RJR wins Protruck division at the Baja 500

Reinertson Johnson Racing takes home class honors at the BAJA 500!

June 6, 2006
Barstow, CA

After a sixth place finish at the Best in the Desert ? Parker 425, RJR  
Racing was looking to get back on the podium in Baja. The team spent  
several weekends prerunning the rough and sometimes narrow 424-mile  
trek through northern Baja California. The 2006 edition of this  
historic race saw a record 438 entries take the green flag with only  
238 making it to the finish within the 18-hour time limit. Among the  
entries were 15 Protruck competitors, and every team had the ability  
to take the class win.

Race day had Rob Reinertson start the race, with Rick Johnson taking  
over at mile 211 -El Coyote at Checkpoint 3. At the start the truck  
was working quite well. The suspension changes the team made after the  
Parker event allowed the truck to use all the power the Ford engine  
offered. As the team made its way to El Coyote, the number of people  
lining the course was overwhelming. The Mexican Tourism officials  
announced that over 200,000 spectators were spread out along the  
entire route.

During the first half of the race Rob ran into a traffic bottleneck at  
mile 40 and later just before the driver change at mile 208.  Several  
competitors broke down in areas where passing was extremely difficult  
causing the slowdowns.

At El Coyote the team made the driver change with Rick Johnson take  
the driving duties for that last 213 miles. The truck performed  
flawlessly. The only delays Rick experienced were three more  
bottlenecks and running out of fuel at mile 399. Fortunately their  
last pit area was just up the road. Quickly a chase team got them the  
needed VP Racing fuel and headed for the finish.

At the finish, Rob Reinertson and Rick Johnson were the fastest  
Protruck to finish. The#234 came home in 12:46:56 (33.19mph). The  
second place Protruck of Robbie Pierce finished over 25 minutes behind  
Reinertson Johnson Racing.

?As soon as we hit the dirt I knew we had set the Bilstein equipped  
suspension dialed in. Our Ford F-150 really handled the tight Pine  
Forest trail perfectly. Each time we stopped for service, all we did  
was gas and go. Even the driver change went without a hitch, ?  
commented Rob Reinertson.

?When I got in the truck, everything was running as planned. The  
bottlenecks were frustrating, but practically everyone in the class  
had to put up with it. We ran out of fuel just short of our pit at  
Ojos Negros (Checkpoint 5), fortunately we got on the radio and the  
guys got us gassed up for the short run to the finish. The Yokohama  
tires were just incredible, not a single flat all day,? added Rick  
Johnson.

Next event, June 28 ? July 2, Pikes Peak Hill Climb, Colorado Springs,  
Colorado.

RJR Off-Road Racing still has marketing opportunities available for  
the 2006 Protruck series as well as their soon to be completed Trophy  
Truck.

Interested parties can call James Walker direct @ 760-285-0230 or  
email: Avalancheharpo@aol.com.

Rob and Rick would like to thank the companies that support the  
Protruck series including: Yokohama Tires, Magnaflow Exhaust,  
Bilstein, MSD Ignition, Mastercraft Seats, K & N Filters, Wells Cargo  
Trailers,and VP Fuels.

-	Mike Reusche/MTG & James Walker/RJR Off-Road
-	Race photo from www.race.off-road.com