Jared Tebo wins Hot Rod Hobbies Shootout
Kyosho are reporting on the 12th Annual running of the Hot Rod Hobbies Shootout in Saugus, California. The Shootout is known as one of the biggest electric races of the year bringing in the top drivers from around the country. This year World Champion’s Hayato Matsuzaki and Naota Matsukura made the trip over from Japan as well as a drivers from Australia making it once again an international field. Like always at Hot Rod in the summer, the temperatures were hot…reaching up into the upper 90’s. The track layout was very technical and proved to be challenging for even the World’s best drivers.
After qualifying was complete, Tebo would be TQ in Truck Modified, 2nd in 2wd Modified, and 3rd in 4wd Modified. In the Truck Modified Class, Tebo took full advantage of his TQ starting position by leading every lap in A-Main leg 1 and 2 to take home his 1st Championship of the weekend. Travis Amezcua was given the opportunity to run the RT5 at the HRH Shootout and took full advantage qualifying a solid 5th overall and going on to finish 3rd overall. This putting the only two RT5’s at the event 1st and 3rd on the podium!
Truck Modified Overall Top 10
1. Jared Tebo (TQ)
2. Ryan Maifield
3. Travis Amezcua
4. Ryan Cavalieri
5. Brian Kinwald
6. Mike Truhe
7. Dustin Evans
8. Ty Tessman
9. Frank Root
10.Steven Hartson
In the 2wd Modified Class, Tebo just missed the overall TQ and would start 2nd on the grid. A-Main 1 was a great battle between Cavalieri and Tebo. With 1-minute to go, Tebo closed in on Cavalieri but couldn’t make a clean pass and had to settle for second. In A-Main 2, Tebo was on a mission making an early pass on Cavalieri and took the win by over 7 seconds. With Tebo and Cavalieri both finishing first and second in both A-Mains, the championship came down to A-Main 3. Tebo went on to finish ahead of Cavalieri taking home his 2nd Championship of the weekend with Travis Amezcua finished a very respectable 8th overall with his RB5.
2wd Modified Overall Top 10
1. Jared Tebo
2. Ryan Cavalieri (TQ)
3. Ryan Maifield
4. Naoto Matsukura
5. Mike Truhe
6. Ty Tessman
7. Billy Fischer
8. Travis Amezcua
9. Dustin Evans
10.Steven Hartson
Every year race director Jimmy Babcock puts on a great event known as the RC Pro/Am Challenge. Jimmy hand selects 10 top Pro Drivers to be paired up with the 10 Rookie Drivers racing in the Rookie Class. The goal of this is to have the Pro Drivers help out the Rookie Drivers with any questions or set-ups during the event. Points are given for the qualifying and overall finishing position of the Pro Driver in the 2wd Modified Class and Rookie Driver in their class. The pair with the lowest point total would be the winners. The Pro Driver would win $100.00 cash and the Rookie Driver would win a trophy along with the great experience of working with a Pro.
Kyosho Driver Jared Tebo was paired up with Rookie Driver Brian Mowry. After the two drivers met for the first time Jared walked back with Brian and noticed he was pitting by himself without and EZ up or any shade. With scorching temperatures predicted all weekend long, Jared made room for his partner under the Kyosho tent. This is just one of many great things about Jared and why he is so well liked at the track. Brian was able to pit like a Pro and have full access to Jared and Team Kyosho. With all the points added up at the end of the weekend, Jared and Brian finished first in the RC Pro/Am Challenge.
Also I would like to put out a big congrats to upcoming Kyosho Driver AJ Freeman who landed on the podium in both classes he entered with his Kyosho cars. AJ finished 2nd overall in the Super Stock 4wd Class and 3rd overall in the Super Stock Buggy Class.
Source: Kyosho [kyoshoamerica.com]
