What an awesome weekend at Hobby Action Raceway in Chandler, Arizona! Drivers from all over the country traveled to Arizona for the 5th Annual Desert Classic. This year looked a bit different from previous years, as everyone had to pit outside. To be honest, it was incredible to be outside enjoying fresh air and soaking up some vitamin D. This time of year in Arizona has beautiful weather. Hobby Action is a top notch facility, and definitely worth checking out! It has a well stocked hobby store and huge glass windows that allow you to look into the track area where there is plenty of pit space. The facility is clean, fresh, and well maintained!
So let’s talk tires. This past weekend the team used the trusty Ellipse tread. We had guys using the Aqua compound and the Silver compound. By the end of the weekend everyone was on Silvers. It was the normal protocol for 1:10 scale tire prep. Drivers were sanding down tires to a ghost tread and then saucing them before a run. As a refresher, the silver compound is a softer clay compound made for a fresh indoor track.
The track layout was a combination of fun and challenging. There was a long front straightaway that turned into a small drop down where the line was located. Next you would turn into a jump and drive straight into the center triple. From there you would basically 180 twice and go over the back triple that was right up against the drivers stand. Finally, there was a double into the final 180 and into another double. From there you would be back on the front straightaway.
Seeding:
2wd Mod Buggy: Dakotah Phend (1), Spencer Rivkin (2), Ryan Maifield (4)
17.5 2wd Buggy: Matthew Gonzales (1), Doug Lariviere (2), Nate Sutherland (5)
4wd Mod Buggy: Ryan Maifield (2), Dakotah Phend (3), Spencer Rivkin (5)
21.5 2wd Buggy: Kevin Cornwell (5)
13.5 4wd Buggy: Matthew Gonzales (3), Doug Lariviere (4)
2wd Mod Stadium Truck: Dakotah Phend (4), Spencer Rivkin (5)
Qualifying (Best 3 of 4):
2wd Mod Buggy: Spencer Rivkin (1), Dakotah Phend (3)
17.5 2wd Buggy: Matthew Gonzales (1), Doug Lariviere (2)
4wd Mod Buggy: Ryan Maifield (1), Dakotah Phend (3), Spencer Rivkin (5)
21.5 2wd Buggy: Kevin Cornwell (1),
13.5 4wd Buggy: Matthew Gonzales (1)
2wd Mod Stadium Truck: Spencer Rivkin (3), Dakotah Phend (5)
Final Results:
2wd Mod Buggy: Spencer Rivkin (1), Dakotah Phend (2),
A1: Rivkin started in the lead after TQing 2wd Mod Buggy. Phend moved into the 2 spot and Horne was in the 3 spot. The top 3 were a little spaced out and cruising along. Meanwhile, Cavalieri was driving hard trying to get into the top 3. A minute 30 to go and Cavalieri got into 3rd place. Phend was 1.6 seconds back from Rivkin. Phend was moving up on to his wing. The pressure was being applied to Rivkin but he was driving clean and hard. The clock expired and it was Rivkin, Phend, and Cavalieri as your top 3.
A2: The race started again with Rivkin, Horne, and Phend in the top 3. Phend was already looking for a gap to get by Horne. Rivkin had nine tenths of a gap on Horne within the first 60 seconds of the race. 2nd-4th place were all very close together. Horne clipped the pipe, Phend moved into 2nd place. Horne was on Cavalieri’s wing who was in 3rd. Phend made up time and was neck and neck with Rivkin. Phend then clipped the pipe allowing Rivkin to lengthen the gap. Horne moved into 2nd and Cavalieri in 3rd. Rivkin had a 2.8 second gap with 60 seconds to go. Time expired with Rivkin in 1st, Horne in 2nd, and Cavalieri in 3rd.
A3: Rivkin already secured the overall win by taking A1 and A2. The drivers were now battling for the 2nd and 3rd place podium spots. 30 seconds in your top 3 were Horne, Phend, and Cavalieri. Phend took over the top spot, Evans moved into 2nd, Maifield moved into 3rd. Those top 3 were so close together. Phend just had to keep it clean for the last 2 minutes and maintain his lead. With a minute 30 to go, his lead was stretching out. Rinderknecht moved up into the 3rd place spot with less than a minute to go. The race finished Phend, Evans, and Rinderknecht as your top 3.
17.5 2wd Buggy: Matthew Gonzales (1), Doug Lariviere (2)
4wd Mod Buggy: Dakotah Phend (1), Spencer Rivkin (3), Ryan Maifield (5)
A1: Maifield quickly started to create some space between himself and the rest of the pack, surging in that lead spot. There was a small pile up over the center triple during lap 2 causing a slow down, the Marshall was going as fast as he could. This allowed Maifield to lengthen the gap a little more. Cavalieri was coming up in the 2 spot with Rivkin right there in 3. Rivkin moved into 2nd with Horne in 3rd. Things were always changing quickly in the races this weekend. Rivkin was about 1.5 seconds back with 2 minutes left in the race. Horne made a surge over the back triple making a pass on Rivkin. Immediately after, Rivkin came in quick over the center. They were battling hard. They had less then 5 and were racing to the line! Rivkin took the 2nd place spot. It finished with Maifield, Rivkin, and Horne as the top 3.
A2: The race started with those top 3 keeping it close. It was Maifield, Horne, and Phend. There was not a lot of room for error. Horne got it a little wrong on the back and Phend moved into 2nd. Maifield and Phend both were neck and neck. Maifield had a small bobble coming off the center triple and Phend snuck into the lead. Maifield was back on it quick, they were still neck and neck. Phend surged and put some space on the field. Maifield and Horne were now battling in 2nd and 3rd. Maifield and Horne get into it, Maifield drops back to the 4th spot, but pushing hard to reclaim that top 3. We have 3 drivers in the top 5 between Phend leading, Maifield in 4th, and Rivkin in 5th. The race completed with Phend, Cavalieri, and Horne as your top 3.
A3: The win was still up in the air. This final round would determine who would take 4wd Mod Buggy. They were all running tight, less than a minute in Horne took over the lead with Phend right behind him. Phend was just looking for the perfect moment to make a clean pass into 1st. Rinderknecht moved up into 4th place battling with Cavalieri. Phend made the pass and took over the top spot. Things mix up a little bit with the top 3 being Phend, Cavalieri and Horne halfway through. The top 8 were are really close together. Champlin was making his way up taking over 5th place, catching Evans who was in 4th. Phend started to create a bigger gap between him and Cavalieri. Rinderknecht moved back up into 5th place. There was 30 seconds left in the race. Phend just had to hold off Cavalieri a little longer so he could take that win. Top 3 finished as Phend, Cavalieri, and Horne.
21.5 2wd Buggy: Kevin Cornwell (3)
13.5 4wd Buggy: Matthew Gonzales (2), Nate Sutherland (4)
Overall, it was an awesome weekend full of challenges and victories! It always felt like it could be anyone’s race at any given time, but it made for an exciting weekend! Larry Tom and the Hobby Action crew put on an awesome event and the team enjoyed it! Up next, The Western Carpet Nationals at 702 Raceway in Las Vegas!
Winning Products:
Ellipses
Mono Wheels
Carpet Astro High-Clearance 7” Rear Wing
B6.2 Front Wing
Aero Wing
S2 Body
F2 Body
Finnisher Truck Body