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Team Associated Summer Series at The PLEX halfway report

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Mike Garrison

0 June 21, 2013, 6:29 a.m.

6/21/2013

By Mike Garrison
LiveRC.com

HobbyPLEX Race Report:
www.hobbyplexraceway.com

The 2013 Team Associated Summer Series at the Plex reached its halfway point Saturday, June 15. Now in its eighth year, the Summer Series is once again the cornerstone of the heartland’s 1:10 scale race scene and a record turnout was on hand with 149 entries. Some drivers looked to pad their lead, while most sought to break several streaks from rounds 1 and 2 and start new ones of their own.

Pro-2
Trends are the name of the game in points racing and several trends held firm over the weekend. Team Associated driver Alex Vanderbeek has yet to lose a Pro-2 A-main this year. Add two TQ’s and you have a firm grip on the field. Three points back is fast local driver Derek Wood and catapulting into the top three is three time Pro-2 champ, Dillan Voelker. Pro-2 isn’t over by any means, but another win in round 4 and Alex might be out of reach.

PlexSpec
The Hobbyplex beginner class is usually one of the most entertaining and closest points battles of the entire season. It’s also where most of the local fast kids started. This year’s up and comers are in a virtual dead heat. Kaden Fuller leads by one point over Travis Hizer Jr. Adam Rutherford sits third just three points back from second. There are also a couple of hungry six-year-olds, Chase Henricksen and Emerson Sturgeon, who are within striking distance of a podium.

Novak Short Course Buggy
Don Drozd snagged the TQ and win for the second round in a row, creating some space between him and Kyosho driver, Dillan Voelker, who sits four points back. Hobbyplex local Rob Turner is only one point back from Dillan in Third. Dillan sat out round 3 with unresolved electronics issues. Another strong finish from Don in round 4 will make him a hard man to bet against for the rest of the season.

Stock Buggy
Last year’s stock classes came down to the final race and this year is no different. Stock buggy is tied between local ace Brian Valles and eight-year-old wonder kid Mason Fuller from Des Moines. Cole Henricksen is third three points back. Brian has two wins and a TQ, while Mason has two TQ’s and a win.

Stock Truck
With another stock class, comes another tie. This time it’s between Hobbyplex locals Brian Valles and Cole Henricksen. Don Drozd lingers in third just 3 points back. Cole announced after round 2 that Brian’s winning streak would end and he made it happen in round 3. Without Cole’s win in truck and Mason’s win in buggy, Brian may have coasted the rest of the way to victory in both stock classes. It’s on now.

Mod Buggy
For the second round in a row, TLR driver Alex Sturgeon TQ’d and won, putting a four point gap between him and Team Associated’s Mack Vanderbeek. Round 1 winner Alex Vanderbeek had a rough day, but stays within two points of his ride home in third. The top three have a large gap on the rest of the field. Look for the Vanderbeeks to come back strong in round 4.

Mod Truck
Team Associated’s Mack Vanderbeek and TLR driver Alex Sturgeon traded TQ’s and wins in rounds 1 and 2. This Saturday belonged to Alex Sturgeon; he led the eight-minute main wire to wire. Mack Vanderbeek stays close, only two points back and Derek Wood is a distant third, five points back from Mack. Unless something drastic happens, this season is between Mack and Alex for the win.

Pro-4
After two rounds it looked as if Hobbyplex local Dustin Hosick was going to walk away with the Pro-4 title this year. Although he still has a commanding four point lead, Durango driver Nick Pavel put his foot down and drove away from the field for a TQ and win in round 3. Mike Fuller and Nick Pavel are tied for second and third, with Mike having the better throw out. We’ll see if Nick can carry that momentum into round 4.

Podium finishers from Round 3: