Phil Giebler Racing’s Nicky Freytag drove to his first feature victory in S1 Pro Stock Moto last Saturday (May 19) in the third round of the Superkarts USA! California ProKart Challenge at Adams Motorsports Park.
Freytag passed Ryon Beachner on the third of 16 laps around the .75-mile track and won by 1.108 seconds. The 20-year-old from Paradise Valley, Ariz., had finished second in the two heat races to Beachner, of Lake Forest, Calif., to start on the front row.
This Freytag’s first season in S1 Pro Stock Moto, the top shifter karting class.
“Nicky did a great job on a difficult track to get his first victory in S1,” Giebler said. “This will give him a lot of confidence.”
Kevin Hernandez, of Mexico, finished third, Shawn Cricca, of Simi Valley, Calif., was fifth and Mason Daughters, a Level 5 Motorsports development driver from Polo, Mo., was 11th in the TaG Senior feature.
“Kevin has been getting stronger every race and what is impressive is that it is his first time to each of these tracks we have been going to,” Giebler said. “Adams Motorsports Park is not the easiest track to learn, but as the race weekend progresses, he keeps getting closer to the front. Shawn was third in his two heats, ran fourth most of the feature and finished sixth. Mason was pushed wide into the first corner, the Big Monza, and as he came around there was a crash on the entry to Turn Two. He had nowhere to go and was collected. Mason finished the race with the front end all bent up to take 11th. It was a shame. He had a top finish in him and looked strong for never having driven this track as well.”
Paul Grey, of Mission Viejo, Calif., finished second and Vatche Tatikian, of North Hollywood, Calif., was fourth in the TaG Master feature.
“Paul did a great job after missing the practice day (Friday) and just showing up for the race,” Giebler said. “He caught the leader (Billy Cleavelin) on the final lap, but ran out of time.” Grey finished .364-second behind Cleavelin.
Tatikian spun and finished eighth in his second heat, forcing him to start sixth in the feature.
“Vatche recovered well from the spin to finish fourth,” Giebler said.
Noah Grey, of Dana Point, Calif., finished fourth, Carter Williams, of Clovis, Calif., was fifth and Dallas Hollins, of Fontana, Calif., was 13th in the TaG Junior feature.
“There was a big fiasco at the start of the first heat with a driver knocking a barrier into oncoming traffic in the middle of Turn Two and Noah and Carter were taken out,” Giebler said. “They had to start at the back on the second heat and Carter was ninth and Noah 10th and it put Carter into ninth and Noah into 10th starting spots for the feature.
“If we didn’t have the bad luck in the first heat, I am sure we would have had two podiums with these kids and most likely a win,” Giebler said.
Williams also finished second in S5 shifter.
Owned by the 2007 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year, Phil Giebler Racing is based in Orange, Calif., and competes nationally at the highest level of karting in the United States. Giebler is a resident of Huntington Beach, Calif. The team uses Fernando Alonso and Tony Karts.
For more information, go to http://www.philgieblerracing.com
Phil Giebler Racing feature results at Adams Motorsports Park:
Saturday (May 19): S1—1. Nicky Freytag, Paradise Valley, Ariz., TaG Senior—3. Kevin Hernandez, Mexico, 5. Shawn Cricca, Simi Valley, Calif., 11. Mason Daughters, Polo, Mo.; TaG Junior—4. Noah Grey, Dana Point, Calif.; 5. Carter Williams, Clovis, Calif., 13. Dallas Hollins, Fontana, Calif.; TaG Master—2. Paul Grey, Mission Viejo, Calif., 4. Vatche Tatikian, North Hollywood, Calif. S5—2. Williams. |
