Johnson, Vessels and Banning take the podium at the 47th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. Every competitor at this year’s race will remember it as one of the most brutal Baja 1000s ever. If this legendary race wasn’t tough enough already, only two months prior Hurricane Odile ravaged the Baja peninsula washing out the course, exposing rocks, and strewing hazards all over the 1275 route from Ensenada to La Paz. Class 10 racers not only had to face the elements but stiff competition. Before it was over, the 47th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 would claim half of the Class 10 racers.
The top finishers in Class 10 were truly in a league of their own. At the top of the pack was the car 1031 team of Mike Johnson, Mike Majesky and Brent Fletcher. Majesky started in the Mendeola S5 equipped Alumi Craft 10 car. Brent Fletcher took over at mile 415. Mike Johnson took the final leg suffering a couple of flats before crossing the finish line in La Paz to win Class 10 in 26:49:22, more than an hour faster than the next car in class.
Cam Theriot’s brand new Albins AGB equipped Jimco car 1055 was a new sight on the Baja Peninsula. Car 1055 had only been raced once before at the MORE Midnight Special in September. The brutal course at this year’s Baja 1000 was this car’s first true test. Kash Vessels started at the wheel in Ensenada. Car owner, Cam Theriot, drove the middle section and Andy Grider who took it over the finish line in La Paz in 27:50:20 for a very impressive Class 10 second place.
The Banning Motorsports team made the trek to the Baja peninsula two weeks before the start of the race to pre-run and prepare with hopes of repeating their 2012 Class 10 victory. The Senior Banning and Chris Godfrey started the race in the Albins AGB equipped Ford car 1023 at approximately 1:30 pm Ensenada time. A driver swap put Steve Melton behind the wheel at mile 300. Unfortunately shortly after the swap, Melton suffered some bad luck. He lost time stuck in silt as well as a couple of flats. At mile 600, Rick Graf and Tim Sullivan took over driving duties during a scheduled pit stop. A final driver swap in Loreto put Lee Banning Jr. and Roberto Ruiz in the cockpit for the final leg to La Paz, finishing in 29:21:51. Months of planning earned the team the final spot on the Class 10 podium after 1275 punishing miles.
Congratulations to all the finishers of this year’s Baja 1000.
47th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 Class 10 Top Finishers
1031 Mike Johnson / Mike Majesky / Brent Fletcher
Gearbox: Mendeola S5
1055 Kash Vessels / Cam Theriot / Andy Grider
Gearbox: Albins AGB 11.5
1023 Lee Banning Sr. / Lee Banning Jr / Steve Melton / Rick Graff
Gearbox: Albins AGB 10