February 24, 2014

Buggy A-Main Result

1.(2) Ty Tessmann – HB/OS Speed – 60/45:21.807
2.(1) Dakotah Phend – TLR/Orion – 60/45:34.894
3.(8) Renaud Savoya – Xray/Orion – 60/45:42.373
4.(4) David Ronnefalk – Kyosho/Orion – 60/45:46.539
5.(6) Cody King – Kyosho/Reds Racing – 59/45:02.837
6.(12)Ryan Lutz – Durango/Alpha – 59/45:09.864
7.(11)Austin Blair – Kyosho/RB – 59/45:13.189
8.(15)Josh Wheeler – Xray/OS Speed – 59/45:16.250
9.(5) Carson Wernimont – Mugen/OS Speed – 59/45:19.706
10.(9)Ryan Cavalieri – Associated/Orion – 59/45:41.336
11.(7)Barry Pettit – Mugen/OS Speed – 58/45:05.100
12.(3)Jared Tebo – Kyosho/Orion – 58/45:12.980
13.(13)Tyler Vik – Xray/FX – 57/45:12.027
14.(10)Taylor Petersen – Mugen/Novarossi – 55/45:22.491
15.(14)Ryan Maifield – Associated/Novarossi – 9/6:28.904


February 24, 2014

Maifield struggles into Main event at DNC

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Reigning Dirt Nitro Challenge Buggy Champion Ryan Maifield will progress to the deciding race of the 15th running of the world famous event but having only finished second in between the Xray’s of RC America team-drivers Tyler Vik and Josh Wheeler, the Associated driver’s chances of defending his title are looking somewhat of a tall order for the Arizona ace. Debuting a prototype of Associated’s new RC8 platform at the event,  Maifield had a difficult qualifying ending up only 13th fastest overall leaving him on pole for the B-Main.  While Maifield led the 15-car field for the first 6 laps of the 20-minute encounter, Vik would move to the front on lap 7 leaving Maifield to battle for the race with Wheeler.  With both Tyler and Wheeler posting 44-second fastest laps, the best Maifield could manage would be a 45.150.  Commenting on the race a clearly unhappy Maifield kept it brief saying it was ‘going to be a long final’.

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With six of last year’s DNC Buggy finalist finding themselves in the B-Main, the race would be the end of the road for four of them.  Starting second, Serpent’s Mike Truhe would fall down the order after a number of rough laps and while he recovered back to fourth he would flame out on the final lap to finish 5th.  TLR’s Adam Drake who qualified 3rd for last years A-Main would also suffer a flame out leaving the reigning US National Champion 11th.  The fourth place qualifier 12-months ago, World Championship Top Qualifier Elliot Boots lasted just 3 laps before retiring, stripping the clutch gearing on his Kyosho.  The other of the 2013 finalists who wont make up one of the 15 grid spots for this year’s 45-minute main were TLR’s Billy Fischer who would only finish 7th behind Team Durango’s Joern Neumann, the German having a tough 5 days at the DNC.

Buggy A-Main Grid
1. Dakotah Phend – TLR/Orion
2. Ty Tessmann – HB/OS Speed
3. Jared Tebo – Kyosho/Orion
4. David Ronnefalk – Kyosho/Orion
5. Carson Wernimont – Mugen/OS Speed
6. Cody King – Kyosho/Reds Racing
7. Barry Pettit – Mugen/OS Speed
8. Renaud Savoya – Xray/Orion
9. Ryan Cavalieri – Associated/Orion
10.Taylor Petersen – Mugen/Novarossi
11.Austin Blair – Kyosho/RB
12.Ryan Lutz – Durango/Alpha
13.Tyler Vik – Xray/FX
14.Ryan Maifield – Associated/Novarossi
15.Josh Wheeler – Xray/OS Speed

View our event image gallery here.


February 24, 2014

Chassis Focus – Dakotah Phend

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Chassis: TLR 8ight 3.0
Engine: Orion RS
Tires: Pro-Line
Radio/Servo: Spektum
Remarks – Dakotah is running the basic 8ight 3.0 buggy with his standard dirt setup having only needed to change to a thicker oil to deal with the temperature change. One of a number of drivers to be running the new RS engine from Team Orion, for the A-main practice which is run just after the completion of the Pro B-Main he will try M3 Blockades in place of the usual Holeshot with a view the main event which will be run in the dark.

Image Gallery


February 23, 2014

Chassis Focus – Ryan Lutz

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Chassis: Team Durango
Engine: Alpha Plus
Tires: AKA
Radio/Servo: Futaba
Remarks – Team Durango factory driver Ryan Lutz is running a highly modified prototype version of the company’s DNX408 buggy. Happy with the handling and overall performance, the American ace told us he has been using pretty much the same chassis configuration since the Neo Race back in August. Heading into the finals his plans are to observe the track conditions to help choose the right tires for the main, where he will be starting from twelfth on the grid.

Image Gallery


February 23, 2014

‘From Race Control’ – Day 5 Buggy Mains

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We have reached the last day of the 15th running of the Dirt Nitro Challenge with the most coveted of the titles up for grabs at Joey ‘The Dirt’ Christensen’s  signature event to decided in the final race of the day.  28 races make up the schedule on what is another blue sky day at the Fear Farm with particular interest in Race 24, the B-Main. 2013 Buggy Champion Ryan Maifield is on pole for the 20-minute encounter after a difficult qualifying on Friday and will need a Top 3 finish if he is to progress to the 45-minute A-Main and have a chance of defending his title.