RZR Factory Racing’s Ethan Groom Finishes Second, Dallas Gonzalez Jr. Takes third to Complete All-RZR Pro R Factory Podium Sweep
MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Polaris continued its dominance in SCORE series this past weekend, sweeping the UTV Overall podium at the 7th SCORE Baja 400. Piloting his Polaris RZR Pro R Factory to the UTV Overall win, Wayne Matlock claimed Polaris’ $50,000 SCORE Challenge prize purse. Joining Matlock on the podium with a second-place finish was RZR Factory Racing Team driver Ethan Groom and Dallas Gonzalez, who rounded out the all-RZR Pro R Factory podium sweep with a third-place finish.
Behind Matlock, Groom delivered another strong performance for the RZR Factory Racing Team. Starting third in Pro UTV Open, Groom battled throughout the day to secure second overall, while Gonzalez followed in third to give Polaris a clean sweep of the UTV Overall podium and further showcase the performance, durability and depth of Polaris’ purpose-built race platform.
Announced in July, the SCORE Challenge was created to raise the level of competition within the UTV Pro class, offering a $50,000 prize to any eligible UTV racer who could defeat the RZR Factory Racing team and capture the UTV Overall victory. Matlock answered the challenge, adding Baja 400 to his decorated off-road racing career.
“Wayne put together an incredible race, and we couldn’t think of a more deserving competitor to be the first to claim the Polaris SCORE Challenge,” said Alex Scheuerell, Polaris’ Director of Off-Road Motorsports. “We created this challenge to raise the stakes and fuel competition, and Wayne did exactly that. To see him earn the victory and the $50,000 prize aboard a RZR Pro R Factory, while Ethan and Dallas completed an all-RZR Pro R Factory podium, speaks volumes about the strength of this vehicle and the racers who continue to push it to its limits.”
The podium sweep further underscores the growing presence of the RZR Pro R Factory race vehicle across off-road racing, extending well beyond Polaris’ factory-backed RZR Factory Racing team. Developed from the same platform that has powered RZR Factory Racing to victories across the sport’s most demanding desert races, the purpose-built race vehicle is increasingly being chosen by independent racers looking to compete at the front of the field. That growing adoption was on full display at this year’s Baja 400, with RZR Pro R Factory machines securing five of the top ten finishing positions.
The Polaris RZR Factory Racing team will return to action at the Baja 1000, November 9-15, as it looks to finish the SCORE season with a win in arguably the toughest off-road race in the world.
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About Polaris
As the global leader in powersports, Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII) has been defining and redefining outdoor adventure since 1954. Polaris delivers industry-shaping off-road vehicles, snowmobiles, boats, military, quadricycles, and commercial transportation vehicles, along with an expansive portfolio of parts, garments, and accessories. Its lineup includes some of the most iconic brands in powersports including the RANGER, RZR, Polaris XPEDITION, Bennington pontoons, Slingshot, and more. Headquartered in Minnesota and serving customers in nearly 100 countries, Polaris continues to set the standard for performance, quality, and unmatched service. Explore more at www.polaris.com.
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SOURCE Polaris Inc.
