RC Nights 2014 Final Round Race Report

MRCR would like to extend a giant thank you to Eddie Alves for this wonderful race report.

Modesto, Calif. (Aug 23rd)— Sixty Five entries were on hand for the final round of RC Nights 2014 at Modesto RC Raceway. The eight race series consisted of eight different divisions with the racers best five finishes counting towards the final point standings. Saturday’s final event was double points night as the top five finishers in each division received a plaque. Click Pictures to enlarge.

 

The 2WD Stock Buggy division had 13 entries on the evening. Heat race wins went to Matt Burdic, Ron Bickel, Darren Stumpf, and Chris Jones. Jones took TQ honors for the fifth time during the series. Jones started on the pole and led every lap en route to his third win of the series. Stumpf would finish second after qualifying sixth, followed by Jason Smith, Burdic, and Bill Rainier rounding out the top five. Doug Frid finished sixth, Ron Bickel seventh, B Main Winner Kirk Baker eight, Casey Nydahl ninth, and Sean DeHart tenth. Jones also clinched the 2WD Stock Buggy division Championship beating Matt Burdic by 16 points. Burdic finished the season with two wins to his credit. Ron Bickel finished third in the point standings and recorded three second place finishes on the year. Doug Frid who won round five finished fourth in the standings just two points behind Bickel. Rounding out the top five was Bill Rainier.

Stock Buggy Winners

Stock Buggy Winners

The 2WD Stock Short Course Division had 10 entries on the night. Casey Nydahl took the win in Heat 1 with Udo Richter taking TQ honor after winning Heat 2. The six minute A Main saw Richter jump out to an early lead and never look back. Richter had to navigate his way thru lap traffic but held off Casey Nydahl who finished second. Tim Farmer finished third which would be his worst finish of the series. Finishing fourth was Ry Smith and Eddie Alves fifth. Just missing the top five were Larry Lopez, Ken Farmer, Trey Jones, Brandon Lopez, and Nate Holderbein. Richter’s third win of the year gave him the championship by seven points over Tim Farmer. Farmer set TQ on four different occasions but was unable to earn a victory. With one win each Casey Nydahl and Eddie Alves finished third and fourth, with Ken Farmer taking fifth.

Stock SCT Winners

Stock SCT Winners

Udo Richter did not stop there has he won both heats to take TQ in the 2WD Modified Short Course Division. This class also had 10 entries for the night. Richter led wire-to-wire to take his third win of the series. Chris Jones finished 2nd after starting tenth. Jones missed a heat race and broke during heat two. His impressive run saw him jump into the top five on lap two, then falling back to ninth on lap three. Jones then picked each driver off one at a time but was unable to pass Richter. Kirk Baker finished third, Randy Syester fourth, and Shane Piatt fifth. Justin Johnson held onto sixth, Stan Barrios seventh, Larry Lopez eight, Nate Holderbein ninth, and Eddie Alves tenth who broke on lap 4. Richter’s victory gave him the championship by 28 points over Kirk Baker. Randy Syester finished the season third, Eddie Alves fourth, and Shane Piatt fifth.

Mod SCT Winners

Mod SCT Winners

There were seven entries in the 4X4 Short Course class. Kirk Baker took the win in heat one with Casey Nydahl taking the win in heat two and setting TQ. Nydahl took an early race lead with Baker right on his heels. Nydahl held baker off until lap 13 when Baker took the lead. They then exchanged the lead two more times before Baker was able to hold off Nydahl by 7.2 seconds. Eric Todd finished third, Ry Smith fourth, and Shane Piatt fifth. Saul Davis and Bud Beard finished sixth and seventh. Baker’s fifth win of the series gave him the championship by 13 points over Nydahl. Saul Davis finished third in the overall point standings with Ry Smith fourth, and Shane Piatt fifth.

4wd SCT Winners

4wd SCT Winners

The Novice division had some of the closest finishes and point battles during RC Nights. Tonight was no different as Darren Wilson won both heats to take TQ for the night. Wilson led the first few laps before Andrew Beebe took over for a short time. Wilson took the lead back and would later take the victory. Beebe would settle for second, Jared Barth third, Bryce Piatt fourth, Chad Peterson fifth. Sitting outside the top five were Gavin Christopherson, John Beard, and Gary Holderbein. Since this was a double point’s night setting TQ paid huge dividends for Wilson. Wilson finished just one point ahead of Beebe for the championship. Beebe finished the year with five wins compared to Wilson’s three. Chad Peterson finished third, Gavin Christopherson fourth, and Bryce Piatt fifth.

Novice Winners

Novice Winners

Doug Frid continued his dominance in the 4X4 Buggy division. Frid swept both heats then took the A Main victory over Kirk Baker by 5.5 seconds. Sean DeHart finished a close third, Casey Nydahl fourth, Ken Farmer fifth, Bud Beard sixth, and Udo Richter was credited with a seventh place. Frid’s fifth win gave him the series championship by 18 points over Kirk Baker. Ken Farmer finished third, Marcus Plumlee fourth, and Casey Nydahl fifth.

4wd Buggy Winners

4wd Buggy Winners

Chris Jones won Heat 1 and Heat 2 to set TQ in the Open Stadium Truck division. Jones started first and never looked back. The race was for second place between Eddie Alves, Casey Nydahl, and Ry Smith. Those three changed positions several times before the race was over. When it was all said and done it was Alves taking second, Nydahl third, Smith fourth and Randy Syester fifth. Jones’ second win gave him a 10 point advantage in the point standings with Nydahl second, Alves third, Smith fourth, and Syester fifth.

Mod Truck Winners

Mod Truck Winners

Jason Smith took Heat 1 of the 2WD Modified Buggy division. However, Chris Jones took TQ in round two. Jones was very impressive as he earned TQ in all eight races this season. Jones earned his sixth victory of the season with Jason Smith finishing second. Doug Frid finished third, Tim Farmer fourth, Eddie Alves fifth, Udo Ricther sixth, and Nate Holderbein seventh. Jones finished 25 points ahead of Frid, Alves finished third, Udo Ricther fourth, and Tim Farmer fifth.

Mod Buggy Winners

Mod Buggy Winners

 

RC Nights 2014 Group Photo

RC Nights 2014 Group Photo

 

Comments

comments

Posted by at August 25, 2014
Filed in category: Race Report,

Comments are closed.