Adam Drake, a huge quadruple podium at JBRL Round 5 in Palm Desert

Photo: JBRL / LiveRC (source)

Driver Adam Drake made a lasting impression on Saturday, September 16, 2026, at Round 5 of the JBRL 1/8 championship, held on the Palm Desert Raceway track in California. In a single day of racing, he pulled off the feat of reaching the podium in four different categories, combining 1/8 buggy and truggy, a display of versatility rarely seen at this level of competition.

Adam Drake first took the win in Open Etruggy, ahead of Chad Panek and Michael Thompson, before repeating the feat a few heats later in Intermediate Truggy, where he once again finished ahead of Chad Panek, this time followed by Brandon Anders. Two wins achieved the same afternoon, in two distinct 1/8 truggy categories.

But the driver’s performance didn’t stop there. In Expert Buggy, Adam Drake had to settle for second place, ceding the top step of the podium to Jermaine Robinson, while Curtis Lindow completed the standings. Same scenario in Open Ebuggy, where Travis Horn beat him to the win, with Jermaine Robinson rounding out the podium in third place. Two categories, two second-place finishes, but the same impressive level of consistency across the entire day.

Adam Drake and the key results from JBRL Round 5 at Palm Desert Raceway

• Open Etruggy: 1. Adam Drake, 2. Chad Panek, 3. Michael Thompson
• Intermediate Truggy: 1. Adam Drake, 2. Chad Panek, 3. Brandon Anders
• Expert Buggy: 1. Jermaine Robinson, 2. Adam Drake, 3. Curtis Lindow
• Open Ebuggy: 1. Travis Horn, 2. Adam Drake, 3. Jermaine Robinson

In total, Adam Drake leaves Palm Desert with two titles and two silver medals, a result that illustrates the depth of his driving in both 1/8 buggy and truggy. Jermaine Robinson, already a winner in Expert Buggy, also confirms his current form by claiming a spot on the Open Ebuggy podium, while Travis Horn takes the win in this last category against strong competition.

This Round 5 confirms the intensity of the JBRL 1/8 season, where drivers compete in multiple heats on the same race day. The next stage of the championship will be a chance to see whether Adam Drake can confirm this momentum and aim for another grand slam of podiums.