This past weekend the JConcepts Team headed back out West for the 11th Annual JConcepts MidSummer Shootout at Coyote Hobbies located in Victorville, CA. We arrived Thursday afternoon and began to do some practice and testing. The track layout flowed nicely and included some unique elements such as the substantial elevation change in the back right corner. There were several 180 degree turns that flowed into features such as the center triple and the challenging 5 pack. The track consistency was a damp/wet clay and the tire of the weekend were Silver Ellipses sanded down to slicks.
It was very cool to see some of our regular stock drivers switch things up and run modified buggy this weekend. Drivers like, Matthew Gonzales and Davey Batta, who both did well. Doug Lariviere particularly stuck out this weekend as he dominated in qualifying taking the overall TQ in both 13.5 and 17.5 buggy! He carried the momentum over to the mains where he made the podium both. At the last minute, Jonathan Schultz lent fellow JC/AE teammate Lee Setser his spare Stadium truck. It was Setser’s first time ever racing stadium track and his first experience was filled with success and close battles!
Qualifying (Best 2 of 3):
Expert 13.5 4wd Buggy: Doug Lariviere (1), Jacob Mitchell (2)
Expert Stock Buggy: Doug Lariviere (1), Ian Crawford (3), Jonathan Schultz (5)
Modified 4wd Buggy: Matthew Gonzales (2), Lee Setser (3), Davey Batta (4)
Modified 2wd Buggy: Davey Batta (2), Matthew Gonzales (3), Austin Cracknell (4)
Qualifying (Best 1 of 2):
1:8 E-Buggy: David Batta (1)
13.5 Short Course: Davey Batta (1), Jonathan Schultz (2)
13.5 Stadium Truck: Lee Setser (2), Doug Lariviere (3), Davey Batta (4)
40+ 13.5 Buggy: Jeff Guest (1)
Final Results:
E-Buggy: David Batta (2)
13.5 Short Course: Davey Batta (1)
13.5 Stadium Truck: Lee Setser (2), Davey Batta (3)
40+ 13.5 Buggy: Jeff Guest (1)
Expert 13.5 4wd Buggy: Doug Lariviere (1), Jacob Mitchell (3)
You can catch all of the stock videos over on our Facebook page! There were some awesome battles.
Expert Stock Buggy: Jonathan Schultz (2), Doug Lariviere (3)
4wd Modified Buggy: Lee Setser (2), Davey Batta (3)
A1: Devoll started out in the lead as he was the overall TQ. Setser quickly got out in 2nd through that first S-turn. Gonzales (3rd) and Batta (4th) were battling it out. Setser was able to make up some time and got right on Devoll’s wing. He was looking for a way around. Setser had a bobble allowing Devoll to lengthen his lead. Setser quickly got back to it, driving hard to shorten the gap. Gonzales was in 3rd, those top 3 were all pretty spaced out. A1 finished with Devoll in 1st, Setser in 2nd, Gonzales in 3rd, and Batta in 4th.
A2: Matthew Gonzales quickly took the lead with Batta right on his tail. Batta was looking for a way around teammate Gonzales. He took the inside line around the corner before the step up and took over the lead. Setser caught up to them and was in 3rd. It was a three way battle. Batta got it wrong, Gonzales and Setser got by, but they both have a tumble, which allowed Batta to take the lead back. Devoll was now up in the mix with Setser and Gonzales, it was a three way battle for 2nd place. Gonzales and Devoll went side by side over the 5 pack, Devoll snagged the pipe allowing Gonzales to maintain 2nd place. Setser was now looking for a hole to get by Devoll. Devoll got by Gonzales in the last few laps of the race. The race finished with Batta in 1st, Devoll 2nd, Gonzales 3rd, and Setser 4th.
A3: The tone went off and they were cruising in a line, it was imperative to avoid any mistakes. Down the straightaway right before the 5 pack, Devoll rolled it over, Batta and Setser got by. Devoll made a quick recovery so they weren’t in the clear quite yet. The three of them raced down the front straightaway, what an exciting first lap! Batta was in the lead as they moved into lap #2. Right before they were going to hit lap 3 Batta’s car had a heart wrenching break. That left Devoll in the lead with Setser chasing him down. They were halfway in, Setser was looking for a way around Devoll. They went over the 5 pack side by side, who would come out in the lead? Setser got on the inside right before they made the turn onto the front straightaway and took over the lead! He slightly bumped the side of his car on the pipe which allowed Devoll to get side by side with him. He blocked Devoll and maintained his lead into the 5 pack. Devoll snagged the pipe allowing Setser to lengthen his lead by 1.5 seconds. Devoll was creeping up on him, there was only 20 seconds left in the race. It was the last lap, who would take the determining win? They were side by side, Devoll was able to get slightly in front of Setser over the 5 pack, but they were side by side once again down the final front straightaway. They touch wheels right before making the turn to the line, Setser’s car got the worst of it and Devoll made the turn across the line. The race finished Devoll in 1st, Setser in 2nd, Cracknell in 3rd, and Gonzales in 4th.
2wd Modified Buggy: Davey Batta (2), Lee Setser (3)
A1: Batta quickly took the lead right before the S-Turn. Gonzales moved into 2nd place and Devoll was right behind him. Batta got on his lid in the the 5 pack which was not an easy spot to marshal quickly. Devoll and Gonzales got by Setser who was now on Batta’s tail. Gonzales had a break, Batta and Setser took over 2nd and 3rd. Setser moved into 2nd over the 5 pack, Batta took it back right before they got to the center triple. Batta was on cruise control while gaining time on Devoll who was in 1st. The race completed with Devoll in 1st, Batta in 2nd, and Setser in 3rd.
A2: Right out the gate, Batta started to put the pressure on Devoll. Batta was able to move into 1st shortly after. Batta’s car got a little sideways after the triple and Devoll ran into him. They quickly recovered and got back to racing. Arredando was able to get a little closer to that 1st place battle. Batta’s lead started to lengthen, Devoll had a bobble which allowed Arredando and Gonzales to get in the battle for 2nd. Devoll took over the lead and Arredando and Gonzales were battling for 2nd. A flipped over car was in the middle of Gonzales’s line over the 5 pack, Arredando was able to lengthen his gap for 2nd place. The race finished with Devoll in 1st, Gonzales in 2nd, Arredando in 3rd, Batta in 4th, and Setser in 5th.
A3: Devoll already secured the overall win. It was the final race to determine who would take the final two podium spots. It was tough to keep it clean across the line and up the giant step up, as there was quite a bit of carnage at the start of this main. Batta was in the lead and Setser moved up from 6th and 2nd place. Less than a minute in, Batta had a significant lead over the field. Batta flipped over right before the triple, which allowed Setser to make up a little time, but luckily he had a big enough lead to keep him safe. Setser was encroaching on Batta as time moved along and Arredando was too close for comfort behind Setser. Batta got hit by lap traffic before the triple, which then flipped over Arredando and Setser as well. The top 3 were able to recover, race hard and maintain their positions! Before it was all set and done Austin Cracknell moved up into that 3rd spot and kept pushing hard. The race finished with Batta in 1st, Setser in 2nd, and Cracknell in 3rd.
Overall, it was an awesome weekend filled with great battles, team work, and another opportunity to hang out with fellow racers. It truly is one of our favorite things to have the opportunity to travel to family owned tracks. There is so much hard work that goes into building and maintaining a track, let alone running a business. The Batta family put on an awesome event and we were very grateful for their awesome hospitality. If you find yourself in Southern California be sure to check out Coyote Hobbies! They have a fully stocked hobby shop, an indoor off road dirt track, a misting system, plenty of pits, and will make you feel right at home in their local community!