The highlight of our time at the Baja 500 was having the opportunity to meet racing duo Kristen and Wayne Matlock and witness up close all the challenges they face in one of the toughest racing competitions in sports, and how they manage to thrive and overcome them. Kristen Matlock raced the newly introduced Polaris Pro R. She is one of the most determined competitors you will find. We had a chance to interview her prior to the race, and follow her along the course in a Chase truck. The Baja 500 Race will air on ESPN on Sunday August 7th, 2022.

Wayne and Kristen Matlock with their sons

Kristen wasn’t about to let her husband Wayne (a 20-year veteran professional off-road racer) have all the fun or success. Her hunger for adrenaline led her to take up residence behind the wheel of her own race-prepped RZR a little over seven years ago.

She has the same competitive drive as her husband and found herself capturing big wins quickly including first place finishes at the Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno Race, and the SCORE Tijuana Desert Challenge. Her rapid rise to the podium earned her the 2017 Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Impact Award presented to athletes who make an “Impact” within the off-road community.
She has already triumphed in the Baja 500 twice, winning the overall UTV category in 2018 and 2020. In 2019, she had back-to-back wins at the SCORE San Felipe 250 and was able to earn her first win at the SCORE Baja 1000.

HOMBRE: What can you tell us about your participation in this year’s Baja 500?
Kristen Matlock: I kind of turned the race into Iron Woman. Most teams will take the 500 miles and they’ll split it up into sections so they’ll have multiple drivers.  I’ve decided that I’m going to test my ability and just drive the entire distance. And that’s not just the Baja 500. That’s the Baja 1000 as well. Last year was a peninsula run, so that means it’s closer to about 1300 miles and it starts in Ensenada and goes all the way down to the tip, in La Paz, and I did that nonstop.

H: Are there many women participating in the sport?
KM: No, not too many. I think I’m the only (female) driver of record for this event, out of maybe 260 entries. I think, in general, there’s only four or five (female) drivers of record.

H: And you have been doing it for over 17 years, so you are true a pioneer.
KM: Exactly, I love it. I have all kinds of up and coming female racers reaching out to me constantly to ask questions; ‘How do I get started?’ I just love helping them. I’ve actually brought a few of them down here and have them ride in the Chase Trucks or even ride with me in my Pre-Runner just to show them what it’s all about, just to get them into the sport.
I’m a female in the sport but I’m also a mom. I have two little boys and it just goes to show you that anybody can get out here and do it.

H: How was it when you began racing?
KM: I was one of the only females. I would say there were two or three on motorcycles at the time. I chose the Quad to start with. But I reached out to them to see what their tips and tricks were. They were the ones that encouraged me to get out there, and I do the same.
I want to share that with everybody in the future too. Give them the support that they’re looking for, like I was given at the time.

H: How was the race last year?
KM: The Baja 500 last year was a great one. I mean, every single Baja Race is just lovely. I love being down here and racing.

H: Do you still get the same adrenaline?
KM: Oh yeah, every time. I would say I’m calmer than I was in the past. Each race gets a little bit easier, but as soon as I see that board light up with  your name and your race number and then it does a countdown for you; as soon as that green light flashes, it’s go time. Then, right after I get going, I’m  at peace. I calm down, my heart stops racing and I just get in the groove. I know I have 500 miles to go so there’s no reason to get worked up too much.

H: That sounds crazy to say, 500 miles!
KM: Haha! I mean I’m expecting to do this one in about 10 1/2 hours. Just knowing that you’re going to be behind the wheel for 10 1/2 hours, you just have to settle in and enjoy it.

H: What is the most challenging par of this race?
KM: The terrain is very challenging. It’s all very different. You’ll be on real smooth fire roads, for instance, just railing the corners and having a great time. And all of a sudden you’ll jump into the rock section where you have to slow down to practically nothing, or you’re going to get either a flat tire or break something. You’re going to hit a big boulder or so, whoops. These cars will do 105 miles an hour and then all of a sudden they’ll throw you into this, whoops section. You don’t want to hit that at 105. You have to be ready for anything out there. And then there’s always other factors, like there’s cows. We’re in a wide open country here, so you’ve got animals that you have to worry about. The roads out here belong to the locals. They’re the roads that they get home on, so they’re fully aware that the races is happening. But every now and then you’ll have a car on the road that just sneaks up on you. You just have to be be ready at all times.

H: How does the race start?
KM: I’m in the Pro  UTV Open Class. Every thirty seconds you’ll have a car start. In the very beginning of the race, there’s some other vehicles. They’re called trophy trucks. Those will be the first ones to start. They’re the big, huge, V8 motor trucks. They’ll start those guys every minute and then after that they’ll have a 3 minute gap and then from there on it’s every 30 seconds.

H: Where does your husband race?
KM: My husband is the first UTV off the line for this particular race. He earned that position at the previous race which was San Felipe 250. I unfortunately had a few mechanical problems at that race that set me back, so I’ll be 7th off the line but not far behind him. Not when you start every 30 seconds. We’re hoping to stay together. I’m hoping to finish one second sooner.
I love him, but he can take second. (Laughs)

H: I sense the competition.
KM: We’re very competitive even against one another, but we’re best friends at the same time.

H: When did you start racing the Baja 500?
KM: I started in 2016 with Polaris in the UTVs and that’s all I’ve ever been with. This is my 7th year racing.

H: What has been the experience?
KM: I won the overall UTV. You take all classes of UTV’s and combine them. Then they pass out this giant trophy and it’s the overall UTV Award. I’ve taken that twice in the Baja 500. In 2018 and 2020 I won the overall UTV and I did that in the Polaris RZR XP-1000.
And the cool part about that is that I was racing against all the Turbo cars. I was able to beat them on time, even though we start pretty far back behind all the Turbo cars because they’re supposed to be the faster vehicles. But when the courses are tight and technical and twisty, it doesn’t matter if you have a Turbo or not. It’s all about driving skills.

H: How do you find this new Polaris model Pro R?
KM: I’ve been behind the wheel since January of this year. I rode it in the San Felipe 250. I did the Mint 400 in the United States, and we just raced again the NORRA Mexican 1000. That’s a fun one because it’s a staged Rally Race. You do it over 5 days, they space it out. On day 5 I was able to beat the trophy trucks, I had the fastest time for the entire day. That was pretty cool.

H: What makes this particular model special?
KM: It’s the fastest UTV they have made so far. It’s a 4 cylinder motor. It’s still belt driven and the belts are super strong. And it has more horsepower. The Pro R has 225 horsepower.

H: When did this love of racing begin?
KM: I started on Quads, racing just for fun. My husband was racing and I got bored just watching him. One day I just said, ‘I think I can do this too!’
He bought me my first Quad for Christmas one year. I never wanted to be the girl who can’t keep up, so that’s how I got faster, following him around.

H: How do you handle fear?
KM: I try to ignore it. The fear drives my adrenaline even more, and yet it makes me calmer. It’s a weird combination. I just get in my groove and focus on the checkered flags at the end.

H: How was it entering a male dominated field?
KM: I never had a negative response. At first it was getting their attention and making them realize I was there not just for fun. I was serious. I wanted to prove myself in the sport and that’s what I did. In the very first UTV race I entered there were 135 entries and I ended up getting second in Class, and Third Overall. That’s all it took to give me the confidence to go to the next one. That’s where I belong, I want to be up front. And that’s it.

H: What do you say to the women that look up to you and see what you’re doing?
KM: I love seeing other females that want to get into the sport. I always encourage them to message me on any of the Social Media platforms. I want to encourage them to get out and give it a try. Even if it’s just for fun. But if you find that competitive edge and want to put it to the test, start locally. That’s what I did. Built from there, go after sponsors, and here I am.

H: You won this race twice. What would you say is the key to winning?
KM: Mainly remaining calm. Just not getting too worked up at the starting line. Don’t get overworked and blow the first turn.  I see guys at the side of the road all the time. I say just settle down. Find your zone. Stay focused. Pick the sections where you’ll push hard, and where you’ll take it easy.

H: How do you train?
KM: Well, just this morning I went out for my jog. I ran 2 miles and did all my sit-ups, push-ups. I train hard, I try to eat really well. I don’t eat gluten or dairy. I have a strict diet. Mainly take care of my body because just like the race car, the body needs perfect fuel as well. And every 150 miles we fuel the racecar, every 150 miles I fuel my body too. I focus on that slow burning protein to keep me going.

H: What can we expect from you?
KM: I’m just going to fuel my body, and get it ready for the race. And be behind that wheel for however long it takes to the finish line.