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| March 17, 2010 News |
| EKN Awards 2009: Team of the Year - J3 Competition |
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 | | Team of the Year - J3 Competition |
Over a six-week period from early February to late March, the eKartingNews.com Awards 2009 program will honor six winners in as many categories as one winner will be announced each week, beginning on February 17. The staff at the website produced five nominations for each of the six categories and then gave EKN’s viewers two weeks to submit their ballots to determine the winners in each category. The votes have now been tabulated and EKN is proud to release the winner of each category.
One definition of the word ‘team’ states “a number of persons associated in some joint action”. When you observe the inner workings of J3 Competition, you can see the definition come to life as all of the squad’s team members constantly strive to put all their drivers on top of the podium.
Led by Jim Giacomelli, John Giacomelli, and Justin Stefani, the North American Kosmic Racing Team always presents themselves in the most professional manner in the paddock and produces the results on-track with their drivers. The combination of veteran leadership and talented pilots helped them earn numerous championships and victories in 2009.
The top three drivers for J3 Competition in 2009 were Richard Benitez, Tristan DeGrand, and Alessandra Madrigal. The trio combined to earn a number of titles and wins, beginning with the Florida Winter Tour Formula Kart program. Each scored a title while competing in two classes apiece. Benitez was the champ in the stacked TaG Senior division while finishing third in the tough KF2 field. DeGrand topped a strong KF3 grid with Madrigal earning the vice-champion role. It was an impressive J3 one-two. Madrigal would earn her crown in the stout TaG Junior division with DeGrand ending up third in the standings with the two hoarding five of the six feature wins. Madrigal also scored solid results in the international Rotax Junior field, placing sixth in the final standings.
In March and April, DeGrand and Madrigal each scored double podium results in their final Stars of Karting outings. DeGrand ran second and third in KF3 and Junior National at Ocala Gran Prix while Madrigal matched the same results at Infineon Raceway.
DeGrand led the squad through the inaugural Championship Karting International series as he stood on the podium in all four feature races in the KF3 division. Scoring two wins, including the finale in Oklahoma, DeGrand claimed the first national KF3 title. Benitez challenged for the title in the KF2 category, standing on the podium in New Jersey, ending up third in the final tally. Madrigal ran a limited CKI schedule, competing in the final two events. She shined at the Grand Championships where she became the first female to win in CKI competition, winning the IAME Junior feature, while finishing second in KF2. DeGrand also competed in IAME Junior and after a tough initial outing, he finished second to Madrigal at the season ender.
Off the track, the J3 Competition crew looked and played the part of a professional karting operation. A solid trackside set-up, including displays of their chassis and kart racing products, helped set J3 Competition apart from others in the paddock. The unity amongst the team is another strong point under their tent, with drivers and crew members going above and beyond to help each other out throughout the race weekend.
eKartingNews.com would like to congratulate J3 Competition for being named the Team of the Year for 2009.
Former Team of the Year Award Winners
2008 - Team Top Kart USA
2007 - Champion Racing/Intrepid USA
2006 - Champion Racing/Leading Edge Motorsports
2005 - First Kart North America
2004 - Italian Motors
2003 - MRP Motorsport
2002 - Extreme Karting
2001 - Leading Edge Motorsports
2000 - Trackmagic Racing
1999 - Shift Kart / KLS Racing
Click over to the EKN Awards 2009 page for all information on this year's program |
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