2012 ROAR Fuel Off-Road Nationals – Ty Tessmann wins Truggy Class

As strong as he ran all weekend, Ryan Maifield had his work cut out for himself today in the Truggy class. He’s largest challenge came in the form of Canadian Hot Bodies factory driver Ty Tessmann. Tessmann ran hard in the this mornings practice and proved to be a substantial the field early on taking the Pole for the A Main over Associated’s Mayfield. Off the tone, Tessmann got a clean start and was away with Maifield anchored to his back bumper. Behind them it was all a driver could do to hang on through the first off camber turn avoiding wrecks that seemed to sprout up everywhere. Ryan Cavalieri, who had a solid run yesterday in qualifying found himself tangled on the first lap and then factored out of the race, retiring early from the 45 minute main. Maifield and Tessmann the story on track as the two traded the lead time after time throughout the race, pitting at the same time to keep pace even, until it came to the last set of stops. In the pits Tessmann got a lightening quick 3 second pit and found himself passing Maifield on the pit wall to come back on track in the top spot for what would be the last time.  Maifield would re-enter the race in 3rd place behind TLR driver Dakota Phend. As the final minute clicked down the electricity built as Tessman, now solidly in the lead over Phend, worked his way over the downhill whoop section and through the double double for the last time and headed over the line to his first National Championship. Phend finished 2nd in front of Josh Wheeler who ran a consistent, strong race for the entire 45 minutes. Fourth went to the man a lot of people had their money on for the win, Ryan Maifield with Kyosho’s Jared Tebo rounding out the top 5.