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| July 08, 2012 News |
| EKN Trackside: WKA Manufacturers Cup Series - MKP Nationals - Sunday Report |
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The final day of action at the MKP Nationals for the WKA Mazda/Bridgestone Manufacturers Cup Series at the JET Karting/Michiana Raceway Park in South Bend, Indiana. The weather in the area was more pleasant as the 100 degree temperatures went away and comfortable temps with a nice wind came in. Nine classes wrapped up the weekend that hosted a record number of total entries - 566 - for the facility. A number of drivers doubled up on the weekend in the win column as the entire paddock provided some of the best racing of the year.
J3 Competition Komet Lite
Jacob Donald (Arrow) led things for the Komet Lite category during the Streeter Super Stands qualifying session. Donald was able to get away cleanly at the drop of the green flag for the 10-lap Prefinal. They battled behind him four second, including James Brock (Birel), Patrick Olsen (Birel), championship leader Mason Chelootz (Top Kart) and Tony Jump (Margay). Chelootz and Jump battled hard on lap four. Contact in turn nine sent both off track. Jump continued on at the back while Chelootz - the Saturday race winner - retired. Donald went on to win by nearly three seconds. Olsen finished second ahead of Jonathan Kotyk (Tony Kart), who made a great recovery after he was shuffled off track at the start from his P2 position. Brock finished fourth with Nick Stagle (Merlin) in fifth.
The feature race came down to three drivers with Donald, Olsen and Kotyk out front. Donald led early with Olsen trying to get around him the first lap in turn seven. His attempt failed that time as Donald was able to criss-cross for the lead position. A few laps later, Olsen drafted past Donald for the lead into turn one, bringing Kotyk with him. Donald retook the second spot from Koytk a lap later and the three settled back in with Olsen holding the lead. Behind them, Jump and Chris Wehrheim, driving for Chelootz, were making their way up the field. Attempting to pass Brock for fourth, contact was made between all three. Wehrheim was able to escape with the spot with Jump receiving the worst of the contact, and retired. Brock rejoined but retired just a few laps later. With four laps to go, Kotyk regained the second spot back from Donald as the top three continued running nose to tail. Kotyk made a pass stick through turn six but Olsen returned the favor in turn nine. Donald took advantage and had the speed to draft by for the lead. Olsen looked for a way back around but Kotyk had other things in mind. The two went side by side in turn eight, both going for the same space and made contact. This gave Donald a clean path to his first victory in the class. Wehrheim slid by for second with Jesse Wirtz (Merlin) up to third. MKP driver Olsen continued on to finish fourth while Kotyk retired and Stagl crossed the line fifth.
 | Jacob Donald earned his first Senior victory in Komet Lite
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
Grand Products/Top Kart Cadet Sportsman
Brandon Lemke (Merlin) dropped a monster lap during the qualifying session for the second day of action for the Cadet Sportsman category. He posted a 46.433-lap to secure the Streeter Super Stands award, with a lap over four-tenths better than anyone. Saturday winner David Malukas (Birel) qualified third but retired at the start of the Prefinal before the green flag was waved. Lemke led things with a group of four and sometimes five trailing, including Anthony Gangi Jr. (Tony Kart). As they began lap eight, Gangi took over the top spot with a draft into turn one, bringing Zach Holden (Arrow) with him to drop Lemke back to third. On the final lap, the top three shuffled and brought in a few more drivers. They continued shuffling through the final corners and to the line that saw four wide behind the front few. At the stripe, Eves had the victory by four-tenths over Brendan Cullura (Top Kart). Lemke was third with Gangi and Leonardo Stoia (PCR) in fifth. Holden and Kaden Harter (Top Kart) were right there as well.
Eves continued to show the way as the 16-lap final got underway and led for the first half of the race. Shuffling took place with 10 laps into the book with Lemke making the move forward, jumping into the lead and bringing Gangi with him as seven drivers made up the lead pack. The fight for the win came down to the wire. Gangi made a great pass into turn one around Lemke as the final lap began. As they entered turn five, contact was made between the two, spinning Gangi around while also pushing Holden off wide and out of the race. Lemke would go on to cross the line first but was penalized a number of positions for his contact with Gangi, who would be classified 18th. Stoia was credited with the victory, his second of the season as d’Orlando was second. Eves ended up third with Harter and Simon Sikes (Arrow) completing the top-five.
OTK Kart USA TaG
Championship contender Mason Chelootz (Top Kart) sat on the provisional pole in qualifying but his time was removed after scales. The Texan would scale underweight, giving the pole to Andrew Palmer (Kosmic) with Saturday winner Jesus Rios Jr. (Birel) lined up off-pole for the Prefinal race. The top two drove away early with Palmer leading early before Rios took over the position near the halfway point. Palmer kept it close but Rios would score the win. ‘Come Back Kid’ Sam Beasley (Arrow) drove forward once again, starting ninth he finished fourth behind point leader Robert Bujdoso (PCR) with Chris Wehrheim (Top Kart) running fifth.
 | Andrew Palmer scored the victory in TaG on Sunday, ahead of Saturday winner Jesus Rios Jr.
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
Palmer showed his speed yesterday was no fluke as he was able to secure the lead at the start of the 16-lap final and drive away to the victory. With Rios on his bumper, the two Rotax drivers dominated the race with Palmer able to lay down the quicker lap times more consistently to take his J3 Competition ride to the top of the podium. Rios had to settle for the second spot with Wehrheim able to edge out Beasley for the third spot. Bujdoso was able to complete the top-five. Behind them, the pack stacked it up in the esses with a number of drivers getting sideways. Kotyk was sixth with Tommy Andersen (Kosmic) up from 16th to seventh, bringing Robby Seward (Ultimate) with him. Raquel Martinez (Top Kart) was ninth with Jacob Knueven (Arrow) to tenth from his 25th starting position.
PCR Komet Jr. Lite
The Birel drivers of Mike McAndrews (Birel) and Gresham Wagner (Birel) led the 39 kart field to the green flag for the 10-lap Komet Jr. Lite Prefinal. From the opening corner to the end were a number of incidents with some tough racing going on as drivers worked to move up the order. One of those involved was Saturday race winner Kyle Kirkwood (Arrow) as he was turned sideways in the opening corner. Thankfully, everyone avoided him, but he would have to start the final from the back. The MRP Motorsport drivers led things until completing lap seven when Ashley Rogero (Tony Kart) broke up the top two by moving to second. Rogero put on the pressure but McAndrews was able to hold on for the win. Championship leader Joel Jens (Tony Kart) and Kyle Kalish (Merlin) were able to work by Wagner on the final lap to move him back to fifth with Austin Osborne (Birel) and a host of others trailing.
McAndrews led the field to a clean start beginning the 16-lap final to settle the action for Komet Jr. Lite on the day. McAndrews drove away to a solid lead early and held it for much of the race as they battled for the second position. In the later stages of the race, Rogero worked his way to the second position after falling back early and was working to cut into McAndrews advantage with Kalish in tow. Jens and Wagner kept within reach as well. McAndrews would be too strong as he completed sweep on the day and his first victory in class, second total on the weekend. Kalish was able to work by Rogero for second in the final laps with Jens a close fourth. Wagner retired with a mechanical issue just a few laps from the finish, handing Grant Quinlan (Birel) the fifth spot after starting ninth. Kirkwood put in a solid drive from 33rd to end up 12th, recording the fast lap of the race.
 | Mike McAndrews earned his second win of the weekend, taking the checkers in Komet Jr. Lite
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
Mike Doty Racing Yamaha Rookie Sportsman
Jason Welage (Merlin) fought hard for his first victory of the season on Saturday and came up just short. Sunday appeared to be heading in the same path. Qualifying first, he was able to edge out five-time winner Alex Verhagen (Haase) once again for the Prefinal. The margin of victory was just 51-thousandths of a second. The continued on in the main event and Verhagen appeared to be the quickest kart on the track. A win was on the horizon however he spun around on the exit of turn one while fighting for the lead. He rejoined just outside the top-five, giving Welage a clear path to the victory. At the line Welage score his first win by just over three-seconds. Samuel Pauley (PCR) was second. Verhagen posted the fast laps of the race to climb back to third, ahead of Sam Mayer (Merlin) and Max Kaeser (PCR).
APPCO Karting Yamaha SuperCan Heavy
Saturday winner Jimmy Clark (CRG) continued his run at the front of the Yamaha SuperCan group as he led things in the Streeter Super Stands qualifying session. His 44.750-second lap was best in the session with Dakota Pesek (Arrow) second. The two continued to lead the class through the 10-lap Prefinal with Clark pulling out to a 1.723-second win. Pesek was challenged early but broke away to finish second alone. Patrick Olsen (Birel) won the battle for third ahead of Collin Griffin (Arrow) and Adam Crepin (Merlin).
Clark continued to show his dominance in the SuperCan class with another strong performance to complete the sweep on the day. Behind him was a great battle for the second position with four drivers - Olsen, Griffin, Pesek and Crepin. Olsen held the spot as did Pesek in the early goings. With two laps to go, Pesek held the position as the shuffling continued but Olsen looked to be the quickest driver in the bunch. On the final lap, Olsen took his shot at turn seven and made it stick. He fended off the pack to hold on at the line with Pesek in third, Crepin fourth and Griffin in fifth. Clark crossed the checkered flag five-seconds ahead of the group for his second win of the weekend.
MRP/Birel Yamaha Sportsman 2
Brandon Lemke set the pace for the second day of action in the Yamaha Sportsman category. The Merlin driver was quickest in the qualifying session with a 46.651-second lap. He was able to break away from the field early in the 10-lap Prefinal as second place starter Kaden Harter (Top Kart) was pushed wide as the second row tried to move by through the opening corner. This gave Lemke enough real-estate to drive away to a four-second victory. The battle on track was for second with a host of drivers in contention for the position. Simon Sikes (Arrow) gained the position and held it for most of the race until lap eight when Leonadro Stoia (PCR) worked by for the position. After the race long fight ended at lap 10, Stoia held on for the second spot with Michael d’Orlando (Kosmic) in third. David Malukas (Birel) advanced from 10th to fourth with John Paul Southern Jr. (PCR) in fifth.
 | Jimmy Clark performed the sweep in Yamaha SuperCan Heavy
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
Three drivers were able to break away from all the crazy action in the Yamaha Sportsman final. Lemke, Stoia and d’Orlando kept their top three positions early on and drove away from the rest of the class, setting up for a solid battle for the victory. Lemke and d’Orlando were able to drop off Stoia for a dual to the finish. The two battled down to the wire with d’Orlando unable to find a way past, as Lemke scored his second victory in the class, and on the weekend. Stoia settled for third, staying ahead of Malukas. Braden Eves (PCR) put in a nice drive to fifth from the 11th spot on the grid.
Margay Racing Products TaG Masters
New Jersey driver Scott Ferris (Top Kart) matched his qualifying performance from Saturday, earning the pole position once again for Sunday’s action with a 41.983-second lap, the only driver in the 41-second bracket. From the P1 spot, he drove away to the 10-lap Prefinal win with second place starter John Dixon (FA Kart) trailing. Bobby Cummings (Birel) and John Ferris III (Top Kart) held their starting spots with Chuck Tate (Arrow) moving into the top-five from sixth.
Ferris proved to be too strong for the field as he won his third feature in four starts. Dixon tried to keep it close but Ferris’ best lap was three-tenths faster than Dixon could muster. In the end, Ferris won by over five seconds with Dixon able to fend off a solid challenge by Cummings. Tate was able to gain a spot early and ran to the fourth position. Kim Carapellatti (PCR) ran a solid race. Starting ninth, he drove his way up to fifth over Russell Hamel (CRG) and Ferris III. In tech, Tate was removed for an exhaust infraction, moving Carapellatti to fourth and Hamel fifth.
Verde Speed Resources Yamaha Jr. Heavy
The start to the Yamaha Jr. Heavy Prefinal was a rough one for a number of drivers. One driver was spun in the middle of the track at turn two on the opening lap, sending the entire 46-kart field scrambling. Out front, pole sitter Kyle Kalish (Merlin) took advantage to drive away to a solid lead and held it for the entire 10 laps. Behind him was a great battle for the second position involving championship leader Joel Jens (Tony Kart), Mike McAndrews (Birel) and Kyle Kirkwood (Arrow). Jens held on to second, Kirkwood was third and McAndrews fourth. Elliot Finlayson (Birel) took advantage of the may lay on the opening lap to advance from 15th to fifth.
 | Kyle Kalish scored his second straight win in Yamaha Jr. Heavy
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
Kalish took advantage of the pole position for the 16-lap main event as he broke away from the field early. Kirkwood and Jens battled for the second spot about one second back until Jens had an off, dropping him back to fifth behind McAndrews and Emerson Reed (Merlin) by about two seconds. McAndrews and Reed worked together to close up on Kirkwood in the final laps of the race. Kalish was able to keep his lead stable throughout the 16 laps to score his second straight win in the class. Kirkwood held on for the second spot, his third straight runner-up finish, with McAndrews, Reed and Jens completing the podium.
The series will continue on August 3-5 at the Concept Haulers Motor Speedway for the KartLift Nationals in Norway, Illinois. For more photos on the weekend, be sure to visit the Facebook photo gallery, courtesy of Go Racing Magazine. |
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