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| July 23, 2011 News |
| EKN Trackside: United States Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals - Saturday Report |
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For complete coverage, click over to the EKN Event Page
 | Nick Neri will lead Team USA with his victory in Senior
(Photo: Cody Schindel - Autosports Media Group) |
The final day of action went into the books on the 2011 edition of the United States Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals presented by Ocala Gran Prix. The Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah was the perfect destination for hosting 206 drivers from all across the United States and Jamaica to crown this year’s seven national champions. On top of the honor of winning a title, eight spots for the coveted Team USA to participate at the Rotax Grand Finals in the United Arab Emirates were up for grabs. Leading the way on Championship Saturday were Nick Neri, Kristina Vorndran and Dalton Sargeant all earning a piece of history and will lead the squad come November.
Senior
The field got through the opening corners to begin the 15-lap Prefinal with Tristan DeGrand (Kosmic) holding the lead through the first corners. Nick Neri (Tony Kart) and Joey Wimsett (CRG) battled for second and made contact in turn 10. This put defending champion Stepanova Nekeel (Kosmic), Jesus Rios Jr. (Birel), Daniel Formal (Birel) and Connor Thomas (Arrow) through with Wimsett back to seventh and Neri outside the top-20. Also in the same corner, NASCAR’s AJ Allmendinger (Arrow) went for a wild ride, making a complete 360 in the air after contact with another driver. Once back on four wheels, he continued on at the tail of the field. Out front, DeGrand continued to show the way with Nekeel and Rios exchanging the challenger position. Lap five, Nekeel took the second spot for good and began closing in on DeGrand in the lead position with 2009 champion Phillip Arscott (Kosmic) the driver on the move - up to fifth spot by lap six. On lap six, Nekeel took over the lead from DeGrand with a move into turn 10. Arscott continued charging forward, working by Rios with a strong run into turn one as he continued to be one of the quickest karts on the track. Lap 11, Arscott had found his way to the bumper of DeGrand, making an attempt in turn one but the rookie held of his advance. He would complete the move as they started lap 12, now into the challenger position behind his fellow Pacific Northwest driver. Formal’s race ended on the same lap, following contact he pulled off with a flat right rear tire, putting him 32nd on the grid for the main event. Lap 13, DeGrand looked to regain the second spot back but the attempt failed, allowing Rios to take advantage and steal the third spot from him as they had two laps to go. Nekeel would go on to take the win by seven-tenths ahead of Arscott. Rios, DeGrand and Sam Beasley (Arrow) - up from 16th - capped off the top-five. Neri made a great comeback drive as he came from outside the top-20 up to eighth on the final lap, crossing behind Kiel Spaulding (Tony Kart) and Wimsett with Wes Phillips (CRG) and Thomas rounding out the top-10. Things changed in the tech barn as Nekeel was removed from the classifications due to a carburetion issue with his engine. That put him shotgun on the field for the main event with everyone moving up one spot on the grid.
 | Kristina Vorndran became the first female US Rotax Grand Nationals DD2 champion
(Photo: Cody Schindel - Autosports Media Group) |
The last main event of the event saved the best for last with the Senior categories 20-lap battle. After a clean start, Arscott, DeGrand, Spaulding, Rios and Beasley made up the early top five. Beasley made the charge forward first, up to third in a matter of two laps. Next to move forward was Neri, who started eighth. By lap five, Neri had posted the fast lap of the race and closed up on the leaders Arscott, DeGrand and Beasley. They would run that way until lap 12 when Arscott was drafted by Neri and Beasley into turn one, and then Beasley quickly disposed of Neri for the lead through turn two. More shuffling the following lap put Neri and Beasley out front by a few kart lengths over DeGrand and Arscott. DeGrand would cut into the gap by lap 15, running the fast lap of the race to make it a three kart lead pack. Through the final corners, Beasley kept close to Neri but was unable to make a move. At the line, Neri scored his first Grand Nationals victory as a Senior driver - and the first to win Mini, Junior and Senior. Beasley was just 0.093-seconds behind at the line, earning his second straight trip to the Grand Finals. DeGrand crossed the line in third but was removed in tech due to a clutch issue. That put Arscott on the final podium step with Spaulding and Wimsett capping off the top-five. Thomas completed a solid event in sixth with Nekeel overcoming the DQ in the Prefinal to finish seventh. Rios Jr. dropped back to eight in the final order with Phillips and Roberti capping off the top-10.
DD2/DD2 Masters
Three-time heat winner Derek Wang (Kosmic) and Bronson Eggert (Birel) led the DD2 field to the green flag to begin their 15-lap Prefinal. Wang broke away as the lights went out to begin the race with Eggert passed by TJ Fischer (Birel) and Kristina Vorndran (CRG) in the opening corner. As they cross the line for the first time, Wang held a 1.1-second gap over Fischer with Eggert back to fifth as Nathaniel Mauel (Kosmic) made a move for position in turn 11. Lap two, Eggert regained the fourth spot through the first corner and set up on the bumper of Vorndran. Eggert tried to move by Vorndran in turn one and pushed wide, allowing both Mitch Carey (Arrow) and Mauel around for position. Eggert would later retire on lap six with a flat tire. In the later portion of the race, Fischer and Vorndran were the quicker drivers, closing in on Wang with Mauel and Carey trailing. At the checkered, Wang took the win by two-tenths over Fischer with Vorndran - recording the fast lap of the race in third, Mauel fourth and Carey fifth. Michael Ostrowski (Birel) went wire-to-wire for DD2 Masters over Erik Jackson (Arrow), Andre Eriksen (CRG), DJ Ortiz (Tony Kart) and Conrad Park (CRG).
 | Michael Ostrowski held off an early challenge to score the DD2 Masters title
(Photo: Cody Schindel - Autosports Media Group) |
A nice and steady formation for the DD2 field began the 20-lap main event. Wang jumped out front with Vorndran up to second and Fischer back to third. Vorndran set the quicker lap in the second circuit and even quicker on lap three to close up on the bumper of Wang. Behind them, a battle for third formed with Fischer and Mauel dicing it out for the final podium position. Behind those battles was the first challenge of Ostrowski all week as Jackson moved into the lead of the Masters category for the first time with defending champion Todd Ulmen (CRG) right there after a DNF in the Prefinal. At the halfway point, Wang continued to show the way over Vorndran, who kept the pressure up as Ostrowski was back into the lead for the Masters category. Lap 10, Vorndran made her move, diving inside at turn 11 to take over the lead position from Wang. Out in front, Vorndran set the fast lap of the race to stretch out a seven-tenths lead over Wang as the fight for third closed in on him. Wang struck back on lap 16, posting the new fast lap of the race before she matched it once again. At the checkered, Vorndran scored the national championship by 1.325-seconds, becoming the first female driver to win the DD2 title. Wang repeated his runner-up finish from last year to rejoin Team USA along with Vorndran with Fischer edging out Mauel for the final podium position. Ostrowski drove away once he retook the lead, going on to score a perfect event for the title over runner-up Jackson. Last year’s champ Ulmen had to settle for the third step of the podium in the category. Due to his age, Ostrowski was not awarded the ticket to the Grand Finals, thus handing Jackson his spot he earned with Ulmen taking the other ticket.
Masters
The top two throughout the week thus far - John Crow (Tony Kart) and Jerry Henderson (Tony Kart) - paced the field to the green light with 31 total drivers making up the field. Crow held the pole position through the first turn with Scott Falcone (Arrow) following through to put Henderson back to third. Henderson pressured through turns 10 and 11, allowing Crow to gap the field by half a second in the opening circuit. Bonnier Moulton (Arrow) and Scott Holmboe (Swiss Hutless) joined the lead group with Mike Daniel (Arrow) and Andy Seesemann (Arrow) - up from 11th - into the seventh spot to lead the second group. Falcone kept the pressure on Crow, running for the first time as the lead challenger all week with Henderson keeping him honest. They shuffled it up through turns 10 and 11 on lap four, allowing Holmboe to jump from fourth to second. The racing continued to heat up on lap five with no one backing down. Daniel lost his spot in the top-10 on lap six after dropping a wheel on the exit of the final corner, leading onto the front straight and making contact with the barrier, able to continue on at the tail of the field. At the same time, Moulton dropped out of the race as his chain snapped off his machine to put him back in 29th for the main event grid. After several laps of shuffling and close racing, Henderson was comfortable in the second spot with Holmboe and Falcone trailing. Jason Bell (Tony Kart) led the third group with Brent Harper (Swiss Hutless) and Seesemann. Henderson put down some quick laps in the final laps to reel in Crow on the final circuit. Through turn one, Henderson drafted by Crow for the lead into turn one. Henderson held the spot through to the checkered flag as Crow settled for second. Holmboe finished third with Falcone fourth with Bell capping off the top-five. Holmboe however would be removed from the classifications due to a carburetion issue in tech, putting him to the tail of the grid for the main event.
 | Brent Harper was awarded the Masters crown following actions in the tech barn
(Photo: Cody Schindel - Autosports Media Group) |
The Masters field was led for the first time by Henderson on the week with Crow in the outside position. Clean through the opening corners, Henderson led the field with Falcone under Crow for the second position with Harper making it a four kart lead group to complete the first lap. Bell and Seesemann swapped the fifth spot throughout the second circuit with Bell able to come away with the position down the front straight. Lap four, Crow completed a pass on Falcone for the second position, giving Henderson a one-second advantage out front. At the halfway mark of the 20-lap run, Henderson continued to post fast laps of the race to stretch to a 1.7-second lead over Crow with Falcone on his bumper. Harper was dropped off their draft in fourth with Bell running alone in fifth. Some great racing was going on from 10th place back, including Daniel, Moulton and Holmboe up to 15th, 16th and 18th. Holmboe’s drive forward however ended on lap 11 with a flat left rear tire. Lap 14, Crow dropped to fourth with what looked like a hampered engine for Crow. This put Falcone to second and Harper up to third until Harper steamed past Falcone for the second position as they began lap 16. Henderson continued to push the pace, dropping the new fast lap of the race that same lap to hold a 4.4-second advantage. In the end, Henderson never looked back and drove to a five-second final gap. Harper and Falcone completed the podium with Crow back to fourth and Bell in fifth. The tech barn was the deciding factor of the podium position as Henderson was removed from the classification for a clutch issue, moving Harper to the top of the podium for his first Grand Nationals victory with Falcone and Crow rounding out the podium.
Junior
Perfect through the three heat rounds, Dalton Sargeant (Tony Kart) and Oliver Askew led the field to the green light. From mid-pack back they bunched up through the first corner as Sargeant held the lead through the opening corners. Askew dropped back to third behind AJ Myers (Arrow) in the opening corner and retook the spot in turn 10. Dore Chaponick Jr. (FA Kart) and Logan Bearden (Haase) made up the early top-five. Jake Craig (CRG) and Brennan Harrington (Kosmic) sat sixth and seventh, with the top-seven spaced out by about a kart length between each driver. At the halfway mark, Sargeant’s lead was about half a second as Askew kept pace with the leader. Craig was the driver on the move, up to fourth ahead of Chaponick, Bearden and Harrington. Completing lap 10, Askew was up on the bumper of Sargeant with his fast laps of the race, a consistent 58.8-pace as they stretched their lead over Myers. Sargeant took the win by two-tenths despite the pressure from Askew. Myers was third with Craig and Harrington rounding out the top-five.
 | Dalton Sargeant scored the Junior title in his first year
(Photo: Cody Schindel - Autosports Media Group) |
The drama began in the opening corner for the Junior field as the outside row got bunched up, pushing Askew and Myers off the course and out of contention. This left Sargeant and Craig to run out front with Harrington, Bearden and Sebastian Coulson (FA Kart) in the top five. After the first few circuits, Sargeant extended his lead to over a second ahead of Craig as the fight for third raged on, over a second behind him. The front six sorted themselves out across the track by the halfway point with Sargeant, Craig, Bearden, Harrington, Coulson and Michael Ilavia (Birel). Behind them, some great racing was taking place with 2010 Mini Max champion Jordan Perry (Tony Kart) up from 15th on the grid to seventh. An impressive performance was on display by Askew. After getting shoved off the track and outside the top-30, Askew muscled his way into the top-10 and up to eighth by lap 15 and running down Perry. Out front, Sargeant and Craig were on cruise control with the top two positions locked up and two tickets to the Grand Finals. At the checkered flag, Sargeant scored the win by six-seconds with Craig four seconds ahead in the runner-up spot. Bearden won the final step of the podium with Harrington a solid fourth. Coulson held off Ilavia for fifth with Askew up to seventh and the fast laps of the race. Perry, Chaponick and Jamaican Collin Daley Jr. (CRG) capping off the top-10.
Mini Max
Christian Brooks (Tony Kart) and Logan Sargeant (Kart Mini) made it a west coast-east coast front row as they led the field to the green light for the 10-lap run. The inside row got the jump with Brooks leading the way with Austin Versteeg (CRG) and Darren Keane (CRG) coming through. The top four shuffled around through lap one and into lap two, allowing Kyle Kirkwood (Arrow) to join the fun. Versteeg and Brooks locked up at the front and by lap three held a six-tenths lead over Sargeant with Kirkwood trailing. As they ran the final laps, the front two were well out in front with Versteeg running a defensive line with Brooks up on his rear bumper. Brooks pulled the trigger in turn 10 and with some contact made, he took the position. Versteeg crossed the line in second. Sargeant end up third, holding off a late charge from Devlin DeFrancesco (FA Kart) - running under appeal - and Kirkwood.
 | Christian Brooks scored a perfect week to take the Mini Max crown
(Photo: Cody Schindel - Autosports Media Group) |
The Mini Max field worked through the opening corners cleanly with no driver off track to begin their 14-lap main event. Brooks jumped out to the lead with Sargeant ducking in behind with Kirkwood, Versteeg and Keane making up the top-five. After three laps, Brooks’ advantage was six-tenths of a second as a host of drivers trailed, roughly 10 karts in the second group. At the halfway point, Brooks stretched his lead to just under one second over Sargeant and Kirkwood. Versteeg led the second group with plenty of action taking place. Even with Sargeant and Kirkwood locked up, Brooks continued to stretch his lead heading toward the checkered flag. On the 14th circuit, Brooks kept his Tony Kart West entry clean and out of trouble, scoring the win by 2.519-seconds and joining a long list of successful Mini Max champions. Kirkwood was able to work around Sargeant for the second step of the podium in the final lap. Versteeg held off the group behind him to finish fourth with Thomas Issa (CRG) overcoming troubles in the heat races yesterday to drive to fifth in the main event after starting 11th.
Micro Max
Philip Varner (CRG) and Justin Sirgany (Birel) filled out the front row to begin the 10-lap Prefinal for the Micro category. Through the opening corner, Sirgany was shuffled back to the 11th position as Varner, defending champion Anthony Gangi Jr. (CRG) leading the way. Nicholas Brueckner (Arrow), Neil Verhagen (Haase) and Giovanni Bromante (Haase) joined the top two out front to make a five-driver breakaway. At the halfway point, the top four were able to drop Bromante off the lead draft. David Malukas (Birel) and Mathias Ramirez (Tony Kart) caught Bromante and both worked by for position on lap six. At that time, the front two broke into two by two groups with Varner and Gangi locked up at the point. With two laps to go, the front four rejoined and the movement began as the final lap started. Gangi drafted by Varner for the lead, brining Verhagen with him. Contact between Verhagen and Varner allowed Gangi a clean drive to the win. At the line, Verhagen took second over Varner with Brueckner right there in fourth. Mathias Ramirez (Tony Kart) put in a great run from 10th to end up fifth over Bromante, Malukas and Michael Benyahia (Kosmic).
 | Philip Varner won an exciting Micro Max feature that went down to the wire
(Photo: Cody Schindel - Autosports Media Group) |
The inside line grabbed the advantage as the field took the green light for the start of their 14-lap main event. Gangi and Varner powered through for the top two spots with Ramirez up to third over Verhagen and Malukas. The top five broke away quickly as the rest of the field mixed it up with a few karts mid-pack and beyond went off course and out of the race. At the halfway point, Malukas was able to work into the lead with Gangi on his bumper, leaving Varner and Verhagen back to battle for the third spot as Ramirez trailed in fifth, well ahead of the rest of the pack. Just six-tenths separated the top four as the two laps to go signal was given to Malukas at the point. Gangi remained on his bumper but Varner and Verhagen worked together to close the gap as Gangi looked for a way around for the lead. Coming to the white, all four ran together. Varner and Verhagen drafted right around the top two, taking over the point through turn one. They diced it up in turn 10 and went three wide behind Varner. At the line, Varner took the victory by 0.117-seconds over his wingman Verhagen with Malukas winning the final step of the podium over Gangi. Ramirez held his starting position, finishing fifth.
Wrap-up
The first event under the new MAXSpeed Group banner is now complete with many around the paddock happy with the transition and the professionalism throughout the week. All the key components, partnerships and hard-working staff that helped to put on the event came together well, with more ideas and ways to improve on the already successful event in the minds of the directors.
Now that the 2011 event is completed, drivers from all across the country can now focus on the final opportunities to be part of the Team USA squad, through the Rotax Pan American challenge, with the final event to qualify for the series finale in September in New Castle, Indiana coming next month in Colorado. After that, many will spend the next months preparing for their chance at a national crown at the 2012 United States Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals. |
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