Annual Labor Day Challenge report
This last weekend Clark RC Park held its 3rd Annual Labor Day Challenge with some of the top drivers in the midwest showcasing their skills. Jeremy Whiting set a blazing fast pace in both nitro Buggy and Truggy with Taylor Timmerman putting in a 2nd place effort in the last round of Truggy qualifying. Jeff Stanford held on to the number two spot in the Buggy class. E Buggy saw Daryl Frank light the track up to take the spot followed closely by Zach Whitrock.
Nitro Truggy TQ Jeremy Whiting got off to a bad start with engine difficulties and started half a lap behind the field but drove the wheels off the truck to get back up to second by lap 8. Despite the hard drive Taylor Timmerman held off the field including Whiting to take home first place. Whiting kept the second spot and George Gastelum took home third place.
The Nitro Buggy class was as competitive as they come with some of the best names in the area competing for the top spot. Leading the way was Jeremy Whiting but an early bobble gave the lead to second qualifier Jeff Stanford who would lead the first two laps and then have problems of his own forcing him to pull the buggy. Giving the lead back to Whiting with a hard charging Taylor Timmerman bumping up from the B Main in second. Another bobble from Whiting gave the lead to Timmerman who looked to have this race under control, but another late charge from Jeremy Whiting put him in the lead with just 2 laps remaining and Whiting was able to hold on for the win in the Buggy class with Timmerman coming in second place and Greg Baumel in third.
E-Buggy TQ Daryl Frank was unable to make the final giving Zach Whitrock the top spot in the A Main. Grant Runkel starting in 3rd took advantage and got out to an early lead but David Studner made up the ground and got around Runkel to take the point. Studner looked to have the win secured but a last lap pass gave the win to Grant Runkel and a chance in the Grand Champion race. David Studner took home second place and Zach Whitrock third.
After all the classes are complete Clark RC Park has a traditional race to name the Grand Champion. It is a no marshall, no scoring 10 lap shootout in honor of how the track started, before there was a timing computer or enough people to have marshall. In order to be eligible for the race you had to have won an 1/8 scale class in the Summer Showdown or the Labor Day Challenge, this or last year. Also eligible is the Grand Champion from the previous year. With the field set track owner Tim Clark lined up the racers abreast and started the show. All racers were pushing hard to take the lead and set the pace and Matthew Dickinson clipped the pipe coming down the straight taking himself out along with Erik Jensen. Taylor Timmerman took out in front and with only 3 racers remaining stayed out in front until lap 6. Jeremy Whiting pulled off a clean pass on Timmerman and looked to have the win until a bobble and rollover took him out of the race with only two laps remaining Greg Baumel didnt have enough time to get back to the leader and Taylor Timmerman took home the Grand Champion title.
We had a great race with a great turnout and would like to thank everyone for coming out. This race has really grown to be one that everyone looks forward to every year and we can’t wait for the next one!
Source: Clark RC Park [clarkrcpark.com]
