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| April 13, 2009 News |
| eKartingNews.com Driver of the Month - Kiel Spaulding - March 2009 |
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 | Kiel Spaulding won three races at IKF Region and then two more at the ProKart Challenge North opener
(Photo: Go Racing Magazine) |
In a continued effort to highlight the many outstanding performances by drivers around the country, eKartingNews.com is proud to introduce the ‘Driver of the Month’ program. Each month, the staff at EKN will determine the one driver who stood out above the rest and give the viewers a chance to know exactly what they accomplished and who they are.
There is no better way to get yourself noticed in racing than by taking the checkered flag first. When you stand on top of the podium five times in back to back weekends, however, you are surely noticed by those around you. Kiel Spaulding did just that in March to earn the honor of eKartingNews.com Driver of the Month.
Spaulding began his successful two weekends at the IKF Region 7 Buttonwillow Raceway event with three wins along with a runner-up finish in the two-day event. Saturday’s HPV 2 race saw Spaulding pull out the four-second victory in the feature after winning the prefinal. The Jr. Super Sportsman win was not as easy as he found himself in a three-way battle for the win. When his two rivals made slight contact, Spaulding pounced at the opportunity to dive inside to streak down the straightway for the win. Sunday’s HPV 2 race was a near repeat of Saturday’s race as he went on to a five-second margin of victory.
The following weekend the Trackmagic driver traveled back to NorCal for the opening round of the ProKart Challenge North program at the Jim Russell International Karting Center at Infineon Raceway on March 14. Contending the TaG Junior and HPV 2 divisions, Spaulding would find himself earning two more checkered flags. Spaulding returned as the defending HPV 2 class champion and had a full field looking to ruin his title defense. After sitting second in qualifying, he would go on to win the opening heat and finish second in the final heat. The feature would see Spaulding fall back to third at the start, but he charged his way to the front to take the win by just 0.187 seconds. In TaG Junior, Spaulding took the top honors in qualifying with a second and first place finish in the heats. The feature however would be all Spaulding as he went on to lead all 20 laps for his second win of the day.
Spaulding began karting after he received an Emmick kid kart for his seventh birthday. His first taste of karting was at the Blue Max Kart Club track in Dixon, California. Since then, Spaulding has progressed through the karting ranks. Earning two club championships, he expanded out to regional and state-wide events. In 2007, Spaulding won the Michael Clark Pro Race event along with the Cal State Champion in HPV 4 Junior in his first race as a Junior 2 driver. Last season, Spaulding won the HPV 2 Junior title in ProKart Challenge North as well as earned the pole position for the main event in TaG Junior at the SKUSA SuperNationals XII. The 12-year old will be contending the IKF Region 7, ProKart Challenge North, the Stars of Karting program and returning back to the SuperNationals to make up his 2009 season.
 | Kiel Spaulding - EKN Driver of the Month - March 2009
(Photo: FX Racing USA) |
March 2009 EKN Driver of the Month - Kiel Spaulding
Bio
Date of Birth: 6.5.96
Hometown: Elk Grove, CA
Parents: David and Nineveh Spaulding
Siblings: None
Height: 5’3”
Education: Seventh Grade - Toby Johnson Middle School
Job: Household chores (Dishes and dog poop)
Racing Resume
Chassis: Factory Trackmagic Hornet 100
Engine/Engine Builder: SwedeTech
Sponsors: Trackmagic, SwedeTech, ShockDoctor, FX Racing, Piloti, RLV
Series You Compete In: ProKart Challenge, IKF Region 7 and Stars of Karting
Years Karting: 6
How did you get started in karting? My dad bought me a kart for my birthday
What has been the high point in your racing career? On pole for the SKUSA SuperNationals in 2008 (TaG Junior)
What are your goals in racing? To win
In a few words, how would you describe your driving style? Smooth
Funniest moment at the race track? When I worked on my own kart once and the wheels slid in
Likes
Favorite Track: Infineon
Favorite form of professional motorsports: NASCAR and F1
Favorite karting driver: My teammate, Memo Gidley, Alex Speed and Gary Carlton
Favorite professional driver: Dale Jr.
Favorite website: eKartingNews.com and YouTube
Favorite movie: Talladega Nights and Gone In 60 Seconds
Favorite actor/actress: Will Ferrell
Favorite music/group: Disturbed
Favorite vacation/activity spot: Anywhere there is a race track
Favorite food: Chinese Food (Peony Palace)
The Real Deal
What do you do when not at the track? School
What are your goals outside of karting? Good grades at school
What type of street car would you like to drive? Ferrari
What are your pet peeves or things that irritate you? Getting nagged
What do you think could be done to improve the sport of karting? More races like the SuperNats
What are your favorite aspects about the sport of karting? Competing and team camaraderie
March Driver of the Month - Honorable Mention:
- Phil DeLaO: Stars of Karting - Two wins (KF3 and Jr. National); Challenge of the Americas - Rotax Junior victory and championship
- Tristan DeGrand: Florida Winter Tour - Three wins (KF3 championship)
- Gary Lawson: WKA Gold Cup - Five wins |
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