|
 |
|
 |
| December 10, 2010 News |
| eKartingNews.com Driver of the Month - Derek Crockett - November 2010 |
| |
 | Derek Crockett's dream of a SuperNats win came true with victory in S2 Semi-Pro Stock Moto
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
In a continued effort to highlight the many outstanding performances by drivers around the country, eKartingNews.com is proud to introduce the ‘Driver of the Month’ program. Each month, the staff at EKN will determine the one driver who stood out above the rest and give the viewers a chance to know exactly what they accomplished and who they are.
The Superkarts! USA SuperNationals has become THE event of the season to win over the course of its 14 year history. This year’s record-breaking event carried many personal stories, some ending in victory while others cut short in disappointment. One success story came in the S2 Semi-Pro Stock Moto category with Derek Crockett the star of the show. Entering the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas event second in the championship standings, Crockett put his fate in his own hands by dominating the category throughout the three-days of official action.
The event began with Crockett edging out young-gun Jake French for the pole position by a mere two-thousandths of a second. Crockett then piloted his GP kart to three straight heat wins, challenged only in the third heat as he lost the lead briefly to Nicky Freytag before taking back the position and scoring the win. With the three heat wins, the 22-year old positioned himself on the pole for the main event and in good position to earn the championship title. Crockett grabbed a great holeshot to lead the way with Freytag able to slot in behind. Freytag once again struck early, moving into the lead on lap three. Crockett settled in and measured up his rival, pulling the trigger with six laps to go as he drafted by for the lead into turn one. Freytag kept it close in the final circuits but Crockett was strong enough to hold the top spot. Crossing the line to earn the checkered flag, the win was Crockett’s first at the SuperNationals after several tries and the victory clinched his first national championship.
Derek opened up his own kart shop (Crockett Motorsports) at the end of the 2009 season, serving the Midwest area as a GP Kart dealer. His now one-year old operation is still in the growing stages, continuing to support Central States Challenge and local events through the 2010 season with more growth planed for the 2011 season. Crockett is on a small list of drivers to score SKUSA Pro Moto Tour, Rock Island Grand Prix and SKUSA Pro Tour victories in his career, and the addition of the SKUSA Pro Tour S2 champion only adds to the young driver’s resume.
 | Derek Crockett - EKN Driver of the Month - November 2010
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
November 2010 EKN Driver of the Month - Derek Crockett
Bio
Date of Birth: December 28, 1987
Hometown: Cahokia, IL
Marital Status: Not Married but in relationship
Height/Weight: 5’8” / 186 lbs
Education: Currently at Southwestern Illinois College - Administration of Justice
Job: Self Employed (Crockett Motorsports) also working for a local tow truck company at nights
Racing Resume
Chassis: GP
Engine/Engine Builder: 125 Stock Moto / SwedeTech
Sponsors: None, but working on it
Series You Compete In: SKUSA Pro Tour, SKUSA Central States Challenge
Years Karting: 13
How did you get started in karting? Family business sponsored a stock car and the guy’s brother was in karting and asked me if I would like to try it. So he built me a Birel kart with a 100cc Yamaha Rookie engine. The kart was about 5 or 6 years old at that time but there wasn’t any new karts back then so it really didn’t matter. Also they didn’t even have kid karts, tags, or shifters, it was only Yamahas or 4-strokes.
What has been the high point in your racing career? The highest point would have to be the past SuperNationals when I won. I’ve been running the SuperNationals for about 7 years or so and the closest I have been to winning was a 3rd place. Another big highlight was my Rock Island Grand Prix win in 2008.
What are your goals in racing? Just like any other driver, I would like to make a living driving something. I’m not really picky, but open wheel would be my number one pick. In karting my goals are to run up front in the pro class with the fastest kart drivers in the country.
In a few words, how would you describe your driving style? Pretty smooth and calm, but always room for improvements.
Funniest moment at the race track? It would have to be at New Castle when we ran Stars of Karting for a year. We weren’t running up front like we hoped so instead we just partied our ass off at night. We even called in a tattoo company and they came to the tack and gave 6 of us tattoos in our motor coach. Then to top that off we even shaved my mechanics hair into a mohawk. We were definitely the talk to the pits the next day.
Likes
Favorite Track: USA International Raceway - Shawano, WI
Favorite form of professional motorsports: Formula One, Supercross
Favorite karting driver: Daniel Bray
Favorite professional driver: Jamie McMurray
Favorite website: Would have to be ekartingnews.com, I look at it everyday
Favorite movie: The Hangover
Favorite actor/actress: Ben Stiller
Favorite music/group: Breaking Benjamin
Favorite vacation/activity spot: Cancun, Mexico
Favorite food: Chicken
The Real Deal
What do you do when not at the track? Go to the lake, ride dirt bikes, also work at the local Police Department
What are your goals outside of karting? To finish college, become a full-time police officer and also have a successful kart shop
What type of street car do you drive? Honda Accord and a Chevy Monte Carlo
What type of street car would you like to drive? Audi R8, Ferrari Realistically: BMW M3 newer or older
What are your pet peeves or things that irritate you? My mechanics make fun of me all of the time for this and they mess with me about it. But it is when you don’t cut off the extra piece on a zip-tie. I cant stand to have it just sticking out and flapping around.
What do you think could be done to improve the sport of karting? That is a hard question to answer. I think by getting it more televised and more advertisements outside of the karting world. The problem is that if you don’t know anyone in karting or not a part of the sport you wouldn’t know anything about it.
What are your favorite aspects about the sport of karting? How close competition is on the track but everyone talks and is friends off of the track. Also people that you meet all across the country or from around the world and now look forward to seeing them at the big races.
November Driver of the Month - Honorable Mention:
- Daniel Formal: Rotax Grand Finals (Italy) - Fifth (Senior)
- Nick Neri: Rotax Grand Finals (Italy) - Fifth (Junior)
- Daniel Morad: Rotax Grand Finals (Italy) - First (DD2)
- Scott Campbell: Rotax Grand Finals (Italy) - First (DD2 Masters) |
|
|
Go Top
|
|
|
|
|
