Pre-running has long been a multi-week affair. The 2025 San Felipe 250, for example, had pre-running from March 22 until the day before racing on April 4.

That will change in 2026. On Tuesday, SCORE announced pre-running for San Felipe will only be seven days long from March 20 to 27. Race day is on the 28th.

“We remain focused on protecting our racers, but we are also paying special attention to the communities along the Baja California Peninsula where our race course pass,” SCORE president José Abelardo Grijalva explained. “Local residents and private landowners requested fewer days without access to their lands for daily activities. We must respect and take care of the people who open their homes and lands to us. That’s why pre-running must maintain very controlled speeds, not full race speeds.”

Safety has been of utmost priority for SCORE since the fatal pre-running accident that killed a local ahead of last year’s Baja 500. Since the Baja 400, SCORE has mandated drivers must stop at crossroads and drive slowly while passing towns. The sanctioning body will also be closely monitoring speed limits for the 250.

Violators, who are caught either with documented evidence or by SCORE officials, will face penalties before the race.

Featured image credit: Polaris Off-Road Vehicles