Schoettler takes the big win at JConcepts Indoor Nats

As if there was ever any doubt based on his blistering pace from the very start of the weekend, Michael Schoettler has taken the big win at the JConcepts Spring Indoor Nationals at Tacoma R/C Raceway.  Winning A1 with ease, A2 would prove a tougher affair for the Associated driver as fellow Tacoma racer Luke Smith mounted a challenge that would see him lead for four laps half way through the 5-minute encounter.  A coming together between the two, who are used to battling one another weekly at Scott Brown’s track, Schoettler retook the lead holding on to head home Smith by just under a second to claim a very popular overall 2WD Mod win.  In A3 Smith would go on to take an easy over Tanner Denney with Ryan Matesa seeing off a major challenge from Brent Thielke to finish third.  The result would see Smith & Matesa complete an all local talent podium with Thielke ending up as the best visitor with fourth overall.

Having taken three of the four qualifiers on route to the overall TQ, Schoettler said although A1 was a relative easy and straight forward affair, helped by Smith having issues with his front tyre selection, he always expected the 20-year-old to give him a good race.  Leading away A2 from pole position, this time round with Smith in toe, a small mistake at the roller double was enough to allow the No.2 B5M to move to the front.   Schoettler said he was happy to follow for a few laps but a mistake by Smith, which would see the two tangle, would result in him being handed back the lead which he would hold util the end.  With his Reedy powered buggy ‘great to drive’ he said once in front again he just got more & more comfortable with it as the race went on. Describing his win as one of his biggest, he said winning at home in front of his family & friends made the race extra special.

After changing to a less worn front tyre after A1, Smith said his buggy was ‘way better’ allowing him to challenge his long time local rival Schoettler.  Describing the race as ‘action packed’ he said he couldn’t recall most of it but he enjoyed his battle for the lead despite losing out on forcing the overall decider to go to A3.  With second overall still open between him and Matesa, Smith made sure to lock down the runners up spot with a dominant drive. Setting the fastest race time of the three mains he would finish 7.5 second clear of JConcepts Indoor Nationals season opener winner Denney who himself had a strong drive from 7th on the grid.

2WD Mod Buggy Overall Result
1. Michael Schoettler – Associated – 2 pts
2. Luke Smith – Associated – 3
3. Ryan Matesa – Kyosho –  6
4. Brent Theilke – Associated – 8
5. Tanner Denney – Associated – 8
6. Steven Hartson – Associated – 10
7. JC Johnson – TLR – 11
8. Mike Brown – Schumacher – 14
9. John Walentia – Associated – 15
10.Marty Barnes – Associated – 15
11. JR Mitch – TLR – 18

2WD Mod Buggy A-Main Leg 3 Result
1.(2) Luke Smith – Associated – 21/5:03.965
2.(7) Tanner Denney – Associated – 21/5:11.538
3.(4) Ryan Matesa – Kyosho – 21/5:12.780
4.(6) Brent Theilke – Associated – 21/5:13.046
5.(5) Steven Hartson – Associated – 20/5:01.604
6.(3) JC Johnson – TLR – 20/5:03.463
7.(10)John Walentia – Associated – 20/5:07.635
8.(11)Marty Barnes – Associated – 20/5:08.718
9.(9) Mike Brown – Schumacher – 20/5:10.935
10.(8)JR Mitch – TLR – 19/5:04.601
11.(1)Michael Schoettler – Associated – DNS

2WD Mod Buggy A-Main Leg 2 Result
1.(1) Michael Schoettler – Associated – 21/5:08.671
2.(2) Luke Smith – Associated – 21/5:09.628
3.(4) Ryan Matesa – Kyosho – 21/5:12.334
4.(6) Brent Theilke – Associated – 21/5:12.837
5.(5) Steven Hartson – Associated – 21/5:13.371
6.(7) Tanner Denney – Associated – 20/5:00.959
7.(11)Marty Barnes – Associated – 20/5:08.057
8.(9) Mike Brown – Schumacher – 20/5:09.066
9.(8) JR Mitch – TLR – 20/5:14.178
10.(3)JC Johnson – TLR – 20/5:14.815
11.(10)John Walentia – Associated – 16/4:18.164

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