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| December 04, 2009 News |
| Rotax Grand Finals 2009 Team America Preview - DD2 Squad |
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A total of 12 drivers from the United States will make the America’s Team at this year’s edition of the Rotax Grand Finals in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt on December 7-12. Labeled the ‘Olympics of Karting’ the 10th edition of the event will make a second return to Egypt, having hosted the event in 2003.
Today, EKN takes a look at the four representatives flying the USA colors in the DD2 division, battling for the world title. On December 7, EKN will examine the overall event with a breakdown on what the drivers from the United States will experience. eKartingNews.ca will provide Trackside Live coverage presented by WSK North American Series Florida Cup and will kick off with reports trackside on the United States and Canadian contingent December 8.
 | Cody Hodgson
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Cody Hodgson
Age: 18 (December 5)
Hometown: Escalon, California
Rotax Max Challenge Series: Northern Florida
Grand Nationals Finish: 1st
Leading the DD2 contingent for the United States will be newly-crowned Grand Nationals champion Cody Hodgson. The Californian, who was introduced to karting at the age of five while living in Hawaii, is a rising star in the North American karting scene. A two-time ProKart Challenge North S1 champion, Hodgson hooked up with Ocala Gran Prix to contest the DD2 division this season. The soon to be 18-year old was one of the quickest drivers at the Grand Nationals. Contact in the opening heat was Hodgson’s only blemish on his record, scoring fifth, first and second to start the Prefinal on the pole position. Though the Prefinal went smooth, Hodgson had to hold off a late-race challenge to score the Grand Nationals victory. In 2008, Hodgson was awarded a trip to compete in the prestigious Granja Viana 500 kart endurance race against some of the best motorsports drivers in the world. Hodgson is currently in Brazil again for a second straight year, scheduled to travel from there to Egypt just in time for the Grand Finals.
 | Troy Castenada
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Troy Castaneda
Age: 19
Hometown: Sacramento, California
Rotax Max Challenge Series: Northern California Rotax Challenge
Grand Nationals Finish: 2nd
Only in motorsports since 2004, Troy Castaneda is looking to make racing a life-long career. After attending the Jim Russell Karting School, Castaneda was hooked on the thrill of speed. In his first full season karting, Castaneda placed 10th at the Rotax Grand Nationals at South Bend in ’05. After a couple years running open-wheel cars, including events in Italy, Castaneda returned to karting in 2009. Campaigning a full season in DD2, the privateer is the current leader in the DD2 United States Rotax Kart Challenge National Points Standings, ended up second in the Challenge of the Americas point chase and earned the Northern California Rotax Challenge title. Castaneda was one of the favorites heading into the Grand Nationals and showed the speed to match the projections. Battling Hodgson to the final corner, Castaneda ended up second at the Grand Nationals. Now, he will focus on displaying his talents on the world stage in Egypt for the Grand Finals.
 | Thiago Parazinho
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Thiago Parazinho
Age: 24
Hometown: West Palm Beach, Florida
Rotax Max Challenge Series: South Florida
Grand Nationals Finish: 3rd
The only DD2 driver with Grand Finals experience will be Thiago Parazinho. The Brazilian transplant was the 2007 Rotax Grand Nationals champion in the Senior category, going on to finish 21st at Grand Finals in the United Arab Emirates. Unable to compete in 2009, Parazinho was back in ’09. Running into some contact early on, Parazinho was among the fast five each time on the track. Starting the Prefinal third, Parazinho spun around in the opening corner. Coming back to finish fourth, he was in prime position to battle for a podium spot. After a slip up at the start, Parazinho again had to battle back forward, working into the third spot comfortable and earning a second trip to the Grand Finals, this time as a DD2 competitor.
 | Mike Daniel
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Mike Daniel
Age: 50
Hometown: Newberg, Oregon
Rotax Max Challenge Series: Northwest Gold Cup - Gatorz Karting Cup
Grand Nationals Finish: 1st - Masters
Rotax Max Challenge USA Grand Nationals Masters champion Mike Daniel earned the wildcard spot on the 2009 America’s Team. The 50-year old from Oregon will compete in the DD2 category with a chance at putting USA back on the podium in the DD2 Masters division that runs within the 72-kart field. Daniel was on of the favorites entering this year’s Grand Nationals having won the Rotax Summer Shootout. After running near the top-five in the heat races, Daniel picked up the pace in the Prefinal to score the win. After leading the first half of the Final, Daniel was put back to second place where he would cross the line. Following the action in the tech barn, Daniel was awarded the Grand National victory that he had been fighting for since 2006. Though Daniels will be looked at as the old guy, the young drivers of Team USA may want to take note on how Daniels handles himself in Egypt. |
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