ON THE WIRE
Pro UTV Open Heads to the Baja 1000 in a Dead Heat
Eight points cover the top four in Pro UTV Open, and the top two are tied at 331.
Updated October 25, 2026
The No. 1896 UTV kicks its front tires off the sand at San Felipe, three fans perched on a rooftop stand above the dust and a row of pop-up tents behind them.
Three rounds into the 2026 SCORE World Desert Championship, the Pro UTV Open title is dead even. Ethan Groom, 19, of Temecula, Calif., and Dallas Gonzalez, 20, of Fort Mohave, Ariz., both carry 331 points into the season finale, each in a Polaris RZR Pro R.
Groom, a member of the factory Polaris/SCI Motorsports team, is chasing a childhood dream while still in school. He opened the year ninth at the San Felipe 250, then answered with third at the Baja 500 and second at the Baja 400 in the No. 1874.
Gonzalez has been steady all year in the No. 1851: third at San Felipe, fifth at the Baja 500 and third again at the Baja 400.
They are not alone. Joe Terrana of Las Vegas sits four points back at 327, and three-time class champion Brock Heger of El Centro is fourth at 323. Eight points cover the top four.
The 59th Baja 1000 starts Nov. 13 in San José del Cabo, the first time the town has hosted both the start and the finish. One race left to break the tie.