Evans TQs first 4WD qualifier
Having TQ’d the opening round of 2WD qualifying this morning at the Short Course Showdown Nationwide Tour in Dallas, factory Losi driver Dustin Evans carried his form through to the premiere class putting his TEN-SCTE top of the 4WD time sheets. The largest grid of the five classes running this weekend at Mikes Hobby Shop, Evans once again displayed why he is one of the top electric off road drivers in the world as he finished a lap up on fellow Losi drivers Josh Glancy and Quincy Hughes.
The only driver to post a 17-second lap, Evans joked after the run that it looks like he could be in for an easy day of wrenching with both his trucks are working perfectly. Used to being kept a lot more busy between runs when racing 1:10 buggy, the 25-year-old said the lack of work required in running Short Course is one of the big appeals of the class especially for newcomers. With a reseed to be carried out after the second round of qualifying, Evans expects the competition to hot up for Q3 as the top drivers will get grouped in the same heat. With heads up starts, a format he really likes, the Losi drivers is looking forward to mixing it with his rival picking out Mike Dumas and Quincy Hughes as being potential threats.
Competing only in 4WD, 14-year-old Josh Glancy was very happy with his opening qualifier. Describing his run to the second fastest time as a ‘good clean run’, the promising youngster who comes from a 1:8 Off Road background said his TEN-SCTE was working well but he plans to try a lighter shock set-up for Q2 to try and fine tune the stability of the truck.
Despite traction rolling three times during the 5-minute qualifier, Hughes was happy to set the third fastest time. One of the men to beat on club race nights at Mikes Hobby Shop, the Losi driver will lower the ride height and says he may also take out some droop for Q2.
Responsible for feeding the drivers and teams that make up the 230 plus entry at the final date on the inaugural Short Course Showdown Nationwide Tour, Mike Dumas, who runs the Pickles & Peppers diner located at the track, said he had to make a dash for the drivers’ stand which wasn’t the best way to start his first qualifier. Setting the fourth fastest time, the former onroad ace said his Panther tyred Losi needs improving and he will switch to a harder set-up for Q2. The winner of a hotly contested club race held on the track on Thursday night Dumas is confident he can challenge for the top spot once he gets the truck more to his liking.
Another youngster to get his event off to a strong start was Hunter LaFlower. Making it five Losi’s at the top of the time sheets the 15-year-old, said his truck was really good but pushing a little too hard he made a few mistakes. Liking the flow of the track that Mike Darnell created for this event, LaFlower said his focus for Q2 is to just settle down his driving rather than go messing with his set-up.
Highest place non-Losi for the opening 4WD qualifier was Team Associated’s Brian Kinwald. Starting his heat from the back of the grid, which he said cost him a little time as he worked his way to the front, he once again said he found conditions ‘loose’. Using the same additive as he did in 2WD he said he didn’t switch to additive as he is a little short on his second option and he wants to save that for his 2WD. In an attempt to give his SC-10 a better feeling Kinwald said he will go with a completely different set-up on the rear shocks.
View our event image gallery here.