The 12th Annual running of "The Dirt Nitro Challenge" was held February 23-27 at The Nitro Pit in Witmann, Arizona. This is one of the most prestigious races of year and is recognized world wide by every manufacturer. Race Teams from as far as Europe made the trip across the pond to attend. The Nitro Challenge is one of the longest ongoing nitro races of the year and showed why by reaching over 500 total entries!

The Race Format consisted of 3 7-Minute qualifiers taking each drivers 2 best points toward the main events. 12 drivers would make it straight into the mains followed by a 3-car bump up from the lower mains.

Race Schedule:
Wednesday, February 23rd - 2 Controlled Rounds of Practice per class
Thursday, February 24th - 3 Rounds of Truggy Qualifying
Friday, February 25th - 3 Rounds of Buggy Qualifying
Saturday, February 26th - Truggy Main Events
Sunday February 27th - Buggy Main Events

In the 1/8 Pro Truggy Class it was Kyosho/Team Orion Factory Driver Jared Tebo who would go onto TQ the first two rounds of qualifying to secure the overall TQ. Kyosho/Team Orion Teammate Cody King would qualify 2nd overall with 2 second place qualifying points in the first two rounds. This was also the first race with the NEW Kyosho ST-RR Body that would start 1 & 2! Mark Pavidis qualified 11th overall making it 3 Kyosho ST-RR's straight into the A-Main Event.

At the start of the 45-Minute A-Main, Tebo started out with a fast and consistent pace. King followed closely in 2nd. With a few pit stops down, it was now Tebo leading with Maifield in second. Tebo and Maifield would have what is said to have one of the best battles of all time for the last half of the race. With less than 10-Minutes left in the race, Maifield put a nice pass on Tebo to take the lead. Jared stuck right with Maifield and waited for the perfect time to make his move. In the center of the track Maifield decided to doubled then single the triple jump and Tebo made the triple perfect followed by an inside line pass to regain the lead. Tebo then went mistake free for the remainder of the main being the only driver to make it by for the 61st lap and take the 1/8 Pro Truggy Championship!

1/8 Pro Truggy Overall Finishing Order:
1. Jared Tebo (TQ)     Kyosho ST-RR
2. Ryan Maifield           Associated
3. Ryan Cavalieri          Associated
4. Matt Castellano        Losi
5. Ty Tessman           Hot Bodies
6. Adam Drake           Losi
7. Dyan Rodriguez       Mugen
8. Mark Pavidis          Kyosho ST-RR
9. Chad Bradley          Jammin
10. Josh Wheeler        X-Ray
11. Cody King            Kyosho ST-RR
12. Drew Moller          Losi
13. Mike Truhe          Losi
14. Trevor Clement    Losi
15. Taylor Peterson    Mugen


The 1/8 Pro Buggy Class saw Kyosho/Team Orion Factory Driver Jared Tebo pick up where he left off with Truggy to go on and TQ the first 2 rounds of Buggy. This would guarantee Tebo the number 1 grid spot once again. Current 1/8 World Champion Cody King would start 6th overall with a 4 and 5 for points.

At the start of the 45-Minute A-Main it was Tebo who would lead the field around for the first lap. On lap 2 Tebo made a slight bobble and would fall back to the middle of the pack. Now it was Maifield leading with his Associated teammate Cavalieri in 2nd. Tebo began to work his way back up through the field knowing he had the fastest car at the event during qualifying. After the last pit stop Tebo was leading, Mike Truhe in 2nd, and King in 3rd. The top 3 would remain the same as Tebo crossed the finish line first to take home the 1/8 Pro Buggy Championship! King would finish 3rd overall landing 2 Kyosho MP9 TKI 2 WC's on the podium. Tebo became the first driver in Nitro Challenge history to complete the clean sweep by TQ'ing and Winning both the 1/8 Pro Truggy and 1/8 Pro Buggy Classes!

1/8 Pro Buggy Overall Finishing Order:
1. Jared Tebo (TQ)    Kyosho MP9 TKI2 WC
2. Mike Truhe             Losi
3. Cody King               Kyosho MP9 TKI2 WC
4. Adam Drake           Losi
5. Ty Tessman          Hot Bodies
6. Lee Martin             Tamiya
7. Travis Amezcua      Mugen
8. Matt Schreffler        Losi
9. Jason Branham       X-Ray
10. Joseph Quagraine  JQ
11. Dyan Rodriguez     Mugen
12. Taylor Peterson     Mugen
13. Ryan Cavalieri        Associated
14. Ryan Maifield         Associated
15. Jeremy Kortz         HoBao