Sunday Showdown Delivers Bump-Up Drama, Multi-Main Battles, and 11 Class Champions in Omaha
The 2026 JConcepts Indoor National Series stop at HobbyTown HobbyPlex reached its deciding day on Sunday, August 2, with a full program of lower mains and championship A-mains. Racing began at 9:17 a.m. and worked steadily through the bump-up rounds before eleven class titles were settled.
Most classes advanced two drivers from each lower main. The two Modified divisions presented a different challenge: only the B-main winner earned a place at the back of the A-main field. Four classes—13.5 Expert 4WD Buggy, 17.5 Expert 2WD Buggy, 2WD Buggy Modified, and 4WD Modified Buggy used triple A-mains. The remaining divisions were decided across two A-mains.
The format rewarded more than outright speed. Lower-main racers had to survive multiple starts, while the A-main contenders needed consistency across separate finals. Several championships were decided by sweeps, but others remained open until the final laps of the day.
A huge congratulations to Alex Sturgeon for all his hard work designing and building this incredible INS Round 4 layout!
Fast Laps, Big Smiles, and Unforgettable Moments at JConcepts INS Round 4!
Race Facts
Event entries: 305
Total event race laps: 26,297
Fastest Independent lap: Beau Jacobsen, 23.027 seconds in the 13.5 Indy 4WD Buggy A2
Fastest Expert lap: Talon Henley, 22.040 seconds in the 13.5 Expert 4WD Buggy A2
Fastest Modified lap: Broc Champlin, 21.318 seconds in the 4WD Modified Buggy A3
Closest A-main finish: Broc Champlin over Chase Lemieux by 0.406 second in the 4WD Mod Buggy A1
Three Sectors Reveal Where the Speed Was Found
The HobbyPlex layout was divided into three timed sectors, creating a more detailed picture of each driver’s performance than the final lap time alone. The Sunday data showed that the quickest complete lap and the three individual sector records were all produced during the 4WD Modified Buggy A3, when the track’s fastest drivers were pushing through the final championship race.
Top Qualifiers
Sunday’s Lower Mains Build the A-Main Fields
The first championship race of the morning immediately created a bump-up story. Thomas Vandervelden and Kyrie Barritt emerged from the 13.5 Independent 4WD Buggy D-main and joined the rear of the C-main. Derek Lewis then moved forward from third on the C-main grid to take the win, with Charles Kock securing the second transfer. Tyler Heinzelmann and Ben Danko completed the ladder by claiming the two B-main advancement positions.
The 17.5 Expert 2WD Buggy ladder began with David Peavler winning the D-main. Anthony Woodruff charged from sixth to second to take the other transfer. Dalton Conradt controlled the C-main, while TJ Williams climbed from fifth to second. Keaton Grant and Connor Esbeck then earned the final two places in the triple A-main field from the B-main.
Milo Brown and Benjamin Cropper advanced from the 17.5 Independent 2WD Buggy D-main. Jayme Peavler won the C-main, with Charles Kock moving from third to second. Mathew Schroeder and Ryley Howard took the two B-main transfers.
In 13.5 Expert 4WD Buggy, Connor Esbeck and Daniel Bender moved out of the C-main. Benjamin Decker won the B-main, while Owen Vanderbeek advanced from third on the grid to claim the second transfer. Esbeck nearly extended his climb again, charging from ninth to third in the B-main and missing the final transfer by one position.
The 40+ 2WD Modified Buggy ladder belonged first to Chad Bartlett and Ronnie Wint, who advanced from the C-main. Brent Riley and David Peavler then moved through the B-main and into the double-A field. In 40+ 4WD Modified Buggy, Seth Curtis and Jonathan Haas secured the two B-main transfers.
Michael McIntire and Benjamin Cropper advanced from the 13.5 Short Course B-main. Noah Hicklin produced one of the strongest lower-main charges of the day in 13.5 Stadium Truck, climbing from seventh to win the B-main. Tyler Marg took the second transfer.
Ben Danko and Matthew Leibman moved out of the 21.5 Independent 2WD Buggy B-main. The two Modified divisions offered only one final opportunity. Noah Hicklin won the 2WD Modified B-main and earned the 11th starting position in the triple A-mains. Levi Raymond did the same in 4WD Modified, recovering the lead after a mistake and holding Chase Raymond off by approximately nine-tenths of a second.
By the time the lower mains were complete, the championship fields had been reshaped. Some racers arrived at the A-mains fresh; others reached them only after fighting through one or more elimination races.
Talon Henley Clinches 13.5 Expert 4WD Before A3
Talon Henley entered the 13.5 Expert 4WD Buggy finals from the front of the grid and made the position count immediately.
Henley led A1 through pressure from Luke Pravechek and Ivan Moreno. Moreno found speed as the race developed and moved into second, but Henley protected the lead and finished 1.526 seconds clear. Pravechek followed in third, keeping himself firmly in the championship picture.
A2 gave Henley the opportunity to end the title fight early. He took control again and produced an even quicker 14-lap run, finishing in 5:10.296. Moreno placed second, with Pravechek third. Two victories from the first two finals gave Henley an unbeatable score and secured the championship before A3.
The final race became a fight for the remaining podium positions. Pravechek led much of the closing phase while Moreno applied constant pressure. Moreno survived a late bobble, found his opening, and won A3 over Pravechek and Kadin Meeks. That victory elevated Moreno to second overall, with Pravechek completing the podium.
Beau Jacobsen’s A1 Victory Holds Up in 13.5 Indy 4WD
Beau Jacobsen opened the 13.5 Independent 4WD Buggy finals with a controlled A1 victory. Adam McKown finished second, while Wayne Schroeder placed third.
Alton Henley answered in A2. Starting second, Henley moved to the front and completed 13 laps in 5:04.290. Jacobsen followed 3.936 seconds later, and Schroeder again finished third.
With each driver carrying one victory, Jacobsen’s stronger combined result secured the overall win. Henley finished second, while McKown’s A1 runner-up performance placed him third in the final ranking.
Overall podium: Beau Jacobsen, Alton Henley, Adam McKown.
Dalton Conradt Sweeps 13.5 Short Course
Dalton Conradt left no doubt in 13.5 Short Course.
Conradt controlled A1 from pole and completed 13 laps in 5:22.535. Alton Henley finished second, with Tanner Dillin third. The opening result gave Conradt a clear path to the championship, but he still needed to repeat the performance in A2.
He did exactly that. Conradt quickly established the lead and steadily stretched the margin as the five-minute final unfolded. He finished more than a full lap ahead of the drivers outside the lead battle. Henley again took second, while Adam Chodara placed third.
The two-win sweep gave Conradt the championship. Henley’s pair of runner-up finishes secured second overall, and Dillin’s A1 podium carried him to third.
Overall podium: Dalton Conradt, Alton Henley, Tanner Dillin.
Nick Gibson Answers in A2 to Win 13.5 Stadium Truck
The 13.5 Stadium Truck title developed into one of Sunday’s most competitive double-A contests.
Owen Vanderbeek began A1 from pole, with Nick Gibson starting second and Emerson Sturgeon fifth. The front of the race remained tightly contested until Sturgeon worked his way through and took control. Sturgeon won in 5:11.101, Gibson finished second, and Vanderbeek took third.
That result left all three drivers with a route to the title in A2. Vanderbeek led early, but a mistake opened the door for Gibson. Once in front, Gibson built a substantial cushion and completed 13 laps in 5:02.472. Vanderbeek recovered to second, and Sturgeon finished third.
Gibson’s faster winning performance broke the tie and delivered the championship. Sturgeon finished second overall, with Vanderbeek third.
Overall podium: Nick Gibson, Emerson Sturgeon, Owen Vanderbeek.
Matthew Gonzales Takes Control of 17.5 Expert 2WD
The 17.5 Expert 2WD Buggy championship changed dramatically across its three finals.
Kadin Meeks produced the opening surprise. Starting eighth in A1, Meeks drove through the field and took the victory. Ivan Moreno finished second, followed by Talon Henley.
Matthew Gonzales answered in A2. Starting from pole, Gonzales completed 13 laps in 5:00.279 and won by more than three seconds over Owen Vanderbeek. Alex Sturgeon finished third.
The championship remained open entering A3, but Gonzales immediately took command. He delivered another near-identical 13-lap run and won in 5:00.766. Behind him, Luke Pravechek worked through the field from seventh to second. Meeks climbed from eighth to third, giving himself the points needed for second overall.
Back-to-back victories made Gonzales the champion. Meeks finished second, and Pravechek’s A3 charge secured third.
Overall podium:Matthew Gonzales, Kadin Meeks, Luke Pravechek.
Adam McKown Turns A2 into the 17.5 Independent 2WD Championship
Beau Jacobsen controlled the opening 17.5 Independent 2WD Buggy A-main. Starting first, Jacobsen completed 13 laps in 5:17.562. Wayne Schroeder climbed from fifth to second, while Leo Dake finished third.
McKown entered A2 needing a response. Starting third, he moved to the front and held off Jacobsen in the closing stages. Jacobsen remained close until a late contact with the pipe cost him the time he needed for one final challenge. McKown won by 0.886 second, with Lane Lazarz third.
The A2 victory gave McKown the championship. Jacobsen finished second overall, and Schroeder’s A1 runner-up result secured third.
Overall podium: Adam McKown, Beau Jacobsen, Wayne Schroeder.
Lane Lazarz Wins a 21.5 Independent 2WD Tiebreaker
Tyler Heinzelmann struck first in 21.5 Independent 2WD Buggy. He won A1 over Lane Lazarz, with Ian Schultz completing the top three.
A2 developed into a direct fight between Heinzelmann and Lazarz. Heinzelmann led the early portion, but Lazarz stayed within reach and continued applying pressure. When Heinzelmann made a mistake, Lazarz moved ahead and completed 12 laps in 5:03.549. Heinzelmann finished only 0.426 second behind, with Schultz third again.
Each of the title contenders had a win and a second-place finish. Lazarz’s faster winning time broke the tie and gave him the championship. Heinzelmann took second overall, while Schultz’s two third-place finishes made him the clear final podium driver.
Overall podium:Lane Lazarz, Tyler Heinzelmann, Ian Schultz.
Aydin Horne Wraps Up 2WD Modified in Two
The 2WD Modified Buggy championship placed Aydin Horne, Chase Lemieux, Davey Batta, and Broc Champlin at the center of three fast and physical finals.
Horne won A1 from pole, but the margin showed how little room existed at the front. Batta finished only 0.440 second behind, and Lemieux followed 1.435 seconds after the winner.
A2 became the decisive race. Horne led with Lemieux and Batta applying pressure. A bobble briefly threatened Horne’s advantage, and Lemieux closed late enough to force one final push. Lemieux then made a mistake of his own, allowing Horne to reach the line 2.745 seconds ahead and clinch the championship with two consecutive victories.
With the title settled, A3 determined the rest of the podium. Lemieux responded with a clean victory over Batta, while Champlin finished third. Lemieux’s win secured second overall, and Batta’s pair of runner-up finishes earned third.
Overall podium: Aydin Horne, Chase Lemieux, Davey Batta.
Alex Sturgeon Sweeps 40+ 2WD Modified
Alex Sturgeon controlled both 40+ 2WD Modified Buggy finals.
Sturgeon won A1 from pole in 5:02.341. Casey Blasczyk finished second, and David Alberico took third. Sturgeon returned in A2 and repeated the result with another 13-lap victory, this time in 5:03.541.
Blasczyk again finished second, securing the runner-up position overall. Allen Horne placed third in A2, and that result moved him onto the final podium.
Sturgeon’s sweep combined outright speed with clean execution. He never allowed the championship to reach a tiebreaker.
Overall podium: Alex Sturgeon, Casey Blasczyk, Allen Horne.
Casey Blasczyk Matches the Sweep in 40+ 4WD Modified
Casey Blasczyk produced an equally decisive performance in 40+ 4WD Modified Buggy.
Blasczyk led A1 from pole and completed 13 laps in 5:01.709. David Alberico followed less than a second behind, with Allen Horne third.
A2 provided Blasczyk with the chance to clinch the title. He converted it emphatically, becoming the only driver in the race to complete 14 laps. Alberico again finished second and Horne again took third.
The repeated order made the overall podium straightforward: Blasczyk completed the sweep, Alberico earned second with two runner-up finishes, and Horne secured third with two third-place results.
Overall podium: Casey Blasczyk, David Alberico, Allen Horne.
Chase Lemieux Recovers to Win 4WD Modified
The 4WD Modified Buggy title required all three A-mains.
Broc Champlin opened the finals with a narrow A1 victory. Lemieux crossed only 0.406 second later, with Horne third. Contact and small mistakes kept the leading group compressed, leaving the championship wide open.
Lemieux responded in A2. He took the win in 5:06.491, beating Champlin by 0.924 second. Horne finished third again. With Champlin and Lemieux carrying one victory each, A3 became a direct championship showdown.
Lemieux controlled the final from the front, but Champlin stayed close enough to keep the pressure on. A late bobble reduced Lemieux’s margin, and Champlin cut into the gap on the final lap. Champlin’s last attempt ended when he jumped off the track, leaving Lemieux to complete 14 laps in 5:04.017 and seal the championship.
Champlin finished second in A3 and second overall. Horne’s pair of third-place finishes secured the final podium position.
Overall podium: Chase Lemieux, Broc Champlin, Aydin Horne.
Round 4 Tightens the INS Series Points
The HobbyPlex results did more than decide eleven event winners. They reshaped the JConcepts INS championship standings after Round 4, leaving several classes separated by only a handful of drop-adjusted points.
Talon Henley’s 13.5 Expert 4WD victory moved him to the top of that championship with 292 points, but the class remains almost completely open. Brady Carrico and Maccoy Martin are tied only two points behind at 290. Aaron Mitchell sits fourth with 284, keeping four drivers within eight points of the lead.
The 13.5 Independent 4WD battle is nearly as close. Ethan Maki leads with 296 points, while HobbyPlex podium finisher Adam McKown sits second with 294. Lex Mott holds third at 288, and Lane Lazarz remains within reach at 286.
Maki also leads 13.5 Short Course. His 294-point total gives him a 14-point advantage over Ryan Benedict, with Adam Chodara third at 272. In 13.5 Stadium Truck, Owen Vanderbeek’s consistency has produced a 294-point lead. Evan Ciresi follows with 282, while Connor Barrows holds third at 272. HobbyPlex winner Nick Gibson has two registered rounds and sits sixth with 200 points, leaving his event victory as one of the strongest late-season performances in the class.
The two Expert championships have different leaders but several of the same contenders. Aaron Mitchell leads 17.5 Expert 2WD with 292 points. Brady Carrico is four points back, and Henley sits third with 282. Benjamin Decker and Maccoy Martin are tied at 280, with Luke Pravechek only one point behind them.
Adam McKown strengthened his 17.5 Independent 2WD campaign with the HobbyPlex victory. He leads the series with 295 points and two event wins. Leo Dake sits second at 288, with Lazarz one point behind in third. Only eight points cover the leading three drivers.
Lazarz owns the largest total in 21.5 Independent 2WD. His Round 4 win lifted him to 302 points, supported by three TQs and two victories across the series. Tyler Heinzelmann sits second at 290, and Ryan Benedict holds third with 283.
The Modified championships remain centered on Aydin Horne, Chase Lemieux, Broc Champlin, and several experienced 40+ contenders. Horne leads 2WD Modified with 298 points. Lemieux is four points back at 294, while Tom Rinderknecht and Champlin are tied for third at 291. Five drivers are separated by only eight points, with Davey Batta fifth at 290.
Lemieux’s HobbyPlex 4WD Modified victory gave him a 302-point series lead. Champlin follows at 296, and Brennan Schimmel sits third at 294. Horne remains fourth with 290, keeping both Modified championships connected through the same group of front-running drivers.
No class is closer than 40+ 2WD Modified. Casey Blasczyk and Allen Horne are tied at 297 points, and Brent Thielke is only two points behind at 295. That three-driver championship is separated by less than the value of a single finishing position.
Blasczyk has created more room in 40+ 4WD Modified. Three TQs and three victories have carried him to 303 points, the highest total among the Round 4 class leaders. Mark Decker sits second with 287, and Mack Vanderbeek holds third at 274.
Several drivers now carry championship momentum in more than one class. Maki leads both 13.5 Independent 4WD and Short Course. Blasczyk leads 40+ 4WD and shares the 40+ 2WD lead. Lemieux leads 4WD Modified while sitting second in 2WD Modified. Lazarz leads 21.5 Independent 2WD and remains fourth in 13.5 Independent 4WD. Henley leads 13.5 Expert 4WD while holding third in 17.5 Expert 2WD.
Round 4 created clear leaders in a few divisions, but it left the closest championships unresolved. Only the series finale remains, making the next race the deciding round for every championship still in contention. Attendance at the finale is especially important: a driver who does not attend loses one position in the final series standings. A points leader therefore cannot simply protect an advantage from home, and a close challenger can gain a championship position by showing up and completing the final round.
The two-point margins in both 13.5 4WD classes, the four-point Modified gaps, and the dead heat in 40+ 2WD will all carry directly into the finale. With points still available and a position at risk for anyone who misses the event, the final championship order will be decided at the track.
Wicked Weekend Finals Jconcepts Winner's Circle
