|
 |
| November 24, 2012 |
| EKN Exclusive: 2012 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals - Team USA Profile - DD2 |
| |
eKartingNews.com, the official online media partner of the United States Rotax Max Challenge, is proud to present the profiles of each member of Team USA, set to represent the Red, White, and Blue at the Kartodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimao, Portugal on November 28-December 1. Expectations are high with 19 drivers competing in the four categories this year, a record high for Team USA. In addition, the MAXSpeed Group - the distributor of all Rotax karting products through the United States and Caribbean - has offered up a $10,000 bounty to the first driver to secure a Rotax Grand Finals title.
Over the next four days, with the help of Ken Johnson at Studio52.us and GoRotax.com, we will look at each of the 19 drivers that make up the 2012 Team USA for the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals. Full coverage can be found at the EKN EVENT PAGE.
The four drivers in Portugal for this year’s Grand Finals are on a mission, to get all four into the finals for Saturday and battle for the podium positions. For the first time since 2004, no American qualified for the final day of action at the Grand Finals last year. After seeing two stand on the podium in third place two straight years (Stuart Marsell - 2009, Cody Hodgson (2010) - the results last year were not optimal. With three returning drivers, including Hodgson, and one of America’s top shifterkart drivers making his Rotax Grand Finals debut, the 2012 squad is ready to perform well. Pan American champion Collin Daley Jr. will represent his home-country - Jamaica.
 | | Cody Hodgson |
Cody Hodgson
Age: 20
Hometown: Escalon, CA
2012 marks Cody Hodgson’s third trip to the Grand Finals thanks to the runner-up finish at this year’s US Rotax Grand Nationals. In his two previous attempts, he’s seen both the highs and the lows of Grand Finals fortune. In 2009, Cody became the third American to stand on the podium with a fantastic third place finish in DD2. He was also back on the podium again later that night to represent Team USA in the Nation’s Cup. However, his good fortune left him the following year in Italy when a string of mishaps left him on the sidelines for the finals.
With those experiences behind him, Cody looks to achieve success in Portugal with the experiences of both knowing how to get the job done and what pitfalls to guard against. When back home in California, Cody enjoys racing at the kart track at Sonoma’s Simraceway most. And when not racing, he prefers to be out on the water surfing.
It is these two loves that are reflected in his custom helmet design that depicts two of his heros, two-time Indy 500 champion Dan Wheldon and surfing legend Andy Irons. Cody says his ultimate goal in racing is to make a living as a professional driver. But, for now, his dream, is to bring home the Grand Finals DD2 title to the USA.
 | | Fritz Leesmann |
Fritz Leesmann
Age: 25
Hometown: Elk Grove, CA
Making his first Grand Finals appearance for Team USA is DD2 driver Fritz Leesmann. Fritz qualified for the Grand Finals by winning the Challenge of the America’s DD2 championship. For Fritz, making Team USA this year is the latest in a long line of accomplishments that includes the SKUSA S1 title in 2010, and recently clinching the championship once again in Las Vegas last weekend.
Fritz races many types of karts and brings that diversity to Rotax by competing in both Senior Max and DD2. He rates his favorite track as USA International Raceway in Shawano, Wisconsin and says he wishes more races were held there. Although he lists his life goal to be very successful in racing, he doesn’t just mean what he does in the seat. “I feel that to truly be successful in racing, one needs to give back to others,” he said. “I enjoy driving but I get just as much out of helping others and coaching them in their driving ambitions so they can be successful too.”
Off the track Fritz is known for his outgoing personality and his sense of humor. As such, to those that know him it was no surprise to see him on the podium at this year’s Florida Winter Tour entertaining the crowd wearing the full on “Joe Dirt” mullet wig. Away from the track he enjoys many outdoor sports including wake boarding, snow boarding and boating.
 | | Kristina Vorndran |
Kristina Vorndran
Age: 18
Hometown: Dudley, MA
Making her second trip to the Grand Finals is DD2 competitor Kristina Vorndran. The 2011 DD2 national champion earned her way back on Team USA by fighting her way on to the podium at this year’s US Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals. She rates last year’s Grand Finals as one of the most amazing experiences she’s ever had and is looking forward to getting on track in Portugal.
For Kristina, racing is a passion but she still finds time for many other interests. In addition to karting, Kristina has a black belt in martial arts, is a classical pianist and is into fencing. She speaks English, German and Spanish and even with all this, she still manages to maintain a 4.0 grade point average. After graduation from high school next year, Kristina plans to go onto college and study economics with an eye on becoming a stock broker someday or perhaps own a sports management company.
Kristina says she enjoys driving the Rotax Max DD2 because it drives more like a car, and of course, she likes the additional power. Last year in Al Ain, she was recognizable on the race track as one of the only drivers with an all-white helmet. But, this year, she plans to have a special Team USA paint job on a new helmet.
 | | Joey Wimsett |
Joey Wimsett
Age: 20
Hometown: Beavercreek, OR
Joey Wimsett is making his second trip to the Grand Finals to represent team USA. His first Grand Finals appearance was in 2009 when he finished 4th in Senior Max - best results by an American in the category. That year Joey was one of three American’s representing Team USA on the podium when we took second in the Nation’s Cup. This year, he’s going as the reigning US DD2 champion after a stellar victory in South Bend in August.
Joey has been racing karts for eight years and got his start in racing after spending a summer mowing lawns so he could save enough money to buy his first kart. Joey has spent the last four years racing in the Rotax Max Challenge and is a very proud member of Team USA. “Being a member of Team USA means a lot to me. Representing my country at the Grand Finals is a real honor,” he said. Joey also added, “I hope to be the one to bring the USA it’s first Grand Finals win!”
Like many race drivers, Joey’s racing idol is Ayrton Senna and he hopes to achieve a World Championship just as the Brazilian did. When home in Oregon Joey works with Rolison Performance Group as a driver coach. Obviously, racing is a huge part of his life. However, when time permits, Joey can be found riding dirt bikes or snowboarding whenever he can. |
|
|
Go Top
|
|
|
|
|
