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| November 11, 2004 News |
| Stars of Karting Finale Preview |
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After negotiating eight event weekends for six classes and two divisions (Eastern and Western), a total of 16 race days, several severe rainstorms and even three hurricanes, the Snap-on Stars of Karting Presented by the Indy Racing League National Championship Finale is on tap this weekend, November 12th-14th. Taking place on a purpose-built 15 turn, 0.73-mile temporary circuit on the grounds of the Magic Kingdom® at Walt Disney World® Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, close to 200 entries are expected for the event. National Championships in all classes of Stars of Karting competition (ICC, ICA, JICA, 80 Junior, Cadet and EasyKart) are still open for the taking.
On-track sessions will begin on Friday, November 10th with five rounds of practice for each class. More practice, qualifying and Pre-Finals will be held on Saturday. Sunday morning will be reserved for a warm-up, with the first National Championship Final taking the green at 12:00PM.
With as many as eight karters in certain classes and a total of 34 drivers overall still fighting for a national championship, every moment of track time promises to be intense. As was the case all season, points will be paid out down to 15th position. However, point payouts will be double to their regular season totals, so the winner of each final will garner 50 points as opposed to 25 points, second place will receive 40, third place 32 and so on until 15th position, which will receive two points. Any resulting ties in the final point standings will be broken by which driver holds the higher finishing position in the National Championship race.
 | Alan Sciuto, ICC
(Photo-Bill Kistler, Racepixs) |
The Kosmic Racing ICC Class, always fast and always competitive, is one of two classes with eight contenders remaining. Western Champion Alan Sciuto of Orange, California takes a narrow lead into the Nationals over Eastern winner and fellow Californian Alex Speed of Manteca, 122-117. Lurking right behind Sciuto and Speed is perennial threat Ron White (Santa Clara, Calif.) with 114 points. Josh Schreiber also finds himself within easy striking distance of the leaders with 110 points. The second four contenders need a little help to make it happen but are all within reach of the championship. They are Jonathan Branam (97 points; Miami Beach, Florida), Kevin LaCroix (91 points; Eustache, Quebec), Kyle Wiegand (90 points; Bargersville, Indiana) and Wesley Boswell (79 points; Alameda, California).
In the Snap-on ICA Class, the list of final contenders may be small but it is tight. Jordy Vorrath of Surrey, British Columbia looks to show his Western Championship was no fluke as he takes his 145 point total against Eastern Champion Michael Giessen. The Deer Park, NY resident trails by just four points with 141. Both drivers appear to be evenly matched with five victories and six podiums each during the season, albeit on separate coasts. While Johnny Johnson (Marshalltown, Iowa) will need some misfortune by both leaders, his 99 point total still leaves him in contention if he can win and see both Vorrath and Giessen finish the event outside of the points. With a large number of entries in the ICA, the door is definitely open for Johnson.
 | Jordy Vorrath
(Photo-Sean Buur) |
The Kart Racing Technologies JICA class joins the ICC with eight competitors within reach of the Stars National Championship as Western Champion Nicolas Johnston of Tarzana, California leads the way with 136 points. Eastern Champion Thomas Hartensveld Jr. of Ringwood, New Jersey sits back just 13 markers at 123 points. Cole Whitt (Alpine, Calif.) and Matthew Lee (Syosset, NY) are knocking on the leaders’ door with 121 and 114 points, respectively. Lee has to wonder where he would be if not for missing the Eastern finale at Road America due to injury. Antoine Genest (Trois-Rivieres, Quebec) and Ryan Phinny (Carmel Valley, California) look to make up some ground, tied for fifth with 103 points. Homestate favorite Gustavo Yacaman of Penbrooke Pines is just behind them with 101 points, while Anthony Llopiz (Fort Lee, NJ) needs everything to go his way, sitting back of leader Johnston a full 50 points with 86 total.
JICA contender Cole Whitt finds himself comfortably out front for the PC Motorsports 80 Junior Championship, where his Western Championship and 150 points lead the way. Eastern Champion Daniel Morad of Markham, Ontario sits back 24 points with 126 total, while Race Johnson of West Linn, Oregon is on Morad’s heels with 125 points. Florida driver Keith Spicer (Naples) is fourth in points with 122, while Matthew Lee and Ryan Phinny join Whitt as contenders in both JICA and 80 Junior with 117 and 113 points, respectively.
A tight battle ensues in the Grand Products Cadet Class, as Catharpia, California’s Sergio Pena, the Eastern Champion, leads Western Champion Mile Maroney of Topanga Canyon, California, 145-135. Brendan Phinny, Ryan’s younger brother, takes up third with 127 points. Sage Karem of Nazareth, Pennsylvania is fourth with 119 points, while Sebastian Ordonez is yet another contender looking for all things to go his way, as he trails by a full 50 points to Pena, 145-95.
Cory Pollock (Marrietta, California), the Western Champion with four victories and seven podiums, leads the way with 136 points in EasyKart. Eastern Champion Carlos Duenas (Miami, Florida), himself a three-time winner and six-time visitor to the podium takes up a close second place with 131 points. Johnny Johnson makes a second appearance on the contender list, coming in with 122 points. His brother Adam Johnson finishes off the list of EasyKart contenders with 97 points.
Other events and features taking place during the National Championship weekend include the Season Banquet on Thursday, November 11th at the Bonnet Creek Golf Club from 7PM-9PM, the IRL Indy Car Series Fan Experience featuring live simulators and special appearances by several IRL Indy Car Series drivers including Bryan Herta of Andretti-Green Racing, Darren Manning of Target Chip Ganassi Racing and as well as other racing personalities and dignitaries. Competitors, teams and fans alike will also have the chance to enjoy a specially discounted Ride-Along Experience from the Richard Petty Driving Experience, located nearby at the Walt Disney World® Speedway. |
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