Rivkin denies Phend ROAR Nationals buggy double

Spencer Rivkin has denied the defending ROAR National Champion Dakotah Phend the buggy double at SDRC Raceway in San Diego.  In qualifying things couldn’t have gone better for Phend with the Team Losi Racing driver taking the overall TQ in both 2WD and 4WD Buggy as well Mod Truck.  Kicking off Sunday’s finals with 2WD Buggy, things looked set to continue Phend’s way as he took A1 by over 4-seconds from Yokomo’s Ryan Maifield.  Next up was Mod Truck with more of the same but the first 4WD Buggy final would bring change.  Three laps in second place qualifier Rivkin went to the front to take the win as Phend dropped down the order eventually finishing P7.  In A2, Rivkin again took the early lead with Phend finishing back in 5th.  Rivkin was the new 4WD Champion.  While Phend won A3, it was Maifield and AE’s Aydin Horne who completed the podium presentation ahead of Phend.  In 2WD, Phend’s TLR team-mate Ryan Cavalieri would force the battle to A3 when he took the second encounter but Phend got the job done in A3 to retain his title. A 1-2 for TLR, Maifield completed the podium in front of Rivkin. In Mod Truck, the title decision also went to A3. With a win a piece, Phend and Team Associated’s A2 winner Dustin Evans would battle it out. A mistake from Phend would allow Evans to the front but Phend charged back and found his way to the front to wrap up the title with Rivkin completing the National Championship Top 3.

Image: Spencer Rivkin [facebook]