Qualifying may not be the main event, but it’s the step that sets you up for success on race day. The better you qualify, the better your chances are to start in the front, avoid chaos, and even snag a TQ spot. In this post, Jacob Hardison from the Adrenaline RC YouTube channel shares five essential tips to help you qualify higher and give yourself the best shot at making the A-Main—and maybe even the overall victory.
1. Don’t Chase the Hot Lap
It sounds backwards, but qualifying isn’t about being the absolute fastest—it’s about being the most consistent. If you push too hard and drive outside your comfort zone, mistakes will happen, and every mistake costs you valuable seconds.
Use practice to stretch your limits, but during qualifying, dial it back a little. Focus on clean, consistent laps. Eliminating the need for marshals is the biggest advantage you can give yourself, since even one flip can add 3–10 seconds to your run.
2. Separate Yourself on the Track
Remember: qualifying is against the clock, not against the car in front of you. Starting right on someone’s bumper is risky—if they crash, you could get tangled up too.
Give yourself space before the tone. That extra buffer gives you reaction time and reduces the chance of being caught in someone else’s mistake. Watch the pros—by the time they start their first lap, they’re usually single file, spread out, and running their own pace.
3. Have Patience with Traffic
At some point, you’ll catch a slower car. Instead of forcing a pass, give them a few turns to let you by. Forcing the issue can cost you up to 10 seconds if contact happens, compared to maybe half a second if you wait for a better opening.
Patience pays off in qualifying. A clean run will always beat a messy one.
4. Work Together When You’re the Slower Car
On the flip side, if a faster driver catches you, don’t fight it. Let them by smoothly and then use it as a learning opportunity. Tuck in behind them, study their lines, and see how they carry speed around the track. Not only does this keep your run clean, but it can also make you faster in future rounds.
5. Stay Calm and Collected
Mistakes happen—whether you clip a pipe, get taken out, or feel like a marshal was slow. But getting upset only makes things worse. Frustration leads to overdriving, which leads to more mistakes.
As soon as you’re back on track, reset your mindset. You can’t get lost time back, but you can finish strong. Keep your composure, stay consistent, and maximize the rest of your run.
Final Thoughts
Qualifying well is all about consistency, awareness, and mindset. By staying in your comfort zone, giving yourself space, handling traffic wisely, working with other drivers, and keeping calm, you’ll set yourself up for stronger starts and better main events.
Whether you’re chasing a TQ or just aiming to bump into the A-Main, these five tips can help you get there.