Behind the Scenes at the Baja 1000: A Grassroots Bronco Pit Crew Story

[Blancobroncoadventures]

I wanted to share a behind-the-scenes perspective from the Baja 1000 from the pit crew side - to talk about the people and what it was like running pit team no. 2 for Team 301 with a crew that was really just a big group of friends in the desert. RJ already told the story well, so this is about everything happening between the pits, the waiting and the moments you don’t see in some of the videos.

This wasn’t a funded effort or a professional operation. It was a Bronco community effort - friends, families and volunteers who all showed up because of a shared love for Bronco and the people around them.

People came from different states, took time off work, spent their own money to be there and stood around in the desert for hours just waiting to help. No one asked for anything in return. At times it didn’t even feel like a race - it just felt like a big group of friends hanging out in Baja, all focused on the same goal.

My role was coordinating pit team #2 operations and trying to keep things organized - assigning roles, managing timing, working on the race Bronco and adjusting plans as they changed. With essentially no budget, everything came down to teamwork. Sharing tools, filling in wherever needed and solving problems on the fly. There was no backup plan beyond the people standing next to you.

As the race went on, the rear differential issue showed up. The mood shifted a little - not to panic, but to realism. The goal stopped being about pace and became about protecting the Bronco and supporting RJ. Everyone understood that shift immediately. Then the rain hit late in the race and everything slowed down. The course deteriorated fast, visibility dropped and the wait time stretched out. Standing in the dark rain, not knowing exactly when or if the Bronco would arrive, was one of the most tense parts of the entire experience.

We had around 25 volunteers spread across the board and by the end, it didn’t feel like just a crew anymore. We became family. People worked harder than planned, stepped into new roles and kept spirits up when the ending got tough. Some of us even stayed up the entire 36 hours with RJ just to make sure things went smoothly. That’s what carried them through.

We made a video that shows the pit side reality - not polished or dramatic, just the real deal.




What sticks with me most isn’t a moment on the course - it’s standing in the desert with a group of people who all chose to be there for RJ.

That’s what makes us excited about 2026. We’ve learned a lot, built stronger friendships and have an exciting picture of what 2026 is going to look like for us. And we’re wishing RJ all the best in his 2026 racing endeavors! When we get the chance to line up again, it’ll be with the same mindset - friends first, Bronco community always and whatever happens after that is just part of the story.

Thank you to every single person on Team 301. Thank you to RJ for trusting this group of friends with something this big. Thank you to every crew member who showed up - whether you were fueling, wrenching, tracking, filming, cooking, navigating or just standing there ready to help when the Bronco rolled in.

This wasn’t about results or headlines. It was about the people. About showing up for each other. About proving what a small, committed group can do together.
Team 301 will always mean more to me than a race number. It’s a reminder of the kind of community the Bronco world can create.

Grateful for every single one of you.
#Team301

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[C6ZZGT]

We just watched the video yesterday on Youtube. @popo_patty @Blancobroncoadventures --What was used for chase lights ?

 

[Broncofly]

Continue to rock boys!

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