Can-Am Racer Phil Blurton Tops the Pro UTV Forced Induction Class at 2024 SCORE Baja 1000
Phil Blurton, Can-Am Factory Racer, and his teammate Vito Ranuio celebrate their SCORE Baja 1000 victory.
Valcourt, Quebec, November 27, 2024 – Can-Am racers conquered the iconic SCORE Baja 1000, with Phil Blurton taking top honors in the Pro UTV Forced Induction class in his Maverick R. Erick Kozin and PJ Jones rounded out the podium in the Pro UTV Forced Induction class, finishing second and third respectively. With Kozin’s second-place finish, he clinched the SCORE overall series championship in his Maverick X3. Meanwhile, Mitchell Alsup took fourth in the competitive Pro UTV Open class and Kaden Wells topped the Pro Stock UTV class.
“The Baja 1000 is one of the most challenging races of the year for the driver and the machine,” said Jean-Francois Leclerc, BRP Race Manager. “This win is a testament to Phil’s incredible talent and the performance and reliability of our Maverick R platform.”
For the 57th annual Baja 1000, the race course returned to a loop format, running counter-clockwise with the start and finish located in Ensenada, Mexico. The terrain was especially rough after the three-week pre-run period, making line selection an even more critical component of the race.
After starting seventh in the PRO UTV Forced Induction class, Phil Blurton and his teammate Vito Ranuio worked their way through the pack, even passing the majority of the Pro UTV Open class field. Blurton finished the 869-mile loop in just 19 hours, 34 minutes and 48 seconds, securing the third-fastest overall UTV time in his Can-Am Maverick R.
Despite the challenging terrain, Phil Blurton, Can-Am Racer, and his team drove a smooth and consistent race to claim victory in the Pro UTV Forced Induction class.
“Our Maverick R was amazing at the Baja 1000 this year,” said Blurton. “It’s crazy how hard we can drive them in such rough terrain. The course was demanding this year and the weather threw us a curve ball at the end of the race with some cold and wet conditions. I’m stoked to take home another Baja 1000 victory and I’m already looking forward to next season and showing what we can do with such a great platform.”
The Desert Assassins / Alsup Racing Development team was the only Can-Am team to compete in the Pro UTV Open class. Drivers Mitchell Alsup, Josh Row and Bradley Howe ran as high as second but ultimately finished just shy of the podium in fourth place after facing minor mechanical issues.
The Desert Assassins / Alsup Racing Team finished fourth in the Pro UTV Open class.
“The team showed up and we executed all the miles,” said Alsup. “We overcame the few small issues we had. I couldn’t be more proud of the team, the effort, the drivers and everyone involved with us. To be able to come out here run Pro Open and be the only Can-Am in this class, we are clearly here to compete.”
In the Pro Stock UTV division, Kaden Wells drove a smooth race and avoided costly mistakes in his Maverick R en route to the class win. Wells iron-manned the race, completing the whole 869-mile course in the driver's seat.
“The course was pretty rough, but it was quicker than I thought it would be,” said Wells. “We never had to get out of the car during the race. Just gas and go. There were two bottlenecks but it only slowed us for a couple minutes.”
The Can-Am Factory Racing Team athletes will be back in action at the 2025 Dakar Rally on Friday,
January 3, 2025. To learn more about the complete lineup of Can-Am Off-Road vehicles, visit
https://can-am.brp.com/off-road.
About BRP
BRP Inc. is a global leader in the world of powersports products, propulsion systems and boats built on over 80 years of ingenuity and intensive consumer focus. Through its portfolio of industry-leading and distinctive brands featuring Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft and pontoons, Can-Am on and off-road vehicles, Alumacraft and Quintrex boats, Manitou pontoons and Rotax marine propulsion systems as well as Rotax engines for karts and recreational aircraft, BRP unlocks exhilarating adventures and provides access to experiences across different playgrounds. The Company completes its lines of products with a dedicated parts, accessories and apparel portfolio to fully optimize the riding experience. Committed to growing responsibly, BRP is developing electric models for its existing product lines. Headquartered in Quebec, Canada, BRP has annual sales of CA$10.4 billion from over 130 countries and a global workforce of close to 20,000 driven, resourceful people.
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