POLARIS FACTORY RACING'S BROCK HEGER TRIUMPHS, CAPTURING FIRST SCORE BAJA 1000 VICTORY AND SECURING 2024 SCORE UTV PRO OPEN CLASS SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP

Rhea-AI Summary

Polaris Factory Racing's Brock Heger achieved a historic victory at the 57th SCORE Baja 1000, driving solo in his Polaris RZR Pro R Factory. He dominated the UTV field and finished seventh overall among all four-wheeled vehicles - the highest UTV finish since 2007. The win secured Heger the 2024 SCORE UTV Pro Open Class Series Championship. He led nearly every mile of the 864.13-mile course, winning by 45 minutes over second-place finisher Branden Sims. This victory marked Polaris' third straight Baja 1000 win and completed another undefeated season in SCORE series events.

Positive

• Won SCORE Baja 1000 with highest-ever UTV finish (7th overall)
• Secured 2024 SCORE UTV Pro Open Class Series Championship
• Completed undefeated season in SCORE series events
• Achieved third consecutive Baja 1000 victory for Polaris
• Demonstrated superior product performance with 45-minute victory margin

Negative

• None.

Insights

Market Research Analyst

This racing victory, while impressive from a motorsport perspective, has minimal direct impact on Polaris Industries' (PII) financial outlook. Racing achievements primarily serve as marketing tools and technology testbeds rather than significant revenue drivers. The RZR Pro R's performance demonstrates product quality and durability, which could indirectly support sales in the recreational vehicle segment, but the impact is likely marginal relative to PII's $3.7B market cap.

The consistent dominance in the SCORE series and particularly at the prestigious Baja 1000 may help maintain brand premium positioning in the powersports market, but investors should focus more on broader market conditions, consumer discretionary spending trends and quarterly financial performance for meaningful investment insights.

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 conversation and follow on Facebook ^sm, Instagram ^sm, YouTube ^sm and Twitter ^sm.

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.

FAQ

Who won the 2024 SCORE UTV Pro Open Class Championship?

Brock Heger won the 2024 SCORE UTV Pro Open Class Championship driving for Polaris Factory Racing.

What was Polaris RZR's finishing position in the 2023 Baja 1000?

The Polaris RZR Pro R Factory driven by Brock Heger finished seventh overall among all four-wheeled vehicles and first in the UTV class.

How many consecutive Baja 1000 victories has Polaris (PII) achieved?

Polaris has achieved three consecutive Baja 1000 victories.

What was the margin of victory for Polaris in the 2023 Baja 1000 UTV class?

Brock Heger won the race by 45 minutes over second-place finisher Branden Sims, who also drove a Polaris RZR Pro R.