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Great Weekend for AGBs at the BITD Bluewater Desert Challenge
Parker, Arizona — Once again, top racing teams gathered in Parker over October 8-11 for the BITD Blue Water Desert Challenge. The back-to-back race format gives the overall win to driver with the lowest combined time from two consecutive days. Back-to-back races give teams the opportunity to make overnight adjustments after the first race day.
 
The action in Class 1500 started hot with qualifying on the Thursday before the weekend’s main event. Compared to other desert races, this event is a short sprint and makes qualifying position that much more crucial. After the dust cleared Thursday, Sam Berri was the fastest Class 1500 qualifier with a time of 3 minutes and 22 seconds. 
 
Day 1—The BWDC differs from other races in that Class 1500 and Trick Trucks run separate races. Sam Berri was able to start first off the line by himself. Moments after, second place qualifier Shannon Campbell and third qualifier Justin Lofton started side by side. Fourth place qualifier Ray Griffith in AGB equipped car 1553 and 5th place qualifier CJ Hutchins in AGB equipped 1527 were next to join the chase.
 
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Campbell looked good early on as he got the hole shot on Justin Lofton and was also able to pass Sam Berri after the first lap. Unfortunately, Campbell caught some bad luck with a flat and a broken wheel that caused him to forfeit his lead.
 
Lofton suffered a flat on his last lap that gave Ray Griffith a chance to take the lead. Ray drove hard and crossed the finish line first, but after corrected time it was Harley Letner who took top spot on Saturday to edge out Griffith by only 39 seconds.
 
Day 2—Saturday’s race took its toll on the short quick course. Racers on Sunday faced a much rougher course with bigger holes and deeper ruts. Longer lap times were par for everyone. Class 1500 racers had their sights set on Day 1 winner Harley Letner. Ray Griffith powered hard to make up the 39 seconds he trailed Letner from the day before, but later dropped to 2 minutes and 45 seconds behind the leader to third for the weekend. It was Lalo Laguna in his bright orange AGB equipped RPM car 1537 who gave Letner a solid chase and sped his way to second place over in Class 1500.
 
Overall, it was a great weekend for AGB equipped Class 1500 cars. AGB equipped cars claimed 4 out of the 5 top spots with CJ Hutchins earning a 4th place and last year’s BITD Class 1500 Season Champ, Jon Walker taking 5th.
 
Top  AGB finishers in Class 1500  (Combined Weekend Results)
 
  2. 1537 Lalo Laguna
  3. 1553 Ray Griffith
  4. 1527 CJ Hutchins
  5. 1501 Jon Walker
 
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