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| January 02, 2013 News |
| Olsen and Malukas Double Up on Final Day of WKA Daytona KartWeek |
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 | Patrick Olsen outran the Komet Pro and Yamaha Senior fields for two victories
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
The final day of action at the 2013 WKA Daytona KartWeek took place December 30 with the Manufactures Cup Series wrapping up the opening round of the 2013 season inside the Daytona International Speedway. Ten classes contested the 0.8-mile course inside NASCAR turn 3-4 of the ‘World Center of Speed’ with cold temperatures but clears skies, as all the sessions were ran on a dry track. Patrick Olsen and David Malukas scored double wins on the day as three others finished out the weekend by earning their second victories to begin 2013 season on a high note.
Olsen gained his first victory of the day in the new Yamaha Senior category, competing with the new exhaust pipe replacing the can muffler. Tony Jump (Margay) was once again the top qualifier, this time in the dry and held the position through the Prefinal ahead of rookie Joel Jens (Tony Kart) and Olsen. At the start of the Final, Olsen drove to the lead, despite some contact with Jump who suffered a cut tire and fell down the order as the race progressed. Olsen was able to establish a lead and secure the victory by six tenths over day one winner Dakota Pesek (Arrow). Chase Jones (Top Kart) was third with Jens and Jason Foley (Merlin) completing the podium. The Team Top Kart USA driver’s second win came in the new Komet Pro, adding some extra cash for his efforts. Saturday winner Nick Neri (Tony Kart) scored the pole position in qualifying with Olsen in second. Olsen came through with the win in the Prefinal, and the margin of victory was very similar in the Final as Olsen scored his second win of the day. Neri ran a close third with Jonathan Kotyk (Tony Kart) in third, Jens fourth and Kyle Kalish (Merlin) in fifth.
 | David Malukas swept the Sportsman divisions on day two
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
Malukas was the other double winner on the day as he scored the victory in both Sportsman categories. Cadet Sportsman was the first on the schedule, as he began the day second in qualifying, just nine thousandths off the time set by Brendon Lemke (Merlin). Malukas prevailed in the Prefinal to start the feature on the pole position, setting up for a rare three-second victory in the Final. Lemke won the battle for second over Saturday winner Anthony Gangi Jr. (Tony Kart), Michael d’Orlando (Kosmic) and Zach Holden (Top Kart). He pulled the same feat in Yamaha Sportsman, only better. John Paul Southern (PCR) was the top qualifier, this time with Malukas off the top time by 43 thousandths. Malukas broke away in the Prefinal for the win and doubled that in the Final to finish first by nearly six seconds. Gangi was second with Garrett Moran (Birel), Southern and Simon Sikes (Arrow) completing the podium.
Three drivers wrapped up their double win weekend, adding the second during day two action. Brian McHattie (Exprit) nearly swept the weekend in TaG Masters, but did leave with both feature wins. Defending series champ Scott Ferris (Top Kart) edged out McHattie for the pole position by 97 thousandths of a second. The DB Motorsports owner/driver drove to the win in the Prefinal with Ferris on his bumper, matching the same results in the Final. John Ferris III (Top Kart) was third with Steve Schiewer (Top Kart) fourth and Jeff Jewell (Margay) in fifth. Austin McCusker (Haase) did complete a sweep on Sunday, scoring his second win of the weekend in Komet Junior to leave solidly as the point leader. The Mike Doty Racing driver secured the pole position in qualifying by just over a tenth of a second, driving to the win in the Prefinal by over two-seconds. Austin drove away with the victory in the Final as Gresham Wagner (Arrow) cut the advantage down to two seconds by running the fast laps of the race after starting eighth. Ryan Raffa (Top Kart) was third with Grant Quinlan (Birel) and Austin Osborne (Birel) finishing out the podium. Jeremy Fairbairn (Tony Kart) was the third driver earning their second victory on the weekend, besting the field in Yamaha Rookie. Fairbairn swept the day, leading from qualifying to the final lap of the main event, earning the victory by nearly eight seconds. CRG drivers Dino Lambros and Brian Tremper Jr. trailed with Parker Abed (PCR) and Gage Rodgers (Birel) in fourth and fifth.
 | Brian McHattie doubled up in the TaG Masters win column
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
Mike Giessen redeemed himself in the TaG division after having the victory on Saturday taken away after technical disqualification. The former Triple Crown winner qualified third, behind fast driver Mark Boos (Top Kart) and reigning class champion Tommy Andersen (Top Kart). Giessen drove to the win in the Prefinal, and had the pace to lead all 14 laps in the main event for the victory. TJ Koyen (Exprit), joining DB Motorsports for 2013, kept the pressure on in second as Boos finished third. Saturday winner Nick Neri (Tony Kart) was fourth with Mason Chelootz (Top Kart) in fifth. Chelootz - the eKartingNews.com TaG Driver Rankings top driver in 2012 - scored his first win of 2013 besting the IAME field. The champion last season, Chelootz was tenth after qualifying and drove his way forward for the win in the Prefinal. He jumped out to the lead in the Final, and held off a late charge by Boos for the victory. Senior rookie Kyle Kalish (Merlin) was third, beating out Andersen and multi-time WKA champ Robert Bujdoso (PCR). Brandon Jarsocrak (Haase) completed the second day list of winners, earning the sweep in Yamaha Junior. The Mike Doty Racing driver cleared the field by over two tenths in qualifying, but felt pressure in the races. He still managed to win the Prefinal and Final for his first 2013 victory. Wagner won the battle for second over Raffa, with Emerson Reed (Top Kart) and McCusker rounding out the podium.
The WKA Manufacturers Championship Trophy standings has Tony Kart leaving Daytona with seven wins total, thanks to a five win day on Saturday. Top Kart gained three on Sunday to bring their total up to four. Haase is third with three wins while Exprit and Birel leave Florida with two each. Arrow, JMK and Merlin gained one win each on day one to complete the standings. Round two of the six race 2013 schedule will take the drivers and teams to the Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina on April 5-7. Visit the EKN Facebook Page for photos of all 21 class winners on the weekend. |
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