Michigan State Nitro X Series round one race report

0 June 8, 2017, 10:04 a.m.

Main Photo: Michigan State Nitro X Series round one race report

By Mike Garrison
LiveRC.com

Race Report from Michigan Nitro X Series:
Report by Tom Erickson, Photos by Alex Vande Berg
https://www.facebook.com/michstatechampseries

The Opening round of the Michigan State Nitro X Series ended on June 3rd with a large turnout of fast drivers preparing their skills for the ROAR Nitro Fuel Off Road Nationals. The day was calm and race conditions were perfect for a great day of under the sun at THE Track in Carleton, Michigan. Three rounds of qualifying and mains for the Championship Nitro and Electric, Buggy and Truck classes, as well as the Sportsman classes.

Nankin Hobbies Nitro Buggy Class

The 2017 season kicked off strong with forty one entries in the Championship Nitro Buggy class. Qualifying ran smooth with some of the fastest drivers in Michigan seeded into the last heat. Early in qualifying, 10th scale hotshot Ayden Horne set the early TQ with Charlie Maiorana less than a second behind. Charlie is also a proven 10th scale buggy driver trying his skills in 8th scale Nitro for only his second outing. Ayden continued each round setting the top score each round ending the 3 qualifier with his best result of the day. Charlie’s first round was good enough to secure second overall. Third place on the grid was given to 2016 Season Champion, Mike “Chedda” Legue with a last heat result that would send Austin Horne and Mike Valentine Jr. back a spot. In the A-Main the pack circled the track in running order until Ayden caught a rut flipping him off track. Charlie assume the lead as Austin passed Chedda take over second place. Close behind Chedda was Brian Borle in his Team Associated RC8B3.1 eventually overtaking him for some laps. Austin was able to get around Charlie for the lead but stalled sending him back to 7th place. With Charlie in the lead, Chedda closing the gap each round, Brian positioned himself to capitalize on any mistake. Charlie entered the pit lane for refueling earlier than any other driver leaving the lead to Chedda. Brian was able to avoid Charlie’s upside down car in the front double-double to claim second position. THE Track owner, designer and operator, Larry Komisar, entered the battle in his MBX7. Charlie was able to pressure Brian and move into the second spot closing the gap on Chedda. The gap was less than ten seconds as the event hit the midpoint. Charlie entered the pit lane five times during the thirty minute A-main, set the fastest lap, and flipped in the front double-double more than three times and still held second position within sight of the leader. Keith Ives was instrumental in keeping Charlie in the mix with blistering fast fuel stops. This was not enough to get ahead of Chedda who crossed the finish line in 1st place when the tone sounded. Charlie finished 2nd place still less than ten seconds back. 3rd place went to Larry Komisar after a battle with Brain and Austin Horne. Austin would finish in 4th place while Brian finished in 5th. Mike “Chedda” Legue quickly assumed the lead and set a pace noone could overcome to win the Nitro Buggy class.

Nankin Nitro Buggy A-Main Podium
1st Place: Mike “Chedda” Legue - TeknoRC, Dirtburners Raceway and Hobbies
2nd Place: Charlie Maiorana - TLR, REDS, AKA,
3rd Place: Larry Komisar - Mugen Seiki

Team Associated Electric Buggy

More than twenty four drivers entered the event in the Electric 8th Scale Buggy class vying for top honors in qualifying. Missing this event was 2016 Season Champion Kyle Gough. After three rounds it was clear than Mugen driver Steve Culbert was unstoppable capturing the fastest finish each round. His consistency was nearly perfect leaving the rest of the field to fight over the remaining spots. Val Kops was initially in the second spot but was not able to hold of Chris Peterson. Chris captured the second starting position after round #2. The 3rd round finalized the grid with R.J. Hart securing the third position with Jermaine “Legg” Leggitt in fourth and Val falling to fifth. The start of the A-main started clean but Val did not wait to start his push for the lead. First passing Legg on the opening lap then getting by both RJ and Chris to connect with Steve. The top three extended their lead on the rest of the pack lead by Chris with Tom Erickson close behind. The ten minute final continued with the top three driving hard within a few seconds of each other. In the closing laps RJ made a pass on Val that he was able to secure to the finish. Steve crossed the line in 1st place, RJ in 2nd place and Val in 3rd place.

Team Associated Electric Buggy Podium
1st Place: Steve Culbert - Mugen Seiki
2nd Place: RJ Hart - TeknoRC, Nankin Hobbies
3rd Place: Val Hops - Mugen Seiki

AKA Nitro Truggy Class

The growth of Nitro Truggy over the past two season continues with twenty seven drivers throwing their trucks into the battle for qualifying positions. The grid was not finalized until the last round with Mike “Chedda” Legue setting the fastest place and securing TQ honors. Brian Borle was consistent through each round holding off all comers for the second spot. George “G3” Berridge put it together in the last round to capture the third spot leaving Michael Weihl and Jeff Waltz in the fourth and fifth positions. The start was clean for Chedda but not for the rest of truggies. After a few laps the order settled down and G3 was able to get out ahead as Chedda built up a small lead. Third place was held early on by Tony Oh Boy until Michael Weihl was able to get by. G3 was able to close the bap to Chedda and begin a sequence of ten or more laps of bumper to bumper racing until his truggy began to slow down. His 30 minute A-main was over with a third of the event left. Chedda held a commanding lead after G3 retired leaving the battle for second place to heat up between Mike, Brian, and Larry Komisar. Larry bumped from the B-main used the first half of the event to slowly work his way up the running order. His high consistency paid off as he assume the second position. Mike and Brian chased close behind. As the main came to a close, 2016 Season Champion, Mike Legue, crossed the line in 1st place. Larry held off the others to finish in 2nd place. After corrected laps, Michael Weihl would grab the 3rd place finish.

AKA Nitro Truggy Podium
1st Place: Mike Legue - TeknoRC, Dirtburners
2nd Place: Larry Komisar - Mugen Seiki
3rd Place: Michael Weihl - Mugen Seiki

SMC Electric Truggy Class

The season opener would kick off without the 2016 Season Champion RJ Hart competing in the Electric Truggy class. Among the fourteen entries was Russ Raden who secured the top qualifying position each round with the most consistent set of runs of the day. His three runs had a spread of just 0.2 seconds between them. Brian Trammel missed to TQ by less than a second. 2016 #2 eTruggy, Ben Belote, secured the third spot on the grid with a gap of 2 seconds. The eTruggy class was the last heat of the thirteen main events of the day. Russ did not stick around to start the main event leaving Brian start at the head of the pack. The start of the 10 minute A-main event saw the lead group run smooth through the initial turns. By the front straight Brian was holding the lead with Ben within a truck length. Behind them Brandon Price, who started from the fourth position challenged Ben for second place. Young Logan Wendling laced his truggy through the pack into fourth place. Brandon was able to get passed Ben as Brian began to stretch his lead. Logan stayed close as the laps clicked off. In the closing laps Ben’s motor failed ending his chances to finish on the podium. Brian crossed the line in 1st place. Branden held onto 2nd place. Logan finished in 3rd place.

SMC Electric Truggy Podium
1st Place: Brian Trammel - TeknoRC
2nd Place: Brandon Price
3rd Place: Logan Wendling

The opening round for the Michigan State Nitro X Series was a great success. The event finished under the lights at 10:30PM. The second round will be held at 710 Raceway on Saturday July 8th, 2017 in Okemos, Michigan. Registration will be open from 7:30-9:30AM. Practice begins at 7:30AM for Electric and 8:00AM for Nitro powered vehicles. Drivers meeting at 9:45AM and racing starting at 10AM. Free practice Friday July 7th. Season details, schedule, and results will be posted promptly on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/michstatechampseries.