Ty Tessmann is double ROAR National Champion
The 2012 ROAR 1:8 Fuel Nationals have wrapped up today and is one that will be remembered forever in r/c history. The truggy final started with Ty Tessman on the pole after his commanding performance of leading his semi from start to finish, also with the fastest time. TQ in qualifying, Jared Tebo didn’t show his dominant form as he did in the previous days but was still able to start second on the grid in the main.
Tessmann lead the field with Ryan Maifield and Xray’s Josh Wheeler following in 2nd and 3rd. Tessmann looked to be un-phased by the pressure from Maifield. He was hitting his lines perfectly, not giving any room for a pass all while keeping a spectacular pace. Maifield was able to take over the lead for 6 laps of the 45 minute main and TLR’s Dakotah Phend worked his way up to the battle for the lead. A few costly mistakes from Maifield would allow Phend and Tessmann to pull away but it was the rock solid driving from Ty Tessmann that would prevail and would net him the crown of ROAR 1:8 truggy National Champion.
Ty Tessmann would look to etch his name in the record books by sweeping the mains at this year’s Nationals. It all started in the semi-finals where the young Canadian was running in the lead pack. Durango’s Ryan Lutz was out front when he had receiver issues, which caused him to retire early. Tessmann would take over the lead followed by Ryan Maifield and Jared Tebo. Knowing they just needed to finish in the top 5 to move on to the finals, none of the drivers were taking any risks. Tessmann would go on to win the heat but not top the pace of Team Associated’s Ryan Cavalieri from the other semi, though good enough for 2nd on the grid for the buggy final.
The buggy final started off with Cavalieri leading the pack but a couple early mistakes would drop him all the way to 9th, quite a ways behind the leaders. Tessman picked up the lead with the hard charging Ryan Maifield and Dakotah Phend waiting to capitalize on a mistake. They would do so but Ty would quickly recover and regain the lead a few laps after. A broken shock rod end would put Maifield out of the race at about the halfway point. The main turned into a 2-car slug-fest between Tessmann and Phend. The two would swap the lead position 6+ times in the latter half of the race as the rest of the pack fell off pace.
With just over a minute to go and a few second lead, Phend would let his commanding lead slip away by a pair of crashes before and in the whoops section. After 60-minutes of racing the title would come down to the last lap. Neither car could make it clean to the finish. Phend careened of a pipe, looking to give away the win as Tessmann was found on his lid after the next jump. Both crashes seemed to be a wash as Ty lead the pair down the whoops section. Two corners to go, Ty went a bit wide as Phend made a spectacular jump pass, landing in front of the Hot Bodies car. Tessmann gave him an unintentional bump and made the pass on the last corner just feet before the finish line.
In what will be remembered as one of the most exciting nationals mains ever, Ty Tessmann etches his name in the history books as sweeping the 2012 ROAR 1:8 fuel nationals.
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