Tessmann takes final qualifier

Ty Tessmann concluded qualifying at the 17th running of the US National Championships with a TQ run, the former champion topping the Buggy time sheets for a second time at Thornhill Racing Circuit in the fourth & final round. While the overall TQ was decided in Q3, TLR’s Dakotah Phend repeating his 2013 feat due his two 10-lap rounds, Tessmann would end up equal on points with his rival to take second overall and pole position for the second of the Semi Finals. Behind Tessman, Q4 would be the best qualifier for Ryan Maifield with the Team Associated driver posting a second for the round. Having been on the TQ pace for most of the run, Phend would end up third after an error on the penultimate lap.

Tessmann described the run as ‘loose’ adding ‘I think that is just how it is’. Posting the fastest lap of the round with a 45.481, he said his OS Speed powered D8 12 ‘did everything as he expected it to do’. With the track ‘blowing out’, he said the traction is coming up in some spots due to the ruts adding if it continues to break up it ‘should be fun tomorrow’. Asked if the deteriorating track would force him to make any set-up changes he said for now he had no plans to make any changes but he would make the final decision on that after the Semi practice run. If he does have to change the buggy he is confident they already have a good idea what direction to take.

Opting to not change his RC8.2 from how it was in Q3, Maifield said it was comfortable to drive and he believes it’s a competitive Semi Final car. Running JConcepts blue compound Crossbow tyre again, he will leave everything the same for tomorrow. Set to start in the same Semi as Phend, having qualified 3rd overall, he said his approach for tomorrow is to ‘stay with the lead group and see how it plays out’.

Phend said the track is getting more & more difficult to drive making it particularly hard to be consistent. On target for his third TQ run, he said luckily the round didn’t count for anything as he spun out and then ended up stuck in the piping. While the track is becoming more tricky, he said he is happy with how his 8ight is dealing with the conditions but if the bumps get worse he might make a few small adjustments to the set-up.

Posting his fastest run time in Q4, equaling his Q3 P4 result, Ryan Lutz said he lost a bit of time when he caught a group of 3 cars and then having just passed them got a jump wrong leading to bit of a ‘commotion’. Ending qualifying 6th, the Team Durango driver said he has a few things he wants to try in the Semi practice to improve his DNX8 Prototype. With the buggy ‘dumping a little on the front’ he said they will try to figure out how to support the front end better.

Also setting his fastest time in the last qualifier claiming fifth for the round, RC America team driver Josh Wheeler would see his time docked a lap. Having thought qualifying was to start at 10:00 this morning as it did yesterday, he was wrenching in his trailer when the first qualifier, which he was supposed to be marshalling, got underway at 09:45. Late to his spot, he was handed a 1-lap penalty to be applied to his fastest time. The World Championship finalist said the run could have been better but he hit traffic.  Starting behind Ryan Cavalieri he said he caught the Associated driver and held up, he then had to let Lutz past. With the pace ‘so close’ he said pulling over caused him to lose further time although he would eventually retake Lutz later in the run. Despite his penalty, Wheeler still ended qualifying 8th overall behind Cody King and ahead of Cavalieri.

Q4 Buggy times – Top 10
1. Ty Tessmann – HB/OS Speed – 10/7:41.609
2. Ryan Maifield – Associated/Novarossi – 10/7:43.820
3. Dakotah Phend – TLR/Orion – 10/7:44.125
4. Ryan Lutz – Durango/Alpha – 9/7:00.262
5. Josh Wheeler – Xray/OS Speed – 9/7:01.307
6. Carson Wernimont – Mugen/OS Speed – 9/7:02.05
7. Cody King – Kyosho/Reds Racing – 9/7:04.190
8. Jared Tebo – Kyosho/Orion – 9/7:04.298
9. Adam Drake – TLR/Novarossi – 9/7:05.917
10.Billy Fischer – TLR/Novarossi – 9/7:09.781

Overall Buggy Qualifying Ranking – Top 16
1. Dakotah Phend – TLR/Orion – 0 pts
2. Ty Tessmann – HB/OS Speed – 0
3. Ryan Maifield – Associated/Novarossi – 5
4. Carson Wernimont – Mugen/OS Speed – 6
5. Jared Tebo – Kyosho/Orion – 6
6. Ryan Lutz – Durango/Alpha – 8
7. Cody King – Kyosho/Reds Racing – 12
8. Josh Wheeler – Xray/OS Speed – 13
9. Ryan Cavalieri – Associated/Orion – 13
10.Billy Fischer – TLR/Novarossi – 16
11.Dylan Rodriguez – Mugen/OS Speed – 19
12.Michael Truhe – Serpent/TOP – 20
13.Adam Drake – TLR/Novarossi – 21
14.Tyler Vik – Xray/FX – 22
15.Barry Pettit – Mugen/OS Speed – 23
16.Mark Pavidis – TLR/OS Speed – 24

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