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| March 30, 2012 News |
| EKN Trackside: Gatorz Challenge of the Americas - CalSpeed Preview |
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This weekend marks the final stop on the 2012 Gatorz Challenge of the Americas series with rounds five and six contested at the CalSpeed Karting facility in Fontana, California. Situated outside the Auto Club Speedway, the 3/4-mile course will be the site for three drivers to earn direct tickets to the Rotax Grand Finals in Portimão, Portugal at the end of November. The Senior, DD2, and Junior Max champions crowned Sunday afternoon will earn their spot at the ‘Olympics of Karting’ to compete against the best ‘Rotaxians’ in the world. Championship glory will be on the line in the other four divisions with entry to the United States Rotax Grand Nationals and Pan American Challenge up for grabs as well.
The CalSpeed Karting circuit is like a temporary course, laid out in the parking lot of the Auto Club Speedway. When major events, such as the NASCAR races last weekend, the course is torn down to allow for the parking lot to be utilized. For the remaining days in the year, that section of the facility is a full-time kart track with multiple events and organizations calling it home. While most parking lot courses are flat, this one has some elevation that mechanics need to gear for depending on the configuration. Another challenge for the Gatorz COTA racers this weekend is the new coating surface. At the beginning of the month, the CalSpeed staff resurfaced the track layout. Running the counter-clockwise ‘Grande’ course, there is no doubt drama will unfold throughout the weekend.
Buddy Rice Karting Senior Max
Since the series inception, the title fight in the Senior Max category has gone to the wire. The 2012 edition is no different with a number of drivers still in the chase. Phil Giebler Racing’s Kiel Spaulding (FA Kart) holds the top of the standings following the first four rounds. A victory in Tucson and podium in Phoenix have the 2011 Team USA member in the driver’s seat. Leading the chase is Team WRS pilot Nick Rivellini (CRG). With consistent finishes inside the top-five, including two third-place performances back in Tucson, Rivellini trails Spaulding by 17 points. Former Junior Max series champ Louie Pagano (Birel) is just four behind him in the third position, thanks to two runner-up finishes thus far. With solid performances this weekend, Phil DeLaO (Top Kart) and Mason Marotta (Intrepid) could steal the ticket to the Rotax Grand Finals from any of the top three. DeLaO is 61 points out of first with Marotta 89 markers back. With 240 points available on the weekend, the standings could end up as they did in 2008 when just four points separated Wes Phillips and Joey Collins. Joining the weekend in his 2012 debut will be 2009 Rotax Grand Nationals champion Phillip Arscott. Watching the EKN broadcast from his Oregon home last month, he let everyone know he was returning for the CalSpeed weekend to do battle.
 | Kiel Spaulding holds a slim margin in the Senior Max standings heading into Fontana
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
Overdrive Motorsports DD2/BRK Engines DD2 Masters
The two-speed Rotax categories are all about determined as far as the point standings is concerned as the series wraps up. PSL Atlantic’s Fritz Leesmann (CRG) scored four straight feature wins to enter Fontana with a 104-point lead in the championship chase. Baring any major issues with Leesmann completely round five and six, the Northern California driver should lock up the spot on Team USA. Canadians Daniel Burkett (LH) and Austin King (PCR) will keep him honest as they sit second and third. Same goes for Billet Performance Karting’s John Crow (Arrow), who has a perfect score after the first four rounds. He will need to score just 57 points to secure the championship and ticket to the Rotax Grand Nationals. Canadian Mark Wheeler (PCR) is second in the standings, but will not be in Fontana for the finale. That will move Jim Carey Sr. (Arrow) into the second spot in the standings. Bringing more world-wide talent to the Gatorz COTA program, 2010 DD2 Masters Grand Finals champion Scott Campbell (CRG) is set to make a guest appearance in preparation for the upcoming Canadian season.
Rolison Performance Group Junior Max
The third ticket to the Rotax Grand Finals up for grabs is in the Junior Max category. Following a breakthrough weekend in Phoenix, RPG’s Luke Selliken (Kosmic) enters the finale as the point leader. In February, Selliken earned his first two national victories after competing for three years. Add to that a podium from Phoenix, Selliken has a 16-point advantage over Canadian Zacharie Scalzo (LH). Of all the drivers in the Junior field, the Glover Brothers Racing pilot has been the most consistent thus far, finishing in the top-four in all main events. In his Junior rookie season, Austin Versteeg (CRG) has been impressive. Behind Selliken, Versteeg has similar momentum with three straight podium finishes heading into Fontana. Still in the hunt include Kartel Motorsports Blaine Rocha (Arrow) and Innovative Karting’s Jim McKinney (Intrepid). Mathematically with a chance, but a far reach to the title needing a lot of help is defending champion Parker Thompson (Tony Kart). The Canadian has led in all four main events, only to win one, finish fifth in another while retiring with mechanical issues in both features.
 | Four victories in four rounds has Fritz Leesmann in the driver’s seat for the DD2 championship
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
Billet Performance Karting Masters Max
The fight for supremacy in the Master Max division has now become a three driver battle. Double Tucson winner Brent Harper (Swiss Hutless) held the top spot in the standings after what he considered to be a disappointing weekend in Phoenix. Now just 13 points out front of Paul Bonilla (Arrow), the two will carry their fight to Fontana. Despite Harper’s issues, Bonilla had some of his own at PKRA as he gained just a few points on Harper. The bigger winner in the title fight after Phoenix was defending champion Scott Falcone (Arrow) as he closed up to within 37 points of the lead. A strong weekend by the Colorado driver could see him repeat as champion. Bonilla - from SoCal - could hold the advantage but never count out the defending Grand Nationals champion Harper. Along with Phoenix winner Bill Kann (Birel) making the trip to Fontana to throw a wrench at the title chase, so is Harper’s teammate Scott Holmboe (Swiss Hutless). A challenger at the Rotax Grand Nationals last year, Holmboe is sure to challenge for the wins this weekend.
BBR Karting Mini Max
Following the events that unfolded at PKRA, the Mini Max title chase tightened up at the top. Christian Brooks swept the opening weekend of the series to jump out to a solid lead. Struggles in Phoenix allowed the field to close back, setting up for a possible dramatic ending come Sunday. Brooks (Energy) now leads by 17 points over round three winner Sting Ray Robb (Tony Kart). Royal McKee has been very consistent, earning three podiums just as Robb has, and enters the finale 28 points behind Brooks. Horatio Fitz-Simon (CRG) and round four sweeper Nicky Hays (Birel) are still within striking distance, looking for some luck in Fontana.
 | Two wins in Phoenix have Luke Selliken on top in the Junior Max point chase with Zacharie Scalzo chasing
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
Apollo Motorsports Micro Max
Thanks to two wins at PKRA and two runner-up performances in Tucson, Jacob Blue Hudson (Energy) retains the championship lead in Micro Max heading to the finale weekend. With a 31 point lead, Hudson needs another podium finish to secure the title. Sophia Price (Kosmic) completed the cycle in the first three rounds (win, second and third place), adding a fourth place finish in round four. She’ll have to break that sequence if she hopes to steal the title from Hudson. Round one winner Derek DesLauriers (Energy) is third with Marco Kacic (CRG) and Griffin Dowler (Tony Kart) capping off the top-five.
EKN Trackside Live
For those family members, friends, and karting fanatics who are unable to attend the series finale of the Gatorz COTA program in person, eKartingNews.com will bring you the benefit of feeling like you are there right to your couch or computer desk. The EKN Trackside Live coverage - http://www.ekartingnews.com/live - will give you the play-by-play action from EKN’s own Rob Howden and allow you to view the live scoring feed from Race-Monitor.com. The EKN Trackside Live page is the one page to bookmark for your weekend. If you have a mobile device, you can listen in through EKN’s streaming page (mobile.livestream.com/ekartingnewslive) when racing is taking place. Check updates from the event, including the top-10 of each session, at the Official Discussion Thread in the EKN Forums. Be sure to ‘Like’ us on Facebook/eKartingNews and @eKartingNews on Twitter for extra updates, pictures and videos from this weekend.
Pre-Entry Lists - 2012 Gatorz Challenge of the Americas - CalSpeed
Senior Max
| No | Driver | Chassis | Hometown| 100 | Sabre' Cook | CRG | Grand Junction, CO | | 103 | Adam Dowler | Tony Kart | Sherwood Park, AB | | 105 | Parker McKean | Kosmic | Gig Harbor, WA | | 106 | Augie Lerch | Intrepid | Tucson, AZ | | 108 | Kiel Spaulding | FA | Elk Grove, CA | | 114 | Sean Conyers | Intrepid | Phoenix, AZ | | 115 | Louie Pagano | Birel | Santa Rosa Valley, CA | | 116 | Mitch Carey | Arrow | Parker, CO | | 117 | Matt Ostiguy | CRG | San Luis Obispo, CA | | 121 | Matt Hart | Arrow | La Habra, CA | | 122 | Marcus Brodie | CRG | Kelowna, BC | | 124 | Bradley Dezall | Tony Kart | Okatoka, AB | | 126 | Alejandro Fernandez | Energy | San Bernadino, CA | | 127 | Jordan Jadallah | CRG | Hillsborough, CA | | 130 | Timothy De Silva | Arrow | Palos Verdes Estates, CA | | 131 | Chad GrunrowZ | Tony Kart | Saskatoon, SK | | 134 | Emily Maddison | FA | Calgary, AB | | 139 | Austin King | PCR | Calgary, AB | | 140 | Kevin King | CRG | Sherbrooke, QC | | 141 | Nick Rivellini | CRG | Great Falls, VA | | 143 | John Wallace III | Energy | Duarte, CA | | 151 | Kyle Wright | Kosmic | La Jolla, CA | | 154 | Mason Marotta | Intrepid | Bakersfield, CA | | 157 | Phillip Arscott | Swiss Hutless | Portland, OR | | 163 | Travis Lowe | Energy | Fontana, CA | | 171 | Niki Luna | CRG | Newport Coast, CA | | 172 | Skylar Dunning | Lewis Hamilton | Edmonton, AB | | 173 | Andrew Zimmer | Energy | Beaverton, OR | | 177 | Phil DeLaO | Top Kart | Peoria, AZ | | 180 | Dakota Dickerson | Arrow | San Diego, CA | | 193 | Luke Chudleigh | Maranello | Campbellville, ONT | | 195 | Bryan Lemon | Kosmic | Glendale, AZ | | 197 | Jonathan May | Energy | San Marcos, CA | |
DD2/DD2 Masters
| No | Driver | Chassis | Hometown| 239 | Austin King | PCR | Calgary, AB | | 261 | Fritz Leesmann | CRG | Elk Grove, CA | | 272 | Daniel Burkett | Lewis Hamilton | Winnipeg, MB | | 310 | Scott Campbell | CRG | Warman, SK | | 311 | John Crow | Arrow | Anaheim, CA | | 356 | Jim Carey Sr. | Arrow | Parker, CO | |
Junior Max
| No | Driver | Chassis | Hometown| 2 | Coltin McCaughan | Tony Kart | Calgary, AB | | 2 | Jake Craig | CRG | Mission Viejo, CA | | 4 | Niko Pagones | Tony Kart | Medina, WA | | 8 | Marco Eakins | Energy | Beaverton, OR | | 9 | Kyle Wick | Kosmic | Auburn, WA | | 11 | Nathan Seegrist | Tony Kart | Corona, CA | | 12 | Matt McMurray | Kosmic | Phoenix, AZ | | 15 | Thomas Boost | Energy | Arcadia, CA | | 18 | Lindsey Freier | Birel | Arvada, CO | | 19 | Jim McKinney | Intrepid | Chandler, AZ | | 21 | Lindsay Brewer | Arrow | Arvada, CO | | 26 | Jake Boyle | CRG | Anthem, AZ | | 30 | Zacharie Scalzo | Lewis Hamilton | Drummondville, QC | | 42 | Corrie Hiatt | RK | Cocord, CA | | 51 | Jake Preston | Kosmic | Renton, WA | | 73 | Micah Hendricks | Intrepid | Glendale, AZ | | 79 | Austin Versteeg | CRG | Sandy, UT | | 80 | Parker Thompson | Tony Kart | Red Deer, AB | | 90 | Jordan Redlin | CRG | Aldergrove, BC | | 92 | Blaine Rocha | Arrow | Oakdale, CA | |
Masters Max
| No | First Last | Chassis | Hometown| 602 | Tony Rossetti | Arrow | Beaumont, CA | | 611 | Bill Kann | Birel | Mesa, AZ | | 612 | Corey Mitchell | Arrow | Sacrament, CA | | 613 | Brent Harper | Swiss Hutless | Lubbock, TX | | 618 | Billy Kann | Birel | Mesa, AZ | | 620 | Paul Bonilla | Arrow | Cypress, CA | | 631 | John Crow | | Anaheim, CA | | 632 | Steve Dzurilla | Birel | Cerritos, CA | | 635 | Scott Holmboe | Swiss Hutless | Albany, OR | | 641 | Larry Hayashigawa | Energy | Downey, CA | | 649 | Justin Peck | Tony Kart | Spanish Fork, UT | | 654 | Steve Wiener | CRG | Spring Valley, CA | | 678 | Steve Zoumaras | Arrow | San Diego, CA | | 683 | Scott Ripslinger | Energy | Sonoma, CA | | 691 | Scott Berryman | Arrow | Boulder, CO | | 696 | Harindra De Silva | Energy | Palos Verdes Estates, CA | | 699 | Scott Falcone | Arrow | Lone Tree, CO | |
Mini Max
| No | First Last | Chassis | Hometown| 502 | Royal McKee | Energy | Las Vegas, NV | | 503 | Max Fedler | Sodi | Denver, CO | | 511 | Nicky Hays | Birel | Huntington Beach, CA | | 514 | Carson Vogel | Tony Kart | Elk Point, AB | | 522 | Cody Dempster | CRG | Parker, CO | | 527 | Nolan Vogel | Tony Kart | Elk Point, AB | | 543 | Garrett Gulenchyn | Tony Kart | Hadashville, MB | | 548 | Jessica Dezall | PCR | Okatoka, AB | | 556 | Horatio Fitz-Simon | CRG | Pleasanton, CA | | 581 | Jeff Fulham | Lewis Hamilton | Winnipeg, MB | |
Micro Max
| No | First Last | Chassis | Hometown| 402 | Derek DesLauriers | Energy | Littleton, CO | | 406 | Griffin Dowler | Tony Kart | Sherwood Park, AB | | 417 | Sophia Price | Kosmic | Heber City, UT | | 419 | Conner Wick | Wild Kart | Auburn, WA | | 421 | Corbin Emery | Birel | Lone Tree, CO | | 450 | Marco Kacic | CRG | West Kelowna, BC | | 453 | Jacob Blue Hudson | Energy | Keizer, OR | | 459 | David Rafailov | Birel | Aurora, CO | | 476 | Everest Fedler | Shockwave | Denver, CO | | 481 | Payton Durrant | Birel | Lehi, UT | |
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