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| Features |
| eKartingNews.com Driver Rankings - July 24 |
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EKN is happy to release the July edition of the eKartingNews.com Driver Rankings for the Intercontinental C (ICC) and Touch and Go (TaG) divisions. The month of July is nearly complete with the rankings now counting the second half of 2007 and the first half of 2008.
The top of the ICC rankings continues to see Gary Carlton on top of the standings with his lead cut slightly, with just 40 points separating him and Michael Vincec while Victor Cabrera moves into the number one spot in the TaG rankings, dropping Joey Wimsett to second as the two remain very close heading into the month of August.
ICC Driver Rankings Top-10
| Pos | Jun. 20 | Plus/Minus | Driver | Races | Score| 1. | 1 | NC | Gary Carlton | 17 | 7665 | | 2. | 2 | NC | Michael Vincec | 23 | 7625 | | 3. | 3 | NC | David Jurca | 11 | 7558 | | 4. | 4 | NC | Fritz Leesmann | 20 | 7516 | | 5. | 5 | NC | Jordy Vorrath | 20 | 7436 | | 6. | 6 | NC | Alex Speed | 13 | 7406 | | 7. | 8 | 1 | Ryan Yop | 16 | 7299 | | 8. | 7 | -1 | Hayden Duerson | 13 | 7214 | | 9. | 13 | 4 | Cody Jolly | 19 | 7141 | | 10. | 12 | 2 | Alan Rudolph | 10 | 7105 | |
For the full ICC Driver Rankings, Click Here
 | Gary Carlton
(Photo: EKN) |
ICC Rankings Report
Still the driver to beat in the top division of North American karting, Gary Carlton continues to hold the number one spot in the ICC Driver Rankings. Despite a few mishaps during the first half of the Stars of Karting season, essentially taking him out of contention for the Eastern Division championship, the PCH Motorsports/SSC East driver still has a shot at the Western Division and his third straight national crown. Some may have thought the busy travel schedule of bouncing from Europe to the States could have put extra pressure on himself, however, it possible has help him become a better driver. Never really challenged, Carlton’s busy European schedule has kept him working harder each and every time he hits the track.
The same goes for his closet rival sitting second in the driver rankings and new Stars of Karting Eastern Division champion Mike Vincec. In the past 12 month, no driver has more races under his belt toward the driver rankings - 23 - and that doesn’t include the many Canadian regional races and formula car events he has attended as well. Two extra weekends added to that included to strong performances at the KZ2 European Championships. The Cameron Motorsports driver has truly developed since many on the national scene saw him battling in the 80cc Junior category just three years ago.
Next to Carlton, Jurca unofficially has the longest run toward the top of the ICC Driver Rankings dating back to the rankings tenure in Super Kart Illustrated (our stat guy will look into that). Following a strong Mazda Race of the Americas performance in his 2008 debut, the Italian Motors pilot did not put in the results he was searching for but will look to rebound in future events to possible challenge for the number one spot again.
It was a difficult weekend for Californian Fritz Leesmann at Shawano. Two DNFs, one resulting in a trashed frame, kept the PSL Karting/Kohilo Racing supported driver from gaining any points in the rankings. Just three points was the change for Jordy Vorrath, who remains in fifth place. The Champion Racing/Intrepid USA pilot had previous wins at the USAIR facility but was unable to put himself on top of the podium in 2008. Trackmagic’s Alex Speed stayed home over the last month, running the ProKart Challenge North event, picking up a regional win along with competing in the TaG division over the last few rounds.
G-Phactory’s Ryan Yop and Italian Motors Hayden Duerson swap positions, sitting seventh and eight now respectively. Moving into the top ten is Cody Jolly with the Champion Racing/Intrepid USA driver jumping four spots up to ninth with two top-10 performances at the Stars Eastern Division finale. Completing the top-10 in the rankings is veteran Alan Rudolph who has yet to score any points in 2008, more on that in a special exclusive in August.
ICC #1 - Gary Carlton
Marysville, California
Point Breakdown
| Race | Rank | Finish | Points| Stars of Karting ’07 - West #5 - Moran | 9 | 1 | 1066 | | Stars of Karting ’07 - West #6 - Moran | 9 | 1 | 1062 | | Stars National Finals 2007 #1 | 10 | 3 | 1133 | | Stars National Finals 2007 #2 | 10 | 1 | 1156 | | SKUSA SuperNationals 2007 | 10 | 2 | 1139 | | Stars of Karting ’08 - East #1 - Ocala | 9 | 1 | 1055 | | Stars of Karting ’08 - East #4 - Shawano | 9 | 1 | 1055 | |
Inside the Stats
Average Finish: 1.43
Average Points: 1095
Total Points: 7665
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‘On the Move’
ICC #15 - David Carmendy
Powell, Ohio
This month’s driver ‘On the Move’ is Ohio’s David Carmendy. As we mentioned above about the 80cc Junior category, Carmendy is one of those drivers who came from the very competitive class. In 2005, Carmendy won the Stars National Finals event in Austin and moved up to the ICC category the following year. After three years, Carmendy along with his father, David, and support from Cameron Motorsports have campaigned the Stars and WKA Manufacturer’s Cup Series programs. David continues to work hard toward that first ICC win, including the Eastern Finale in Shawano where he recorded two top-10 finishes, moving him up nine spots in the rankings.
Point Breakdown
| Race | Rank | Finish | Points| Stars of Karting ’07 - East #5 - Shawano | 9 | 5 | 1028 | | Stars National Finals 2007 #2 | 10 | 11 | 1041 | | Stars of Karting ’08 - East #2 - Ocala | 9 | 11 | 949 | | Stars Race of the Americas 2008 | 10 | 12 | 1042 | | Stars Race of the Americas 2008 | 10 | 20 | 949 | | Stars of Karting ’08 - East #5 - Shawano | 9 | 6 | 1002 | | Stars of Karting ’08 - East #6 - Shawano | 9 | 10 | 960 | |
Inside the Stats
Average Finish: 10.71
Average Points: 995.9
Total Points: 6971
TaG Driver Rankings Top-10
| Pos | Jun. 20 | Plus/Minus | Driver | Races | Score| 1. | 2 | 1 | Victor Cabrera Jr. | 13 | 7490 | | 2. | 1 | -1 | Joey Wimsett | 16 | 7474 | | 3. | 3 | NC | Chris Scribner | 12 | 7405 | | 4. | 4 | NC | Jason Toft | 12 | 7335 | | 5. | 7 | 2 | Kyle Wiegand | 8 | 7204 | | 6. | 6 | NC | Andy Lee | 11 | 7158 | | 7. | 8 | 1 | Chris Wehrheim | 13 | 7138 | | 8. | 5 | -3 | Joey Licata Jr. | 8 | 7105 | | 9. | 10 | 1 | Chris Larson | 14 | 7081 | | 10. | 11 | 1 | Caleb Loniewski | 8 | 7066 | |
For the full TaG Driver Rankings, Click Here
 | NEW TaG number one Victor Cabrera
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
TaG Rankings Report
Victor Cabrera could call the month of July his best month in karting to date. With a dominant weekend at the Stars Eastern Finale in Shawano, the J3 Competition pilot clinched the Eastern crown along with assuming the top spot in the EKN Driver Rankings. After proving to be fast in his first year in the Intercontinental A division last season, Cabrera moved over to the TaG division with the washout of the ICA category. Winning the last four races of the Florida Winter Tour to come just short of the Spec Racer title, Cabrera entered the Stars season as a favorite in the championship chase. A tough qualifying run put Cabrera in salvation mode to secure important championship points. A win and fourth place finish at the Race of the Americas put him back in the thick of things while the Shawano performance put a cap on the Eastern swing.
Former number one driver Joey Wimsett saw his first term at the top spot run short, just one month after taking over for Joey Licata Jr. The Champion Racing/Intrepid USA driver ran second to Cabrera in Shawano, gaining 35 more points to his total. A solid run at the Western Finale could put the Portland native back on top of the rankings.
Third and fourth remain unchanged with Chris Scribner and Jason Toft still holding the positions. Scribner ran in Shawano, however the Team Top Kart USA driver did not improve his point total despite running in the top-10 all weekend long. Toft was abscent has the GP Kart pilot is concentrating on the Western Division along with the ProKart Challenge North program in both TaG and S3 shifter division where he holds the lead in both championships. Jumping two spots to fifth is Scribner’s Top Kart teammate Kyle Wiegand. Running a limited schedule, Wiegand added another podium to his CV at the Shawano event.
Sitting sixth is Florida Winter Tour Spec Racer champion Andy Lee, who combined with a solid closure to the 2007 season, remains in the top-10. Up one spot is the third Top Kart pilot Chris Wehrheim. The Ocala double winner put the Mazda Race of the Americas event behind him and came out with two top-10 finishes at the Eastern Finale.
Falling three spots is former number one Joey Licata Jr. The SoCal driver has recovered from a qualifying crash at the Stars Miller Motorsports Park event and is back competing at regional and club level events. Chris Larson (FirstKart.com) and Caleb Loniewski (J3 Competition) each moved up one spot to round out the top ten. Both drivers are battling for the WKA Manufacturer’s Cup Series TaG championship with Larson currently holding the advantage heading into round four of five this weekend in Illinois (EKN will have complete Trackside Live coverage of the event beginning Friday).
NEW TaG #1 - Victor Cabrera Jr.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Point Breakdown
| Race | Rank | Finish | Points| SKUSA SuperNationals 2007 | 10 | 3 | 1105 | | Florida Winter Tour ’08 - Moroso #1 | 8 | 1 | 1016 | | Florida Winter Tour ’08 - Moroso #2 | 8 | 1 | 1016 | | Stars Race of the Americas 2008 #1 | 10 | 4 | 1120 | | Stars Race of the Americas 2008 #2 | 10 | 1 | 1155 | | Stars of Karting ’08 - East #5 - Shawano | 9 | 1 | 1039 | | Stars of Karting ’08 - East #6 - Shawano | 9 | 1 | 1039 | |
Inside the Stats
Average Finish: 1.71
Average Points: 1070
Total Points: 7490
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‘On the Move’
TaG #26 - Neil Alberico
Monte Sereno, California
One of the top rookies of the year is this month’s TaG Driver Rankings ‘On the Move’ pilot, Neil Alberico. The first year Stars driver, who is also competing in his first year in the Senior ranks, has been among the fast drivers on the year. Teamed with Kartel Motorsports under the Team Top Kart USA banner, Alberico earned his first podium quickly, in the rain at the Ocala Eastern opener. Though he has been fast, he has been consistent as do many other rookies. The Shawano weekend was his best overall thus far, putting in two top-tens in the two finals. As the year goes on, Alberico could be challenging for his first win.
Point Breakdown
| Race | Rank | Finish | Points| Stars of Karting ’08 - East #1 - Ocala | 9 | 16 | 879 | | Stars of Karting ’08 - East #2 - Ocala | 9 | 3 | 1014 | | Stars of Karting ’08 - West #2 - Utah | 9 | 8 | 967 | | Stars Race of the Americas 2008 #1 | 10 | 30 | 967 | | Stars Race of the Americas 2008 #2 | 10 | 18 | 958 | | Stars of Karting ’08 - East #5 - Shawano | 9 | 9 | 956 | | Stars of Karting ’08 - East #6 - Shawano | 9 | 4 | 1008 | |
Inside the Stats
Average Finish: 12.57
Average Points: 943.1
Total Points: 6602
EKN Driver Rankings Calculation Process
The EKN Driver Rankings are calculated using a driver’s best finishes in major North American races. Assembled using events from the previous 12 months from the current date, we use a driver’s top seven finishes in ICC and TaG to determine their overall current point total. With each new release, results posted from more than one year ago are discarded. To deliver this current ranking list, we tabulated the results of all the Snap-on Stars of Karting national events, as well as other regional programs. We have also included the results for the major one-off events such as the Rock Island Grand Prix, SKUSA King of the Streets, the SKUSA SuperNationals, and the KartSport Grand Prix.
Each race was initially weighted based on the prestige and history of the event or series with a score of ten (10) being the highest attainable base ranking. For 2008, the Stars of Karting Race of the Americas and National Finals, the SKUSA SuperNationals and the Rock Island Grand Prix are the only events to receive a score of 10 in their initial weighting. The Stars of Karting national series events draw a base ranking of nine (9), while the WKA Manufacturer’s Cup, Florida Winter Tour, and other regional program races were given a base ranking of eight (8). The EKN staff reserves the right to adjust the rankings of each event throughout the year.
Added to these initial rankings are two variables that help confirm the true importance of an event to the ranking process – field size and field strength. A percentage of one weighting point is added for the size of the field, while the number of existing top 50 drivers entered offers another full point or fraction of a point. The sum of these numbers becomes the overall ranking for any race. Following a race, drivers receive points based on their finishing positions with 100 points earned for a win. Each subsequent position drops by one point with 99 points given to the second place driver and so on throughout the field. These points are then multiplied by the overall ranking to produce a driver’s final point total from each event. Using a driver’s best seven races, we calculate each driver’s overall score and subsequent ranking. |
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