The new H2 race truck was...
The new H2 race truck was in the lead before going down to a problem with a front differential mounting bolt.
There is only one man who has participated in a car or truck in all 40 Baja 1000 races, and that man is the legendary Rod Hall, owner of Rod Hall Racing and Team Hummer. The great importance of this year's 1000 to both Team Hummer and the Hall family was not lost on me. For one, this was the first race for Chad Hall's new H3 Alpha race truck (racing in the Stock Full class), which replaced his H1 Alpha race truck. Josh also retired his 2003 H2 Stock Full racetruck, which was the oldest in Team Hummer's arsenal, yet still dominating the class. His new truck was a 2008 Hummer H2 SUT with the new 400hp 6.2L V-8 and six-speed transmission. Lastly, Rod, just before turning 70, was gunning for a new record in the Baja 1000-most wins.
After our Stock Full win in last year's Baja 1000, I felt privileged to be invited back to codrive for Josh Hall and be a part of the team at Rod Hall Racing. I was to get in the H2 with Josh around San Ignacio, and take it all the way to the finish line.
Unfortunately for us, the new H2 race truck suffered a mechanical failure at mile 177, which ended the race for it. A major disappointment for myself, this meant that my race was over several hundred miles before I even had a chance to get in the truck. It also meant that I would be shifting duties from racer to chaser-chasing the team and helping out on the support side all the way to Cabo.
 Rod and Josh Hall discuss...  Rod and Josh Hall discuss race strategy and whether to put the H2 on the trailer, a disappointing decision at the time that would pay off huge at the finish. |  Josh Hall and Thad Stump cross...  Josh Hall and Thad Stump cross the finish line in Rod Hall's H3, securing Rod's 19th victory. |  The Halls: The winningest...  The Halls: The winningest family in Baja history. |
Chad Hall, on the other hand, had a great race in the H3 Alpha, and Josh jumped in to Rod's H3 to cross the finish line in 40:04:30, averaging 32.34 mph and making it the second stock vehicle, of any class, to cross the finish line. The first stock vehicle to cross the finish line was Chad's H3 Alpha race truck in a time of 36:27:25, averaging 35.56 mph.
Rod Hall's win was number 19 in his Baja 1000 career, giving him the most wins of any driver in Baja history. This win was number four for Josh, while Chad earned number six, giving the trio 29 class wins and making them the winningest family in the history of the 1000. In fact, one of the three Halls has been the driver of record on a winning Baja 1000 team for seven straight years, and for the eleventh time in the 15 years of Stock Class history.
Team Hummer was proud to take home two First Place trophies, and I was proud to be a part of the effort.
-Sean P. Holman, Tech Editor
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