Ensenada, B.C., Mexico (June 2, 2017) – Veteran desert racer Robby Gordon returned back to the seat of his familiar bright orange No. 77 SPEED Energy / Toyo Tires / KMC Wheels Chevrolet Trophy Truck for the second time in 2017 on Thursday to earn the sixth starting position in Saturday’s 49 Annual Baja 500 desert race.

Gordon covered the 2.98-mile desert-qualifying course near Uruapan, 25 miles south of Ensenada in a time of three minutes and 40 seconds, averaging a speed of 48.57 miles per hour. The challenging course set in a winery setting offered the drivers many rolling hills and tight corners. Gordon would find trouble navigating over a hill, getting off the road loosing crucial seconds to the top competitors.

MORE: 2017 SCORE Baja 500 Qualifying Results

Fast Qualifier Bryce Menzies of Las Vegas, Nevada would jump the start of his qualifying lap forcing SCORE officials to penalize him two seconds dropping him to third in the finishing order and allow Toyo Tires driver Alan Ampudia to claim the top spot.

Starting and finishing in the Mexican seaside port city of Ensenada, desert racers from all over the world will take on the grueling 514-mile course at approximately 10 a.m. on Saturday morning. With the goal of finishing in the fastest overall time, competitors will leave the starting line in 30-second intervals.

Gordon whom has five previous victories in the famous off-road race will be chasing the dust of just five other competitors off the starting line in the quest to become the fastest driver back to Ensenada.

Video of Gordon’s qualifying Lap for the 2017 Baja 500 can be viewed below: