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| July 31, 2008 News |
| IKF 2-Cycle Sprint Grand Nationals - Day 1 Report |
| Article by: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine |
 | Neil McCoy began where he left off last year, earning his first Duffy of 2008 in Senior Sportsman
(Photo: Go Racing Magazine) |
Results and Photo Gallery will be posted later in Event Page
You know summer is upon us when racing is happening all over the country every weekend. You see the same guys week in and week out, but it is never in the same place. The hired guns with the wrenches have it the worst moving from town to town and driver to driver. Many of the guys I just saw at WKA’s Concept Haulers Manufacturers Cup event in Norway, Illinois I also see lurking on the grid here is Santa Maria at the IKF Wayne Brown Memorial 2-Cycle Sprint Grand Nationals. Most went home long enough to pack a different bag and catch a flight out on Monday. I was lucky enough to drive up Thursday morning for the first day of racing and just skip all the practice. Four classes were scheduled today (along with Kid Karts) and of those one race was spectacular, two of them were blowouts and one was just a waste of time.
The Santa Maria Karting Circuit always provides on track action and it will truly be missed if the FAA gets their way and makes the club relocate. Until that day we need only enjoy the Central Coast’s perfect summer weather and the great racing provided to us over the next four days. The last Grand National was held back here around the time of the new millennium and I don’t remember the number of entries. This week we are pushing the mid to upper 300’s. Considering the decline in some of the traveling series’ numbers this year that’s not too bad a showing.
Senior Super Sportsman and HPV 1 all had nothing spectacular happen for the lead. All the action was well behind the winners making it a bit of a let down for those watching. Of course the racers in the main pack and their friends and families might think differently, but there can be only one winner and the rest just fill in the blanks.
HPV 1 had a crash in turn one that spread everyone out, freeing Kyle Kaiser into the lead. Kaiser made the most of his small advantage and managed to put a little extra time on his competitors as they fought for 22 laps over second place. Austin DeMent, Riley Reyes, Carlee Taylor, and Slater Stowell did most of the chasing, but their infighting allowed Kaiser to easily draw away. Kyle Blum also had a good run up from the back after getting crashed out of the lead pack in the prefinal.
 | Junior Sportsman provided the best race of the day with Raquel Martinez coming out on top
(Photo: Go Racing Magazine) |
Sr. Sportsman started out with Neil McCoy and Neil Alberico on the front row. Contact in turn one again shuffled things around. Race officials decided for some reason to signal a complete restart, ruining Alberico’s sweet lead. They crashed again on the restart and this time McCoy was the one who got away. McCoy, the big winner from last year put his right foot down and sped off into the sunset. Behind the leader, Joey Licata Jr. Dylan Albiani, Ty Matta, and Bobby Kelly busted a move for second place. Licata was best of the rest today with Albiani, Alberico, and Matta rounding out the top five.
The best race of the day was Junior Sportsman as five drivers were in the hunt for the win right until the very end. Dylan Nobile earned his first Screaming Eagle for the pole and finished second in the prefinal to Raquel Martinez. Once again the final started with a bang in turn one. All the competitors would have a really hard time if we reverted back to the old turn one combination from the 80’s. Martinez took the early lead followed by Nobile, recent Stars JICA winner Taylor Miinch, Kolby Araki and Branden Underwood. The five leaders traded positions back and forth for the first 15 laps with Underwood seemingly hanging on in fifth. Of course he started moving forward as the dance truly began. Miinch too was on fire and looked like he was going to make a bid for the win. Nobile was the first to drop back as hard racing forced him wide in turn one. A little move here, a late braking pass there, and pretty soon things were getting hot and heavy. Araki and Underwood were the next to lose ground as pressure up front caused a stir in the lineup. With one to go Miinch was all over Martinez looking for a way by. Martinez made her kart as wide as possible in typical last lap Grand National fashion. Miinch got a good run down the back straight and the two rubbed for most of the way. Martinez came out on top followed by Miinch, Underwood, Araki and Nobile.
Only four drivers ran Formula Y/C Heavy but five drivers took qualifying laps making it official enough to run for a Duffy. Come on 5 guys =’s a Duffy, give me a break. Brian Phillipsen took the win over Rob Logan, Mat Kattanek, and Craig Zimmerman.
Friday’s stage is the longest of the event with six classes scheduled to start. Hopefully we see good participation numbers in all of them. It might be worth taking a look at next year’s class structure and cutting some of the dead weight classes and knock the event down to three or even two days and make all our lives easier.
To discuss the event or watch for updates from those there in the paddock, visit the Official Discussion Thread. |
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