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| Features |
| Presentation of 2009 US Rotax Max Challenge National Points Champions |
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US Rotax Max Challenge
National Points Standings
2009 Champions
 | Troy Castaneda
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
DD2
The 2009 DD2 and DD2 Masters is the last of six classes for our Top-10 presentations. The numbers in this class have never been huge but the competition is just as intense as any other class. At the 2009 Grand Nationals, DD2 drivers provided one of the most exciting finishes. Troy Castaneda, the 2009 USRMC National Points Champion, finished second, battling for the win right to the finish line. At the Rotax Grand Finals in Egypt, he made the drive of the event in the final starting 34th after a crash in the Pre-Final to finish fifth against the best in the world. Joining Troy in the Top-10 are Nevada driver Kyle Gimple and Matt Ostiguy a fellow Californian.
With the addition of a Masters classification, there are 7 of the Top-10 coming from the Masters group with David Arnstein the DD2 Masters Champion. Second place in the Masters group is well know DD2 driver January Grove, a veteran in this class and a competitor at the 2006 Rotax Grand Finals.
Looking towards the 2010 championship race, the DD2 Masters will be listed as a separate classification as the weight for this class has been increased and a new DD2 Masters class has also been included for competition at the Rotax Grand Finals. This group should show the largest increase in numbers in the new season.
Full story
 | Erik Jackson
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Senior
The 2009 Senior Max class is a list of ‘who’s who’ in karting and competition at the highest level. As we continue to see the growth of the program every year, more of the top drivers in the country join the mix to vie for a spot representing the USA at the Rotax Grand Finals. All of these drivers want to compete against the best in the country and to win an opportunity to compete on the world stage. As the 2009 USRMC National Points Standings evolved over the season, we saw several of the top drivers making the trip to Oklahoma and competing for the win.
We can copy and paste the statement from other classes that the Senior Max Top-10 class of 2009 stretches to all four corners of the United States with one exception minus a representative from the Florida area. Leading the 2010 Senior class is National Points Champion Californian Erik Jackson, a consistent threat to win any event. Following Erik is Oregon resident Joey Wimsett and another California driver Gregory Liefooghe. Rounding out the top are Palmer Adams from Georgia and the third California driver Dylan Stalker. All the way thru the top 10 you see some of the best the US has to offer.
Looking towards the new season, the USRMC has a group of graduating Junior drivers with a lot of talent that will compete alongside the veteran Senior Max members, making 2010 looking very interesting. The new season promises to bring some tough competition for both the USRMC National Points Standings and the USRMC Grand Nationals in July.
Full Story
 | David Busby
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Masters
The Masters class, seen by some as the gentlemen of the series, provides a unique level of racing. Not as aggressive as the younger categories, the Masters division is more conscious about getting up on Monday morning to go to work. But, if anyone thinks this attitude provides any less competitive racing, think again. What these fellows lack in aggressiveness, they more than make up for in cunning and experience. If you leave a door open, 4 or 5 of them will go thru it before you can blink. When you look at the roster of Masters drivers you see names that seen as if they have been around forever, and some of them have.
This is another class that touches all corners of the country. Leading the way is David Busby, a competitor at both the LAKC and Gatorz Rotax Max Challenges. A couple of boys from Alabama come in second and third followed by drivers from California, Michigan, Indiana, Florida, New Hampshire and Georgia. A true national class, that always provides some unique racing. I should mention that #6 driver Dave Gildersleeve is the elderly statesman of the group at age 63, but when he puts on the helmet, don’t think his age will give you any advantage.
Full Story
 | Jake French
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Junior
Class number three of the 2009 US Rotax Max Challenge National Points Standings Championship is the Junior Max. Anytime you place a group of 12-15 year-old talented, fearless young men on the track it will be exciting. In this group, we count six former Mini Max champions from previous US Grand Nationals or other major Rotax competitions. Three of the top-10 drivers finished in the top positions at the 2009 US Grand Nationals and represented the US at the Rotax Grand Finals in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt. First and fifth drivers are from the state of Texas while second and third place drivers are from the MRP Rotax Max Challenge Series. The rest of the top 10 was represented by drivers from North and South Florida and California. This is another class that shows the competition in the Rotax series stretches from coast to coast. Each year, the talent pool in the Junior class keeps getting stronger and it will happen again in 2010. A number of Junior drivers are advancing to Seniors, being replaced by a very talented group of 2009 Mini Max drivers. It will be interesting to watch as the 2010 season develops to see what new faces will be on the list of 2010 USRMC National Points Standings.
Full Story
 | Dalton Sargeant
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Mini Mix
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.
Full Story
 | | Logan Sargeant |
Micro Max
The newest Rotax Max Challenge USA class - Micro Max - grew over 500% in competitors from 2008 to 2009. As an exhibition class for the second year at the USA Grand Nationals, 21 competitors took the track in Norman, Oklahoma this year. In the National Points chase, 70 Micro Max competitors recorded points with Logan Sargeant being crowned as the 2009 Rotax Max Challenge USA Micro Max National Points Champion. Combining this with his dominating victory at the 2009 USA Grand Nationals, Logan captured the top two Micro Max competitions’ in the United States. Three different Rotax Max Challenge USA programs are represented in the top-10 as well. In addition to Logan, three of his South Florida competitors captured spots in the top-10. The MRP and SWRC are both represented with three members each. As this class continues to grow, we can expect the number of series represented in the top-10 to increase and the points spread between the competitors to decrease.
Full Story |
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