During contingency for the Baja 1000 in 2024, the #79 Trophy Truck of Russell Buehler suddenly drove forward and rammed into three vehicles. James “Jim” Goff and Esteban Velázquez died in the accident, while Darren Webster suffered serious injuries and has undergone an extensive recovery since.

On October 23, the families of the three filed a lawsuit against SCORE International in the State Superior Court of Los Angeles County. They are seeking a jury trial for damages such as negligence, wrongful death, survival action, and loss of consortium.

Other defendants named in the suit include series boss Roger Norman, Buehler’s team, and several series sponsors: BFGoodrich via Michelin North America, Clarios’ brand Optima Batteries, DS Media, Ford, Katana Racing, King Shocks, Lasernut, Method Race Wheels, Rugged Radios, Polaris, Sylvania, and VP Racing Fuels. Buehler himself was not driving the truck when the accident occurred; team mechanic Thomas Jay Flores was named in the suit as the driver.

The suit alleges SCORE did not properly vet team personnel by checking wristbands, and that the sanctioning body failed to provide security to prevent unqualified individuals from driving the vehicles.

Troy Walton (Walton Telken Bragee Injury Attorneys) and Tyler Schneider (TorHoerman Law), representing the plaintiffs, released the following statement:

Led by Roger Norman, SCORE organized, sanctioned, and promoted its Tech and Contingency Day event as “fan-friendly” and open to the public, but ultimately failed to implement adequate safety precautions and enforce rules that would keep the public out of harm’s way. Our clients are race enthusiasts and innocent bystanders who suffered serious injuries and lost loved ones because SCORE created a dangerous environment on November 14, 2024. We filed this case to seek just compensation for our clients and so that no family ever again experiences a tragedy like this at the hands of SCORE or its partners.

Webster’s team Canguro Racing is competing in Friday’s Baja 1000 as a partner on Tomonori Noto and Team JAOS’ Lexus.

The lawsuit wouldn’t be the first time SCORE faced legal hearings. In 2025, following a fatal pre-running accident before the Baja 500, the series settled with the family of the victim.

PDF of Goff, et al. v. Promote Mexico, LLC d/b/a SCORE International, et al.

Featured image credit: via WhatsApp