Tebo progresses to final day 1:8 Nitro Buggy Worlds

Jared Tebo will progress to the main day at the IFMAR 1:8 Nitro Buggy World Championship in Texas, this the legendary American offroad racer’s 1st World Championships as a privateer.  His tenth Nitro Worlds, racing last as a factory driver in Redovan in 2022, the 39-year-old found himself 54th at the end of qualifying in what he himself described as ‘a rough qualifying’ but taking the win in his 1/16 final he now gets to be part of the Main day here at Thornhill Racing Circuit for the 20th edition of the World Championships.  Not just racing this week but also here with his family running his growing JTP business’ track side shop, Tebo, who is known for being his own biggest critic, joked ‘this is my first Worlds wearing with a bunch of hats.’  Asked how the week had gone the multiple 1:10 World Champion said, ‘I just haven’t really flowed with the track.  I haven’t really felt the rhythm and wasn’t sure if it was my car or my driving so I was kind trying stuff on my car but still just not driving that well.’  He continued, ‘My last qualifier went well and I had kind of a 15-20 run going but crashed twice on the last lap and ruined it and that’s kind of why I am racing today.’  Taking the 1/16B final win ahead of 2012 World Champion Robert Batlle, this the Spaniard’s 12th Worlds appearance, he said, ‘I felt I probably drove the best I have driven that race so yeah all positive and looking forward to tomorrow.’

Asked if he was happy enough with his performance given his ‘privateer’ status and also running his shop, he replied, ‘I am not happy with my results at all but I am trying to be.  I had a little high expectations coming in.  I practiced a lot and made a point to try practice with Mason Fuller a bunch.  I was running his pace at all these different tracks and he’s TQ and I am 54th, you know, so that’s been discouraging, obviously I want him to do really well but I expected myself to do better.  I am hard on myself but I’ve got to realise that I am here for JTP, my family, and our shop.’  Also progressing from Tebo’s final will be Pelle Culmsee and Nate Sutherland who finished 3rd and 4th respectively.  In the 1/16A Final, Lee Setser took the win from the TQ ahead of Cole Kasten, Bryan Baldo (organiser of the last two Worlds), and 2023 2WD World Champion Tater Sontag who all progress to the 1/8 Final tomorrow, the remaining entry now down to the final 56 drivers.