Event: 2012 Dirt Nitro Challenge
Date: February 23-26, 2012
Venue: Fear Farm Raceway – Phoenix, AZ
Jeremy Kortz and Renato Tradardi Sr. win with JConcepts at 2012 Dirt Nitro Challenge. Ryan Maifield TQ’s the 1/8th truck class.
Fear Farm R/C Raceway hosted this year’s Dirt Nitro Challenge and provided an amazing facility to the annual event. The Joey Christensen layout was one of the best in recent memory combining a great flow of directional and elevation changes with a full straight-away for drivers to show some power.
During the Sunday main events the 1/8th e-buggy A-main took center stage at roughly 2pm with a grooved track condition with a light dust on the outside. JConcepts drivers Tanner Denney, Jeremy Kortz and Billy Fischer we’re locked and loaded at the start and it was Denney getting the best start. After some slight action in the opening few laps Tanner made a move which placed him in 2nd place as he looked to overtake the leaders. A scramble on the straight-away sent leader Tyler Vik off the track and Denney had to hit the brakes hard to avoid the crash dropping him several positions in the process.
Jeremy Kortz working his way up through the field and grabbed the lead and the attention of the spectators as the driver to watch. Jeremy had the Agama EP A8 Evo buggy working well and looked to his experience to maintain the lead. With the JConcepts blue compound Hybrids hooked up, Jeremy held off challenges from Adam Drake, Carson Wernimont and Jesse Robbers to maintain the lead. As Jeremy maintained the pace, JConcepts teammate Billy Fischer made a move into 3rd and pressed on to the finish line. Crossing for the victory, Jeremy Kortz took his first Nitro Challenge win with Adam Drake 2nd and Billy Fischer 3rd. Both Jeremy (1st) and Billy (3rd) utilized the JConcepts Hybrids in blue compound to grip their way to great podium finishes.
In the 40+ truggy class, Renato Tradardi Sr. and his RC8T-CE got a great start and maintained a steady pace and was always within striking distance to the race leader. As the event wore on, Renato cut into the lead and after a mechanical problem for the leader, Renato, now found himself leading going into lap 10. A smooth and steady pace for Renato until lap 29 when a problem allowed TQ Don Vinkmulder back into the lead. The 2 drivers battled to the finish with Renato gaining the upper hand and taking the lead for the final time on lap 35. Renato crossed the finishing line taking the victory, Don Vinkmulder finished 2nd and Greg Antill 3rd. Tradardi’s RC8T-CE was outfitted with JConcepts all weekend long. Utilizing the Punisher body, Illuzion Hi-down force rear wing, Hybrids tires in green compound mounted on Elevated bead wheels fitted the winning combination.
Congratulations must go out to the entire Dirt Nitro Challenge crew and especially Joey Christensen and Kenny Brosch who directed and announced one amazing event. 3 tracks and 3 events in a single weekend is an amazing feat and very difficult to duplicate. Looking forward to next year.