Everybody knows that Friday is meant for reminiscing old times. Each week we take you back in time as we flashback to some of R/C racing's greatest moments, products, drivers, and more!
Flashback: 2016
Rivkin spoiled Maifield's perfect weekend at the ROAR Fuel Off-Road Nationals
Those watching the first major nitro off-road races of 2017 have certainly noted the incredible start to Ryan Maifield's tenure with Mugen Seiki Racing, but the Arizona native was equally as incredible at last year's ROAR Fuel Off-Road Nationals at the Thornhill Racing Circuit in Hutto, TX. It was the second time in three years that Thornhill hosted the U.S. championship event, having held the ROAR Nats in 2015 under the Texas sun before covering the track with a permanent roof.
Maifield dominated qualifying, locking up the TQ spot in both classes with a perfect score after three rounds before electing to spend the fourth preparing for the finals by trying different tires.
An early mistake in Q4 of Truck left the door open for Spencer Rivkin to halt a Maifield's streak.
However, the elder Arizonan came right back in Buggy qualifying to take 7 TQ runs in 8 tries.
Maifield was never touched in the 45-minute final, as he drove away from the pack to win a record fourth class championship - breaking a tie with Ty Tessmann. The only driver who got close was Rivkin, who flamed out with less than ten minutes to go and finished seventh. Ryan Lutz finished second on the track, nearly 14 seconds behind, but was disqualified when his truck was found to be underweight in post-race inspection - which he and his crew attributed to tire wear. That gave Ryan Cavalieri and Tessmann the last two spots on the podium.
Note: these results do not reflect Lutz's disqualifcation. He was credited with a fifteenth-place finish.
In stark contrast to both qualifying and the Truck main event, Maifield led just the first two minutes of the Buggy final — after the race, he explained that his buggy was just not the same as it had been all week prior. In his place, Spencer Rivkin took the top spot and held off an early challenge from 2015 champ Tessmann, as well as a late charge from Maifield that came up just 1.5 seconds short at the finish line, to win the ROAR national title.
Will Maifield or Rivkin be able to repeat next week at Stateline R/C? History isn't on their side — there have only been three repeat winners across both classes — but you'll be able to watch them try as we'll be broadcasting live all weekend long. Don't miss it!
Here's the final finishing order for the Buggy and Truck classes - as well the Under 16 Junior final. This list will matter a lot more next week - as the results for the Buggy class will determine the 2018 IFMAR Worlds team!
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