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| August 30, 2009 News |
| EKN Trackside: WKA Manufacturer’s Cup Series - Sunday Report |
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 | Cody Robinson held off Ryan Stewart for his first win of the season in Yamaha SuperCan Lite
(Photo: EKN) |
The WKA George Kugler/Bridgestone Manufacturer’s Cup Series completed the final day of action at the New Castle Motorsports Park for the Show Hauler Truck Nationals. The 1-mile Indiana circuit hosted a number of exciting races over the weekend with a number coming on Sunday. Nearly half the winners from the day’s action earned their first feature win of the season, including NASCAR’s Jamie McMurray competing in the series during his off-weekend. Another familiar name scored his first big win of his young career, Michael Goodyear - son of IndyCar driver Scott Goodyear in Sportsman category.
Yamaha SuperCan Lite
The second day of action began similar to the first with Cody Robinson putting his Arrow machine on the pole position once again, this time in the Yamaha SuperCan Lite category. His lap of 1:12.642 was slower than yesterday’s but with the weather conditions much colder, the track is not quite as quick. Saturday’s winner Ryan Phillips (Bandit) was second quickest with Tony Jump (Margay) putting two American-made chassis in the top-five. Championship leader Ryan Stewart (Birel) was fourth in the order with CJ Lintner (Arrow) rounding out the fast-five. South Bend winner Brandon Adkins (Tony Kart) had an airbox fall off during the warm-up lap and spun while trying to reattach it, thus not making a lap and put 16th on the grid for the Prefinal.
The top five went to work in the six-lap Prefinal with nearly all five taking a turn at the point. Robinson was the leader as they got the white flag however Jump was able to draft by on the final straight to assume the point and take the win by just 0.090-seconds. Lintner was able to pass Phillips at the same time with Stewart crossing the line fifth.
The same five began the 12-lap feature in the same fashion as the ended the Prefinal, not settling for anything as the drivers began shuffling at the drop of the green. Lintner came by with the lead the first time, the second time it was Robinson. At the halfway mark, Robinson and Stewart held a slight advantage over Lintner with Phillips and Jump looking to draft back up to the leaders. Stewart continued to put the pressure on Robinson until dropping a tire with two to go. This gave Robinson enough room to cruise to the victory, his first of the year. Stewart held on to second with Phillips winning the battle for third, dropping Lintner to fifth behind Jump. Stewart extended his point lead slightly but will still need a solid finale to secure the title.
 | Gresham Wagner scored the win in the Cadet final on Sunday
(Photo: EKN) |
Cadet
A great lap for Gresham Wagner earned the Birel driver the pole position for day two of the Cadet division events. Wagner's 1:17.213 was just over three-tenths quicker than Austin Osborne (Birel). Emerson Reed (Merlin) and Ryan Raffa (Top Kart) were just five-hundredths back of Osborne with James Bennett (Birel) just behind to complete the fast-five. Yesterday’s winner and point leader Kyle Kalish (Merlin) struggled and ended the session in 14th.
A four-kart battle saw Wagner leading Osborne, Bennett and Collin Campbell (Birel) in the six-lap Prefinal, which came down to the final corner. Wagner was able to edge Bennett at the line by just 0.013 seconds while Campbell crossed in third ahead of Osborne. Colin Warren and Sarah Carmon completed a Birel 1st-through-6th finish.
Following a red flag on the opening lap of the feature for an incident that involved a number of competitors, the race was restarted and got back underway to begin a 12 lap battle. What was an early five-kart lead pack slowly formed into a dual between Wagner and Bennett. The two drag-raced to the final corner on the last lap with Wagner holding the preferred inside line. As they exited the left-hander, Bennett slid off-track slightly, which allowed Wagner enough to get to the line for his first win of the season. Campbell was able to hold on to third as Osborne capitalized on his Prefinal finish to take a fine fourth overall ahead of Ashley Rogero (Kosmic).
 | Nick Neri helped his chances at the HPV Jr. Lite championship with a win on Sunday
(Photo: EKN) |
HPV Jr. Lite
Looking to gain some points toward the class title, Nick Neri (Tony Kart) began the day on the right path for the HPV Jr. Lite division. His lap time of 1:08.331 earned him the pole position by just eight-thousandths over Trent Hindman (Merlin). Point leader Sam Beasley (Arrow) was just a small three-hundredths back of Neri with Shawn Sharkey (Merlin) and Saturday winner Taylor Miinch (Top Kart) with two-tenths to round out the fast five.
The Prefinal began with the field bunched up in the opening corner with a few drivers in the top-10 getting sent sideways, blocking the track and collecting a number of karts. The first lap also saw a number of others drivers retire with contact around the 1-mile circuit. Up front, Neri, Hindman and Sharkey paced the field with each taking a turn at the point until being joined by Beasley and Tyler Thomas (Top Kart). Neri took the white flag with Hindman and Thomas on his bumper. As they came to the final corner, Neri held the inside line with Hindman glued to his rear bumper, making no pass attempt allowing Neri to score the win. Thomas was third with Beasley getting by Sharkey for fourth until getting bounced in tech for losing his airbox.
The second and last red flag of the weekend came on lap two of the HPV Jr. Lite feature race. After one driver was checked out and cleared, the race got back underway with Neri showing the way. Thomas was shuffled back in turn two as he got the worst end of a two-wide situation through turn two, allowing Hindman and other to slide through. The front three held a small advantage over Miinch, running in order for the majority of the race. Karam continued to put the pressure on to the end but came up just short with Neri scoring the victory. Hindman held on to third as Miinch ran a solid fourth. Thomas was able to work his way back up to complete the podium. The hard charger award went to two drivers - Tristan DeGrand and Sam Beasley as they came up through the field to finish ninth and 11th in just 12 laps.
 | NASCAR's Jamie McMurray enjoyed his off-weekend from his regular racing duties to score victory in the TaG category
(Photo: EKN) |
TaG
With a random draw for group slots, the first group included Saturday winner Marco DiLeo (Intrepid), Chris Wehrheim (Top Kart), Billy Lewis (Arrow) and NASCAR’s Jamie McMurray (CRG) to name a few. McMurray was able to post the quick lap of that session. With the cold weather, a burst of sun during the second group saw the track gain a little more grip as three drivers were able to better McMurray’s time. Hunter Short (Kosmic) held the provisional pole after completing his second lap until Scott Ferris (Margay) took the spot in his third lap. Short struck back in his final circuit with a 1:05.539 lap to edge Ferris for the pole by seven-hundredths of a second. Kyle Wiegand (Top Kart) was third in the order, dropping McMurray and Lewis to fourth and fifth. Championship leader DiLeo fell to sixth with challenger Wehrheim in seventh.
The field played nice through the opening corners as everyone slotted in order until Short was shuffled to the outside. By the time he came by the stripe for the first time, he was back in eighth with Ferris and McMurray showing the way. The top two put some distance on the rest of the field until they battled for the lead, allowing a group of about 10 to close right up. The remainder of the six lap event was busy with action as drivers were fighting hard for positions. McMurray was able to clear Ferris, who then had to deal with Lewis. In the end, McMurray took the win by just under one second with Ferris edging Lewis to the line. DiLeo was able to get around Wehrheim and Wiegand for fourth with Short ending up seventh ahead of Mark Dismore (Arrow), Michele Bumgarner (Margay) and CJ Lintner (Arrow).
Much like the Prefinal, the Final was a thriller with McMurray leading the way. Behind him, Ferris held on to the second spot after Lewis spun in the opening corner, that is until Ferris’ engine began to misfire, forcing him to pull off on lap four. This put a gaggle of karts in a fight for second. McMurray led through the halfway point until DiLeo assumed the second spot and closed up on the leader. Turn 13 was the favorite passing spot for many of the drivers and that was the location for DiLeo’s attack. McMurray was quick to strike back, duplicating the same move one lap later. With Wehrheim, Wiegand and Michele Bumgarner (Margay) hot on his tail, DiLeo lost ground to McMurray. As the laps wind down, McMurray was able to stretch out to a 1.292-second margin for the victory. On the final lap, DiLeo found himself in fourth. A move by Wiegand put him to third and looking to move into second. A late braking move into turn 14 resulted in contact between he and Wehrheim. This allow Wiegand to slide by for second with DiLeo regrouping into third. Bumgarner and Short - who recorded the fast lap of the race - also got by Wehrheim to put him sixth. Officials however moved DiLeo back behind Wehrheim in the order, placing them fifth and sixth.
 | Michael Goodyear earned his first major win in the Yamaha Sportsman feature race
(Photo: EKN) |
Yamaha Sportsman
Kyle Tilley (Margay) continues to set the pace in the Yamaha Sportsman division as he earned another pole position with a lap of 1:15.663, the only driver under the 1:16 mark. Kyle Kalish (Merlin) was second in the order with James Bennett (Birel) in third. Local driver Michael Goodyear (Margay) was fourth fastest with Tristan VanWieringen (KRT) completing the top-five. Saturday’s winner Karl Weber (Birel) was a respectable eighth in the session while point leader Garrett Johnston (Margay) continues his struggles in qualifying with the 14th fastest lap.
An uncharacteristic lone driver leading the field to the checkered flag after the six laps of the Prefinal with Gresham Wagner (Birel) able to break away for the win by four-tenths. Bennett won the battle for second over Weber, Goodyear, and Ashley Rogero (Kosmic). Pole sitter Tilley was shuffled back during the race and ended up in the 17th.
A group of five formed at the front of the 12-lap Yamaha Sportsman feature with Goodyear leading the way. The Margay’s of Mike McAndrews and Jake Johnston made contact in the last corner as they were heading toward the white flag. That left three to duke it out for the win with Wagner able to steal the point from Goodyear as the came down the final straight. Goodyear went to the low side with Bennett going high, making it three wide into the corner. As they came out, Goodyear had the momentum to cross the line first. Bennett edged Wagner for the second spot while Santino Ferrucci (Maranello) charged from a third in the Last Chance Qualifier to a fourth place in front of McAndrews.
Yamaha Masters
Steve Rumsey was able to earn his first pole of the season in the Yamaha Masters category as he put down a 1:13.830 lap aboard his Arrow machine. Point leader Michael Burrell (Birel) used his home-track knowledge to score the second starting spot for the Prefinal ahead of championship challenger Jeff Jewell (Haase) returning to the series after missing round three. Missy Nelson Tate (Margay) is also making a return, set to go from the forth spot with Gary Monnett (Birel) making his series debut rounding out the fast five.
Rumsey was able to hold on for the Prefinal win after challenges from Burrell and Tate. Contact while battling allowed Rumsey to pull out to a 0.743-second win over Tate with Burrell slotting into third. Jewell worked himself up to fourth after starting last due to an engine change with Monnett crossing fifth.
The opening corner of the feature was not favorable for some front runners as contact sent Rumsey, Tate and Jewell off track. This put Monnett and Burrell up front. The two looked to worked together but in the end, it was all for one with Monnett holding off Burrell for the victory. Jewell managed to climb back to third with Larry Ubell (Kosmic) edging Craig Newforth (Arrow) for fourth.
 | Jason Foley swept the HPV categories on the weekend
(Photo: EKN) |
Yamaha Jr. Heavy
Scoring his second Streeter Super Stands pole award, Nick Neri was the top qualifier as he pushed his Tony Kart machine to a 1:10.569. The gap was just over two-tenths between him and Saturday winner Sam Beasley (Arrow). Shinya Michimi (Merlin) continues to shine on day two, posting the third fastest lap of the session ahead of point leader Trent Hindman (Merlin) and Jack Manley (Arrow).
Neri was able to hold off pressure from Beasley to score the Prefinal win. The two came to the final corner with Neri hugging the inside line and able to exit cleanly to the checkered flag. Sage Karam (Birel) went on a charge forward, jumping up to third after starting ninth. Hindman held on to fourth with Michimi falling back to fifth.
Neri and Beasley paced the field in the feature for the entire 12-lap race. Beasley sat in second for the majority of the race until the final corner when Beasley was able to draft by and through the final corner for the victory. Hindman won the fight for third over Karam and Taylor Miinch (Top Kart), up from a 14th qualifying position.
HPV Heavy
Ryan Stewart (Birel) posted the quickest lap in HPV Heavy qualifying with a 1:09.027 lap to score another pole position on the year. His time was three-tenths quicker than Patrick Olsen to make it a Birel front row for the Prefinal. Tommy Andersen and Saturday winner Jason Foley filled up row two with Merlin karts with a third sitting fifth on the lap chart with TJ Koyen piloting the machine. Point leader Wyatt Gooden (Arrow) ended the session sixth with challenger Jamie Thiel (Margay) a disappointing 14th position.
Five drivers battled it out for the Prefinal win with Stewart coming out of the fight on top. Stewart held the lead on the final corner with pressure from Olsen, who did not attempt a move into the final corner. Foley fell outside the top-five at one point but battled back to finish third ahead of Andersen and Koyen.
A duplicate of the Prefinal mapped out the 12-lap Feature race. Nearly each driver took a turn at the point with Olsen, Stewart, Foley all taking a turn. The two Birels had some distance on the three Merlin’s until they would again mix it up with just two laps to go. Contact between Koyen and Olsen saw the fight become just four with Olsen losing ground. As they came down the final straight, Foley held the inside line as the four went two by two. Andersen ran through the corner on the outside until a push from both Stewart and Koyen sent him spinning around. When the dust settled, Foley earned his second HPV victory of the weekend. Koyen crossed the line second with Stewart and Andersen in fourth while Olsen completed the podium.
The Manufacturer’s Championship Trophy standings kept the same order with Birel now leading with 17 over Margay with 14. Arrow’s two wins put them at 11, ahead of Merlin (10) and Tony Kart (6). The series will take a two month break before heading to Charlotte for the kart track inside the Lowe’s Motor Speedway in November. For complete coverage of the New Castle event, visit the Official Event Page. |
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