At just 18, desert racer Eva Star Malabanan of El Cajon is attempting something even seasoned veterans think twice about: driving every mile of the grueling 854-mile SCORE Baja 1000 course on her own. It’s a bold plan, but for Malabanan, the challenge is exactly the point.
“The challenge is what motivated me to attempt to drive the 854-mile race,” she said. “I wanted to push my mental and physical limits.”
This is only her second full year competing in the SCORE series, yet she’s already built a reputation as one of the most composed and promising young drivers in sport. Last year, she finished second in the Pro UTV Normally Aspirated championship and earned Rookie of the Year. Those achievements, she said, raised the internal bar.
“Getting 2nd place in the championship last year and Rookie of the Year put more pressure on me because I had set the bar high for myself and wanted to exceed what I had already done.”
Her 2025 season reflects a steady climb: a tough DNF in San Felipe, followed by a third-place finish at the Baja 500 and second at the Baja 400 — each race bringing her closer to the top step she hopes to reach in the 1000.
“It’s hard to say what contributed to the steady climb because racing has so many variables,” she said. “Sometimes you drive better one day than the other, sometimes you have car issues, weather issues, and sometimes your car runs flawlessly.”
She enters the Baja 1000 sitting second in class points—a narrow margin she’s learned to take in stride.
“Right now, I’m guaranteed a podium in the championship, so the pressure is lifted slightly,” she said. “However, finishing the race is what gives me the most pressure.”
This year’s course has been described as “brutal,” with expected rain over the northern section adding another layer of difficulty. For an Iron Woman attempt, the physical toll alone can be deciding.
“Getting enough nutritional fluids and food is key,” she said. “As well as having multiple navigators to keep me refreshed.”
Her father, Sean Malabanan, is not only her lead navigator but also prepares the team’s Polaris UTV. Their partnership is built on trust and years of racing side by side.
“My dad does all the prep. I help occasionally,” she said. “During the race, I’m able to push the limits knowing that my dad can fix almost anything that breaks. A racer himself, he also coaches me in sketchy situations.”
Sean will ride with her to race 420 miles; after that point, three additional navigators will rotate in and out.
“I’m confident in my driving abilities and have a solid rhythm because I’m very familiar with racing Baja,” she said. “I just need someone to call out turns, dangers, and keep me on course.”
Preparation for potential downpours is straightforward: “I have extra gloves and race suit ready to change into if needed.”
With a 36-hour finisher window, Malabanan must average more than 23.7 mph — no small task over terrain that can break both cars and spirits. Her pacing plan is built around protecting the vehicle.
“The strategy for a long race like this is to keep the car in one piece,” she said. “Meaning, don’t overdrive and break the car.”
Her pit crew, a lively family-based group known as the “Cuzzin’s by the Dozens,” will support her throughout the race, backed by BFGoodrich pit support.
When she’s not racing, she’s a Paul Mitchell beauty school student in downtown San Diego, balancing two very different worlds.
“School takes up most of my time,” she said. “Luckily, I have my mom and dad who make sure everything race-related is taken care of. Because of them, I’m able to concentrate on graduating from beauty school and still be successful as a racer.”
“Baja Bound Insurance, Rugged Radios, Benchmark Performance, and BFGoodrich Tires have had the biggest impact on me,” she said, noting that Baja Bound was her first-ever sponsor in 2018.
Whether Malabanan reaches the finish line of her ambitious Iron Woman bid or simply battles through whatever Baja throws her way, her determination is unmistakable—and her star is rising fast.
