With the 2024 UTV racing season kicking off with the King of the Hammers Desert Challenge on Sunday, Jan. 28, Polaris Off Road welcomed Max Eddy Jr. to the Polaris Factory Racing lineup as the team’s fourth driver of record. Eddy Jr. is not new to Polaris or the factory program, having spent the past few seasons as co-driver for racing veteran and now SCI team principal Craig Scanlon. Now, for 2024, Eddy will take the reins and pilot his own race-ready RZR Pro R Factory vehicle at each of the team’s eight scheduled events.
Eddy Jr. has built a reputation as one of the most notable motorcycle racers south of the border, having amassed an impressive resume, including five Baja 500 and five Baja 1000 victories and a Best in the Desert championship. After hanging up his motorcycle jersey, Eddy Jr. shifted his focus to four wheels and kick-started the next phase in his career by navigating for numerous trophy truck teams. He then found himself behind the wheel of a Polaris RZR and began making waves in UTV racing. Throughout the 2023 season, Eddy Jr. co-drove with Scanlon at all four SCORE championship events, highlighted by a victory at the San Felipe 250.
“We are thrilled to officially welcome Max to the Polaris Factory Racing program,” said Alex Scheuerell, Polaris Factory Racing technical director. “He was already an integral part of our team, having been working with Craig for years, so giving him this opportunity made complete sense. He has an impressive race resume and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our program. We look forward to seeing him battle for wins behind the wheel of the RZR Pro R Factory this season.”
“I’m beyond grateful to have been given this opportunity to be a factory driver for Polaris; it is a dream come true,” explained Eddy Jr. “This is a strong team that really proved itself to the whole industry by capturing the SCORE championship in its first season, and I’m eager to add to that success in 2024. The RZR Pro R Factory is an incredible platform providing us drivers the power, strength and control necessary to tackle the tough demands of desert racing. I can’t wait to show everyone what I’m capable of.”
Throughout the 2023 season, Polaris Factory Racing focused its efforts on the SCORE International series, dominating the competition and securing the SCORE Pro UTV Open Class Championship with wins at each of the four events: San Felipe 250, Baja 400, Baja 500 and Baja 1000. For 2024, the team will contest the SCORE series again but has expanded its race schedule, making multiple stops stateside at King of the Hammers Desert and Rock events, the Mint 400 and Vegas to Reno.
Following the King of the Hammers Desert Challenge this Sunday, Jan. 28, the Polaris Factory Racing team will contest the UTV Hammers Championship Rock Race on Thursday, Feb. 1, before shifting its focus to the Mint 400 March 6-10.
