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| October 10, 2008 News |
| EKN Trackside: Stars of Karting National Finals - ICC Preview |
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The Snap-on Stars of Karting presented by IndyCar Series will complete the 2008 championship season at the National Finals inside the Las Vegas Motor Speedway over the October 10-12 weekend. The event will crown the 10 divisional champions Friday evening before crowning the five national champions Sunday afternoon.
Over the next few days leading up to the event, eKartingNews.com will look at the championship races in each of the five classes along with highlighting those drivers who will be in the fight for the National Finals victory. Tuesday, we looked at the Junior divisions, including the Junior Intercontinental A (JICA) and Cadet. Wednesday covered the Touch and Go (TaG) divisions with Stars TaG and the TaG ICC (Intercontinental C). Today is the headline Intercontinental C (ICC) division.
 | Michael Vincec leads the ICC standings heading into the finale
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
ICC
Just three more days until we will know just who will be the 2008 Stars of Karting ICC National Champion. Thirty-one points separate first through third with Ontario, Canada’s Michael Vincec leading the way. Vincec clinched both divisional championships, running up front all year long. Using his results and points from East, the Cameron Motorsports/CRG pilot earned one victory, two runner-ups, and two third-place finishes. In fact, of the ten finals on the year thus far, he’s finished in the top-five with the exception of the second Utah final, where contact took him out of contention in the opening lap.
Leading the chase against Vincec is Jordy Vorrath. The 2004 Stars of Karting ICA National Champion is trying to become the first driver to win both ICC and ICA titles. The British Columbia, Canada driver began the year strong with four straight runner-up finishes in the division openers. Much like Vincec, Vorrath has been inside the top-six with the exception for one DNF at the Race of the Americas. The Champion Racing/Intrepid pilot will look to redeem himself in Vegas after a disappointing performance at last year’s National Finals and get the edge for the national crown.
In an unusual position heading to the National Finals however is two-time defending champion Gary Carlton. The Californian led the point standings heading into both finales in which he would come out the champion. This year, with a disappointing Race of the Americas that saw him record two DNFs, he enters the event third in the standings and looking for help.
 | Canadian Jordy Vorrath will be vying for his first ICC national crown
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
If Carlton is to go on to win both finals, which we have seen three times this season, the PCH Motorsports/SSC East/CRG driver will leap over Vorrath no matter his finishing position but needs Vincec to record only 165 points - which equates to a third and fourth finish in the two finals.
Nothing however goes as scripted in motorsports and this weekend’s event has a stellar group of possible ‘spoilers’ capable of winning on the weekend. Fritz Leesmann (PSL Karting/CRG) and Cody Jolly (Champion Racing/Intrepid) are both in the championship chase mathematically and more than capable of winning, as Leesmann did at the Eastern opener. David Jurca (Italian Motors/Italkart) and Ron White (KLS Racing/GP) are no strangers to big events - with Jurca winning the ’05 National Finals and White garnering plenty of immense victories on his CV - however it does miss a National Finals win.
Former winners at the National Finals also include former two-time National Champion Alex Speed. Winning the opening final in his return from ‘retirement’ at last year’s event, Speed has since been karting full-time and is making the transition over to Tony Kart chassis the past month. In 2006 it was Lorenzo Mandarino who took the checkered flag at the National Finals in Woodbine, Ontario. The west-coast Canadian will be piloting the new Pserra chassis that he has driven to victory in regional Canadian events and will make its Stars debut this weekend.
Also returning to the mix will be the 2005 Stars of Karting ICA National Champion and Indy 500 Rookie of the Year in 2007 - Phil Giebler. The G-Phactory/Sodi Racing USA team principal will strap on the helmet this weekend in an ICC machine for the first time since 2006 when he won the Eastern Division championship.
eKartingNews.com will be providing ‘Trackside Live’ coverage throughout the week. Friday will begin the on-track portion with full rundown of the quick drivers during the day along with photos. Saturday and Sunday will continue with daily reports, forum updates, and full results. To watch updates, visit the Official Discussion Thread in the forums.
ICC UNOFFICIAL Point Standings
| Pos | Points | After 6 | No. | Driver | Pos. | Pts. | Pos. | Pts. | Pos | Pts. | Pos | Pts. | Pos | Pts. | Pos | Pts.| 1. | 685 | 450 | 105 | Michael Vincec | 3 | 85 | 5 | 75 | 1 | 100 | 3 | 85 | 2 | 90 | 2 | 90 | | 2. | 624 | 430 | 147 | Jordy Vorrath | 2 | 90 | 2 | 90 | 4 | 80 | 29 | 14 | 3 | 85 | 3 | 85 | | 3. | 637 | 419 | 151 | Gary Carlton | 1 | 100 | 1 | 100 | 24 | 19 | 25 | 18 | 1 | 100 | 1 | 100 | | 4. | 417 | 370 | 161 | Fritz Leesmann | 3 | 85 | 7 | 65 | 11 | 47 | 4 | 80 | 7 | 65 | 5 | 75 | | 5. | 386 | 345 | 169 | Cody Jolly | 7 | 65 | 3 | 85 | 13 | 41 | 7 | 65 | 5 | 75 | 9 | 55 | |
ICC Provisional Entry List
| No. | Driver | Team | Chassis | Engine| 105 | Michael Vincec | Cameron Motorsports | CRG | Maxter | | 110 | Curtis Fox | Cameron Motorsports | CRG | Maxter | | 118 | Nicholas Johnson | Champion Racing/Intrepid USA | Intrepid | TM | | 123 | Lorenzo Mandarino | Pserra Racing | Pserra | TM | | 131 | Alex Manglass | SSC East | CRG | Maxter | | 133 | Jacob Neal | PCH Motorsports/PSL Karting | CRG | Maxter | | 141 | Alex Speed | Tony Kart USA | Tony Kart | Maxter | | 144 | Kelly Baker | Italian Motors | Italkart | TM | | 146 | Phil Giebler | G-Phactory/Sodi Kart USA | Sodi Kart | TM | | 147 | Jordy Vorrath | Champion Racing/Intrepid USA | Intrepid | TM | | 151 | Gary Carlton | PCH Motorsports/SSC East | CRG | Maxter | | 155 | Cody Hodgson | Privateer | Tony Kart | Maxter | | 161 | Fritz Leesmann | PSL Karting/Kohilo Racing | CRG | Maxter | | 166 | Zack Meyer | | | | | 169 | Cody Jolly | Champion Racing/Intrepid USA | Intrepid | Maxter | | 171 | Ron White | KLS Racing | GP | TM | | 188 | Ryan Kinnear | Champion Racing/Intrepid USA | Intrepid | TM | | 192 | David Jurca | Italian Motors | Italkart | TM | | 197 | Clayton Snow | Syar Motorsport | Energy | TM | |
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