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| December 30, 2008 News |
| WKA Daytona KartWeek - Manufacturer’s Cup Series - Tuesday Report |
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After an exciting start to the ’09 Manufacturer’s Cup Series season that was put completed in amazing Florida weather, the drivers and teams went back at it today at the Daytona International Speedway sprint track with eight more classes running their first event of the new campaign. The warm weather continued, but with one less class than the previous day, the quickly falling sunset did not play a part in the action. Although a couple of red flags were thrown on the day, all reports indicate that those involved will be fine, which is excellent news.
Many of those not in attendance followed the action via RaceFanRadio.com’s live audio coverage, and the racing kept things exciting for the fans of the series. Multi-time Man Cup champion Corey Reeves had a solid day in Daytona with a pair of wins in Yamaha SuperCan Lite and HPV Heavy, while Robby Bujdoso bagged his first WKA win in the HPV Jr. Lite category. The action in TaG continued to be heated as Australian David Sera swept the class with another win, beginning his U.S. adventure by making a big splash. The new list of winners, minus Sera, will certainly be part of the championship battles all season long, as the new Manufacturer’s Cup Series season looks to be one of the most challenging in recent years.
Yamaha SuperCan Lite
 | Corey Reeves benefitted from Josh Call’s DNF to cruise to the Yamaha SuperCan Lite win
(Photo: Go Racing Magazine) |
Monday’s Yamaha SuperCan Heavy class winner Josh Call (Margay) continued his dominance of the Can divisions with a second pole position on Tuesday, this time in Yamaha SuperCan Lite. Jason Foley (Merlin) was second on the time sheets, running quicker than Ryan Stewart (Birel), Tommy Andersen (Merlin) and CJ Lintner (Arrow) in the fast five.
The action began quickly in the Prefinal with Call and Foley swapping the top spot during the opening laps while veteran Corey Reeves (Margay) worked himself into the top-five by the lap two, right behind Andersen. Reeves continued to move forward as he got by Andersen before the halfway mark while Call and Foley had pulled out to a small advantage ahead of them. When the checkered fell at the end of the eight-lap sprint, Call came out with the Prefinal win just in front of Foley to maintain the pole position for the final. Reeves would start the main event in third and was certainly expected to battle for win. Andersen was fourth while Stewart crossed the line in fifth.
Reeves took the green flag to begin the 16-lap feature as outside pole starter and took the early lead as Foley was shuffled back to fifth in the opening lap, moving Call up to second. Attached to Reeves’ bumper, Call pushed the leader around the track to help them open up a large lead. The duo would continue to stretch their advantage until the halfway mark when Call’s left side pod flew off the kart, forcing the Monday winner to pit lane. Behind them, Foley was able to work up to what now was the second position, but Lintner continued to put on the pressure.
Out front, Reeves would cruise to his first win of the event, while Foley and Lintner fought for second throughout the final lap with Lintner coming out with the spot after putting a great move on his competitor. Andersen ran to fourth while Tony Jump (Margay) powered up from 18th after a broken chain in the Prefinal to finish an amazing fifth.
Cadet
 | Kyle Kalish (16) was awarded the Cadet victory after Aidan Landauer (13) was penalized
(Photo: Go Racing Magazine) |
Some of the same names from yesterday’s Cadet Final were among the quickest in Tuesday’s Qualifying session. Gresham Wagner (Birel) topped the charts over Monday’s winner Kyle Kalish (Merlin), improving his pace on the second day of competition. Corey Towles was a new name into the top-five, along with Jordan Perry (Tony Kart) and James Bennett (Birel).
Wagner and Kalish were able to get away for a two-kart battle in the Prefinal as they ran nose-to-tail while Towles worked to hold off Perry and Bennett for third. Kalish was all over the back of Wagner’s bumper midway through the race, giving him a few taps to let him know he was there. Kalish finally made a move for the lead in the closing stages but Wagner would return the favor as they reached the stripe for a photo finish, with Wagner coming out as the winner. Towles held on for third while Perry lost several spots on the final lap, allowing Aidan Landauer (Merlin) and Bennett to advance into the top-five.
Instead of just two drivers, it was a three-kart lead pack with Landauer joining Wagner and Kalish to begin the feature race for the second Cadet final on the weekend. Behind them, Bennett moved up to fourth to lead the large second group. Kalish continued to use Wagner’s bumper as a guide around the track, while Landauer sat back in third, right within striking distance. In the second half of the race, Wagner came off the final corner a bit loose, forcing Kalish to go wide, allowing Landauer to slide into second. The next time by, Kalish would be shown leading with Landauer second as Wagner would not come back around. This made it a two-kart fight for the win with Landauer now pressuring Kalish.
As they entered the final corner, Landauer was able to put move inside of Kalish but contact was made, sending Kalish off track and Landauer first to the checkered flag. Kalish held on for second with Towles beating Bennett to the line for third. Bennett would finish fourth ahead of the charging Colin Warren.
Landauer however would be penalized for contact that resulted in Wagner’s DNF, giving Kalish the win and moving everyone else one spot up, putting Jeff Myers Jr. (Birel) into the top-five. Wagner would be classified 26th with Landauer 27th.
HPV Jr. Lite
 | It was the first WKA Man Cup win by Robby Bujdoso in the HPV Jr. Lite class
(Photo: Go Racing Magazine) |
Trent Hindman (Merlin) led the way in HPV Jr. Lite Qualifying to earn his first Junior pole position, ahead of another first year Junior driver, Austin Self (Birel). Shawn Sharkey (Merlin) - the Heavy winner from Monday - ended the session third in the line up while Tyler Thomas (Top Kart) and Robby Bujdoso (Tony Kart) completed the fast five.
Hindman and Self continued to lead the way in the Prefinal while things shuffled up behind them. Sharkey fell back to fifth when Nick Neri (Tony Kart) and Bujdoso got by to begin the race. Neri then put the pressure on Self near the halfway mark and was able to work by with two laps to go. In the meantime, Hindman had been able to put space between himself and Neri, however, the challenger closed in over the final few corners only to come up just short as Hindman held on to take the win. Self dropped a wheel on the final circuit, allowing Sharkey to take advantage and slide by for third. Sam Beasley (Arrow) came up for fifth, finishing behind Self.
The field bunched up in the opening corner of the feature race, losing Self to a broken exhaust. Out front, Sharkey moved to the point early on as polesitter Hindman slid in behind his teammate with Bujdoso advancing up to third, a few kart lengths behind the top two. At the halfway mark, Sharkey and Hindman continued to show the way until Hindman made his move. On the following lap, Sharkey ran over the top of Hindman, taking both drivers out of the race, handing the lead to Bujdoso.
As they came to the checkered flag, Bujdoso took his first WKA Man Cup victory and the second Tony Kart win on the weekend. Christian Vogel (Tony Kart) came across the line in second with Shinya Michimi (Merlin) moving up to third ahead of Beasley and Neri - who fell back to tenth in the opening portion of the race.
TaG
 | Australian David Sera completed the weekend sweep in TaG
(Photo: Go Racing Magazine) |
With the Rotax engine looking to be the motor of choice at Daytona after off-season tech adjustments, a few notables made the switch overnight. NASCAR’s Jamie McMurray (CRG) traded in his new Vortex Rok TT for a rented MRP Motorsport Rotax engine while defending class champion Chris Larson strapped on a Rotax engine in place of his Sonik. Some notables in the Last Chance Qualifier included CJ Lintner (Arrow), James Perkins (Gillard), TJ Koyen (Merlin), and Matt Codalata (Margay). All four would transfer to the main, however, Larson and others would not get into the top-five in the LCQ, ending his day short for a second time, possibly eliminating his chances in the championship hunt after just the opening weekend.
Monday’s TaG winner David Sera (Arrow) continued his blistering pace, earning his second pole position ahead of Marco Di Leo (Intrepid). Third in the order was Jose Zanella (Tony Kart), who qualified in the top-five yesterday before encountering trouble in the Prefinal that took him out of contention. Mark Vielgut (Haase) found some extra speed overnight to end up fourth in the timed session ahead of Final 1 third place finisher Wes Phillips (Birel).
The top three would show the way to open up the Prefinal, however, Sera would have pressure early on from Di Leo and Zanella. Sera and Di Leo, both exceptional drivers, broke away from Zanella and they set up nose-to-tail to pull away. Zanella would then fall back into the clutches of Phillips, who would overtake him for the third spot just before the halfway mark. Di Leo would continue to pressure Sera, showing his nose in a few corners and giving him a few taps on the rear bumper. Despite the challenges, Sera would hold on for the win with Di Leo, Phillips, Zanella and Caleb Loniewski (Kosmic) coming up from eighth to finish fifth.
The action picked up where it left of in the main, as Sera got more contact on his rear bumper as the field mixed it up into the opening corner for the feature race, although the Australian Arrow factory pilot held his own to come out with the lead. Di Leo was able to work the outside line to hold the second spot ahead of Phillips. Loniewski moved by Zanella for fourth, however, Zanella would retire early on with a mechanical issue. Travis Firing (Margay) would be awarded the fifth spot in Zanella’s absence, certainly a better performance after missing the events on Monday. At the halfway point, it was Sera and Di Leo positioned as they were in the Prefinal, out front showing the way as Phillips had his head down, trying to catch the top two.
As the race neared its end, Di Leo seemed to have more speed at the end of the straights while Sera would pull Di Leo around the rest of the track. The distance was just enough for Sera to run unchallenged to his second win over Di Leo, while Phillips held off a late charge from Loniewski for third. Firing capped a strong run, completing the top-five.
Yamaha Sportsman
 | Santino Ferrucci leaves Daytona with two wins on his CV, adding Yamaha Sportsman on Tuesday
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Aidan Landauer (Merlin) earned his first pole position of the ‘09 season by posting the quickest time during the Yamaha Sportsman qualifying session. Jake Johnston was second quick ahead of Mike McAndrews in third. Kyle Kalish (Merlin) was fourth with James Bennett (Birel) fifth.
It was a Daytona 500 style freight train with as many as 12 drivers making up the lead draft pack in the Prefinal with Landauer, Johnston, and McAndrews showing the way. Not many positions were exchanged during the first half of the eight-lap event, especially up front. On lap five, McAndrews was able to take over second from Johnston while behind them, Santino Ferrucci (Maranello) finally broke into the top-five, beginning his charge to the front. Landauer continued to run a defensive line as they got the white flag, stacking up his competition behind him. Ferrucci, now into third, was able to slide inside McAndrews for second heading into turn one - his favorite passing location. On the backside of the track, Ferrucci quickly put Landauer behind him and took the checkered flag for the Prefinal win. Landauer came home in second with McAndrews third, as Kalish and Bennett completed the top-five.
The Yamaha Sportsman feature began with a number of drivers making contact to open up the 16-lap race, including many inside the top ten. Up front, Ferrucci, Landauer and McAndrews avoided the melee to show the way with Brandon Jarsocrak taking advantage as well to move up to fourth from outside the top-10, bringing Kyle Tilley with him. McAndrews put Landauer back to third early on as he put his nose on the bumper of Ferrucci and applyed pressure around the entire course.
After the halfway mark, the top three had a large advantage over the battle for fourth. No positions were exchanged among the leaders before receiving the white flag, as Ferrucci put some distance between himself and McAndrews. Ferrucci would take his second victory of the weekend as Landauer was able to get by McAndrews for the runner-up spot in the final corner. Tilley held on for fourth ahead of Jarsocrak.
Yamaha Masters
 | Two-time class champion Jeff Jewell added another win in Yamaha Masters
(Photo: Go Racing Magazine) |
Many of the drivers from the new TaG Masters field made the switch over to the Yamaha power package, including the top two from yesterday’s main. Jeff Jewell (Haase) was quicker than TaG Masters winner John Crow (Birel) to take the pole position in the KT100 class. Dale Roller, Scott Carapelletti and Mike Burrell (Birel) rounding out the fast five.
Jewell was able to get a better start than Crow as the green flag waved in the Prefinal, getting out to a large lead during the early laps. Roller ran third with Hector Rodriguez moving up into fourth ahead of Carapelletti. The field spread themselves out around the 7/10-mile circuit. The remainder of the eight-lap sprint was uneventful as Jewell cruised to the Prefinal win ahead of Crow, Roller, Rodriguez, and Carapelletti ,while Burrell fell to sixth.
Two-time Yamaha Masters class champion Jewell continued to show the way in the feature with a solid lead over Crow, who held off Roller for second through the opening corner. Not much changed during the course of the event until, with three laps to go, Crow allowed Roller by for second, signaling to his crew that he had an issue with the brakes on his Birel. Jewell cruised to a dominant victory to help start his defense of the class title as Roller crossed the line second, well back of Jewell. Crow limped in his machine to finish third while Rodriguez held off Burrell for the fourth position in the final tally.
Yamaha Jr. Heavy
 | Dakota Pesek won a wild one in Yamaha Jr. Heavy
(Photo: Go Racing Magazine) |
One of the quickest drivers in Monday’s Yamaha Jr. Lite division was Sam Beasley. The Arrow driver showed the way again in Qualifying for the Yamaha Jr. Heavy classification, getting his day started off on the right foot. Shawn Sharkey (Merlin) and Colton Ramsey were second and third on the time sheet with Tyler Thomas (Top Kart) and Trent Hindman (Merlin) completing the fast five.
Ramsey was able to capitalize on the battle between Beasley and Sharkey in the opening two corners of the Prefinal to slide through for the lead, pulling out to a large gap fairly quickly. As they continued to fight behind him, Ramsey continued to stretch the lead as Thomas was able to jump up to second ahead of Sharkey and Hindman as Beasley dropped out of competition. Sharkey then put the pressure on Thomas, resulting in a wheel off the track and Sharkey up to second. Thomas held on for third ahead of Hindman while Dakota Pesek (Arrow) worked himself into the top-five.
In the final, the field shuffled quickly as Thomas jumped from third to the point with Ramsey falling back to second. Sharkey would fall back to fifth in the early running order and only a few laps later he was out of the race with a mechanical issue, his second DNF of the day. Up front, Thomas would be challenged by a charging Ramsey and Pesek, eventually falling back to third. The former leader tried to gain a spot back when contact was made. Hindman would slide into third with Nick Neri (Tony Kart) on a charge up to fourth, dropping Thomas to fifth. As they came to the line for the final time, Pesek would earn the checkered flag with the remainder of the top-four finishing in the same order. Melissa Landspurg (Merlin) would win the battle for fifth on the final lap.
HPV Heavy
 | Adding a second win on the day, Corey Reeves walked away with the HPV Heavy victory
(Photo: Go Racing Magazine) |
Former Triple Crown winner Corey Reeves led the way in HPV Heavy Qualifying with Bill McLaughlin Jr. (Birel) posting another outside row one starting spot. Travis Firing (Margay) edged Wyatt Gooden (Arrow) and David Kraeer (Margay) for the third position on the Prefinal grid, turning good laps in the timed run.
Reeves got a great start to begin the Prefinal while Firing slid inside McLaughlin for the second spot in the opening corner. Gooden was able to hold third as Jamie Theil (Margay) drove into fifth over Kraeer the first time by the start-finish line. They would run that way to the checkered flag with Reeves and Firing coming in 1-2. Gooden was able to get around McLaughlin in the final corner to take the inside row two starting position for the Final, while Theil would complete the top-five.
The outside line was the wrong place to be at the start of the Final as Reeves came through the opening corner with Gooden sliding by Firing for second to begin the last race of the day. Behind Reeves, the drivers would shuffle positions throughout the top-10. Firing would lose the second spot to Gooden early on but he challenged during the middle portion of the race until Gooden was able to put some air between them. McLaughlin Jr. then fell outside the top-five as Theil and Jason Foley battled for fourth for the majority of the race. Up front, Reeves cruised to his second win on the day by a comfortable margin over Gooden. Firing was alone in third while McLaughlin was able to battle back up to fourth in front of Foley.
Wrap-up
With the sun now set and the podium photos completed at Daytona, the opening event of the 2009 season is now in the books. A number of drivers have certainly positioned themselves to challenge for class championships while others struggled to return as defending champions, mixing up the ranks. A good crop of young drivers made successful transitions from Cadet to Junior, some from Junior to Senior, and they will all be watched closely throughout the upcoming season at the final four events on the schedule.
Looking at the Manufacturer’s Trophy standings after round one, Margay leads with four wins in Daytona. Arrow and Merlin are locked in second with three victories apiece while Birel, Haase, Maranello, and Tony Kart all have two wins each. The standings and the championship fights will continue to take shape following round two, which is set for May 1-3 at the MRP of South Bend facility in North Liberty, Indiana. EKN will be trackside for the race once again with even better coverage of this incredible series.
For complete coverage of the event, click over to the Official Event Page. |
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