News
Ford Performance Conquers the 2024 SCORE Baja 1000 With Dual Class Wins for Bronco DR and Ranger Raptor
by Ford Performance
November 16, 2024
ENSENADA, MEXICO, November 17, 2024 – In the heart of Baja California, where the desert becomes the ultimate rival, Ford Performance celebrated an extraordinary achievement: a two- truck victory in the 2024 Baja 1000. The Bronco DR and Ford Ranger Raptor emerged triumphant after navigating hundreds of miles of brutal terrain, proving their strength in one of the toughest races on Earth.
The Bronco DR, a purpose-built desert racer created with the spirit of Baja competition in mind, added another victory to Bronco’s storied Baja legacy in the Heavy Metal Limited class. At the same time, the Ford Ranger Raptor, based on the production truck available worldwide, delivered a win that speaks to its capability on and off the showroom floor in the Stock Mid-Size class.
“The Baja 1000 is brutal,” said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “It pushes every part of a truck to its limits and demands everything from the drivers and teams. This isn’t just about crossing the finish line—it’s about proving that our vehicles can take on and conquer challenges as tough as Baja.”
Bronco: A Legacy Forged in the Desert
This marks the third win of the year for the Ford Bronco DR, who has been victorious in every race it has taken on in 2024. Brad Lovell and navigator Roger Lovell led the charge for the first third, followed by Jason Hutter and Paul Blangsted, who helped secure the DR’s August victory at Vegas to Reno. Jason Scherer and Jason Berger took the final leg of the 864-mile race.
“This year put an exclamation mark on how brutal Baja is,” said Brad Lovell, who has piloted the DR at all races. “It’s said it’s the toughest race in North America, and I do believe that’s true. Having been involved with Bronco DR testing for quite a while, I always wanted the opportunity to race it here in the 1000 – it’s what we designed it for, it’s where we made it spirited, lively and fun. To understand Bronco’s legacy in Baja and be part of it is overwhelming. Bronco is utilitarian, a jack of all trades, but it has a special spirit and place in Baja.”
The Ranger Raptor’s Global Technology Transfer
The Ranger Raptor’s triumph shows that racing success doesn’t have to come at the expense of real-world capability. The Ford Ranger Raptor truck is built with advanced FOX suspension, a rugged chassis, and a twin-turbo 3.0L EcoBoost engine – the same engineering that is available in the global production truck.
“Baja threw everything it had at us this year,” said Loren Healy, driver of the #773 Ford Raptor Ranger entry. “We fought some trials and tribulations last night, but this amazing Ford Performance team put everything – their whole hearts and souls – into this, in the dark, in the cold, in the rain. I’m really proud of everyone here.”
Loren Healy and navigator Eric Davis took the Ranger Raptor for the first part of its journey, then handed the keys to John Williams III and Nate Williams, who drove it for the second. Bailey Campbell and Bryan Crofts took it across the finish line in the last part of its 736-mile Baja trail.
The #773 Ranger Raptor was specifically engineered to meet SCORE’s Stock Mid-Sized Class regulations, tailored for the demanding terrain of the Baja 1000. This factory-built truck was outfitted with key modifications to enhance performance, safety, and durability in the grueling off-road environment.
The truck is also equipped with a MoTeC data acquisition system to collect critical performance data during the race. “One of our top priorities is always to gather as much data as possible, and we see so much varied conditions here that helps that,” said Brian Novak, North American Off-Road Program Manager. “We’ve taken insights from this program to enhance our durability testing process. When we take this truck back to Dearborn, we’ll analyze every piece and part in detail to see what we can do to make our consumer trucks better.”
A Battle Unlike Any Other
The Baja 1000 is a fight against nature itself at its most rugged. The course this year offered no mercy—silt beds, rain and snow, jagged rocks, and Baja’s legendary darkness tested the mettle of every competitor. Ford’s Bronco DR and Ranger Raptor pressed on, facing the challenges head-on and earning their victories mile by mile.
“Baja doesn’t hand out wins,” said Lovell. “You earn them by enduring the worst it throws at you and pushing through when it seems impossible. That’s what makes this race so special.”
