What’s up, guys! The 2025 Adrenaline RC Invitational was one for the books — long days, tight racing, and an unbelievable track that kept us all on our toes. From early-morning practice runs to Sunday’s main events, here’s a full recap of how the weekend went down.
Practice Day: Shaking Off the Rust
I didn’t get to race the Invitational last year, so I was fired up to finally get back on the track with some good buddies. The layout this year was spectacular — super flowy with tons of technical sections. I set up my pit in a cramped little corner, but everything was dialed: pit light, chargers, tools, shock oil, and both my nitro and eBuggy ready to rip.
The morning was all about getting laps in and feeling out the surface. Grip came up fast — we went from blue compound tires to aquas pretty quick. My nitro car started out with 12-½/10/7 diffs, but with the increasing traction, I decided to go a little heavier. Meanwhile, the eBuggy felt good but had a bit of a push, so I swapped to a Lexan wing to get some more rotation.
By mid-day, both cars were starting to come alive. Each run got a little smoother and a little faster. Even if I wasn’t the quickest guy out there yet, I was having a blast getting everything dialed in for the weekend ahead.
Qualifying Day: Finding the Groove
We kicked off qualifying bright and early at 7 a.m. — track still damp from the dew. I started on blue Rehabs or Relapse to handle the moisture, and things felt pretty solid. My first runs weren’t blistering fast, but I kept it clean and consistent, which paid off in overall time.
After reviewing some footage, I realized I was a little short on top speed. So I swapped out the 1900 motor for a 2050, added a bit of anti-squat for more off-power rotation, and adjusted the front pills for sharper initial steering. The difference was noticeable — not a huge jump, but definitely smoother and faster through corners.
Nitro qualifying went great. I grabbed a fourth for the round in Q2, which I’ll take all day. The car stayed consistent, and the blue compound tires held up well. As the day went on and the sun dried the track, we shifted back to Aqua compound, and the grip stayed prime.
By the end of Q3, the track looked incredible — dark, grooved, and smooth. Probably one of the best surfaces we’ve ever had at Adrenaline. The vibe in the pits was all smiles, and everyone was hyped for main day.
Main Day: Time to Go Racing
Main day rolled around, and we were running on fumes but ready to go. I rebuilt my nitro clutch, swapped bearings, and glued up fresh blue Rehabs. Tire wear was the story of the weekend — making sure we had enough rubber to make it through each race was key. I went with Aqua 2s for the nitro main since it was a 30-minute race, and blues for eBuggy mains.
Both cars felt great. The eBuggy could’ve used a bit more rear grip, so I thickened the diffs from 10/5 to 15/10 to get it more planted. It helped a little, but overall, the car still felt like it was sitting on top of the track. Even so, I finished seventh or eighth overall — not spectacular, but clean runs and good fun.
The Nitro buggy was my favorite all weekend. The Aqua 2s held up for the full main, and I drove smooth and consistent, climbing up to fifth overall. Near the end, my camber link came loose with two laps to go, but the car still finished strong. For next time, I’d love to try the long chassis and aluminum towers for extra stability in high grip, but overall, the setup worked great.
Wrapping It Up
After a few weeks of prep and two long 7 a.m. race days, it’s safe to say the 2025 Adrenaline RC Invitational was a huge success. The track crew crushed it, Elite RC Productions nailed the coverage, and everyone had an awesome time.
Personally, I’m leaving this one feeling re-energized. There was a stretch where I was a little burned out juggling shop work and racing, but I’ve found a more laid-back rhythm and I’m having more fun than ever. Now I just need to figure out my funding and schedule — because I’m ready to hit more races soon.
The track was dialed, the racing was tight, and the energy was unreal. Thanks to everyone who came out, supported, or tuned in online — and if you missed this year’s event, make sure you’re here in 2026.
See you at the next one.