2002 Silver State Nitro Challenge

Radio Control Car Action, Aug 2002 by Gonzalez, George M

EASTON WINS THE JACKPOT IN VEGAS

EVERY YEAR IN THE SPRING, the top names In nitro off-road racing travel to Las Vegas to attend the Silver State Nitro Challenge. This has always been an important venue because it serves as a warm-up race for the ROAR Off-Road Fuel Nats and the IFMAR Worlds, which this year, will be held in Uruguay. For the first time, the Challenge is part of the new RC Pro Series-a series of off-road nitro races held throughout the U.S. In 2003, the Pro Series final will be held in Vegas and will replace the Challenge. (The Western RC facility and the Las Vegas RC Car Club will probably be the hosts again, though.)

Because this was technically the last "Challenge," entrants signed up in a hurry and the promoters saw record attendance. With tougher than usual competition, Billy Easton took back-to-back wins for Team Associated and Thunder Tiger in both 1/10scale Truck and 1/8-scale Buggy. Now that you know the ending, here's the story from the beginning.

QUALIFYING & A-MAIN OVERVIEW

* 1/10-scale Truck. Billy Easton was on fire during qualifying. He posted a TQ time that was one lap faster than the rest of the field, so he would obviously be a threat during the Main. In nitro racing, however, the fastest driver doesn't always win; a lot can happen during a 45-minute race. Apparently, Easton does not subscribe to common wisdom; he took the lead in the first lap and never gave up that position.

After the first io minutes, he settled into a controlling lead and drove conservatively, realizing that he was without a real challenger. Meanwhile, Team Associated/Kyosho drivers Richard Saxton, Jared Tebo, Jason Ayers and Team Trinity/Team Losi driver Matt Francis battled for second and third. After several pit stops and 45 minutes of racing, Easton rolled in with a cushy two-lap lead to claim the Silver State Nitro Challenge 1/10-scale Truck Championship. Saxton stormed in next, and Francis crossed the line one lap after Saxton to take third.

* 1/8-scale Buggy. Team Kyosho's Greg Degani was TQ, but it didn't come easy; Kyosho's Richard Saxton, TTR's Billy Easton and Jared Tebo and Kyosho's Jeremy Kortz all qualified on the same lap and less than 1 second apart. Close racing!

In the Main, Degani took the lead early, but Easton pursued him closely, and they took their first pit stop almost simultaneously-a stroke of luck for Saxton, who sneaked by and held the lead for a couple of laps. They settled into a groove: Easton and Degani followed by Saxton.

During the last 15 minutes, the heat was on: Easton and Degani repeatedly swapped the lead and put on a battle that had excited spectators screaming and jumping. After a mad dash for the finish line, it was Easton in first for back-to-back Silver State Nitro Challenge championships. Degani rolled in a few seconds later, and third finisher Saxton trailed in two laps behind.

WRAP-UP

Whether you raced or watched, this event was unforgettable. Onlookers constantly surrounded the track, and the folks at Western RC set up a challenging track-one that kept the racers on their toes-and managed the event very capably. We congratulate Team Associated/Thunder Tiger pilot Billy Easton for his impressive victories Next year, the event will have a completely new flavor as the Pro RC Series Grand Final in Las Vegas, but it's sure to be just as intense. Hope to see you all there next year.

BILLY CLUBS

Ever wonder what kind of magic pro racers build into their cars so they can win races? Well, I hate to break it to you, but it really is the driver who does the winning! Still, it is fun to check out the first-place hardware, so here's an up-close-and-personal with Billy's Thunder Tiger EB4-S2 and Associated Factory Team GT.