Maifield & Phend 4WD Top Qualifiers

Ryan Maifield and Dakotah Phend completed the line up of Top Qualifiers in the main classes of the Pro-Line Cactus Classic with defending champion Maifield taking the honour in 4WD Buggy and Phend in 4WD Short Course after the pair each TQ’d the final qualifier of their respective classes tonight at Scottsdale R/C Speedway.

Looking to defend three titles this weekend, Maifield was pleased to secure his second overall TQ having earlier wrapped up 2WD Short Course with a round to spare. Happy with how his Reedy powered B44.1 worked in Q4, the factory Associated driver said starting on pole in the blue ribboned class his plan will be to control the race from the front.

Starting behind Maifield, making it an Associated 1-2 on the grid, will be team-mate Ryan Cavalieri. Having TQ’d Round 1, the World Champion Cavalieri was the only driver capable of denying Maifield from carrying No.1 on his buggy at his home race but he came up short finishing second, just under 2-seconds adrift.

Finishing on the podium in 4WD Buggy at last year’s Cactus Classic, third in the final heat leaves British ace Lee Martin in a strong position to repeat or better his 2011 performance with his Tamiya TRF502 carrying No.3 in the 5-minute triple A-Mains.

Reducing the ride height by 1mm on his Losi Ten-SCTE to suit the higher traction caused by the cooler night conditions, Phend said his Short Course truck was really good allowing him to take his third TQ run and secure the No.1 spot on the grid for his first attempt at the class at this event. Having shown last year he has an abundance of raw talent when he made his Short Course race debut at the ROAR Nationals to go on to became Champion, he is confident he can repeat that feat in tomorrow’s Mains.

Starting behind Phend will be Ryan Lutz who was able to back up his Q2 topping run last night with second in tonight’s closing qualifier. The Durango driver set the fastest lap once again and is sure to give the 15-year-old a good run for his money in the finals.

Defending Champion Mike Truhe will carry the No.3 on his truck and, as a stronger racer than qualifier, will be looking to find away passed both Phend and Lutz so as to retain his Pro-Line Cactus Classic crown.

Round 4 Qualification (Top 6)
4WD Buggy
1. Ryan Maifield – Associated – 13/5:01.408
2. Ryan Cavalieri – Associated – 13/5:03.363
3. Lee Martin – Tamiya – 13/5:06.070
4. Joern Neumann – Durango – 13/5:09.353
5. Jared Tebo – Kyosho – 13/5:11.903
6. Hupo Honigl – Durango – 13/5:15.533

4WD Buggy A-finalists
1. Ryan Maifield – Associated
2. Ryan Cavalieri – Associated
3. Lee Martin – Tamiya
4. Jared Tebo – Kyosho
5. Travis Amezcua – Durango
6. Joern Neumann – Durango
7. Billy Fischer – Associated
8. Hupo Honigl – Durango
9. Steven Hartson – Associated
10.Chad Due – Associated

Round 4 Qualification (Top 6)
4WD Short Course
1. Dakotah Phend – Losi – 13/5:19.422
2. Ryan Lutz – Durango – 13/5:23.190
3. Mike Truhe – Losi – 13/5:00.885
4. Carson Wernimont – Durango – 12/5:00.187
5. Kody Numedahl – Associated – 12/5:08.009
6. Max Flurer – Associated – 12/5:12.861

4WD Short Course A-finalists
1. Dakotah Phend – Losi
2. Ryan Lutz – Durango
3. Mike Truhe – Losi
4. Hupo Honigl – Durango
5. Joern Neumann – Durango
6. Carson Wernimont – Durango
7. Travis Amezcua – Durango
8. Kody Numedahl – Associated
9. Frank Root – Losi
10.Max Flurer – Associated

View the complete final qualifying results here (PDF).

View our event image gallery here.