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| November 01, 2010 News |
| Rotax Grand Finals 2010 – Team USA Profile – DD2 |
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A total of 21 drivers from the United States will represent the ‘Red, White, and Blue’ at the Rotax Grand Finals 2010, which will be run at the La Conca International Circuit in Muro Leccese, Italy. Team USA will take on the rest of the world at the ‘Olympics of Karting’ on November 14-21, 2010 and they will be looking for their best national performance ever. Over the course of the next four days, eKartingNews.com will profile the roster for all four categories that will compete at the Grand Finals – DD2, Senior, Junior and the new DD2 Masters.
Today will begin with a look at the DD2 roster for Team USA. The squad is very strong this year, highlighted by two drivers who finished in the top-five at last year’s World Finals. 2010 could be the year that we see the American flag on top of the podium in the number one position. Three of the six drivers on Team USA return with Grand Finals experience and the rookies are hungry to prove themselves as well.
For complete coverage of Team USA at the Rotax Grand Finals, visit the Event Page.
 | Cody Hodgson
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
Cody Hodgson
Age: 18
Hometown: Escalon, California
Years Racing: 13
Rotax Max Series: Ocala Gran Prix/North Florida
Ticket to Grand Finals: 1st – US Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals
Leading the Team USA DD2 roster will be two-time defending US Rotax Max Challenge Grand National champion Cody Hodgson. The Californian became the first American to stand on the podium in the DD2 category in the event’s history, placing third last year. Driving for Ocala Gran Prix/Tony Kart the past two seasons, Hodgson has added two national titles and a world podium to his resume. The 2009 EKN Driver of the Year nominee is currently competing in the Northern California oval-ranks, looking to further his racing opportunities. Putting a world karting championship on his CV could certainly help his cause.
 | Troy Castaneda
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
Troy Castaneda
Age: 20
Hometown: Sacramento, California
Years Racing: 7
Rotax Max Series: Challenge of the Americas
Ticket to Grand Finals: 1st – Challenge of the Americas
Californian Troy Castaneda has as good of a chance as Hodgson to grab the podium or win in this year’s event. Coming from 34th on the main event grid, Castaneda drove to an impressive fifth place finish at last year’s Rotax Grand Finals in Egypt. After earning the Challenge of the Americas title in March to secure his return ticket to the Grand Finals, Castaneda spent the summer campaigning the Rotax Pan American Challenge in Senior, finishing fifth in the standings in a highly-contested championship chase. The CRG driver will be looking to leave Italy with some hardware, adding to an already impressive racing resume.
 | Derek Wang
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Derek Wang
Age: 32
Hometown: Kirkland, Washington
Years Racing: 4
Rotax Max Series: Gatorz Karting – Northwest Gold Cup
Ticket to Grand Finals: 1st – Rotax Pan American Challenge
Earning one ticket to the Grand Finals is hard enough, but winning two is an accomplishment. Washington’s Derek Wang did just that in 2010. Recording a second place finish at the Rotax Grand Nationals in July, Wang locked himself on Team USA. In October, however, the Rolison Performance Group/CRG driver earned the Rotax Pan American Challenge DD2 title and was forced to use that ticket to Italy. While this will be Derek’s first trip to the Grand Finals, he along with Castaneda spent a few days in the summer at La Conca, getting in some early testing.
 | Nathan Mauel
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Nathan Mauel
Age: 26
Hometown: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Years Racing: 14
Rotax Max Series: Southwest Regions Cup
Ticket to Grand Finals: 3rd – US Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals
The most experienced ‘Rotaxian’ on the DD2 roster is Nathan Mauel. The Oklahoma driver will be making his fifth trip to the Grand Finals as part of Team USA (2003, 2005, 2006, 2008). While Mauel has shown to have speed to run with the favorites, bad luck has hit Mauel more than once. His performance at the Grand Nationals was a solid effort and could lead to his best results at the Grand Finals. Having taken part in the ’08 event, the longtime CRG driver is familiar with the La Conca circuit.
 | Mitch Carey
(Photo: James Carey) |
James ‘Mitch’ Carey
Age: 16
Hometown: Parker, Colorado
Years Racing: 4
Rotax Max Series:
Ticket to Grand Finals: 5th – US Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals
Carey, originally from California and now residing in Colorado, will make his first start at the Rotax Grand Finals. With Wang taking his ticket via the Pan Am and Marc Miller (fourth at the Grand Nationals) declining to take the spot, the Arrow pilot was given the opportunity to compete at this year’s event thanks to his fifth place at the Rotax Grand Nationals in July. Carey made his DD2 debut last year and was the top qualifier at the event in Norman, Oklahoma – eventually finishing eighth. Now with more seat time in the DD2 package, Carey is looking to have a great experience in Italy.
 | Andy Dunne
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Andy Dunne
Age: 16
Hometown: Westmont, Illinois
Years Racing: 4
Rotax Max Series: MRP Rotax Challenge
Ticket to Grand Finals: 4th – Rotax Pan American Challenge (Senior)
One of the rising stars in American karting is Andy Dunne. The 16-year old Andersen Racing driver has been a solid front-runner the past two years in the Rotax category. In contention for a podium finish at last year’s Grand Nationals, a flat tire ended his shot. Dunne was in position again this year, driving to fourth in the main event at New Castle. Dunne’s resume from 2010 sees him currently holding the 10th spot in the EKN TaG Driver Rankings. Dunne earns his ticket after Wesley Phillips declined to take his spot via the Pan Am and with no other drivers in DD2 available for the spot Dunne was awarded the trip with his fourth place in the Senior championship and is sure to adjust to the DD2 package quickly. |
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