Author - Gene “The Machine” Hickerson

I have not been to the PNB since 2020 because the 12 hour drive is a killer on my lower back. But I wanted to go this year and help my team get my new tires into the A-mains and we did just that. Almost 1,000 entries made for long days.

The track was very tough, and I made mistakes on the 2 hardest parts multiple times that cost me a chance at podiums. The most difficult part was the blind double double after the long straight. The only place on the stand that I could somewhat see my buggy was all the way on the end but I still lost sight coming up the face of the first jump which is where I crashed in every qualifier and main event. Imo there should never be a jump coming towards you because you are lining up and jumping blind which never happens in full size racing.

The second hardest part was the wall with a sandpaper surface. It wasn’t too hard but with people crashing there often, it was mayhem just getting through it cleanly. But I enjoy technical tracks so I liked it minus the blind spot.

I tried V1, V3, and V4 in SS and SSLW. They were all good but I felt most consistent on V1. SSLW and SLW. V4, V3, and V5 were all faster but too hard for me to hand on to.

I qualified 5th and 6th in 40+ Nitro Buggy but didn’t get a clean run in Intermediate and ended up in the C-main with only 2 rounds of qualifying.

I lead the C-main at the start but crashed and dropped way back to around 11th. I caught back up to 3rd but got tangled up with back markers and didn’t bump up.

In 40+ I decided to use my joker lanes later so I dropped way back at the start as most used all 3 jokers right away. After my last pit stop I used my final joker lane and moved up to 4th place. Desperate to get a podium I over drove and flipped off the track around the sweeper and ended up finishing 7th against some very fast guys including National Champions. But I was on pace and in the mix for a podium the whole 30 minutes which was the goal.

Congratulations to all my teammates who made the A-mains including Donald Elliot and Aidan Ridgeway who made 3 A-mains with Dialed-RC tires.

Thank you to all the brands that help support my racing addiction after 38 years of racing.

DIALED-RC

SWORKz RC

NitroPro Fuel

SRT Sevos

Thunder Innovation

6MIK Racing

VRP Pistons

OGIO

www.SIKMONIERECORDS.com

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