Event: Spring Nitro Nationals 
Date: May 29-30, 2010
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Race Reporter: JConcepts Racing Team
Tony Bacon and Kendall Welch own the Spring Nationals, take 1/8th truck and 1/8th buggy respectively.
The JConcepts Spring Nitro Nationals took place Memorial Day weekend in Omaha, NE at the HobbyTown USA Hobbyplex. 120 entries strong, the participants were treated to indoor pitting, a great track and a great atmosphere. Jason Ruona was on hand to answer questions and turn a few laps with everyone in the expert truggy and buggy classes. 4 rounds of qualifying took place on Saturday. The qualifying was especially tight, with a few tie breakers determining the TQ spots. Omaha local Travis Hatcher snatched the TQ in expert truggy away from Jason Ruona after the final two rounds. The Plex’s very own Alex Sturgeon TQ’d three out of four to secure the top spot in expert buggy and then had the faster two rounds to take electric buggy as well.
Omaha local Jim Winkelbauer took the top spot in sportsman truggy and Wichita’s Jason McAllister came back from a rough first two rounds to TQ the sportsman buggy class. Main day was a good one. The Sportsman classes were dominated by its respective TQ’s, but it was a different story in the expert classes. Expert truggy saw Travis Hatcher fall back early with Jason Ruona taking command. Ruona led almost all 45-minutes until a broken caster block finally gave way and forced him to slow way down, dropping him to third. Fort Dodge, Iowa’s Tony Bacon drove and excellent race, coming from the 10th qualifying spot to take the win. He also posted the fastest lap of the race. Hot Bodies driver Jason Porter was there to capture second.
Expert buggy was all Losi/Horizon driver Kendall Welch. He led from lap 3 and put almost 2 laps on the entire field. Jason Ruona drove a very clean and consistent race finishing second and Josh Ford, bumping from the B-main, battled his way into third. Electric buggy was a cliffhanger. Ben Burtle won the first A-main, Mack Vanderbeek won the second. TQ, Alex Sturgeon, had two second place finishes going into the last main. At the start of the final main, Ben fell back early, while Mack charged to second with Alex in the lead. Mack and Alex swapped the top spot for a few laps, until Alex pulled away in the final two minutes. After it was all over Alex had the better throw-out to win. Mack finished second and Ben Burtle third.
A special thanks to Alex Sturgeon and the entire crew from HobbyTown USA for quite an event and impressive race program. Everyone is already looking forward to next year.
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