Maifield is 2WD Buggy Top Qualifier at ‘Clash’

Ryan Maifield has put himself in the best possible position to defend his JConcepts Clash 2WD Buggy title after he took the final round of qualifying to secure himself overall TQ honours for tomorrow’s final at the Flowood Indoor R/C Park in Mississippi.  The Associated driver set a new fastest time of the weekend in the fourth qualifier taking the round ahead of Q1 & Q3 winner Dustin Evans to tie with his big rival but having run 14-laps in both his TQ runs the Arizona driver secures pole position for the triple mains on tie-break.

Also setting the fastest lap of the weekend in Q4 with a 22.233 lap, Maifield said the event was so far going to plan with him also securing overall TQ honours in 2WD Short Course with him topping all four qualifiers with his SC10.  Needing to TQ the round to deny Evans TQ honours on his first Clash appearance, Maifield almost threw it all away when he clipped the pipe at the chicane sending his buggy shooting off the track losing him over 2 seconds.  Switching to a pre production version of JConcepts’ soon to be released Pressure Point tyre on the rear of his Reedy powered B4.1, Maifield said the new tyre gave him a ‘ton of traction’ but looking forward to the finals he said he plans to revert to back to Bar Codes as its a tyre that he knows well and which suits his aggressive driving style.  Asked about the finals, Maifield said Evans has the speed and he expects a good race between the two of them adding the track has a number of good passing places particularly on the left side but he said he hopes thats not something he will have to worry about.

Evans, who also ran the new Pressure Point tyre on the rear of his Orion powered TLR22 to record his only 14 lapper, said starting second wasn’t so bad as ‘it easier to follow than to be followed’.  The 2011 US National Champion and Reedy Race Champion said he needs to make his buggy easier to drive as it a bit too nervous on the right side of the track. If he can calm it down a little he is confident he can go faster as he wont be scared to push it harder.

Starting third on the grid will be Evans’ TLR team-mate JR Mitch with Maifield’s Associated team boss Brent Thielke lining up fourth, the pair set to battle it out for the final step on the podium.  Enjoying his best run in the final qualifier, 15-year-old Kyosho team driver Zack Genova will carry the No.5 on his Novak powered RB6 tomorrow thanks to his 3rd fastest time in Q4. Event organiser & JConcepts boss Jason Ruona starts 6th.

Despite dominating 2WD Short Course, Maifield said the finals are never a ‘walk in the park’ and with Evans and JR Mitch starting behind him nothing can be taken for granted.

2WD Buggy
A-Main Grid
1. Ryan Maifield – Associated – 0 pts
2. Dustin Evans – Team Losi Racing – 0
3. JR Mitch – Team Losi RAcing – 6
4. Brent Thielke – Associated – 7
5. Zack Genova – Kyosho – 8
6. Jason Ruona – Associated – 9
7. Max Flurer – Associated – 10
8. Tanner Denney – Associated – 11
9. Daimon Borkowicz – Associated – 15
10.Steve Bortolotti – Tamiya – 17

2WD Short Course
A-Main Grid
1. Ryan Maifield – Associated – 0 pts
2. Dustin Evans – Team Losi Racing – 4
3. JR Mitch – Team Losi Racing – 5
4. Daimon Borkowicz – Associated – 6
5. Max Flurer – Associated – 8
6. Paul Wynn – Associated – 10
7. Justin Cranford – Associated – 12
8. Chris Viesins – Team Losi Racing – 14
9. Tylor Weaver – Team Losi Racing – 17
10.Brian Abbott – Associated – 17

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