The battle for the top starting positions for the 2015 BITD BlueWater Desert Challenge took place today, with Dale Dondel taking his now familiar spot on the pole being just 0.878 second quicker than second-place qualifier and points leader Rob MacCachren. Dondel was just 0.968 quicker than the third-place qualifier 3rd spot of Sam Berri in his Class 1500 buggy.

Finishing in the fourth and fifth positions, respectively, are Josh Daniel and CJ Hutchins. Finishing just behind them in sixth place was Shawn Croll, while the seventh-place spot went to current Trick Truck Champion Jason Voss. Voss, currently second in the points championship, is trailing MacCachren by only two points, which will lead to some interesting racing this Saturday and Sunday.

Lalo Laguna, Jake Johnson and Shannon Campbell (in his KOH racecar) round out the top 10 overall. This two-day race is held on a 25 miles of dusted, sandy and rock-filled roads that evolve into a gauntlet of holes and treacherous truck-eating ditches.

With the points battle on the line it will be a race to watch. Be sure to check back with Off-Road.com for coverage of this weekend’s racing.