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| May 14, 2010 News |
| EKN Trackside: WSK North American Series by CKI - Phoenix Preview |
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The second round of the inaugural WSK North American Series, promoted by Championship Karting International (CKI), is set to take place this weekend at the Phoenix Kart Racing Association (PKRA) karting facility located on the north side of the Arizona city. The teams and drivers are now in the paddock as Friday practice is underway.
The CKI organization is building off the momentum from their opening round at New Castle Motorsports Park in April and the CKI Florida Cup this past winter. Now working in partnership with WSK Promotions, the round in Phoenix and the third event, scheduled for the end of July, will lead into the first WSK World Series event to be held on US soil - at the New Jersey Motorsports Park during the first weekend of August.
This weekend, the WSK North American Series will make its first visit to the PKRA facility in Glendale. The PKRA track is a 12-turn, 3/4-mile circuit that has hosted a number of national, regional and club events in its history.
 | The Phoenix Kart Racing Association (PKRA) facility
(Credit: pkra.com) |
Continuing a series program that made its debut at the New Castle opener, the CKI 'First-Time Entrants' offer will be welcomed once again. Ten competitors who have never entered a WSK North American Series or CKI event before will have the opportunity to win a sponsorship package that includes CKI-paid entries back at their home track or series by competing at the WSK North American Series event in Phoenix. The 10 drivers that score the most points of the first-time entrants will receive sponsorship from CKI, with the organization distributing over $3,000 back to karters at New Castle to use toward competing in the home club, regional, or divisional programs. More drivers are expected to make their WSK North American Series debut and be supported under the CKI umbrella.
CKI will also be establishing the Team Incentive Program in Phoenix. Teams that bring four to seven entries will receive a commission equal to 10% of the total entry fee paid for by their team. Teams that bring eight or more drivers will receive a commission equal to 15% of the total entry fee paid for by their team.
Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving - the Official Kart Racing School of CKI - hosted an open house at their Chandler, AZ facility. Vice President and General Manager of the Bondurant SuperKart School Alan Rudolph hosted a personal tour for drivers and their parents and the vehicles, discussing the Bondurant Championship Race Series and its prize packages, and answering questions about their recently announced Driver Search program that will reward the winner with a full season in the 2011 Bondurant Championship Series. Rudolph also provided hot laps to everyone who attended on the Bondurant track - the same course used to train hundreds of professional drivers.
 | Arie Ouimet and Joey Wimsett will look to stay 1-2 in the KF2 division
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
The KF2 category has defending CKI national champion Arie Ouimet (SSC East/CRG) at the top of the standings following his double feature win at New Castle. The 2008 eKartingNews.com Rising Star was challenged both days by Phil DeLaO (Team Top Kart USA) and Joey Wimsett (SSC East/CRG). DeLaO had the speed but the racing gremlins kept him from completing both finals. Wimsett was unable to match Ouimet’s speed, running second to him both days. DeLaO, a Phoenix resident, should have the home track advantage on his side if he can keep everything together throughout the weekend to boost him back into the championship chase. All three will be battling for the $1,750 cash purse as well.
Sweeping the New Castle weekend in TaG Senior was Californian Neil Alberico. His Kartel Motorsports/Wild Kart entry was on rails throughout the weekend as no one was able to challenge him for the victory either day. Indiana native Kyle Wiegand (Team Top Kart USA) struggled throughout the weekend, ending the event on a high note with his stellar performance in the Sunday Final to help him sit second in the standings behind Alberico. Senior rookie Taylor Miinch (Team Top Kart USA) did not show the speed expected from the rising star, however, sitting third in the title chase he is sure to step up the pace in Phoenix. A number of local drivers are expected to compete and should be the wildcard on the weekend’s results. The same cash prize will be up for grabs with Alberico looking to cash in another $1,000 check for the event winner award.
Alessandra Madrigal and Mason Chelootz split the victories at round one in the KF3 category, both showing to be the class of the field. Chelootz (Team Top Kart USA) struck first on Saturday however ran into issues Sunday that cost him a solid finish. Madrigal (J3 Competition/Kosmic) picked up the pieces to cruise to victory on Sunday, helping her claim the top spot in the standings. Raquel Martinez (Team Top Kart USA) was in the mix both days, scoring second on Saturday and was looking for podium on Sunday until contact put her on the sidelines. She will look to join Madrigal as the only female drivers to win in CKI competition.
 | Neil Alberico dominated in New Castle and will look for the same in Phoenix
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Both Madrigal and Martinez are chasing Camden Geise as the SSC East/CRG driver scored both feature victories at New Castle in the Leopard Junior division. Madrigal had the lead going into the final corner until her throttle linkage broke, handing the win to Geise. On Sunday, Geise drove his way to the front with Madrigal placing second once again. Martinez and Sebastian Ordonez (RDD Motorsports/Kart Mini) spilt the third place duties and will be looking to gain more points on the top two. The field will see a number of new competitors in Phoenix with a number of local drivers and Californians making their series debut.
The question in the Rotax Mini Max class will be if anyone can stop Dalton Sargeant. Sweeping the opening round in New Castle, the RDD Motorsports/Kart Mini driver will be the target in Phoenix. Sargeant will be chased by DeFrancesco Racing/FA Kart drivers Patricio O’Ward and Devlin DeFrancesco along with his teammate and brother Logan Sargeant. Joining the fight will be west coast standout Parker Thompson (Tony Kart West). In Comer Cadet, Zane Smith (Team Top Kart USA) scored the double victory at round one and will look for the same at round two. Chasing him in the points thus far are Blaine Rocha (Kartel Motorsports/Wild Kart) and Hunter Corbitt (Team Top Kart USA). Thompson is scheduled to compete in this class as well, looking to crash the party in the Comer Cadet class.
eKartingNews.com will be Trackside throughout the weekend, provided in the preeminent coverage of the event from Phoenix. Practice will be run all day Friday, with the final two sessions to be recorded. EKN will post the unofficial results in the Official Discussion Thread for those sessions, along with every on-track session Saturday and Sunday. A daily report is to be published each night along with photos from On Track Promotions. |
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