ROAR 1/8 Nationals 2026: Ryan Maifield is the US electric truggy champion

Photo: JConcepts (source)

It did not take long to crown the first champion of the 2026 ROAR 1/8 Nationals: by the end of the very first day at the Silver Dollar RC Raceway in Chico, California, Ryan Maifield had taken the US national title in electric truggy. The Arizona driver, now running Tekno RC colours, came out on top of a three-way fight that was settled in the closing laps.

2026 ROAR 1/8 Nationals: VanDalen TQ, Maifield lurking

The weekend had started under Seth VanDalen‘s control. Fastest in seeding, he carried that momentum into qualifying by winning rounds 1 and 3, which handed him the overall TQ for the class. Ryan Maifield hit back by taking round 2, enough to line up second on the grid, just ahead of Spencer Rivkin.

Behind that trio, the grid featured Phi-Long Nguyen, Jared Wiggins, Jermaine Robinson, Mason Fuller, Jonah Wilson, Chase Lemieux and Spencer Heckert, completed by Dakotah Phend, Aydin Horne, then Walker Spinrad, Brandon Rose and Camden Lime, all three bumping up from the lower mains.

A three-way A3 for the electric truggy title

The triple-main format did its job. Ryan Maifield won A1, Spencer Rivkin answered in A2, while Seth VanDalen banked two straight runner-up finishes. As a result, all three went into A3 still able to take the overall title with a win.

Maifield initially made life hard for himself with an early bobble that dropped him as far back as fourth. He worked his way back up to second, then took the lead when VanDalen ran wide. VanDalen ultimately did not finish A3, handing second place in the main – and second overall – to Spencer Rivkin.

Final electric truggy results

1. Ryan Maifield
2. Spencer Rivkin
3. Seth VanDalen
4. Phi-Long Nguyen
5. Jared Wiggins
6. Mason Fuller
7. Chase Lemieux
8. Dakotah Phend
9. Jermaine Robinson
10. Spencer Heckert
11. Camden Lime
12. Jonah Wilson
13. Aydin Horne
14. Brandon Rose
15. Walker Spinrad

The event continues on the Californian track with the remaining classes, starting with nitro truggy and its 49 entries. Worth noting was the presence in the main of Spencer Heckert, who has just announced the end of his partnership with Tekno RC and was therefore racing these Nationals in an unusual position.