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| September 16, 2012 News |
| EKN Trackside Live: 2012 Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix - Sunday Report |
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For complete coverage, head over to the EKN Event Page
Hundreds of Southern California residents took in the final day of action for the 2012 Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix. The City of Lancaster and Superkarts! USA combined to put on the ‘Fastest Street Race in America’ directly on the ‘Boulevard’ section of the city, just outside the Los Angeles area. Over 120 racers from all across the country contested seven race groups, each providing its own bit of drama and excitement to keep the fans egger for more on the fence line. The tight seven-tenth mile course gave the racers a challenging course to tackle, with the hot weather also throwing another obstacle. The big winners of the weekend, and fan favorites were the headline categories, won by Fritz Leesmann and Matt Johnson, while Ethan Wilson and Palmdale driver Brendan Baker provided the fans with memorable moments from this year’s event.
S3 Novice/S4 Magnum/S5 Junior
Steve Ryckebosch (Zanardi) began where he left off on Saturday, leading the opening race group to start the second round of heat races. He led the first seven laps until lap eight when he retired with a mechanical issue. That moved Scott Allen (CRG) in the S4 Magnum class up to the point in front of S5 driver Jim McKinney (Intrepid). Austin Countryman (Tony Kart) in the S3 Novice class was third overall with Jarred Campbell (Intrepid) and S3 driver Chalee Siengthai (FA Kart) capping off the top-five.
 | Ethan Wilson scored an emotional victory in TaG Master
(Photo: dromophotos.com) |
Allen started at the tail of the field, having to change his engine before the final, giving the S5 and S3 drivers a clear shot at the start. Ryckebosch was quick to return to the front of the field, up to the overall lead by lap five. Eventually, the top two S5 drivers of McKinney and Williams close up and worked around Ryckebosch, setting up for a final dual for the overall and class victory. McKinney showed the way until Williams worked by at the hairpin on lap 19. The Californian held on through the final lap to score the victory over the Arizona driver. The two showed what might be the final showdown in November at the SuperNationals. Micah Hendricks (Praga) ran to third, completing the S5 podium. Ryckebosch finished fourth to win the S3 category, with Countryman placing second in his first SKUSA California PKC race and Siengthai in third after Eric Nelson (CRG) was removed in tech. Allen returned to win in the S4 Magnum category with Ken Manning in second.
TaG Master
Paul Hohlbein (Intrepid) got the jump to open up action in TaG Master as he led the field to begin heat two. Ethan Wilson (Tony Kart) slotted back into second with Gabriel Zughella (TBR) in tow. Wilson and Zughella worked by Hohlbein on the second lap with Billy Cleavelin (CRG) right there. Lap three, it was Cleavelin that came through with the lead as he and Zughella went with him, dropping Wilson back to third. Cleavelin went on to score the win by nearly two seconds. The runner-up spot was decided on the last lap with Wilson sneaking up to the position with Randy Froom (Intrepid) going with him, into third. That moved Zughella back to fourth with Paul Bonilla (Arrow) up to fifth.
 | Matt Johnson used a last corner move to claim victory in TaG Senior
(Photo: dromophotos.com) |
The TaG Master final began with a full course caution after just the second lap. Prior to that, Cleavelin was out front with Wilson making contact with Zughella, both dropping back along with Hohlbein mixed in. Once the race resumed, Cleavelin was at the front with Froom up to second followed by Bonilla, Tatikian (FA Kart) and Paul Grey (FA Kart). Wilson was quick in once the race restarted, working his way quickly into the top five. He closed up on the leaders as they shuffled for position. Froom retired early when he lost the chain down the long straight. Now with Bonilla and Cleavelin fighting for the lead, Wilson was able to catch up and enter the battle. They continued to go back and forth until Bonilla made contact with the outside barrier on the exit of turn three. Everyone avoided him and he continued on, but back in fourth behind Tatikian. This left just Cleavelin and Wilson for the win. Wilson led with one lap to go and Cleavelin made his bid going into turn three. He went too deep and wide, forcing him to back out to avoid the barriers. Wilson darted around and took the lead heading into the hairpin. Down the final straight, Wilson held Cleavelin’s final charge and crossed the first to score the victory. Cleavelin settled for second with Tatikian completing the podium. Bonilla ended up fourth with Hohlbein climbing back to fifth.
TaG Senior
Matt Johnson (Energy) and Devin Lindsey (Tony Kart) led the TaG Senior field to the green flag. Lindsey jumped out to the point for the first time on the weekend until Johnson took it back on lap four, midway down the long straight. They ran unchallenged to finish 1-2 again, setting themselves up on the front row for the main event. Joel Miller (FA Kart) won the battle for the third spot, holding off Travis Lowe (Energy) as Brody Zink (MS Kart) had an impressive run up to fifth.
 | TaG Junior was an epic battle with local driver Brendan Baker edging out Carter Williams
(Photo: dromophotos.com) |
The 20-lap main event for TaG Senior began with four drivers breaking away. Lindsey and Johnson led Miller and Lowe, all running nose to tail. Miller looked to be the driver with the right set-up, working his way into second on lap eight and into the lead the following circuit. That turned up the heat and contact was made in the hairpin as they shuffled for position. Miller and Lindsey were the victims and fell down the order as Johnson and Lowe escaped. The two ran static until the final lap when Lowe made his move. Coming down to the final corner, Lowe was leading and ran a defensive line on the 1000’ straight. Johnson looked for a way around but Lowe kept shutting the door. As they went through the corner, the two made contact. Johnson ducked to the inside as Lowe pushed wide. Johnson crossed the stripe first to score the victory, locking up the regional title with Lowe in second for a Buddy Rice Karting 1-2 finish. Missouri driver Mason Daughters (FA Kart) ran to third with Lindsey fighting back to fourth over John Wallace III (Energy).
TaG Junior
The initial start of the TaG Junior class saw a crash that slowed the field down to a full course caution. Once the green waved, Carter Williams (Tony Kart) led wire to wire for the win. Garrett Dixon (Energy) kept the pressure on until the final corner when he made contact with the outside barriers in turn five, ending his race and putting him on the tail of the field for the main event. That moved Brendan Baker (CRG) up to second with Christian Brooks (Energy) in third. Christian Munoz (ART GP) was fourth with Nick Sommers (CRG) finishing fifth.
From the pole position, Williams jumped out to a good lead to begin the 20 lap main event. Brooks and Baker trailed but attention was on Dixon as he quickly jumped up the order. Starting 15th after his crash, he was into the top-10 after the opening lap and in the top-five by lap four. Baker moved to second and dropped Brooks, focusing his attention on Williams. Baker closed the gap and took over the lead on lap 17. Williams fought back and the two swapped the lead heading into the final lap. With Williams in the lead as they began the final, Baker made his move in turn three. Coming away with the position, he held off Williams to the checkered flag for the win. Williams scored the second spot, but more importantly clinched the class championship. Dixon moved up to third to cap off the podium, earning fast lap honors. Sommers ran to fourth as Brooks dropped down to fifth.
TaG Cadet
 | Trevor McAlister swept the S4 Master Stock Moto action on the weekend
(Photo: dromophotos.com) |
As he did on the opening day, Hunter Kelly (Techno) led the way in the second heat race to kick off the action Sunday. Trenton Sparks (FA Kart) kept the pressure on, leading a lap early but was unable to return back to the point as Kelly scored the win. Sting Ray Robb (Tony Kart) drove to third over Anthony Sawyer (DR Kart) and Jackson Logsdon (Tony Kart). Kelly led from green to checkered in the 16-lap main event. Sparks stayed close the entire race, but Kelly never made a mistake he could capitalize on. The top six drivers all ran a fast lap in the 40.9-second range during the race around the shortened course for the Cadet category. Kelly scored the victory and clinched the regional championship. Sparks settled for second in his second California PKC start. Logsdon drove up to the podium in his first series start, ending up third as he worked past Sawyer for the spot with Cameron Kaihatu (FA Kart) placing fifth.
S4 Master Stock Moto
The front five drivers pulled away early to begin heat two for the S4 drivers, led by Trevor McAlister (Praga). Marks kept the pace early as he, PP Mastro (Tony Kart), Nick Firestone (Zanardi) and Jim Kidd (CRG) form a lead pack of five. Kidd dropped off a couple lengths after three laps, and then Firestone the following lap. At the halfway mark, Marks and Mastro stayed glued to the bumper of McAlister. Marks challenge McAllister to the end, looking for a way around. McAlister drove defensive, holding off for the win with Marks finishing second. Mastro was third with Firestone and Kidd completing the top five.
The feature began with four karts out front with McAlister still leading the way over Marks, Mastro, and Firestone. It became three when Firestone pushed too hard in a corner and made contact with the barriers, ending his race early. McAlister continued to fell the pressure from Marks and Mastro. They began fighting for position, giving ‘T-Mac’ some space. On lap 17, Mastro was running second with Marks on his tail when Marks lost a wheel coming down the long straight. Fortunately, he was able to stop without severe damage, but was out of the race. Out front, McAlister drove to 1.2-second win to close out the PKC season strong for Leading Edge Motorsports. Mastro ended up second as Kidd drove alone to end the day on the podium in the third position. The fight behind them was great all race long, with a number of drivers in the hunt. At the line, Randy McKee (CRG) was fourth with Nick Galante (Energy) in fifth.
S1/S2 Stock Moto
 | Fritz Leesmann outlasted Jimmy McNeil in a heavyweight battle to decide the S1 Pro Stock Moto main event
(Photo: dromophotos.com) |
Fritz Leesmann (CRG) grabbed the holeshot to open up the second heat race. Josh Lane (DR Kart) got the jump on Jimmy McNeil (CRG), but he came back at the end of the long straight to work around for the second spot as they completed the opening lap. By then, Leesmann had a one second advantage. Meanwhile, Lane continued to lose ground with Augie Lerch (Tony Kart) working by for third and then defending race winner Daniel Langon (Zanardi) for fourth. Struggling with a loose kart, he fell out of the top-five as Matias Podboj (CRG) and Jack Bradley (CRG) passed for position. At the checkered, Leesmann took the win with ease as McNeil was four seconds back. Lerch was top S2 driver, third overall, Langon in fourth and Podboj edging out Bradley for fifth, second in class.
The final main event of the day was a dual between Leesmann and McNeil. The two former Pro Tour champions were the class of the field, and put on a great show for the fans. Leesmann led the first half of the race with McNeil turning up the heat in the second half. Lap 13, McNeil moved to the lead for the first time, which triggered some great exchanges for the lead over the next few laps. On the final lap, the two fought for the same real-estate in the hair pin corner. McNeil went off into the barrier while Leesmann continued on. He crossed the stripe as the winner. Lerch had a solid event and drove to second overall, first in the S2 category unchallenged in his Pure Karting entry. Langon fought his way to third, second in S1. Michael Leib (DR Kart) was the quickest kart on the track, advancing to fourth, placing second in the S2 division ahead of CRG-USA drivers Jack Bradley (CRG) and Sabré Cook (CRG) - the best of three female drivers in the group - with Nicky Freytag in seventh, third in the S1 division. |
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