|
 |
|
 |
| May 10, 2012 |
| Team News: Checkered Motorsports - WKA Manufactures Cup Series Pittsburgh Report |
| |
Checkered Motorsports had another successful race weekend when the WKA Manufacturers Cup Series traveled to the team’s home track of Pittsburgh International Race Complex for Round 3 of the championship. Checkered Motorsports was well-represented with 10 drivers combining to run 27 events throughout the two-day race weekend with the team scoring eight podium results and 13 top-10 finishes.
Three Checkered Motorsports drivers contested the always competitive TaG 1 event – Roby Bujdoso in the No. 32 PCR, Kyle Smith in the No. 31 PCR and Kyle Knecht in the No. 40 PCR. The group faced a frustrating qualifying session with Smith third, Bujdoso 11th and Knecht 13th on the grid. Smith ran a great race in the Pre-Final to hold on for second while Bujdoso gave an impressive drive – demonstrating his skill of out-braking in the corners to pass eight times throughout the track’s 17 turns to finish third. Knecht was also on the move – completing the Pre-Final seventh.
The TaG trio drove well in the Final, but was unable to catch the first place kart of Mason Chelootz who developed a commanding lead over the field driving the only Sonic engine of the group. Bujdoso would finish second followed by Smith in third. Unfortunately the great starting position by Knecht saw him pushed wide and shuffled back to 16th. He would ultimately finish 15th.
Smith and Bujdoso did double duty on Saturday – also competing in Parilla Leopard. Smith qualified third and Bujdoso ninth in the field of 24 karts. The teammates both moved forward early in the race with Bujdoso up to fifth by the end of Lap 1 and Smith taking over the lead on the third lap. Smith would finish first and Bujdoso fourth.
During the Final, Smith ran with the front pack of karts throughout the entire race to claim second place and earn his second podium result of the day. Bujdoso faced more frustration when he was shuffled back to 10th at the start and rallied back for a seventh place result.
For Sunday’s TaG 2 event, WKA made the decision to add five pounds to karts running RoK TT engines which put the Checkered Motorsports teammates at a disappointing disadvantage. Smith qualified sixth on the grid with Bujdoso 13th and Knecht 15th.
Having finished the Pre-Final with Smith sixth, Bujdoso seventh, and Knecht 13th, the group would have their work cut out for them as they pursued a podium return in the Final. Despite every effort to move forward, the Final saw Smith finish fourth, reigning TaG Champion Bujdoso finish seventh and Knecht 11th.
Meanwhile, Andrew Bujdoso had a busy weekend competing in four classes: Komet Jr. Heavy, Yamaha Jr. Lite, Komet Jr. Lite and Yamaha Jr. Heavy.
On Saturday he qualified 14th of 35 karts in Komet Jr. Heavy and 13th of 43 karts in Yamaha Jr. Lite. Unfortunately the strong qualifying effort was thwarted when he faced bad racing luck in Saturday’s races. However, Andrew gave two solid performances on Sunday in the Komet Jr. Lite and Yamaha Jr. Heavy events with a stellar drive in the Yamaha Jr. Heavy class. After getting caught up and taken out in the Pre-Final in a first lap pile-up, he drove brilliantly in the Final by improving 21 positions in the 13-lap race to finish 18th.
Tommy Frazier also represented Checkered Motorsports in the Yamaha Jr. Heavy event – qualifying an impressive eighth in the stout field of karts for the Pre-Final and finishing 17th in the Final.
Despite being involved in a race incident that brought out the red flag on Saturday, the resilient JP Southern Junior went on to place fifth in both the Yamaha Sportsman and Cadet divisions to score two more podiums for the team.
In the Yamaha Can classes, Weston Moon once again delivered strong performances behind the wheel of his PCR – scoring second on Saturday to claim another podium finish for the team. Sunday’s event saw him again run at the front the entire race in an intense battle for second but was pushed wide on the final lap which shuffled him back to finish eighth.
Peter Koschuk also joined the team, as he returned to WKA Manufacturers Cup competition following a four-year hiatus having previously competed in the junior ranks. Although quick in his senior level national debut with an eighth place qualifying effort in Sunday’s event, he faced frustration throughout the weekend as he found himself caught out in race incidents and his final results not reflecting his true potential.
Checkered Motorsports also showed well in TaG Masters with Tom Gerstner placing 12th on Saturday and Kim Carapaletti adding another podium to the team’s total with a fourth place finish on Saturday and a ninth place result on Sunday.
“Overall it was another good weekend with many great results at our home track,” said Team Owner Csaba Bujdoso. “Once again everyone on the team worked very hard throughout the weekend. The competition was fierce as always but we came away with some very positive results that will add a good amount of points in each driver’s various championships. We’ll look to go even better at South Bend.”
The WKA Manufacturers Cup Series next heads to South Bend, Indiana for the MKP Nationals at Michiana Raceway Park July 6-8. |
|
|
Go Top
|
|
|
|
|
