NT1 & RX8 on Podium at Midwest Nitro Series R2 in USA
Jun. 23, 2017
Race report by Drew Ellis
Unlike Round 1, the weather was working in our favor and was supposed to be dry and warm all weekend. Entries came in from as far away as Ontario Canada, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Texas.
(click to enlarge)
Following the Saturday morning practice session, round 1 of qualifying kicked off with Brian Jucha setting the early pace in 1/10th Sedan with Tom Esposito in P1 in Sedan Masters. Ralph Burch was quickest in 1/8th Open while Don Jones locked in the early TQ for 1/8th Open Masters. Rounds 2 and 3 were completed and the only change saw Lon Burling II taking the P1 position in 1/8th Open.
(click to enlarge)
Sunday morning, the strong winds we saw all day Saturday were gone and we were ready to hit the track for the final round of qualifying. Based on the lap times from the morning practice it looked like the pace was up so locking into the mains was going to be up for grabs. As expected, some fast runs were put together and the main lineups got shuffled. The Top Qualifiers remained unchanged except in 1/8th Open Masters where Dwight Smith put in a solid run to take the top spot.
Top Qualifiers
Brian Jucha â“ 1/10th Sedan Tom Esposito â“ 1/10th Sedan Masters â“ XRAY NT1
Lon Burling II â“ 1/8th Open Dwight Smith â“ 1/8th Open Masters â“ XRAY RX8
The Sedan A Main started off with a close battle between the top four cars of Brian Jucha, Ted Hammer, Tom Esposito (XRAY NT1) and Brad Mergy (XRAY NT1). They would each take a turn at the point throughout the race and in the end, Jucha would bring home the win with Hammer 2nd and Esposito finishing 3rd.
(click to enlarge)
In the 1/8th Open A Main, Lon Burling II jumped out to an early lead. Dwight Smith (XRAY RX8) got past Ted Hammer and Mike Pulfer (XRAY RX8) on lap one and settled into 2nd. Don Jones had a drive line failure at the start and dropped out. Ten minutes into the race, P7 starter Brian Berry also retired. A loose tire during a fuel stop dropped Smith back into the field. Burling continued to run up front while Hammer and Pulfer were working their way through the field. As time expired, Lon Burling II would win the race flag to flag with Ted Hammer in 2nd and Mike Pulfer in 3rd.
(click to enlarge)
1/10th Sedan/Sedan Masters â“ A Main Results
1. Brian Jucha
2. Ted Hammer 3. Tom Esposito â“ XRAY NT1
4. Brad Mergy â“ XRAY NT1
5. Patrick Morris
6. Mario Leiberman
7. David Dunn
8. Kurt Beiberstein
9. Elliot Hart 10. Chris Doseck â“ XRAY NT1
(click to enlarge)
1/8th Open /Open Masters - A Main Results
1. Lon Burling II
2. Ted Hammer 3. Mike Pulfer â“ XRAY RX8
4. Dwight Smith â“ XRAY RX8
5. Jason Conley â“ XRAY RX8
6. Mike McBride
7. Brian Berry
8. Don Jones
Outstanding job by Team NITRO with the track and making everything happen for the weekend and the second race of the 2017 Midwest Series.
The next stop is Race 3, The Glass City Grand Prix hosted by One Eighth Racers of Toledo at Northwood, Ohio July 22nd & 23rd.
