Ryan Maifield has had an incredible last year with his 1:8 scale program. When it comes to the Dirt Nitro Challenge, he is no stranger to the podium. He’s won the triple crown twice! He won all three Pro Classes in 2017 and again in 2021. Not to mention he has won at least one nitro class at every DNC since 2015. Today, we wanted to give you an inside look underneath the hood of this year’s winning vehicles, straight off the track!
MBX8R Nitro Buggy:
It’s no secret Ryan Maifield knows how to build and drive a Nitro Buggy. Last year, he won the Pro Nitro Buggy A-Main with the Mugen MBX8 (along with all of the nationals), and this year he did it again, but this time with the new Mugen Seiki MBX8R. The MBX8R has several new features including new suspension mounts and geometry. Because of these new features, they’ve tweaked several aspects of the car to accommodate it. Another new aspect of the vehicle is the 4-shoe clutch. It was designed to be more tuneable and easier to work on. That being said, we’ll start by talking about the outside of the vehicle before moving under the hood.
At first glance, you’ll notice Maifield ran his trusty JConcepts S15 body painted up in his iconic night scheme. Maifield actually had a few paint scheme options to choose from between his classic day scheme, his night scheme (pictured above), and a silver scheme (pictured below). Ultimately, the main was ran around 10pm and he went with the high visibility option. Moving down the vehicle, you’ll notice he used the new MBX8R wing mount and the JConcepts F2I Wing, wrapped with his sponsors. Holding down that white wing are the JConcepts RM2 Clover Wing Buttons.
As we go under the hood, the first thing you’ve probably already noticed is the new Ryan Maifield Edition Engine from Protek RC. Paired with the engine, he has the Protek 2090 Exhaust pipe and two Protek 170SBL servos. The final touch to the system that powers this beast is the Protek RC power switch. We also noticed the 20g weight he nestled onto the rear of the chassis, as seen below. Additionally, Maifield was sporting the new RM2 MBX8 Carbon Fiber Drivetrain Rock Guard (Coming Soon).
Lastly, we’ll get up close and personal with the front and rear ends of this buggy. Click on the photos below to check out the shock positions and suspension setup. The other major component shown below is the tire he used in the A-Main. Maifield decided to use the faithful JConcepts Green Reflex, Bullet Wheel, and Dirt-Tech Insert combo to put him on the podium. It’s the combination he won with last year as well! New this year, are the RM2 1/8th Buggy Insert Bands (coming soon).
MBX8T Nitro Truggy:
4 years in a row, Ryan Maifield has won the Pro Nitro Truck A-Main at the Dirt Nitro Challenge. The Mugen Seiki MBX8-T has been fast and reliable, and this year proved that to be true once again. Making its debut on a DNC podium this year was the JConcepts F2 Truck body. You may notice another new addition, which is the RM2 MBX8-T Carbon Fiber F2 Truck Body Nose Cone Washer (Coming Soon). As always, you’ll again see the JConcepts F2I Wing fastened with the RM2 Clover Wing Buttons on the rear end. Next, spend some time clicking on the photos above to check out the front and rear suspension, along with the shock positions. Lastly, we can’t forget about tires. You know the drill by now, but we have the Green Reflexes with Dirt-Tech Inserts and Bullet Wheels for those late-night, 45-minute, chilly, A-Main events. At DNC Maifield said, “When in doubt, Reflex it out.”
At first glance, you’ll quickly notice all of the similarities between the Truggy and Buggy. The Protek RM edition .21 engine and Protek 170SBL Servos are the power behind this monster. Differing from the Nitro Buggy, however, is the Flashpoint EFRA 2146 exhaust pipe. Again, you’ll notice he’s sporting the new RM2 MBX8-T Carbon Fiber Drivetrain Rock Guard (Coming Soon). We hope you enjoyed this Inside Look, and don’t forget to check out the Tire guide below! The guide breaks down what Maifield ran all weekend long, in addition to an explanation of why he made those decisions.
Tire Guide:
