toyo, the Block House Racing team took first in the SCORE Pro Stock UTV class with a Can-Am Maverick R that the late Ken Block had a part in designing and daughter Lia Block, wife Lucy Block, and Rodrigo Ampudia had the honor of racing.

To recap the weekend of racing, Bryce Menzies and his #7 Red Bull / Toyo Tires / KMC Wheels AWD Mason Motorsports Trophy Truck started in the pole position, leading a pack of 30 competitors in the marquee trophy truck division. The race started on the El Malecon on the Sea of Cortez in La Paz, Baja California Sur and finished in Ensenada, Baja California, on Blvd. Costero with a race course distance of 1310.94 miles. According to SCORE, this is the 25th time the race has covered the peninsula, and the distance is the second most overall total miles. Menzies’ winning drive clocked in with an official time of 22 hours, 35 minutes, 33 seconds. He relied on the championship-winning Toyo Open Country M/T-R tires to get him to the finish line.

“What an epic day. It’s only taken over 10 years, but we just got our first Baja 1000 win. This feels special.” said Bryce Menzies. “Our team won the Baja 500, the Baja 400, and now with this win the overall Championship. What an amazing accomplishment!”

“Congratulations to Bryce and his team on his first overall Baja 1000 victory,” said Stan Chen, sr. manager, events, sponsorships and motorsports, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. “Finishing off an incredible race season for Bryce by winning the coveted Baja 1000 and the 2023 championship is a great achievement in his illustrious career. Coming off dominant performances throughout this season, also winning at the SCORE Baja 500 and Baja 400, Team Toyo had an incredible opportunity to finish the race season on top and they delivered. The consistency and durability in our tires are exemplified with these outstanding race results.”

In addition to Bryce Menzies’ SCORE Baja 1000 victory, he also won the Baja 500 and Baja 400 this season enabling him to capture the 2023 SCORE World Desert Championship. Team Toyo drivers have now won the SCORE Baja 1000 five times: Bryce Menzies (2023), Alan Ampudia (2019), BJ Baldwin (2012 and 2013), and Robby Gordon (2006); and the SCORE Baja 500 five times: Bryce Menzies (2023); Andy McMillin (2017 and 2019), Tavo Vildósola (2016) and Robby Gordon (2013). Menzies has also won the following races with Toyo Tires: the SCORE Baja 400 (2023, 2022, 2021), the SCORE San Felipe 250 (2021), the NORRA Mexican 1000 (2023 and 2022), the BITD Vegas to Reno (2020), and the Toyo Tires Desert Challenge at King of the Hammers (2021 and 2022).