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| February 18, 2009 News |
| EKN Awards 2008: Rising Star - Arie Ouimet |
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 | | Rising Star - Arie Ouimet |
The Rising Star Award is the second of the four original categories to be handed out during this year’s eKartingNews.com Awards Week. When the award program was established in 1999, this category highlighted the up-and-coming shifter kart drivers of that time. When the awards program opened up to all forms of karting in 2005, the category expanded exponentially, making it even more difficult to narrow down the nominees and the eventual winner. The past three Rising Star award winners have gone on to big things, winning the USAC National Midget Championship, the Stars of Karting ICC National Championship, and the Skip Barber Karting Scholarship Shootout. From those accolades, you’d have to believe that the future is looking good for this year’s EKN Rising Star - Arie Ouimet.
The 2008 season may have been Ouimet’s sophomore campaign in the Rotax Senior division, but it would be his first in the ultra-competitive ICC category. Ouimet’s season began with his ICC debut at the opening round of the Florida Winter Tour in Homestead back in January. After starting in the back of the talented field and running up to finish 12th in his first feature, Ouimet went on to card an impressive fifth in the Sunday main. It was a strong start to a challenging season. Ouimet would go on to finish 13th in the championship despite missing the final weekend.
The Winter Tour was a great warm-up for Ouimet’s attack on the Stars of Karting Eastern Division schedule in ’08. Opening up at the Ocala Gran Prix, Ouimet put himself solidly into the top-15 of the ICC field in qualifying. Through the three heat races, Ouimet earned an outside row four starting position. He would go on to finish eighth in the first final, however, contact put him on the sidelines for the second feature.
Moving on to the Mazda Race of the Americas at New Castle Motorsports Park, Ouimet was in the same position as Ocala, lurking into the top-10. A DNF in the final heat race after two solid runs put him 16th on the grid for main events - where he would shine. In each of the 18-lap races, Ouimet knifed his way up toward the front like a seasoned veteran. He would go on to finish sixth and fifth, ranked as the top rookie in both races.
 | Ouimet was outstanding at the Rotax Grand Nationals and impressive in ICC for the Stars of Karting
(Photo: EKN) |
At the Eastern finale in Shawano, Wisconsin at his favorite track, USA International Raceway, Ouimet was among the quickest on track. After starting near the top-five in the first final, Ouimet was shuffled back to the tail of the field near the halfway point. He would eventually work his way back to 11th. In the second final, Ouimet would avoid trouble and work himself up to fourth position, just short of his first Stars ICC podium. The end result would earn him the fifth in the Eastern Division standings.
Ouimet’s biggest accomplishment of the ’08 season came in September, again at the Shawano, Wisconsin facility while competing at the Rotax Max Challenge USA Grand Nationals. Running his SSC East CRG in the Rotax Senior division, Ouimet put in a dominant performance as soon as he hit the track for the first time. Leading the time sheets in nearly every unofficial practice sessions, Ouimet posted the quickest time in qualifying. From there, he would go on to win each his three heat races - unchallenged - to earn the pole for the Prefinal race. Ouimet continued to go untouched in the 15-lap race to start P1 for the Final. The last 19 laps of the event saw Ouimet go green to checkered again to claim the USA title in a dazzling display of ability.
The victory earned him a spot on the Mazda America’s Team to compete at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals at the La Conca International Circuit in Muro Leccese, Italy. Though his journey did not map out as planned, Ouimet is focused on returning to the event in 2009.
Arie, who was named after the legendary Indy Car champion Arie Luyendyk (http://www.ekartingnews.com/news_info.php?n=1838) will be contending the Stars of Karting schedule in 2009, along with the WKA Manufacturer’s Cup Series. The EKN staff would like to congratulate Arie Ouimet on his solid 2008 season and the Rising Star Award. To discuss the EKN Awards 2008, please visit the Official Discussion Thread and also visit the Official Awards Page.
Former Rising Star Awards Winners
2007 - Connor De Phillippi
2006 - Michael Vincec
2005 - Cole Whitt
2004 - Kevin Lacroix
2003 - Wesley Boswell
2002 - Nick Bussell
2001 - Michael Abbate
2000 - Travis Irving
1999 - Josh Schreiber |
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