The Psycho Nitro Blast has become the largest spectacle for RC racing in the southeast United States. Taking place in a rodeo arena, the event collected over 608 combined entries of nitro and electric racers. A near, round-the-clock schedule utilizing 10-minute qualifiers made the event a true test of man and machine. With a grueling track and schedule, the attrition rate wears on the cars and people. The sacrificial punishment appears to be all the rage — people keep digging it and the event keeps growing every year.
Team Associated/Reedy/LRP Driver Max Flurer was on hand to get psycho in the electric truck classes. This year the PNB crew added 1:10 2WD and 4WD Buggy to the program on a seperate track, while the SCT trucks were set to be tossed around on the massive 1:8 track layout. Flurer, a past Motorama and PNB champion in SCT, is no stranger to dialing in trucks on large, rutted race tracks. From the sounding of the tone in this first heat, it was obvious that any driver wanting to win would have to go through Max.
In 2WD SCT, it was a battle between Max and JR Mitch. The two drivers swapped the lead back and forth in A2 to see who would win the tie breaker, as Flurer had already wrapped up a win in A1. Max’s driving and handling capability of the SC10.2 Factory Team proved to be the combination needed to take the win in A2, securing a dominant win. Max used the new LRP Flow Works Team speed control with a Reedy Sonic 7.5-turn motor and Reedy Wolfpack battery.
In 4WD SCT, qualifying was a bit difficult with Max missing out on the overall TQ, but when the tone went off for the mains, Max wasted no time showing what was missing in qualifying. Some of the 4WD trucks were attempting the large jump sections designed for the 1:8 cars, but Max drove like a true veteran by taking fast lines that would protect his truck and eventually lead him to the win by dominating A1 and A2 mains. Max used a LRP iX8 speed control, Reedy 5200 saddle pack, and Reedy Sonic 550 4.0-turn motor to power him to victory. While some trucks were struggling to make 10-minute runtimes, the Reedy combo was dialed all weekend.
The electric-powered truggies were a blast to drive on the blown-out surface; navigating the rough sections was easier than it was for their 1:10 counterparts. Max’s RC8Te Factory Team again used a LRP iX8 speed control, with a Reedy Sonic 2100kV motor and Reedy 5500 mAh 4S battery.
Young driver and ex-moto racer Blake Pickett is no stranger to racing against Max, as both drivers come out of central North Carolina. Blake was able to grab a win in A1 of E-truggy, with Max determined to come back strong in A2. In the second main, Flurer started from his TQ spot and never looked back, leading flag to flag, putting in a perfect run to secure the main, win, and the overall win by winning the tie-breaker. Taking his third win of the event completed the hat trick for Flurer with three wins for each of the electric truck classes offered.