|
 |
|
 |
| January 13, 2010 News |
| Presentation of 2009 US Rotax Max Challenge National Points Champions - Mini Max |
| |
In cooperation with the US Rotax Max Challenge program, eKartingNews.com will be presenting the champions and top-10 of the six Rotax categories that make up the National Points Standings. Over the next six weeks, we will examine one class per week to highlight those who were able to score highest in the points standings in 2009. This system ranks every US Rotax Max Challenge member that competes in any official Rotax program throughout the United States. The points system was developed in 2007 by National Race Director Marshall Martin, using a weight factor based on the number of registered members in each class in a series. Bonus points were available for each competitor, if a minimum number of racers competed for the event and if two or more series raced together. While only head to head competition can determine true champions, and that is what is done at the US Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals each year, you will see that the many of the top-10 drivers in each class were also found at the top of the charts at the 2009 USRMC Grand Nationals.
Mini Max
The second class for our top-10 presentations is Mini Max. In the category for 9-12 year old drivers, the Mini Max class is the fastest class with a 125cc restricted 2 cycle motor producing 13.6 horsepower. The design of the class is to teach drivers and pit crews the importance of driver ability and chassis tuning. As with the Micro Max class, a spec gear eliminates one element of tuning and allows for concentration on the areas where the biggest on track gains can be made. Each year the competition level in this class increases as the skill levels of both drivers and tuners grow.
With the introduction of the Micro Max class in 2008, an expected drop in the number of Mini Max drivers nationwide was expected, however, this turned out not to happen. The Mini Max class in 2009 actually grew by 8%. This growth is the result of drivers from other categories in karting recognizing the level playing field the Rotax series offers, spending money for on track testing rather than in the motor shop.
Leading the 2010 National Points Championship was Dalton Sargeant. Joining his brother Logan in the Micro Max class, the RDD team swept the two youngest categories for the 2009 US Rotax Max Challenge National Points Championship. Following Dalton was Jordan Perry, only six points behind, giving the South Florida Rotax Max Challenge at Homestead Karting in Florida a 1-2 sweep. Completing the top-10 were five drivers from the Southwest Regions Cup, plus two drivers from the Californian Gatorz Karting Cup and the lone lady in the top-10, Hanna Zellers from the MRP series in Indiana.
Looking throughout the ranks of the Mini Max class are a number of drivers who will move up to the Junior class this year but don’t think the competition will lessen as a number of Micro Max drivers will move into the Mini Max category to challenge for the 2010 titles in both the USRMC National Points Standings and USRMC Grand Nationals. The one definite thing looking into the new season is the competition will be just as intense.
 | Dalton Sargeant
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
1. Dalton Sargeant
Hometown: Deerfield Beach, Florida
Series: South Florida Rotax Max Challenge
Points: 1245
The Sargeant brothers were able to sweep the lower age categories in the National Points Standings as Logan took care of Micro and Dalton was the top driver in Mini. Dalton is a three year veteran of the Mini Max category getting his start in the South Florida program at his home track of Homestead-Miami Speedway back in 2007. Last year, Sargeant was again a front runner in the Florida program and transferred that to recordd a runner-up at the Rotax Summer Shootout and sixth at the US Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals. This year, Sargeant went on to finish the Florida Winter Tour third in the points before scoring the victory at the Rotax Summer Shootout. The Grand Nationals were not so friendly as the Kart Mini driver started 26th but managed to advance up to ninth with an impressive run toward the front.
 | Jordan Perry
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
2. Jordan Perry
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Series: South Florida Rotax Max Challenge
Points: 1205
Second in the US Rotax Max Challenge National Points Standings is Jordan Perry. The Homestead Karting/Playthings Racing driver finished the season second in the South Florida Rotax Max Challenge program, leading to 14th finish at the USA Grand Nationals. Perry’s favorite drivers are Michael Schumacher and Dale Earnhardt Jr. When not racing, Jordan races BMX bikes and spends time with family and friends. Jordan’s biggest karting achievement thus far has been the opening weekend at the Florida Winter Tour when he scored the pole position both days, earning the feature win on day one, helping him go on to finish fourth in the standings. Perry’s sponsors are Homestead Karting, Playthings Racing, Auto Craze, Permik Steel Erectors, Snap-on Tools, Deel Volvo and Dave Davies at SSC East.
 | Patricio O'Ward
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
3. Patricio O’Ward
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Series: Southwest Regional Cup
Points: 1195
Patricio O’Ward, the 2009 Southwest Regional Cup Mini Max Champion, is third on the National Points Standings list. The 10 year-old from San Antonio, TX was the ‘08 USA Grand Nationals Champion in the Micro Max class, moving up to the Mini Max class in 2009. In 2007, O’Ward also earned the Mexican Easykart 60cc championship and the Mexican Rotax Grand Champion in Mini Max. O’Ward scored a runner up finish at this year’s Grand Nationals, coming up just 0.054-seconds short of the title. Patricio is a factory driver for Arrow Racing Karts, with support from BTK Motorsports, SuperTune USA, Paradise Racing and WD Corporation. With a few more years left in the Mini Max category, expect to see O’Ward at the top of the charts.
 | Cole Glasson
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
4. Cole Glasson
Hometown: Corinth, Texas
Series: Southwest Regional Cup
Points: 1061
Cole Glasson is just 9 year-old hailing from Corinth, TX. Glasson, fourth in the National Points Standings, is a driver for the Alonso Kart USA race team in 2009, coached and tuned by DJ Ortiz of Kart Racing Solutions. Cole has been racing karts since age 5, earning victories at the 2008 KART National Championships in Cadet and also earned a ‘Duffy’ by winning the 2009 IKF Road Racing Grand Nationals in the Mini Max class. Cole finished ninth at this year’s US Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals. Glasson is supported by Frozen Fire Films, Glasson Racing, Kart Racing Solutions, Tyler Web Design, and Defrancesco Racing.
 | Blake Dunkleberg
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
5. Blake Dunkleberg
Hometown: Simi Valley, California
Series: Gatorz Karting Cup
Points: 1040
Fifth on the National Points Standings for the US Rotax Max Challenge is Blake Dunkleberg. He started racing in 2006 when he was about 10 years-old. In 2008, Dunkleberg ran his first Mini Max season and finished second in the Gatorz Karting Cup season championship, finishing inside the top-three in five of the eight races. In 2009, his goal was to win races during the season and make it to the Grand Nationals. Winning three races on the Gatorz tour helped him earn the season title. At the nationals, Dunkleberg was in the top-five all weekend however the Final did not go as plan, getting hit from behind in the first corner. Dunkleberg would like to thank Premier Motorsports and his family for their support in 2009.
 | | Allyn Hewitt |
6. Allyn Hewitt
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Series: Southwest Regional Cup
Points: 1007
Allyn "Bucky" Hewitt, the number seven driver in the Mini Max National Points Standings, started kart racing in 2007. Bucky is 12 years-old and is a member of the Kart Nation/SRR Race Team based at the MSR Houston kart track in Angleton, TX. Bucky's sponsors are Hyperfuels, L H Brazilian Gems, Petrogas Environmental Systems.
 | | Royal McKee |
7. Royal McKee
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada
Series: Gatorz Karting Cup
Points: 973
Royal McKee, seventh in the US Rotax Max Challenge National Points Standings, started racing Kid Karts at the age of 7 going on to win the Las Vegas X-Plex Championship. The next year, he won the Las Vegas Kart Club championship and competed in the IKF Kid Kart class, winning three events and becoming the first ever IKF Kid Kart Grand National Champion. After turning 9, Royal moved into the Rotax Mini Max class winning three Gatorz Karting Cup events. This year was Royal's first full season in the Mini Max category - winning the LVKC championship, placing 3rd in the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas standings and second in the Gatorz Karting Cup series. McKee is sponsored by CRG, SSC Racing and Elegant Homes.
 | | Hanna Zellers |
8. Hanna Zellers
Hometown: Granger, Indiana
Series: MRP Rotax Max Challenge
Points: 969
The lone female in the US Rotax Max Challenge National Points Standings Mini Max top-10 is Hanna Zellers. She is a 7th grade student from Granger, Indiana. While the other girls spend their weekends doing whatever, Hanna heads to the track. Running both Mini Max and Yamaha Sportsman, she captured 20 poles during the course of the season and 27 times she set fast lap in the finals of her classes at the Michiana Raceway Park. In addition, she captured 26 Pre Final/Final wins, 43 top-three Pre Final/Final finishes. In her short career, she has some very good accomplishments to brag about; 2008 MRP Junior Driver of the Year, 2009 MRP Rotax Mini Max and Yamaha Sportsman class champion. Hanna was also the first female in the ultra competitive Florida Winter Tour Micro Max Class in 2008 and placed 8th in the series standings. Next up for Hanna will be moving up to the Junior category in 2010.
 | Derek Scott Jr.
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
9. Derek Scott Jr.
Hometown: Franklin, Texas
Series: Southwest Regional Cup
Points: 964
Ninth in the US Rotax Max Challenge Mini Max National Points Standings is Derek Scott Jr. The 10 year-old is a member of the Gulf Coast Karters kart club in Katy, TX, which he calls his home track. Derek started racing karts at 8 years-old in the TaG Cadet class. Derek was the 2009 Southwest Regional Cup TaG Cadet champion and won first place eight of 10 races. Scott also finished third in the Mini Max category as well. Derek is supported by Derek Scotts Motorsports and 3G Kart Racing.
 | Michael Schneider
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
10. Michael Schneider
Hometown: Lake Dallas, Texas
Series: Southwest Regional Cup
Points 950
Driving the #2 Tornado Cadet Mini Max, Michael Schneider rounded out the top-10 of the US Rotax Max Challenge Mini Max National Points Standings. At age 10, Schneider has over 5 years of racing experience. He has earned a national title, two regional titles and most recently the 2009 IKF Region 4b Road Race Champion. Schneider began his racing career placing second in his first race - a three-hour Kid Kart enduro at the North Texas Kartway in Denton, Texas, his home track. The following year, he obtained a sponsorship with Cold Stone Creamery and as a result, his smooth mistake free driving under pressure obtained the nickname ‘Ice Man’ following a win at the KART Nationals. At 7, he moved to TaG Cadet and became the Regional Champion his first year. At 8, Mike moved up again to Rotax where he has had much success at an early age. A couple of tough breaks in Norman during the US Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationalskept him from running up front, but Mike is looking forward to 2010. |
|
|
Go Top
|
|
|
|
|
