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| January 29, 2012 News |
| EKN Trackside: Gatorz Challenge of the Americas - Tucson Sunday Report |
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For complete coverage, click over to the EKN Event Page
The final lap of Saturday’s Senior Max event at the opening round of the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas was a wild one for sure, and the contact that ensued in the fight for the lead left both of the combatants without the prize they were racing for; the outright victory. The Musselman Honda Circuit was the backdrop for the second round in the series opening weekend as the 8/10-mile course provided the right setting for excitement throughout the seven categories. New Phil Giebler Racing recruit Kiel Spaulding fell to sixth in the order on Saturday after contact with challenger Phil DeLaO, but this time around, he made sure now one could come close, winning the race in dominant fashion.
Buddy Rice Karting Senior Max
 | After his Saturday disappointment, Kiel Spaulding came back and topped the stout Senior Max field
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
The Senior Max group was once again split into two qualifying sessions for round two, leaving fast driver DeLaO (Top Kart) in the opening group as he was on Saturday. The Arizona driver set the bar in the first run with a lap of 51.326 seconds. The second group hit quickly, with drivers looking for the right partner or the right spot on track to post the fast lap. Right out of the gate, Spaulding (FA Kart) jumped to the top of the order and was never challenged. His 51.294-second lap time put him on the pole position for the Prefinal, moving DeLaO to outside row one. The third slot was a revolving door as a number of drivers held the position. In the end, Louie Pagano (Birel) secured the inside row two position. Will Owen (Arrow) found speed overnight and was classified fourth after the run, while Saturday winner Luke Chudleigh (Maranello) rounded out the fast five to confirm his place in the lead group.
Action was calm for the Pre-Main as drivers sorted themselves out early to pace the opening circuits of the 17-lap race. The top-three of Spaulding, DeLaO and Pagano pulled away from the field and ran nearly identical lap times over the course of the race. The only change for position came early with Pagano working by DeLaO for second at the start, before regaining the spot back a few laps later. They would cross the line 1-2-3, with Chudleigh just behind in fourth. Kevin King (CRG) won the battle for fifth, advancing up from seventh to score the spot over Travis Lowe (Energy), who drove up from 13th.
The fireworks never shot out as Spaulding put them aside for his victory celebration, driving to a flag-to-flag victory in the main event. A solid group of driver filled out the lead group that included at least seven drivers. As the laps clicked off, the lead group became just two as Spaulding and Pagano continued a stronger pace then the rest. A number of drivers were on the move throughout the event, including podium finisher from Saturday, Rivellini. By lap 11, Nick was into the third position after hounding Chudeligh for a number of laps. From there, the top three positions remained unchanged with Spaulding continuing a dominant pace to the checkered flag for the victory. Pagano would end up second with Rivellini placing third a second time on the weekend. DeLaO finished fourth as Chudleigh fell back to fifth.
Overdrive Motorsports DD2 / BRK Engines DD2 Masters
 | Team WRS driver Fritz Leesemann completed his sweep of the DD2 class in Tucson, beginning his run for the title
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
Despite the changing conditions from Saturday, the DD2 categories did not display any hurdles on the stopwatch as the qualifying session closed out. Round one winner Fritz Leesmann (CRG) was off the pace early in the session, as Austin King (PCR) held the provisional pole early in the run, but after coming down pit lane for some adjustments, Leesmann ticked off a number of 50-flat laps to better his time from yesterday. He ended the session with a 50.046-second lap to edge King by 0.095 seconds in the run for the pole. Canadian Daniel Burkett (LH) was third, while John Wallace III (Energy) improved to fourth to start off round two, thanks to some engine tuning improvements. Bronson Eggert (Birel) capped off the fast five.
Saturday Masters winner John Crow (Arrow) led things off on Sunday, posting a 51.216-second time, although round one runner-up Mark Wheeler was just a few tenths off his pace. Jim Carey Sr. (Arrow) and Mike Urban (Arrow) completed the field.
King made sure that Leesmann knew that a victory today would not be easy, as he presented a great challenge in the Prefinal. After Leesmann grabbed the holeshot, King slotted in behind and kept the pressure on until eventually working by for the lead at about the halfway mark. Leesmann stayed close and took advantage of lapped traffic after taking the white flag. Heading into turn one, Leesmann regained the point. King took a look as they entered the Esses, but Leesmann held him back. At the line, Leesmann scored the victory with King right on his bumper. Burkett was third, while Eggert working around Wallace toward the end of the 17-lap event, being followed by Matt Ostiguy (CRG).
In the DD2 Masters Prefinal, Crow drove away to the win in Masters as Wheeler tried to match the veteran’s pace, coming home about three seconds back at the checkered flag. Carey was third, while Urban finished fourth.
The opening lap of the 25-lap Main Event gave the paddock idea that it could be a barn-burner for the DD2 group. Burkett was quick on cold tires and worked by Leesmann for the lead on the opening lap, while King put the pressure on Leesmann for second. Once Fritz settled in, he moved back around Burkett for the lead on lap three. King tried to come through as well, and that left the two battling for position, allowing Leesmann to pull away in just a few corners. From there, he set his CRG on cruise control to score the victory and weekend sweep. Burkett and King continued their battle until lap 13 when they made contact on the exit of turn one. After Eggert, Wallace and Ostiguy all drove by for position, they were able to continue, having dropped from fifth and sixth in the process. While they tried to close on Ostiguy over the remaining laps, they were not able to improve their positions. Crow would also complete the weekend sweep for Masters as he challenged the young guns early, finishing seventh overall. Wheeler, Carey and Urban completed the top-four.
Billet Performance Karting Masters Max
 | Despite the fact that Brent Harper showed impressive consistency in sweeping the Masters class, the category should be a close affair all season
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
A familiar pair of drivers kicked off Sunday in the reverse order on which they stood on the Saturday podium. Round one runner-up Paul Bonilla (Arrow) scored the pole position in the morning session with a time of 52.590 second. His speed edged out yesterday’s winner Brent Harper (Swiss Hutless) by 0.042 seconds. New to the party was Arizona driver Curtis Ruth (Intrepid), who was subbing for an under-the-weather Roger Culver, posting the third quickest lap of the session to add another driver in the hunt for the win. Scott Falcone (Arrow) was fourth, while Ken Maxfield (Arrow) capped off the fast five.
The start to the Pre-Main seemed to show a different story, however, as when the laps clocked off, it was Harper who found his way to the front of the field for the win. Bonilla led the pack to the green as Ruth slid by Harper for the second spot to begin the 17-lap event. Harper would not be denied as he put himself up to the lead by lap five. Bonilla held on while Ruth fell just off the pace toward the end of the session. Bonilla kept the pressure on, but lost ground the final lap as he pushed wide trying to match Harper’s pace. At the line, Harper scored the win by two seconds. Falcone picked up the pace, working around Ruth for third with Maxfield in fifth.
Harper confirmed why he was the national champion in 2011 with a consistent drive in the Feature on Sunday to double up on the weekend. Bonilla challenge early as he put Harper back to second early on the opening lap of the 25-lap event before Falcone took the spot back. As they completed the opening lap, Falcone took the second spot away from Bonilla to change up the order. The top three pulled away early on until Harper stretched out his lead with consistent and fast laps. At the checkered flag, Harper secured the victory by nearly three seconds to end the Tucson event with two wins. Falcone held off Bonilla for second as Maxfield finished fourth ahead of Ruth.
Rolison Performance Group Junior Max
 | Blaine Rocha edged Zacharie Scalzo for the Junior Max win, capitalizing on the two leaders dicing on the final lap
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
The second round for the Junior Max drivers began just as is did on the first day of competition on Saturday. Defending series champ Parker Thompson (Tony Kart) continued his run at the front as he put down the fast lap during the qualifying session. The Canadian’s 51.477-second lap was the best of the field as he edged out Jake Craig (CRG) after the two shuffled the top spot throughout the 15-minute run. Zacharie Scalzo (LH) was third in the session, followed by Luke Selliken (Kosmic) and Jim McKinney (Intrepid).
Thompson continued to hold station at the front of the field through the Pre-Main, leading all 17 laps for the win. Craig stayed close in the early laps, but Thompson’s pace was just too quick, finishing over two seconds back at the checkered flag. Behind them was a great battle for third involving seven drivers. At the checker, Scalzo took the spot over Junior rookie Austin Versteeg (CRG),who drove up from his sixth place starting spot, while Brendan Baker (CRG) was also on the move, advancing three positions to fifth.
The Main Event continued the trend with Thompson out front and Craig trailing, pushing hard to stick with the Tony Kart driver. Scalzo kept Craig honest early, dropping him to third with a great overtaking move, that is, until Craig retook the spot a lap later. By that time, Thompson had built a solid lead and extended it to about two seconds by the halfway mark as a group of four drivers battled for third. In the laps following, Thompson’s pace began to slow and, by lap 18, Craig was back on his bumper. Getting alongside Thompson exiting turn one, the two went side-by-side in the T2-3 chicane combination with Parker fighting him off on the exit. Heading into turn four, Craig tried again and the two made contact, pushing them both off track, causing them to fall outside the top-10.
This moved the fight for third up to the battle for victory, and positioned Scalzo over Versteeg and Blaine Rocha (Arrow). Versteeg made his move for the win on lap 23, working by Scalzo for position. On the final lap, Versteeg fought aggressively to hold him back, running a defensive line into turn 11. Coming down the back straight, they made a criss-cross move and the two made contact as Scalzo slipped to the inside. That pushed Versteeg wide into turn 11 and allowed Rocha to pull alongside Scalzo on the short shute to T12. The duo went side-by-side through the final corner and raced to the checkered flag where Rocha edged Scalzo for the victory by a mere 0.048 seconds. Versteeg recovered to finish third, Selliken cruised to fourth and Kyle Wick (Kosmic) came home an impressive fifth. Thompson worked his way back to seventh, while Craig place ninth after a one-position penalty. Another solid drive was put in by Arizona driver Micah Hendricks (Intrepid), who once again had to come from the tail of the field after a Prefinal DNF (broken chain) to finish 11th. Although it was tough pair of mains for Hendricks, he impressed many in the paddock with this diligent performance.
BBR Karting Mini Max
 | Reigning Mini Max national champion Christian Brooks began the new season on the right foot with a pair of wins in Tucson
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
Continuing his sweep on the weekend, Christian Brooks (Energy) began the second day of action on the top of the time sheets. Mini Max qualifying was Brooks session, posting a 54.725 to secure the pole position for the Prefinal. Jeff Fulham (LH) was second in the session with Sting Ray Robb (Tony Kart) moving up to third late after getting some clear track. Horatio Fitz-Simon (CRG) moved up as well, moving Royal McKee (Energy) to fifth at the end of the session.
Brooks held his ground at the front of the field, driving away to a near four-second win. Robb assumed the second spot early and finished in the spot as McKee jumped to third over Fitz-Simon and Fulham.
Completing what was a stellar weekend by the defending US Rotax champion, Brooks left the field quickly and stretched out to seven-second margin of victory in the Main Event. The performance was a unique one for the category, normally providing lots of excitement for the victory. With Brooks out front, the drama unfolded behind him with a gaggle of karts challenging for the second spot. At the checkered, McKee was the driver holding the second spot followed by Robb, Nicky Hays (Birel) and Fulham with Fitz-Simon in the mix as well.
Apollo Motorsports Micro Max
Showing that Saturday’s lap time was not out of the ordinary, Sophia Price (Kosmic) came back on Sunday and set the pole position time again in Micro Max. Her lap of 1:00.313 seconds put her to P1 for the session by over six-tenths of a second. Sunday winner Derek DesLauriers (Energy) was second, followed by Cody Dempster (CRG), Corbin Emery (Birel), and Jacob Blue Hudson (Energy).
 | In Micro Max, Sophia Price was able to overcome an opening corner melee to track down the leader, winning in fine style
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
Price kept up her fast pace through Pre-Main, scoring the victory by a healthy 3.6-second advantage. DesLauriers and Dempster fought it out for second, with the latter taking the spot at the line. Hudson ran up to fourth while Conner Wick (Wild Kart) took fifth.
The Main Event for Micro Max began with a number of drivers spinning in the opening corner. When the dust settled, Hudson held a sizeable lead with the rest of the field gathering themselves to get back on the track. Price eventually worked her way to second and eventually reeled in Hudson, taking the lead before pulling away. She would score the victory by over three seconds. Hudson ran well and took for second. Emery ended up third with Wick and DesLauriers rounding out the top-five.
Round 2 - Phoenix
The series will now move to the PKRA facility in Glendale, Arizona on February 24-26. The championship for the seven categories will reach the halfway point during the weekend, sorting out the contenders and pretenders before heading to the series finale in SoCal at the end of March. On the line for the Senior, Junior and DD2 categories are trips to the Rotax Grand Finals in Portugal, while the drivers in the remaining divisions will fight for a entry support package to the US Grand Nationals, providing they are properly qualified with the necessary punches. |
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