If you ever find yourself out in Las Vegas you’ll want to add 702 RC Raceway to your list of places to check out! We just hosted the JConcepts Western Carpet Nationals at this awesome facility. This is the 3rd National Carpet & Turf Series we’ve had, and the 2nd time we’ve had a race at 702. Last year’s Western Carpet Nationals was canceled, but we’re glad to be back! The facility is clean, features plenty of pit space, a stocked hobby shop, and an awesome carpet track. We kicked off the weekend with Friday filled with practice and finished with a round of seeding. Moving into Saturday we raced through 3 rounds of qualifying and geared up for the main events on Sunday.
The spec tires of the weekend were Swaggers and Twin Pins. We were running Swaggers in the front and Twin Pins in the rear. You’ll notice the Swagger tire has angular ribs of various heights which was designed with corner speed, straight-line tracking, and consistency in mind. The perfect combination for carpet racing! The Twin Pins sound just like the name, as they have connected dual spikes that are rotated throughout the design to maximize surface area. The tire also features micro pins that extend out in order to give more support in high speed corners.
Check out the results below to see how things switched up throughout the weekend!
Seeding:
13.5 4wd Buggy: Davey Batta (1), Matthew Gonzales (4)
13.5 Stadium Truck: Jovy Levin (2), Emma Ramirez (3), Paige Barr (5)
17.5 Expert 2wd Buggy: Matthew Gonzales (1), Alex Angeles (2), Jovy Levin (4), Davey Batta (5)
2wd Modified Buggy: Broc Champlin (1), Spencer Rivkin (2), Cole Tollard (5)
40+ 2wd Buggy: Kurt Wegner (3), Jim Tollard (4)
4wd Modified Buggy: Broc Champlin (1), Spencer Rivkin (2), Ryan Brignani (4), Harley Yoshii (5)
Qualifying (Best 2 of 3):
13.5 4wd Buggy: Matthew Gonzales (1), Alex Angeles (5)
13.5 SCT: Oscar Ramirez (1)
13.5 Stadium Truck: Jovy Levin (1)
17.5 Expert 2wd Buggy: Matthew Gonzales (1), Davey Batta (2), Alex Angeles (4), Jovy Levin (5)
2wd Modified Buggy: Broc Champlin (1), Spencer Rivkin (2), Brandon Foote (5)
40+ 2wd Buggy: Brent Thielke (1), Jim Tollard (4), Kurt Wegner (5)
4wd Modified Buggy: Broc Champlin (1), Spencer Rivkin (3), Blake Champlin (4), Cole Tollard (5)
Final Results:
13.5 4wd Buggy: Matthew Gonzales (1), Davey Batta (3), Alex Angeles (4), Jovy Levin (5)
13.5 SCT: Oscar Ramirez (1)
13.5 Stadium Truck: Jovy Levin (1)
17.5 Expert 2wd Buggy: Davey Batta (1), Alex Angeles (3), Jovy Levin (4), Matthew Gonzales (5)
2wd Modified Buggy: Broc Champlin (1), Spencer Rivkin (3), Cole Tollard (5)
A1:
• Broc started out with a strong lead, Rivkin and Cavalieri were right there in the battle.
• Broc was focused on keeping it clean and trying to play defense to Rivkin and Cavalieri about halfway through the race.
• With a 1:50 left in the race, Rivkin was looking for a hole to sneak around Broc.
• Rivkin got a little caught on the pipe but recovered quick, however Cavalieri got by into 2nd.
• Broc got it a little wrong over the double in front of the drivers stand, Cavalieri moved into 1st. They were all still neck and neck; Cavalieri, Champlin, and Rivkin.
• Rivkin moved up into 2nd, there was 30 seconds left in the race. It was a drag race to the finish and the race finished with Cavalieri in the 1, Rivkin in the 2, Gillespie in the 3, Broc in the 4, and Tollard in the 5.
A2:
• The first minute come and goes smoothly without any issues. The top 3 were Broc, Rivkin, and Cavalieri.
• Rivkin got it a little wrong over the center double but quickly got back to it, making up time.
• Broc was trying to check out, meanwhile Cavalieri was trying to reel him in.
• Foote and Rivkin were battling it out for 4th, Rivkin got around Foote. He was trying to get back into that 2nd spot.
• Rivkin was now all over Gillespie battling for 3rd.
• Rivkin held the inside line going through the sweeper and got around heading into that 3rd place spot.
• With one minute left, the top three were a little spaced out but all trying to catch each other.
• A2 finished with Broc in 1st, Cavalieri in 2nd, Rivkin n 3rd, Gillespie in 4th, and Foote in 5th.
A3:
• The final race of the weekend, and it was off to a clean start.
• Rivkin was already looking for an early pass on Broc, they were too close to comfort.
• Cavalieri once again was up on Rivkin’s wing, it was anyone’s game. One mistake and anyone could take it.
• Cavalieri came up a little short on the double against the drivers stand, allowing Gillipsie to move into 3rd. 1st and 2nd were creating some space on the field.
• With 2 minutes to go Rivkin was still on Broc’s wing but got a little caught up on the pipe which allowed Gillespie to get closer but Rivkin was still holding strong on to 2nd.
• Meanwhile, Blake was reeling in Gillipsie trying to battle for that 3rd place spot.
• 45 seconds left in the game Gilipsie got by Rivkin but Rivkin was right there on his bumper. The two of them go over the driver stand double side by side, they were battling hard but keeping it clean
• Time expired, and the race finished with Broc in 1st, Gillpsie in 2nd, Rivkin in 3rd, Blake in 4th, and Cavalieri in 5th
40+ 2wd Buggy: Brent Thielke (1), Kurt Wegner (4)
4wd Modified Buggy: Spencer Rivkin (1), Broc Champlin (2), Cole Tollard (4), Lee Setser (5)
A1:
• The race was off to a clean start, Broc out in the lead with Cavalieri closing the gap behind Broc. Cavalieri was on his wing!
• Rivkin was right there too, they were all wing to wing.
• Cavalieri got caught up, Rivkin moved right up on to Broc’s bumper.
• Rivkin had a little bobble, Blake Champlin moved up in to the 2nd spot. Blake, Rivkin, and Cavalieri were all ridiculously close together. Broc was trying to keep his distance.
• It was a battle for 2nd place! A car was turned over after the double directly in front of the drivers stand, that 3-way 2nd place battle was coming over as the marshal ran out to get the flipped over car. Blake hit the wrecked car but got by. The Marshall • slipped on the carpet, the carpet wrinkled up, Cavalieri gets by, and so does Rivkin! That was a close call! The Marshall was okay and everything was good!
• Rivkin passed Cavalieri as they turned into the front straight away. Rivkin was now all over Blake.
• Blake got it a little wrong on the table top and Rivkin got by.
• The race finished with Broc (1), Rivkin (2), Cavalieri (3), Tollard (4) Reavis (5).
A2:
• Both Broc and Cavalieri got a little caught up on the pipe in the first 30 seconds of the race allowing Rivkin to move into 1st.
• It was now running Rivkin, Cavalieri, Blake Champlin, and Cole Tollard as your top four.
• It became a 2 way battle between Rivkin and Cavalieri. Rivkin was trying to keep it fast and play defense.
• Halfway through and Rivkin was still holding off Cavalieri. Meanwhile Blake was in 3rd and Setser moved up into 4th.
• Cavalieri got it a little wrong, Blake got by and it was now Rivkin and Blake running 1 and 2.
• Rivkin had a good gap going, meanwhile Cavalieri and Blake were battling.
• Blake snagged the pipe right before turning onto the front straightaway but he still held off Cavalieri, but they were closer than ever!
• Cavalieri tried to make another pass, but they both got on 2 wheels! Luckily, they were keeping it together, it was so close!
• The race finished with Rivkin in 1st, Blake in 2nd, Cavalieri in 3rd, Setser in 4th, and Foote in 5th.
A3:
• We previously had two different drivers take the win in the first two mains. This final race would determine who would take home that top podium spot!
• Broc had a small bobble in the first 30 seconds. Cavalieri and Rivkin snuck by. Broc quickly got back to work.
• Cavalieri snagged the pipe on the second table top and Rivkin moved into 1st. Things were changing quickly in the first 30 seconds!
• It was now running Rivkin, Cavalieri, Blake, Setser, and Broc.
• The Champlin brothers were battling it out for 3rd ,meanwhile Cavalieri was all over Rivkin’s wing.
• Things switched up again and it was Rivkin, Cavalieri, Broc, Setser, and Gillespie.
• The top 3 were all getting closer together again applying pressure to each other.
• Cavalieri and Broc were ridiculously close over the 2nd table top, Broc was looking for a spot to slide by. He made it happen and got by Cavalieri around the final turn into the front straight away.
• Cavalieri was now looking for a way around Broc, the battle was so close!
• 1 minute and 30 seconds to go and Broc was trying to make up time on Rivkin.
• A3 finished with Rivkin in the 1, Broc in the 2, Cavalieri in the 3, Tollard in the 4, and Setser in the 5!
Overall, it was a great weekend filled with fun competition at an awesome track! Thank you so much to everyone who came out to race and we look forward to seeing you at the next NCTS race in Albany, Oregon! Mark your calendars for the Northwest Carpet Nationals at Northwest Hobbies on April 16th-18th! In the meantime we’re gearing up for the Psycho Nitro Blast in White Pine, TN! See you trackside soon!
Winning Products: