ROAR 1/8 ON-ROAD MASTER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
United States ROAR Natinals |
| Date of the race: |
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11-17/9/2007 |
| Place: |
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Las Vegas |
| Temperature : |
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110 deg F |
| Drivers : |
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125 |
| Weather : |
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HOT Sunny, Windy |
| Track conditions : |
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A mix of 180 degree corners with high speed sweepers. Good traction before the windy blew sand on the track. |
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The 2007 ROAR 1/8 scale On-Road Masters Championship was held in Las Vegas at the Silver Bowl Speedway. The track configuration included the "Pork chop" corner that is also used for the "Ron Paris" Memorial Race coming up next month. The ambient conditions where HOT, well over the 100 degree F mark everyday with sunny conditions. The track configuration required an engine with both good bottom end torque to pull yourself off the tight 180 degree corners and good fuel economy to complete the five minute qualifying run without refueling. My selection for engines included both the Xenon "R" and the C6 "Rody" both used in conjunction a 2013 pipe and header configuration. |
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"Top Qualifier" was determined by the "ROAR Qualifier Point" system. Points are awarded for your finishing position in each of the six rounds of qualifying. Your best two point finishes are added together to give you your final total, tie are broken by the fastest two run times totaled together. Three rounds where run on Friday and three more rounds on Saturday. In qualifier number one I set a TQ pace on 15 laps (5:03) almost 10 seconds faster then my nearest competitor. My engine and car combination were running great and was confident that I could achieve a 16 lap run. The second run of the day was in the heat of the day and the track had slowed down dramatically only running a 15 laps (5:09). I the final run of the day I touch the inner track barrier knocking off my front wheel ending my run. At the end of day one I was in the TQ position locking up at least a share of the overall TQ. In the first run of day two, I was on pace of a 16 lap run when I was held up by a back-marker, finishing with a 15 laps (5:00). I was not able to lower my time in the last two qualifiers but did TQ those rounds as well, TQing five of the six rounds of qualifying, locking up the TQ position. |
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The “A†Main was forty-five minutes in duration. The tire wear was low in qualifying so I did not plan on a tire change. After a Las Vegas wind/dust storm delayed the start of the race for approximately two hours we were finally underway. The track was still very slippery, but was improving after every lap. From the number one starting spot I quickly jumper out into the lead. After my second pit stop I had stretched out my lead to approximately one-half lap over the second place car. Unfortunately while attempting to lap a slower car, we touch and my body got tucked under my front wheel. By the time repairs were made I had fallen back to third position. Within ten laps my RB horsepower had propelled me back into the number one position. The drama was not over, just three laps later a glow plug failed. Quick pit work got me back on the track but I had lost three laps to the leaders. With approximately twenty-five minutes remaining I was going to have to drive every lap to my limits. At this point the traction was good allowing me to push the pace. With eight minutes remaining my RB horsepower got me back on the same lap as the leader, I was still pushing as hard as I possible could. With two minutes to go I could see the leader. At the one minute mark, I was twenty feet behind the leader. With thirty second left on the clock I made the pass for the lead and finished the next lap with a four second victory. The victory felt great after overcoming adversity twice. |
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Throughout the week my RB Products engines provided me with the horsepower and fuel consumption that I need to win the National Championship!
I would like Kevin and Rody for building and tuning my engines. Jayne and Mike Strack for the fast work in pit lane during the Finals.
In two week we are off to Kansas City for the Heart of America Series final race of the season.
Mark Sweeney
Team RB USA
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| Pos. |
Driver |
Car/Engine |
Laps |
Time |
| 1 |
Mark Sweeney |
MRX4X/RB CONCEPT C6
|
121 |
45:03.8 |
| 2 |
Dana Smeltzer |
|
121 |
45:07.9 |
| 3 |
Tom Esposito |
|
120 |
45:18.9 |
| 4 |
Jerry Rapp |
|
119 |
45:26.9 |
| 5 |
Randy Colvin |
|
118 |
45:16.4 |
| 6 |
Dan Louis |
|
116 |
45:01.0 |
| 7 |
Dave Starks |
|
111 |
45:12.2 |
| 8 |
Maurice Hayes |
|
110 |
41:10.6 |
| 9 |
Casey Stephens |
|
72 |
43:40.9 |
| 10 |
Dave Berry |
|
57 |
21:33.7 |
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EVENTS
REPORTS PER YEAR
