Let’s start with TLR !

First off my sincere condolences to the Losi family and all of the TLR/Losi Motorsports family, may Gil Pops Losi Sr rest in peace and thank you for all that you have done for RC Racing. We lost another icon of the industry this past weekend.

Losi is one of the most iconic names in our industry, when Pops and Jr designed the JRX2 I wonder if they knew how huge it would be and how it would change RC Racing. This was a direct attack on the Team Associated dominance we saw back in the late 80s in electric racing . The two companies had epic battles in the off road electric classes, gas truck, and later on in the 1/8th nitro buggy market. These teams have fought tooth and nail on the track as well as in the magazines and media. Pilfering each other's drivers this is when RC Racing started to get more “Factory” and to me this truly was the glory years of RC and these iconic teams battled hard.

Fast forward to 2022 and the rivalry continues with TLR getting back to basics with their racing program after a tormentous last 6 years. The sale of the brand to Horizon Hobby in 2001 then in 2015 the loss of Adam Drake. The brand has struggled a bit to get its bearings and get back to its glory days.

The addition of Tomas Tran as team manager back in 2020 as well as the signing of Ryan Cavalieri in 2021 has seen a resurgence in the brand. Lets not forget the Phenom Dakotah Phend who IMHO is the best all around off road RC Racer in the world at the moment.

TLR entered the ⅛ market in 2006 with the revolutionary Losi 8ight and saw success on a national level very quickly with Adam Drake and Mike Truhe. Truhe would go onto TQ the 2008 Worlds in Charlotte and looked the favorite to win but Hara woul;d beat home with one less pitstop.

TLR wants a 1/8th World Championship and 2022 might be their best chance in many years to win one. The new car seems to fit their two top drivers and Phend goes into this Worlds as one of the top favorites to win next weekend, let’s have a look at these two drivers.

Tater Sontag

Don't Sleep on Tater he has made some finals this year but this is different. It will be a great experience for the young racer and to improve his racing, it will be good to see where he ranks among the young racers from around the world as I expect him to battle it out with them.

Ryan Cavalieri

You all know how I feel. I think Cav is the GOAT, he will definitely go down as one of the best of all time with 25+ National Champions, 4 Reedy Race wins, 4 time 10th World Champ, Neo Race Champion, ⅛ National Champ and many more big race wins. Cav has won almost every race that is out there. He has had a lustrous career but the last 4-5 years have seen many ups and downs for the veteran.

After a rocky departure from Team Associated at the end of 2018 Ryan found himself at SWORKz for 2 years. The first year for Cav was rough for him but he seemed to find his stride in 2020 and put in some impressive drives as well as a win with the platform. Cav would leave SWORKz at the end of 2020 and join TLR for the second time in his career in one of the biggest moves of that silly season tha year. This time Cav would not be the #1 driver and star of the team like he was back in the day. He stepped into the second driver role behind Dakotah Phend who has been TLR’s superstar for many years and well deserved.

This situation is a bit different from what Cav is used to but as he gets older and Rc racing continues to evolve Ryan ois finding ways to reinvent himself and continue to be a force to beat in RC racing. While he isn't as dominant as he used to be, Cav has found ways to do well in 10th scale since joining and now seems to be finding his stride with the 1/8th platform.

Cav has made the last 3 worlds finals with his best performance coming in 2014 with a 2nd then 5th in 2016 and 2018, Cav’s Worlds Pedigree runs deep these are the races Ryan just seems to step it up to another level, when the stakes are high and the pressure is on Cav just gets better.

Cav has found his 1/8th form just in time but what Cav has that gives him an advantage is his experience. I believe that will be key to him doing well. It will take every bit of experience and WC tricks that Cav can muster to do well at this race.

I have to admit the fanboy in me just wants to say Cav will be fine and he can win but I also have to be realistic. I think Cav will be in the Semis. I still believe he can make the final but just barely, I unfortunately don't see Cav winning this race, I do believe that if anyone can use his racecraft and experience to take advantages of other racers mistakes and snatch a victory it can be the wily veteran but a lot of things have to fall in place for that. Of course I can be completely wrong and Cav is out there in the hunt for TQ and on pace and a threat to do well, this is Ryan Cavalieri we are talking about and if anyone can pull this off it is The GOAT.

The Phenom Dakotah Phend

I have to admit I am a Dakotah Phend fan, His talent and work ethic are impressive, everyone used to say Phend can only do 5 min races but he has put that saying to rest. Combined with the Fabulous One Barry Baker as his mechanic/mentor Phend has worked hard on proving everyone wrong.

The Phenom goes into this race as a high favorite going into next week’s race but let’s have a look at why. Phend has been the only driver to openly Challenge and out right defeat Ryan Maifield in the last 2 years of dominance in the USA for Ryan.

Phend also snatched his first 1/8 th ROAR Nitro Buggy National Title this year to add to the plethora ph other National titles. Phend has been getting it done in ⅛ and 1/10th on all surfaces and all types of races whatever race he is at he is favorite to win. He has shown he can race more than 5 mins and win long nitro mains. You can't say TLR without Phend coming to mind. The Phenom signed with the company approximately 17 years ago!

Dakotah shows maturity above his age At only a young 25 years old Phend is a veteran in our sport first touching a control at the age of 7. He is a veteran in this sport but has yet to taste World’s Glory and this might be the only weakness I see in Phends armor is that he does not have a WC yet.

If you have not had the chance to watch Phend drive in person you are truly missing out. He is incredible to watch and in all honesty I think this is the best chance he has had to win a World’s. His program is probably the best it has been, he has the support needed, he's confident and has the victories to back it up ………. Phend is in a good spot!

This won't be Phend’s last chance to win a world championship. He is still young and has many chances in him. I see many World Championship wins in Phend’s future but I can't help but think that winning this one for Pops would be extra special and an amazing story that legends are made of.

Good luck to the TLR Team ! Phend can do it. That's for sure lets see how the plot is unveiled next week.