Brayden Baker Wins 2023 California 300 Limited Race
After an afternoon of thrilling action in the Barstow desert, Brayden Baker found himself atop the final standings in the 2023 California 300 UTV and Limited Race when the dust finally settled. With a final time of 5:18:28, Baker finished more than 12 minutes ahead of runner-up Sierra Romo in both their class and the overall standings, taking over the lead on the final lap after running towards the front all day.
Saturday’s Limited Race sent more than 40 race teams out into the unforgiving Barstow desert, where they’d take on three laps of a 67-mile course. Top qualifier Bruce Binnquist and BDI Geiser Racing would start first and lead the first lap, with Bob Briggs and Romo turning the next fastest laps behind him.
But the attrition level began to rise on that second lap, as Binnquist was forced to stop on track and give up the lead; that opened the door for Romo and Joe Terrana to make their moves, and that duo would take the top spots in the overall and Pro Turbo class standings, respectively, at the end of Lap 2. Romo and Baker would find themselves closely matched on track going into the final lap, each facing issues of their own, but it was a final lap stop for Romo—combined with Baker’s fastest lap of the race—that made the difference.
UTV Pro Unlimited class winner and Barstow native Zach Quiroz would complete the overall podium, with Terrana in fourth and UTV Pro NA winner Carson Wernimont in fifth. Terrana, who won the Mint 400, teamed up with UFC legend Cowboy Cerrone to use his car for the race; Cerrone stepped in to drive the final lap. Other class winners to crack the overall top 10 were Sara Price (UTV Pro Super Stock Turbo) in seventh overall and Michael Mamelli Jr. (UTV PR-100) in ninth.
Unofficial top finishers from the 2023 California 300 UTV and Limited Race are as follows:
- #PR77 Brayden Baker (UTV Pro Open), 3 laps, 5:18:28
- #PO929 Sierra Romo (UTV Pro Open), 3 laps, 5:31:06
- #2925 Zach Quiroz (UTV Unlimited), 3 laps, 5:35:47
- #T898 Joe Terrana (UTV Pro Turbo), 3 laps, 5:44:40
- #1927 Carson Wernimont (UTV Pro NA), 3 laps, 5:45:40
The 2023 California 300 wraps up on Sunday with the Unlimited Race, featuring the most powerful cars and trucks in desert off-road racing. Live timing and tracking is available all weekend long at live.thecalifornia300.com. For more information on the California 300, including a full schedule of events, visit www.thecalifornia300.com.