Jared Tebo earns his spot in the 2026 IFMAR 1:8 Nitro Buggy Worlds final

Photo: Red RC, 03/10/2026 (source)

For his tenth IFMAR 1:8 Nitro Buggy World Championship, Jared Tebo faced the toughest qualifying run of his career. The American driver, back to privateer status since 2022, could only manage 54th in qualifying at Thornhill (Hutto, Texas), hit like others by late-run crashes that compromised every one of his attempts.

A 1/16th last-chance win to secure a place in the IFMAR 1:8 Nitro Buggy Worlds final

No matter: Jared Tebo booked his spot in the final field of the 2026 IFMAR 1:8 Nitro Buggy World Championship by winning his 1/16th last-chance heat, beating Spain’s Robert Batlle, the 2012 IFMAR World Champion, among others. At 39, Jared Tebo is racing this Texas edition without factory backing, while also running his business JTP, whose trackside store at Thornhill Racing Circuit earned him a few jokes about “his first Worlds wearing so many hats.” His qualification came just days before Sweden’s David Ronnefalk (Xray) claimed his 2nd world title at this same IFMAR 1:8 Nitro Buggy World Championship.