The ROAR Region 4 Nitro Off-road Champs were held at 555 Raceway in Bartow, Florida. The track is normally run wet and gets really bumpy, but the track crew decided to try to blue groove the track for this race.
(click to enlarge)
The sun came out and the orange clay turned black as the traction became insane. Pro-line Inside Jobs were the tire of choice. Xray driver Gene Hickerson took TQ in round 1, followed by TTR driver JR Mitch and Jconceps Jason Rona. Round 2 was very tight, as Rona, Mitch, and Hickerson were all within 1 second of each other.
(click to enlarge)
Round 3 was all Mitch as he took a 0 for the round also. So going into round 4, there was 3 drivers with 0 points after 2 throw-outs. At the start of round 4, Mitch started right behind Hickerson as they battled for the overall TQ spot. Bumper to bumper half way through the final heat, Hickerson was taking the normal line through the whoop section - double double single, while Mitch tried the alternate line of triple double.
(click to enlarge)
He made it but in doing so punted Hickerson out of the way and out of the groove ending his chance at TQ. JR Mitch took the overall TQ with 0 points, followed by Jason Rona with 2 points and Hickerson in 3rd with 2 points also.
(click to enlarge)
The main event looked to be close. Mitch took the early lead followed by Rona and Hickerson. Hickerson clipped a pipe and dropped way back. Rona took the lead with his flawless driving. Hickerson worked his way back into 3rd and started catching 2nd place Mitch. About 20 minutes in, Hickerson passed for 2nd place, but a few minutes later lost 2nd back to Mitch after a few bad crashes on the double double. The race stayed the same for the rest of the main and that was how they finished.
-- 1/8TH SCALE - A Main --
1. Jason Ruona
2. JR Mitch 3. Gene Hickerson Xray XB8
4. Ryan Eckert 5. Jim Myers Xray XB8
6. Bobby Phillips
7. Anton Watson
8. Leon McIntosh
9. Bobby Moore
10.Dave Bengston
