In November, Tanner Foust will compete in the Baja 1000 for the first time since 2018. A Polaris ambassador, he will drive a Polaris RZR prepared by Matlock Racing, which he’s called “an amazing piece of machinery,” in Pro UTV Open.

Foust needs little introduction for racing fans as a multi-time champion in rallycross and drifting who’s competed in nearly everything from Pikes Peak and Extreme E to sports cars and the Race of Champions. More recently, he was part of RallyX’s FC1-X demonstration at the Crandon World Cup. Add in his work as a stunt driver and media personality, and he’s arguably one of the biggest automotive names today.

While mainly known for shorter forms of racing, Foust is no stranger to the desert. He raced the Mint 400 in 2017 and 2018 with a RZR, both times working with fellow media members like Jim Beaver and the Diesel Brothers. After retiring from his Mint debut, Foust placed 35th in UTV Turbo at the 2018 edition.

Later in 2018, he and Mint teammate Tyler McQuarrie teamed up with Karl Williams to race the Baja 1000 in the latter’s Trophy Truck Spec. However, they did not finish due to mechanical issues.

Foust was supposed to return to the 1000 in 2020 as the driver of a Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport R, which would’ve been the first four-wheel-drive car to race in Class 7, but those plans were shelved due to COVID-19. Still, the project didn’t go entirely to waste as Foust later entered the 2021 Mexican 1000 with a Volkswagen ID.4; the electric SUV finished 61st overall.

Matlock Racing is led by Polaris factory drivers and husband-and-wife duo Wayne and Kristen Matlock.

Featured image credit: Sam Bagnall