The Alabama Manufacturer Shootout 12.0 was a race weekend like no other. After 11 years, the RaceTime Entertainment crew revamped the way racing would go down, and added an updated twist. Before we get into the new updates, let’s start with the basics. The AMS has been around for years, originally it started in 2010 and was later acquired by the RaceTime Entertainment crew as it is one of the most popular races of the year. The race has always taken place in an agricultural center in Cullman, Alabama! As trailers rolled in Wednesday evening, everyone was eager to get the best pit spot. However, things looked a bit different this year with almost half the amount of entries as usual. This was intentional, as the event was capped at 300 entries due to the new format and to give drivers more track time!
As for tires this weekend the team primarily utilized clay compounds such as gold or silver and ran the rehab tire a lot during seeding and qualifying. When it came time to run longer races that would range from 10 to 45 minutes, they had to consider what tire would be fast but also go the distance. When it came time to run the mains, some of our fastest drivers opted to run the Blue Rehab in Nitro Buggy and Blue Reflex in E-Buggy.
The new format:
Thursday: 2 Rounds of Practice, 1 round of seeding: All 5 minute heats.
Friday: 3 rounds of qualifying: Qualifying was scored with your two fastest top 3 consecutive lap times. Each heat was 5 minutes long. They were combined for your overall score. Check out the image of the scoring below to see an example.
Saturday: Super Pole and Lower Mains: Qualifying determined whether or not you made it into the A-Main and where you would start on the grid in the super pole. The Super Pole would determine the starting grid order for the mains. Drivers would race it out, heads up, for 10 minutes and wherever they finished would be their starting position for the main. If a driver won the B-Main Super Pole they would automatically bump into the A-Main. As for the regular bumps, 4 drivers would bump from each lower main to create a 15 driver main. For example, if you finished in the top 4 during the Pro Nitro Buggy B-Main then you would bump into the A-Main. All lower mains were 30 minutes long. Electric Classes had double 10 minute B-Mains. They would take your best score in the double B-Mains and from there the top 4 overall would bump.
Sunday: B-Mains would conclude Sunday morning and then it was time for the main events! The A-Main Nitro Classes would be 45 minutes and Electric Classes were triple 10 minute mains.
Seeding:
E-Truggy: Tyler Hooks (1), Patrick Rossiter (2)
Int. E-Buggy: Trent Walker (5)
Int. Nitro Buggy: Cade Burnette (3)
Int. Nitro Truggy: Cade Burnette (2), Chris VanAir (5)
Pro E-Buggy: Dakotah Phend (1), Ryan Maifield (2), Joe Bornhorst (4)
Pro Nitro Buggy: Dakotah Phend (1), Ryan Maifield (2), Joe Bornhorst (3), Spencer Rivkin (4), Tyler Jones (5)
Pro Nitro Truggy: Tyler Jones (1), Joe Bornhorst (3), Ryan Maifield (5)
Sportsman Nitro Truggy: David Scott (5)
Sportsman E-Buggy: David Scott (5)
Qualifying Top 3 Consecutive (Best 2 of 3):
E-Truggy: Patrick Rossiter (1), Tyler Hooks (2), Drew Williams (5)
Int. E-Buggy: Chris VanAir (5)
Int. Nitro Buggy: Cade Burnette (1),
Int. Nitro Truggy: Phi Long Nguyen (2), Cade Burnette (3)
Pro E-Buggy: Dakotah Phend (1), Ryan Maifield (2), Spencer Rivkin (3), Tyler Jones (5)
Pro Nitro Buggy: Dakotah Phend (1), Ryan Maifield (2), Spencer Rivkin (3), Joe Bornhorst (4)
Pro Nitro Truggy: Dakotah Phend (1), Ryan Maifield (2), Spencer Rivkin (4)
Pro Super Pole Results:
Final Results:
E-Truggy: Tyler Hooks (1), Patrick Rossiter (2), Drew Williams (5)
Int. Nitro Buggy: Cade Burnette (2), Cole Chura (3)
Int. Nitro Truggy: Drew Williams (4)
Pro E-Buggy: Ryan Maifield (1), Dakotah Phend (3), Spencer Rivkin (4)
A1:
- Maifield led it off, after winning the Super Pole Race. Rivkin and Fuller sat right behind him waiting to make a move. Rivkin was preying on Maifield looking to make a surge.
- Rivkin sent it over the left side double and flew over top of Maifield, however Maifield held his lead position.
- Tessmann pulled the same move Rivkin did and got over him. After an issue in the right hand turn after the 6 pack, Phend slid into 2nd.
- Rivkin and Tessmann were battling. They were back at that left hand double, they both shot over it and Rivkin was able to get on the inside in the corner and retake 3rd place.
- Maifield finished 1st, Phend 2nd, Rivkin 3rd, Tessmann 4th, Tebo 5th
A2:
- Maifield tumbled before the ski jump, Rivkin and a few others got by.
- Rivkin Tumbled into the ski jump turn, Mason Fuller took the lead. Maifield moved back into 2nd, and Tessmann was in 3rd.
- Fuller got it wrong over the 6 pack Maifield took back the lead. Tessmann and Rose got by into 2nd and 3rd.
- Tebo was on Phend’s wing looking to take 4th.
- Tessmann and Maifield were side by side, Tessmann tried to over jump him after the center double. They bumped and Tessmann took over the lead as they worked their way into the 6 pack.
- Maifield sent it over that left hand double and grabbed the inside line through the corner getting past Tessmann and regaining the lead.
- Maifield took A2 securing the overall win, Tessmann finished 2nd, Phend 3rd, Tebo 4th, and Rivkin 5th.
A3:
- This was the battle for the final podium positions.
- Rivkin led the way, Fuller in 2nd, Tessmann in 3rd
- Tessmann sent it over the left double taking 2nd place away from Fuller, that seemed to be a popular strategy this weekend.
- Tessmann and Rivkin were wing to nose battling, Rivkin was blocking every possible line for Tessmann to get by.
- Phend was lurking right there in the background and he moved closer to Tessmann who was in 2nd.
- Tessmann sent it over that left hand double again and got by Rivkin, Rivkin tried to block him, but Phend and Tessmann moved out in front. All three were still driving close together, it could still be anyone’s race.
- Over the basically center double, Phend hopped around Tessmann, hugged the inside pipe, and took over 1st.
- Phend led the way with a semi-comfortable gap.
- Less than 30 seconds to go in the race, his car headed sideways toward the pipe on the straightaway and shut off. Marshalls tried to fix it but it was heartbreak for Phend. He drove beautifully that race.
- Tessmann took 1st, Rivkin 2nd, Rose 3rd, Cavalieri 4th, and Jones 5th.
Pro Nitro Buggy: Dakotah Phend (1), Ryan Maifield (2), Tyler Jones (3)
- Dakotah Phend checked out early and led the entire race. He was able to lap the field a couple of times and by the end of the race he had 1 lap on second place. He was also the only driver to have a sub 27 second lap time during the entire race.
- Jones and Rivkin quickly started to battle for 2nd place a few laps into the race. Jones took the turn after the center double a little wide and Rivkin slid into 2nd. Rivkin had a bobble after the 6 pack and Jones took 2nd place back.
- A lap later, Jones bobbled in the 6 pack Tebo got by into 3rd. He was chasing down Rivkin. Maifield moved up quick as he put himself up in the battle and it was now the three of them battling for 2nd.
- Rivkin and Tebo pulled away and they battled it out for several laps.
- Rivkin got caught in the 6 pack, Maifield and Jones began to chase down Tebo who was now In 2nd. Rivkin quickly got back into the mix.
- Rivkin went into pit, and Maifield gained time on Tebo. Rivkin and Jones were behind them sitting 4th and 5th.
- Tebo slightly got on 2 wheels, on the step down after the 6 pack and it was just enough for Maifield to slide by into 2nd.
- Rivkin got by Maifield around lap 46 and maintained it for the next 10 laps.
- Rivkin took it a little wide over the center(ish) double and Maifield got the inside taking 2nd place.
- From there Maifield maintained 2nd the remainder of the race with Jones in 3rd.
Pro Nitro Truggy: Dakotah Phend (1), Ryan Maifield (2), Spencer Rivkin (3)
- Maifield came out of the gate surging as he led the race for the first 20 laps.
- Ogden started 2nd but he and Lutz got into it after the left hand double. This allowed Phend to move up into the 2nd place position.
- Phend was gaining time on Maifield, they were both pushing hard!
- Maifield and Phend both went into pit at the same time, it was close but Phend was able to take over the lead. Maifield was still on his wing. Meanwhile, Rivkin had been cruising in 3rd, waiting for an opportunity to capitalize on.
- Phend and Maifield check out, and it was the battle for 3rd between Lutz and Rivkin. They were close together Rivkin goes into pit and Lutz stayed out for an extra lap before he also went into pit. Rivkin regained his 3rd place position.
- On lap 76 Lutz was able to get by Rivkin to hang on to 3rd place, but Rivkin wasn’t willing to share. After battling for two more laps Rivkin took 2nd back over. They were definitely too close for comfort on several occasions throughout the entire 45 minute main.
Sportsman Nitro Truggy: David Scott (4)
Overall, it was refreshing to try out a new format/race schedule and the team produced great results! We had a great time in Cullman Alabama for the AMS 12.0! It’s a quick turn around for the team as we transition to 1:10 off-road carpet racing at Beachline RC Raceway in Cocoa, FL for the Florida Carpet Champs. In the meantime, stay tuned for the AMS 12.0 full length Pro A-Main videos along with a vlog!
Winning Products: