TQ run for Evans in first 1:8 Buggy Qualifier

At the sixth running of the JConcepts Clash Dustin Evans is enjoying a great debut at the famous US event as he repeated his morning’s 2WD Buggy performance by topping the time sheets with a 14/5:08.314 in the opening round of 1:8 Nitro Buggy qualifying. Posting the fastest lap of the round, Evans took Q1 by 3-seconds again ahead of defending champion Ryan Maifield but were it not for traffic problems on the last lap it would have been a much closer run between to two factory drivers.

Evans said his buggy felt really good as it had done in practice yesterday only today he was able to position himself on the left side of the drivers stand giving him a better view of the right side of the track which he said he was having trouble with yesterday. Running JConcepts blue compound Hybrids on his Orion powered 8ight he said the buggy felt great and for Q2 he plans to stick with what he has adding that if he can run another good qualifier this evening he will use Q3 to try the new Stacker tyres with a view to preparing for Sunday’s half hour main.

Maifield, who set the pace in yesterday’s practice, felt his LRP powered RC8.2 was on for a TQ run but on his final run down the straight contact with traffic caused him to crash and post a 24.645 final lap compared with his fastest lap for the race which was a 21.421.  Running the same tyres as Evans, he felt the compound may not have been the best choice for him and he plans to change for Q2.  In terms of his set-up the Arizona ace said he wasn’t yet sure if he was going to make any changes.

Despite having a front tyre come unglued on his 8ight towards the end of his heat following heavy contact with a track marker, JR Mitch posted the third fastest time.  Having ‘missed the memo to run blue compound’ he ran JConcepts Green Hybrids which he said started to go off by the end of the run.  Planning to switch to blue compound for Q2, which he said he will glue them better than his green set, he will also try to find a better tune on his Orion engine as he looks to get a little better mileage.  Leaving his set-up untouched he said he hoped in Q2 ‘the old guy could give the others a run for their money’.

Behind Mitch, Cole Ogden set the fourth fastest time with his Murnan Novarossi powered TLR 8ight just missing out on a 14 lap run.  The 18-year-old from Georgia, who is making his first Clash appearance, said he was very happy to start the event off with a Top 4 run adding that he loves the track layout.  Running Sweep tyres, he plans on leaving everything as is and instead work on improving his driving having had a few moments in Q1.

In the biggest class at the 2012 JConcepts Clash, 1:8 Electric Buggy, Brent Thielke took his Associated RC8.2e to the fastest time ahead of Justin Cranford and Jake Dellinger.  In the Short Course classes Ryan Maifield TQ’d 2WD from Dustin Evans while local Associated driver Max Flurer got the job done in 4WD.

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