The Top 16 competition is about to begin. The fans are getting ready for an exciting show under the lights of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The first round of the Top 16 pits Robbie Nishida vs. Tyler McQuarrie. Robbie leads with a great initiation and McQuarrie stays close in the 1st half of the run and loses distance into the 2nd half. McQuarrie leads in the 2nd run of the battle of the 350Z. Nishida stalls at the 2nd clipping point. McQuarrie moves on.
Battle 2 in the Top 16. Ross Petty vs. Michael Essa. Essa leads and Petty goes really shallow but catches up through the midway point of the course. Run 2 Petty leads and Essa sticks close to Petty throughout the course. Great run by Essa. Essa moves on to the Great 8.
Battle 3 Joon Maeng vs. Tanner Foust. Foust leads and drops a smoke screen on pretty much everyone. Entry speed for Foust is 88.4 mph the fastest of the day. Run 2 Maeng leads and hits the wall, which straightens out Foust. Maeng loses a tire in the process. Judges deliberate if there was contact between the cars. Foust moves on to Great 8.
Battle 4. Kazu Hayashida vs. Patrick Mordaunt. Mordaunt with a great entry and clean run with Hayashida following behind. Run 2 has Hayashida leading Mordaunt. Hayashida is followed tightly by Mordaunt, but Mordaunt with a huge correction. Hayashida moves on.
Battle 5. Ueo vs Tuerck. Ueo leads and Tuerck is stuck to bumper literally and they HIT. Tuerck leaves the ground and “hops”. Ueo car needs a tow. Both cars limp off. Judge Tony Angelo explains that fault seems to go to Tuerck for going in really hot on the lead car. 5 min rule is in effect. Both cars are back to the start line. Tuerck leads and gets a good start and Ueo has a couple small corrections throughout the run. Judges call a OMT!!! Run 1 of OMT Ueo leads and Tuerck is aggressive on his rear bumper. Run 2. Tuerck leads and Ueo gives chase. Great run by both drivers, Ueo small correction…judges say OMT! OMT2 Run 1. Ueo leads Tueck at his door and has a small correction while attacking Ueo takes a shallow line. Run 2 Tuerck leads and great chase by Ueo. Tuerck with a mis-shift it seems like…and both cars come to a stop. Tuerck moves on to the Great 8.
Battle 6. Takatori vs. Forsberg. Forsberg leads and sticks to the wall all the way through the first half of the course. Takatori with a shallow line chasing. Run 2. Takatori leads and Forsberg chases and sticks to Takatori hanging with him. Chris Forsberg moves on to Great 8!
Battle 7. Pawlak vs. Gittin. Drift Alliance teammates do battle. Great run by both with Pawlak leading throughout and Gittin sticking right behind. Run 2. Gittin leads and Pawlak chases close behind. Gittin loses it after first clip and taps the wall and straightens out. Gittin with a flat tire. Pawlak advances.
Battle 8. Hubinette vs Miki. Hubinette leads and Miki right on his rear door throughout the course. Run 2. Miki leads Hubinette and Hubinette sticks to the door in the first entry sweeper and keeps up until the end of the run. Miki advances to Great 8!
Great 8 coming up…next blog post
