This previous weekend the fifteenth Annual JConcepts Winter Indoor Shootout & Invitational befell at Fastlane Raceway in Blue Springs, MO. For 15 years JConcepts has been a proud sponsor of this occasion that’s precise two races at one time.
One occasion is a particular Invitational race consisting of 21 of the quickest drivers within the Midwest. These drivers are invited to compete in Mod 2wd and 4WD Buggy courses that use a ‘Reedy Race’ format. Historically most races use IFMAR fashion qualifying the place drivers have a staggered begin and compete in opposition to the clock and never one another. As a substitute the Invitational drivers line up in a particular order that was decided earlier from a random draw, and when the tone sounds they take off since they’re racing one another for the whole 5 minutes.
This format results in thrilling racing proper from the beginning with some shut finishes, main crashes and the occasional controversies over ‘racing incidents’ out on the observe. All of the Invite drivers are competing for a $1000 purse paying $500 to the general winner, $250 for 2nd place, $125 for third, $75 for 4th and $50 for fifth.
The highest 5 additionally acquired plaques and this yr’s general winner additionally acquired a particular ‘Champion’s Chain’ to proudly put on residence. On Saturday the drivers would run 5 heats for the Mod 2wd Buggy class solely. Their greatest 4 finishes would rely in direction of their ultimate rating so primarily each driver might drop their worst end. On Sunday they might swap gears to run their Mod 4WD Buggies. Once more, they might compete for 5 rounds and likewise dropped their worst end. The tie breaker was a driver’s greatest end for the whole occasion (most laps and the most effective time in 5 minutes).
The opposite race throughout the race was the Winter Indoor Shootout. This race noticed 130 entries with 11 courses to compete in. This occasion did use a conventional IFMAR qualifying begin and there have been 4 qualifiers in complete. Solely a driver’s greatest two finishes would rely for qualifying so if a driver might TQ three rounds they might lock up the highest qualifying place for his or her respective class. The highest six drivers have been locked into the A Predominant based mostly on qualifying outcomes, and two drivers would stumble upon the A Predominant from the decrease mains for a complete of eight vehicles in each ultimate. The qualifiers ran for 5 minutes every, the decrease mains ran for six minutes and every single A Predominant could be eight minutes lengthy.
Every class would award {hardware} to the highest 5 finishers together with the TQ.
On Thursday the doorways opened at 4pm for drivers to get their pit space setup for the whole weekend. On Friday the doorways opened as soon as once more at 10am with open follow operating from 11am to 1pm. After that managed follow would run from 1pm to 9pm that night time. The one exception have been transient breaks for observe upkeep and some Invite solely follow classes.
This yr’s format was barely technical with some excessive pace sections. Drivers would cross the loop proper previous the scoring sales space to move down a medium sized straight.
Then they might hit a left flip right into a small sweeper that led to a double soar part. Then it was a tough left once more right into a again triple soar part.
The Mod courses had no drawback clearing this part and among the Spec racers (17.5 and 13.5) might make the jumps too if that they had sufficient grip, energy and pace coming into it.
On the finish of the triple was a tabletop part after which a driver would flip left once more to go down a staircase characteristic.
That led to a small chicane part then a driver would flip proper, go over a small curler, after which it was a pointy proper right into a entrance triple part.
Once more the Mod courses might ship the facility to clear all of the jumps, however this part was very tough to make for the slower Spec courses since there was much less house to get a run on the jumps.
Then a driver would make one other proper to hit a soar main as much as the again nook which acted like one other bigger tabletop touchdown.
Subsequent, you’d head down from the nook to hit a small soar and attempt to land barely earlier than the scoring sales space to make one other left hand flip to return to the straightaway.
Additionally happening on Friday was the Invite drivers prepping their tires for the weekend. Every Invite participant acquired a full new set of JConcepts Silver compound Smoothie 2 tires for each buggy courses.
They needed to glue them in a delegated space and as soon as they have been full they have been formally marked for later identification. Earlier than a driver might compete of their Invite warmth they needed to undergo tech to indicate they’re utilizing their designated tires every time.
To even the enjoying subject much more a management tire sauce was used and so they might solely clear their tires utilizing a particular wash space. Solely pure tire put on was allowed and on the finish of every day the drivers needed to test their tires again into the tech space in order that the tires couldn’t be tampered with. For follow a driver might use any tire they wished to so opponents did must give you a technique to get their tires damaged in and discover that candy spot when the heads up racing started.
All drivers who have been competing in both race occasion additionally acquired a free commemorative JConcepts pit stand and customized wrap together with particular occasion t-shirt!
On Saturday the power was open once more at 7:30am, and drivers who couldn’t follow on Friday have been allowed to run follow laps from 8 – 8:30am. Then a quick driver’s assembly was held at 8:45am adopted by qualifying beginning at 9am.
Up first was the opening spherical of the Invite Mod 2wd Buggy class. It was a clear sweep for the JConcepts group as group drivers Mason Herrick, Nick Gibson and Alex Vanderbeek all picked up wins of their respective heats! Mason received this occasion again in 2023, Nick took the crown in 2022 and final yr Alex was the general winner. Alex additionally received this occasion in 2021 so for this yr’s race he was attempting to turn into the primary again to again winner since Mason Fuller who completed this feat for the 2018 and 2019 races.
After one other spherical of the Mod 2wd Invite teammates Nick and Alex every picked up one other warmth win!
Within the Shootout race group driver Mack Vanderbeek would get issues rolling for the JC group with Spherical 2 TQs in 13.5 Stadium Truck and 40+ Mod 2wd Buggy!
For Spherical 3 of the Mod 2wd Invite each Nick and Alex picked up their third win as they began to tug away from the opposite opponents. Additionally selecting up his 1st warmth win of this system was fellow JC pilot Drew Rubenking!
The 4th spherical of the Invite was one other sweep for the JConcepts group as Alex picked up his 4th win, Drew notched his 2nd W and amassing his 1st warmth win of the race was group driver Noah Hicklin!
Within the Shootout race group driver Mack backs up his 2nd spherical efficiency with two extra TQ runs in 13.5 Stadium Truck and 40+ Mod 2wd Buggy in spherical 3 of qualifying!
For the ultimate spherical of the Mod 2wd Invite Alex would go an ideal 5 for 5 that day as he netted one other victory! Proper behind him was his tire teammate Nick as he grabbed his 4th win, and Noah obtained on the board once more together with his second 1st place end! Since each Alex and Nick might drop their worst end they have been each tied on the finish of the night time with 4 factors, however Alex had the tie breaker on his aspect as he had the most effective results of the day between them within the fifth and ultimate spherical of the 2wd program.
Within the Shootout occasion Mack would lock up the TQ spot for each the 13.5 Stadium Truck and 40+ Mod 2wd Buggy courses by laying down his third consecutive TQ run in each courses!
On Sunday the doorways opened as soon as once more at 7:30am. Because the Invite drivers hadn’t ran their 4WD automobiles since Friday they have been allowed to follow from 8am to eight:20am. After that the decrease mains for the Shootout would start!
Between heats three and 4 the opening spherical of the Mod 4WD Buggy Invite befell. After the mud had settled Alex would proceed his sizzling streak with one other W and Drew would seize his 1st win within the 4WD program!
Within the 2nd spherical of the 4WD Invite Drew would seize one other win and Nick would additionally acquire his first wheeler victory!
After the 2nd spherical of the Invite the race program was stopped so we might hand out the door prizes courtesy of JConcepts and different nice occasion sponsors!
As soon as once more the drivers have been handled to some nice giveaways!
After some extra Shootout mains it was time for the third spherical of the 4WD Invite, and for this spherical Alex would seize his seventh win for the weekend and Noah would seize his first 4WD warmth win!
Within the 4th spherical group driver Braxten Culley would get on the board with a win, whereas Alex and Noah backed up their Spherical 3 end with two extra wins!
Within the fifth and ultimate spherical group driver Joe Duffy would choose up his 1st warmth win of the weekend, Nick would seize one other 4WD win and Alex would seize his ninth win of the weekend! By profitable 9 out of a attainable 10 heats Alex put down a dominating efficiency! Not solely would he turn into the occasion’s general winner, however together with his third Invitational title he ties former IFMAR Worlds champion Jared Tebo for probably the most Invite titles previously 15 years this occasion has taken place!
After the remainder of the factors have been tallied up JConcepts was capable of seize one other three podium spots with Nick ending in 2nd, Drew in third and Noah in 4th!
Within the Winter Indoor Shootout Mack was capable of take the tone to tone win in 13.5 Stadium Truck!
It was a rinse and repeat within the 40+ Mod 2wd Buggy class for Mack too!
Within the Skilled 13.5 4WD Buggy class group driver Matthew Pyle was capable of lock up 2nd place and he was joined on the rostrum by fellow JC driver Orlando Martinez (fifth)!
Orlando would additionally make one other podium end (third) within the Skilled 17.5 2wd Buggy class!
Staff driver Chilly Duncan would lock up 2nd place within the 13.5 Brief Course Truck class!
JConcepts driver Conner Herrick would safe 4th general within the Mod 2wd Buggy class!
Staff merchandise used:
That brings an finish to this yr’s Winter Indoor Shootout & Invitational! It was one other superior occasion filled with nice reminiscences and racing and we are able to’t wait to see what the 2026 occasion brings to the desk! We wish to thank observe proprietor Chuck Kleinhagen and the whole Fastlane crew for his or her dedication and hospitality for internet hosting this race once more this yr!
For extra pictures from this occasion please go to our photograph gallery over on our Fb web page.
For full outcomes from this race please go to Fastlane’s LiveRC.com web page.
Movies from this occasion might be discovered over on this YouTube playlist courtesy of IowaRCTracks.
