For the first time since 2009, Bryce Menzies will not race the Baja 500 after suffering a neck injury that caused a ruptured artery and stroke. Menzies confirmed he will make a full recovery, and hopes to be back for the Baja 400 in September.

The injury arose while he was qualifying for SCORE’s season-opening San Felipe 250 in April. He didn’t see much reason for concern at first, and would qualify second before finishing eighth overall in the race.

“Upon returning home from the race I was still dealing with constant headaches,” Menzies explained in a social media post on Monday. “I decided to go to the hospital where we discovered I had ruptured an artery going to my brain which led to having a stroke.

“After many trips to various specialists to figure out exactly why it happened, we’re all confident that I will make (a) 100% recovery. Despite my best efforts to speed up recovery, I still need a few more weeks before I am cleared to go racing.”

While it won’t be on his mind as he focuses on recuperating, missing the 500 likely spells an end to his 2025 SCORE title pursuit. Everyone competing for the championship is required to run all four rounds, and even if SCORE grants a waiver, he’ll be in a large hole points-wise after missing a race. He sits eighth in the Trophy Truck standings with 85 points, trailing leader Alan Ampudia by 18.

Menzies is a four-time Baja 500 overall winner, most recently claiming the 2023 edition en route to the championship. He finished fourth in the 2024 race.

Featured image credit: Art Eugenio / Red Bull Content Pool