This past weekend the 2022 Big Apple Nitro Challenge was held at Barnstormers RC Raceway in Chester, NY. This annual event drew in nearly 200 entries for the three day competition, and there were seven different classes to compete in.
JConcepts/Mugen pro driver Adam Drake made the trip out east to compete at this event. On Thursday morning he arrived at Barnstormers to hold a driver’s clinic for the racers.
He went over the best driving lines on the track layout, and how he conducts his winning race program for each event he competes in.
On Friday night practice was held so the drivers could throw down some laps on the track’s layout.
On Saturday morning the official race program began with three rounds of qualifying. Each heat ran for six minutes, and only a driver’s best two qualifier rounds counted towards their final qualifying position for the race.
Qualifying ran till just past 10pm that night, and with only 18 heats per round that made for a more laid back racing atmosphere.
Drake was firing on all cylinders from the start of qualifying as he TQed rounds one and two to lock up the top spot in the 1/8 Nitro Buggy, Nitro Truggy and Electric Buggy classes!
Photo credit: Casey Kelly
Sunday morning the first main event of the day started just past 9am. The nitro buggy class used an IFMAR ladder system, while the 1/8 electric classes ran AA Mains. Each e truggy main ran for 8 minutes, while the e buggy mains ran for 10 minutes each.
The first main for Drake was the 1/8 Nitro Buggy 1/2 Odd Final and he led from tone to tone for the 30 minute race!
Then he competed in the first A Main for e buggy. He would get off to a rough start crossing the loop in 6th place after one lap, but then continued to battle back and took over the lead for good on lap 14!
Up next for Drake was the 25 minute 1/8 Nitro Truggy main event. Once again he would lead for the entire race as he cruised to his first official win of the weekend!
Immediately following this main was A2 of e buggy. Starting on the pole he would get off to a better start and would only relinquish the lead one time as he went on to claim his second win of the race!
The final race of the weekend was the 1/8 Nitro Buggy 1/1 Even Final that would last for 45 minutes. Drake would lead the field for the entire main event, and with the victory he wrapped up his third title at this event!
Photo credit: Casey Kelly
His fellow JConcepts/Mugen team driver Bryan Kata also had a good weekend as he finished 3rd in 1/8 Nitro Buggy and 2nd place in 1/8 Nitro Truck!
That wraps up another successful running of the Big Apple Nitro Challenge, and hats off to Rohan Grant and Barnstormers Raceway for hosting another great event!
Nitro Buggy Winning JConcepts products:
- S15 body
- F2I wing
- Blue compound Reflex and Stalker tires
- Dirt-Tech inserts
- Yellow Bullet wheels
- Mugen MBX-7R | MBX-7 ECO Front Scoop
- Medium Advanced Formulated Tire Glue
Nitro Truggy Winning JConcepts products:
- F2 1/8 Truck body
- F2I wing
- Blue compound Reflex tires
- Dirt-Tech inserts
- Yellow Bullet wheels
- Medium Advanced Formulated Tire Glue
Electric Buggy Winning JConcepts products:
- S15 body
- F2I wing
- Blue compound Reflex tires
- Dirt-Tech inserts
- Yellow Bullet wheels
- Mugen MBX-7R | MBX-7 ECO Front Scoop
- Medium Advanced Formulated Tire Glue
Adam Drake Tire Guide:
