One of the most legendary races in the world, The Dirt Nitro Challenge. In its 22nd year, the race has grown from 111 entries to 972. The race was started in 2000 by a former art/sculpture major who combined his eye for design with his love for RC Racing. We all know this man as Joey “The Dirt” Christensen. Since the start of his business in 1999, he now has 4 major races with another one potentially in the pipeline. Last year, Joey was able to make a permanent track facility in Perris, California where he now holds many weekly races along with the DNC.
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Over the years, the Dirt Nitro Challenge has changed locations and this year we were back in Perris, California. Also back this year were the international drivers. The competition was stacked with drivers like David Ronnefolk, Davide Ongaro, Marco Baruffolo, and several others. We arrived on Tuesday evening, but with rain in sight, we didn’t head to the track until Wednesday morning. The weather put a damper on the program reducing the practice to 1 round. Each driver was able to hit the track one time with each vehicle for 7 minutes and that was it. From there, they took your best top 2 consecutive laps to seed you for qualifying.
Qualifying went down on Thursday and Friday. They would do E-Buggy and Nitro Truggy on one day and E-Truggy and Nitro Buggy on the other. Mains were set up the same way on Saturday and Sunday. We saw several new products in the pits throughout the weekend. For chassis, we saw the new Team Associated RC8B4 and RC8B4e along with the Mugen MBX8R. We have an inside look coming soon at the RC8B4e! Additionally, Ryan Maifield debuted his new Protek Samurai RM edition engine. Last but not least, we revealed our latest project which is the Recon tire for 1:8 scale Buggy and Truggy!
Seeding/Practice Round:
Pro Nitro Truggy: Jackson Brunson (2), Tyler Jones (5)
Pro E-Buggy: Dakotah Phend (2), Joe Bornhorst (4)
40+ E-Buggy: Robert Sorjonen (1), Brent Thielke (2)
40+ Nitro Truck: Michael Moralez (3)
Int. E-Buggy: Dylan Bartlett (2)
Int. E-Truggy: Dylan Bartlett (2), Robert Sorojonen (3)
Qualifying (Best 2 of 3):
Pro E-Buggy: Ryan Maifield (TQ), Joe Bornhorst (2)
Pro Nitro Buggy: Joe Bornhorst (TQ), Ryan Maifield (3)
Pro Nitro Truggy: Ryan Maifield (3), Joe Bornhorst (4),
40+ E-Buggy: Robert Sorjonen (5)
40+ Nitro Buggy: Michael Moralez (5)
40+ Nitro Truggy: Michael Moralez (TQ)
Int.E-Buggy: Ivan Moreno Jr. (4)
Int. E-Truck: Adam Drake (TQ)
Final Results:
40+ Nitro Buggy: Michael Moralez (2)
40+ Nitro Truggy: Michael Moralez (1)
Int. E-Buggy: Ivan Moreno Jr. (2), Trent Walker (3)
Int. E-Truggy: Dylan Bartlett (1)
Pro E-Truggy: Adam Drake (2)
Int. Nitro Buggy: Dylan Bartlett (2), Ivan Moreno Jr. (3)
Pro Nitro Buggy: Ryan Maifield (1), Joe Bornhorst (2)
Check out our Youtube channel for the Full-Length Main Soon!
Joe Bornhorst led the way in Pro Nitro Buggy after taking the TQ with his Sworkz buggy. Jared Tebo started 2nd on the grid and Ryan Maifield started 3rd. Bornhorst quickly tried to make a gap for himself in the lead. Tebo had a little bobble on lap 3 which allowed Maifield to pick up that 2nd spot. Tebo fell back to 4th and Lutz moved into 3rd. The two would battle for 3rd place and ultimately Tebo was able to take it back for the first half of the main. Bornhorst was running smoothly, and consistently throughout the main. He led for the first 16 laps. Maifield started to close the gap on Bornhorst. Bornhorst got a little caught on the pipe before the backstretch which allowed Maifield to get too close for comfort.
Both Bornhorst and Maifield went into the pits, their pit crews got them in and out flawlessly. Bornhorst continued to lead. Maifield got sideways in that dreaded berm but still was pushing the pace. Bornhorst had a lead by 3.2 seconds. While this battle for 1st was happening, Dakotah Phend was making his way up from 11th on the grid to 4th behind Tebo. As Bornhorst approached lap 17 he flipped over briefly and Maifield got by into 1st. The battle for the win was still on.
Dakotah Phend was surging to the front, he was the only driver to have a sub-40-second lap at this point in the race. Phend made a pass on Tebo and took over 3rd place on lap 28. Jared Tebo and Mason Fuller were now battling for 4th place. They went back and forth until Ty Tessmann inserted himself into the battle and eventually took 3rd place from Phend. Phend and Tessmann battled hard for the final handful of laps. Maifield once again cruised his way to the finish with the win! Joe Bornhorst finished 2nd with a 22 second lead on Ty Tessmann who finished 3rd! What a race!
Fast Lap of the Race: 39.73 by Dakotah Phend
Pro Nitro Truck: Ryan Maifield (1)
Check out our Youtube channel for the Full-Length Main Soon!
Jared Tebo started first on the grid in the Pro Nitro Truggy A-Main along with Ryan Lutz in 2nd, and Ryan Maifield in 3rd. When the tone went off the drivers, filled with adrenaline, were ready to race. The top 3 had a clean start, but the rest of the pack was a little messier. On lap 2 Maifield gets on his lid, and David Ronnefolk made his way from 6th to 3rd. Maifield quickly started to make up time on Ronnefolk. Ronnefolk within the next lap got it wrong in the berm and got a little sideways off the jump. Unfortunately, this was a break for his truck. Maifield took 3rd back over and found himself quickly on Lutz’s wing. Meanwhile, Bornhorst moved into 4th. Lutz, Maifield, and Borhorst were all running close together by lap 4, battling for 2nd place. Lutz made a similar mistake to Ronnefolk off the berm and found himself quickly trying to get back on the track. This allowed Maifield and Bornhorst to get by into 2nd and 3rd. Lutz made a comeback and took back 3rd from Bornhorst. Lutz flipped over right before the double approaching the berm and Bornhorst took back 3rd. Bornhorst fell back and Joao Figuieredo found himself in 3rd battling with Spencer Rivkin. The two went back in forth during their battle until around lap 17 when Tyler Jones made his move.
While all of these battles were happening in the top 4 positions, Ty Tessmann was lurking in the background slowly creeping up on the field. He was now behind Tyler Jones in 4th looking for his way to take over 3rd. Tebo got a little wobbly, Maifield was surging behind him, the two were wing to nose going into the back double. Tebo got on two wheels making the turn onto the backstretch, and Maifield capitalized taking over the lead! Did I mention we’re only 13 minutes into this 45-minute race?
Meanwhile, Ty Tessmann was also making a move and took over 3rd from Tyler Jones. While Tebo was still closely battling with Maifield for that top position, they came through the finish line and Tebo flamed out! Luckily, his pit guy was standing right at the end and was able to quickly and efficiently get him back on the track. Luckily, he had somewhat of a gap and managed to get back out in 3rd and only lose one position. Ultimately, the race was settled after that. Maifield pushed hanging on to 1st and won with an 18.6-second lead! Ty Tessmann took 2nd with a 5 second lead over Jared Tebo in 3rd.
Fast Lap of the Race: 38.22 by Jackson Brunson
What an incredible event! Ryan Maifield continues to be the Dirt Nitro Challenge Nitro Buggy & Truggy Champion for another year! Last year he won the Trifecta and this year he continued on with the Nitro Titles! Incredible! We also want to congratulate Joe Bornhorst on an insane weekend TQ’ing Pro Nitro Buggy, starting 4th in Nitro Truggy, and starting 2nd in Pro E-Buggy! Not to mention his Nitro Buggy podium! In addition to the Pro classes, we had Micahel Moralez absolutely on fire in the 40+ Nitro classes! Dylan Bartlett, Ivan Moreno Jr., and Trent Walker represented on the Intermediate podiums with great finishes as well! Last but certainly not least, Adam Drake TQ’d Pro E-Truggy and went on to the podium! Mason Fuller also had a stand-out weekend finishing 4th in Pro E-Buggy and 6th in Pro Nitro Buggy! Ultimately, we are so proud of the entire teams’ hard work and dedication this week. This is one of the hardest races of the year and you all put in the work to represent and drive well! We’ll see you trackside soon.
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