Baja 1000: Speed Technologies summary

SPEED TECHNOLOGIES CAPTURES FIRST BAJA 1000 CLASS 1 WIN AT THE TECATE SCORE BAJA 1000 IN ENSENADA
-Reno off-road teams cross the line and brings home first in class after a grueling 14 hour race-

Ensenada, Baja California (November 22nd) --- Speed Technologies, one of the largest and foremost off-road race teams in the United States and Mexico, captured their first Class 1 win this past weekend at the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. The HMS Avenger, driven by Driver of Record Chuck Dempsey and John Herder, started off first off the line in its class and was the first Class 1 car to cross the finish line over 14 hours later with only one flat tire the entire 630 mile desert race. This is the first Class 1 win for Speed Technologies and only their third Baja 1000.

"We are overjoyed," said team owner John Harrah. "We have worked so hard to get to this point and it feels so good -- but I always knew we had it in us."

The team, headed by team manager Phil Johnson and Kevin Singleton of Exotic Engines, pre-ran the course for over a week to make sure that every possible outcome was explored. The 20 person pit and support crew worked day and night to prep the car for the upcoming the granddaddy of off-road races.

"When John passed the car over to me at the half way point I knew we had a shot at it," said Driver of Record Chuck Dempsey. "We'd dominated the race the entire first half with only one flat tire and we had managed to maintain a significant lead -- I felt like this was our race."

Speed Technologies has only been competing in the off-road circuit for a little over two years, but drivers Chuck Dempsey and John Herder both have a long history of Baja wins -- that combined with first class mechanics, sponsors like Toyo tires, support and top notch pit crew helped catapult this team to victory.

            "I feel as if we are on top of the world," said team manager
Phil Johnson.  "We did it -- we really did it."

Speed Technologies was not the only Reno, NV based team to claim victory at the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. Roger Norman Racing, another Reno, NV based off-road team, won first place in the trophy truck category making it a great day for this Nevada town.

-credit: st