JConcepts Dominates NCCS Opener

Event: 2nd Annual NC Championship Series
Date: March 27, 2010
Location: Valley Field Raceway, NC
Race Reporter: Brandon Melton

This past Saturday was the season opener for the 2nd Annual North Carolina
Championship Series. The first of six rounds was held at Valley Field
Raceway in Stoneville, NC. The race had 122 entries for the opener, with
drivers from WV, VA, NC and SC. The track was absolutely amazing and proved
to be fun but yet challenging for even the expert classes. Rain on Friday
called for track work Saturday morning which limited practice making
qualifying interesting for some drivers.

The moisture in the track helped keep the track very consistent all day
long. All 6 racing classes were TQ’ed using JConcepts rubber. Rob Meyer
TQ’ed 1/10 Truck running DD’s, Rob Meyer also TQ’ed Short Course Truck using
Goosebumps, Stephen Shoaf TQ’ed 1/8 Electric Buggy running Subcultures,
Anthony Saunders TQ’ed 1/8 Sportsman Buggy using Subcultures, and Barry
Pettit TQ’ed both 1/8 Truggy and Buggy using Crosshairs on truck. Barry
Pettit and Brandon Melton were the only two drivers to accomplish 9 lap runs
in the buggy class during qualifying, proving JC rubber as the fastest tire
at the race, Pettit choosing the “crow-bow” combo and Melton on Subcultures.

The TQ position was converted to wins in 3 of the 6 classes. Rob Meyer
converted his TQ to a win in the 10 minute 1/10 truck main with his AE T4.
Rob had troubles in the SCT class and Darron Brown took advantage of this by
pulling almost a lap on the field in the 10 minute SCT Main taking the win.
Team Hot Bodies driver DJ Hepler was able to convert his 3rd qualifying spot
into a win in the 1/8 Electric Buggy class.

For the nitro classes A Mains, nightfall fell and the moisture came back up
which put a guessing game on tires. Youngster John Michael McGinty came out
of the gate on fire in the Sportsman 1/8 Buggy class driving a great 30
minute main event. John Michael’s JS powered MBX6 put down the single
fastest lap of the main showing that the fastest car did indeed take home
the win. Monti Pope and Richard Allen rounded out the podium in the 1/8
Sportsman division.

The 1/8 Expert Truggy main event proved to be a mix up of drivers at the
beginning of the race. TQ Barry Pettit, Jim Atkins, and Greg Smith all got
out to an early battle and it was a large game of cat and mouse between the
3 drivers. Early mistakes by each would let all 3 drivers lead part of the
race through the first round of pit stops. As the race progressed, Atkins
and Smith would fall victim to early exits from the race, allowing Pettit to
cruise home for the easy win. John McGinty (Sportsman buggy winner’s father)
would take 2nd, and Duane Hollifield rounded out the podium in third place.
A great day for the McGinty family with 2 podium finishes.

The 1/8 Expert Buggy main was the last race of the evening, and like the
truggy main was exciting up front. Pettit and Melton got out to a clean
start while a couple cars were victim to a first turn crash. 5th place
qualifier Justin “full punch” Atkins took advantage of this and jumped up to
the 3rd spot and joined the battle for the early lead. Justin is a much
improved youngster who is showing he cannot be forgotten about. Melton and
Pettit swapped the lead a couple times before the first pit stop, but a
couple mistakes by Melton let Pettit get out to a comfy lead. Atkins would
challenge Melton through the middle of the race but a few late mistakes
would have him settle for a strong 3rd place finish. Pettit would convert
his TQ into a win, with Melton 2nd and Atkins 3rd. Pettit chose the DDv2
tire for the main event and said he made the right choice with the
resurgence of moisture in the track.

Quote from Barry Pettit “It is a great feeling to know that whatever the surface a JConcept tire can meet the challenge. We appreciate your help and thanks for the great products!”

RESULTS

1/8 Expert Truggy

Barry Pettit Mugen/Ninja/Byrons/JC
John McGinty Mugen/JS/EB Mods/JC
Duane Hollifield Mugen/OS/Sidewinder/JC

1/8 Expert Buggy

Barry Pettit Mugen/Ninja/Byrons/JC
Brandon Melton AE/Reedy/Sidewinder/JC
Justin Atkins Mugen/Orion/EB Mods/PL