It’s been two weeks of back to back racing for the JConcepts Team as we traveled out to Arizona for the JConcepts INS race and then came back home to Florida where we would attend the ROAR 1:8 Electric Nationals right in our backyard. Not far from the JConcepts HQ is SS Hobbies & Raceway in Tampa, FL. We were there earlier this year for the INS Spring race and have returned for the 1:8 ROAR E-Nationals! The Setser family put in the work in order to transform their track. The layout was designed specifically for this event and they widened the lanes of their traditional track to accommodate. The surface was also treated differently to create that outdoor 1:8 track feel while still being covered from the elements. The drivers all enjoyed racing on this fun layout! Take a look at the track photo below to see the official track layout.
The team experimented with several different tires throughout the event as they were trying to determine what would be the best option to help earn a spot on the podium. We experimented with the Detox, Rehab, and Reflex tire among others. Drivers also seemed to be between the Aqua and Blue compounds. The track surface was abrasive and dusty, but made for good racing. Ultimately, Ryan Maifield settled on the Blue Reflex for both E-Buggy and E-Truck. He felt it worked best on the freshly blown track as well as when the track dusted up later in the race.
Seeding:
1:8 E-Buggy: Tyler Jones (1), Ryan Maifield (2)
1:8 E-Truck: Ryan Maifield (1), Spencer Rivkin (3)
4wd Modified Short Course: Dakotah Phend (2)
Qualifying (Best 2 of 4):
1:8 E-Buggy: Ryan Maifield (2), Lee Setser (3), Joe Bornhorst (5)
1:8 E-Truck: Ryan Maifield (1), Tyler Jones (2), Joe Bornhorst (4),
4wd Modified SCT: Dakotah Phend (1)
Final Results:
1:8 Electric Truck: Ryan Maifield (1), Joe Bornhorst (3), Dakotah Phend (4), Tyler Jones (5)
A1 E-Truck:
The race started off with Maifield in the lead with Jones right behind him. Jones was driving all over the back of Maifield. It was a dance of pushing the limit, looking for a pass, and not messing up. Through the chicane Jones looked for a way around Maifield, he tried to go for it, but Maifield blocked the pass. Tessmann shortly after moved into 2nd. Tessmann was putting the pressure on Maifield, but Maifield wasn’t going to allow it to change the outcome he desired. With 2.5 minutes left Tessmann tried to make the pass on Maifield, but he didn’t allow it once again through the chicane. Maifield snagged the pipe as he was pushing the pace. Tessmann took over first, Maifield was in 2nd, and Jones was in 3rd. Jones and Maifield were battling hard for that 2nd position. The race finished with Maifield in 2nd, Bornhorst in 3rd, Phend in 4th, and Jones in 5th.
A2 E-Truck:
Maifield led off the race. Jones once again right behind him. Tessmann and Jones got into each other. Maifield’s lead lengthened. Phend moved into 3rd. Maifield got a 2 second lead pretty early on. They moved through lap traffic, Maifield got by beautifully. Tessmann was behind Phend. Phend was pushing it in order to maintain his position, all the while blocking Tessmann from making a pass. Maifield was still moving around the track like clock work. Tessmann had a bobble that allowed Phend to gain some space, Phend was on Ogden’s back door. He was looking for 2nd. Maifield took A2! It would come down to A3 to determine the national champ. The race finished with Phend in 3rd and Bornhorst in 5th.
A3 E-Truck:
It was the final round. Maifield was on edge, ready to take the win. Maifield and Jones led the way from their starting positions. Tessmann bobbled on the double before the straightaway, which allowed Phend to move into 3rd. Bornhorst was behind him in 4th. Jones was looking for a door to slide by Maifield, but Maifield, on the defense, blocks him from getting by. Bornhorst now. in 3rd. Jones was only 0.5 behind Maifield. Bornhorst had a bobble but still pushing hard, Phend moved into 3rd. It was a freight train behind Phend, but he was on his A-game. Maifield started to gain some breathing room. Jones was back up to Maifield he wanted to get by. Maifield spaced out his lead by 4.5 seconds. Phend was making his way up on Jones. Maifield took the win becoming your 2021 Electric Truck National Champion!
1:8 Electric Buggy: Ryan Maifield (1), Dakotah Phend (2), Lee Setser (3)
A1 E-Buggy:
Tessmann started first on the grid, Maifield immediately was surging on the tone. Tessmann snagged the pipe in the chicane, and Maifield took over the lead. Setser was right there in 2nd on Maifield’s wing. Maifield was trying to pull away from the pack. Cavalieri was only 0.79 behind Setser, but Setser wasn’t going to budge. Those top two were pulling away now with over 1 second on 3rd place. 3 minutes to go and they were spacing out. Maifield was 1.5 seconds in front of Setser, and Setser was 2.6 seconds in front of Phend who was in 3rd. Setser was shaving off time as he was only 1.0 second behind Maifield with under a minute to go. Phend now 3 seconds behind Setser in 3rd. The tone goes off, Setser was on Maifield’s tail he was trying to make the pass but ended up being only 0.2 seconds behind Maifield! Setser was driving fast! Maifield took the win in A1. Setser finished 2nd and Phend finished 3rd.
A2 E-Buggy:
Tessmann led it off with Maifield right behind him, hungry for the win once again. He wanted to secure his National Title. They were 0.3 apart. Cavalieri was 0.3 behind Ty, looking for 2nd place. Maifield and Ty got into quite the debacle on the back straightaway. A couple other drivers got caught up in it as well, as it all was unfolding so quickly. Dakotah Phend took over the lead, Bornhorst was in 2nd, and Cavalieri remained in 3rd. Setser had made a comeback from a mistake early on, as he was driving in 4th. Phend had 1.5 up on 2nd place. The main battle was between Cavalieri and Bornhorst for 2nd. Setser moved up into that 3rd spot. Meanwhile, Phend’s lead continued to lengthen. The tone went off, the race finished with Phend taking the win, Setser in 3rd , and Oliveras in 5th. Things were mixing up and A3 would be the determining factor.
A3 E-Buggy:
The final race of the day. The National Champion title was still up in the air, and there were a few contenders. Maifield took over the lead early on. Setser was in 3rd pushing to get by Tessmann. Tessmann was only 0.3 seconds behind Maifield, they had to keep it clean. Tessmann made the pass as they were drag racing down the front straightaway into first. Tessmann got it wrong in the quad, Maifield took over first. Setser and Tessmann were almost parallel going into the chicane. Setser was gaining on them. It was Tessmann, Maifield, and Setser through the chicane. Setser wanted to make a pass on Tessmann into 2nd. He went for it, after all it was for the title. Maifield remained in the lead and Phend moved into 2nd. The running order was Maifield, Phend, and Cavalieri. Tessmann and Cavalieri were battling it out for 3rd place. Cavalieri and Tessmann get by Phend, but Phend quickly takes 2nd place over once again. Jones gets up in the mix as he wedges himself into 4th in the final 30 seconds. The race finished with Maifield in 1st, Phend in 2nd, and Setser in 5th.
4wd Modified Short Course: Dakotah Phend (1)
Check out the video below to watch Dakotah in the mains!
It was quite an exciting event as Ryan Maifield has taken four 1:8 National Titles within two months! His year has been incredible with an impressive winning streak! From winning all three classes at DNC to 4 National Titles, his 1:8 program is dialed in! We saw several other awesome performances from drivers such as Dakotah Phend, Lee Setser, and Joe Bornhorst. Dakotah Phend took A1 and A2 of Short Course which allowed him to secure his National Title early on! Lee Setser grabbed a spot on the podium at his first E-Nationals and Joe Bornhorst took 3rd on the podium in Electric Truck! Thank you to Ronnie, Kim, Lee, and Kenny Setser for providing a great facility! We are proud of all of our drivers’ efforts and we look forward to seeing everyone soon at Wicked Weekend or 1:10 Nationals!
Winning products: