Tessmann wins Truggy at ‘The Dirt’
Ty Tessmann has won his second Dirt Nitro Challenge title in Truggy after cruising to a healthy victory at the Fear Farm over Ryan Cavalieri and Adam Drake. Starting from second on the grid the Canadian, who was Truggy Champion in 2010, took the lead of the race when Top Qualifier Ryan Maifield crashed out 8-minutes into the 45-minute final. A spectacular exit for the Associated RC8.2T which veered off the track and ploughed into one of hay bail track markers, the demise of the US National Truggy Champion was discovered afterwards to have been caused by a failure of the steering drag arm.
Delighted to regain the title, Tessmann said other than a few moments with traffic the race went really good. Asked if could have challenged for the win if the battle with Maifield had of gone full distance, the factory Hot Bodies driver said he was comfortable running behind the Arizona driver and was ready to apply the pressure when needed. Running OS engines Tessmann’s father and pitman Gord said they had the option to run 11 and a half minute stops but once Maifield went out they ran a safer 9-minute strategy. Starting from pole for tomorrow’s Buggy Final, the quiet 19-year-old said he is going to give his all and try and repeat Jared Tebos 2011 double victory.
Finishing runner-up, Cavalieri said he was happy with the result but would have liked to have had the opportunity to race Tessmann for the win. The Associated driver was involved in a titanic battle with outgoing champion Jared Tebo and Drake which while providing top quality entertainment for the enthusiastic crowd it gave Tessmann his break which they could never claw back. After a less than ideal start to truggy qualifying Cavalieri said second confirmed that they had made progress over the weekend.
TLR’s Drake said the battle with Cavalieri and Tebo was fun but played into Tessmann’s hand. Unlike his fellow Proline users Tessman and Cavalieri he opted for the Revolver rather than the Holeshot. A safe tyre due to the bigger pins he said in the early part of the race they made his Novarossi powered 8ight-T hard to hang onto but by the end they became really strong. This allowed him to get the better of another intense battle which this time came from within his own team with himself and Mike Truhe providing the entertainment in the later part of the race. Drake eventually came out on top to secure a place on the podium saying afterwards this along with TLR drivers filling the 3rd through to 8th position was a good way to start the season.
Truhe said he regretted not risking 9-minute stops. Choosing 7:30 stops based on his Orion’s engine performance in qualifying he said in the final it would have easily gone 9-minutes saving him one fuel stop. Starting 10th on the grid, he said the race was a great confidence booster for tomorrow as he has got to do some bumping up after a disappointing Buggy qualifying.
Looking like he might have found the form we seen at last year’s Dirt Nitro Challenge, Tebo suffered cruel luck for which his pitman Joe Pillars took full responsibility. During one of his fuel stops the tie wrap on the fuel cap got caught in the body of the ST-RR resulting in the fuel pouring out of the tank later causing the truggy to run out of fuel. A flame-out leaving the put lane after the truggy was refuel led further hampered Tebo and he would end the race a very disappointed 11th.
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