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| November 14, 2004 News |
| EKN Trackside: Stars Finale Prefinal Report |
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 | Get used to seeing this
helmet up front (Photo: SKI) |
Wrapping up an afternoon of wheel-to-wheel racing action at the Stars Finale, the ICC Prefinal was a very exciting dice that kept the paddock and the assembled spectators on the edge of the seats for the entire duration. Kyle Wiegand (GP) grabbed the holeshot to lead polesitter Bobby Wilson (First Kart) to the first turn, pacing the packed field for much of the race. Wilson slipped into second to begin the 18-lap heat race but contact with Wesley Boswell (Birel) early in the run pushed them both back in the order. Wilson was able to continue after dropping out of the top ten and eventually finished sixth while Boswell lost his left sidepod and received the black flag from the starter, taking 28th in the final order.
Deeper in the field, many eyes were on Darren Elliott (CRG), who started the race from tenth after topping qualifying. Due to the fact that he had not run the required number of series races during the year, Elliot was forced deeper in the field. The veteran knocked off one of his trademark starts at the green flag and rocketed to seventh through the opening corners, working his way into the top five when Wilson and Boswell connected.
The beginning of the second lap ended the run for a trio of drivers. When Terrick Mansur (CRG) found himself backward looking at the field on the exit of turn two after a quick spin, his mid-pack position was an accident waiting to happen. As Mansur rolled backward trying to get out of the way, both Troy Hottman (Merlin) and Jason Bowles (Tony Kart) made contact with the stricken CRG, sheering off Hottman’s right front while collecting a furious Bowles in the process.
 | Jason Bowles thinks about
what could have been (Photo: SKI) |
Running into more trouble this weekend was championship hopeful Ron White (CRG). Characteristically quick, White got roughed up on the opening laps. According to the Santa Clara, CA resident, he was hit three or four times at the start and his left rear tire showed the damage, losing all its pressure and sending White to the sidelines. Post-race inspection showed a large chunk of the wheel missing.
The mid-part of the race showed Wiegand out front, although Vorrath was on the move, reeling in the early leader to overtake him for the point. Wiegand did not back down and stuck to the rear bumper of Vorrath’s Italkart, staying in position to re-assume control of the race. With the pole position for the main on the line, winning this Prefinal was still an important victory.
Over the final two laps, Vorrath went into defense mode to hold the top spot, but this allowed Elliott to close in quickly from third, placing himself on the rear bumper of Wiegand to begin the final lap. To start the opening circuit, Vorrath held the low line running into one and continued the approach through the next set of corners until Wiegand re-adjusted his line, taking the inside groove on the exit of turn four. This strong run out of four allowed him to claim control of turn five and six, giving him the outright lead rolling into turn seven. It was an impressive move by the young charger and it will give him the inside of the front row for today’s championship main.
Elliott crossed the line in third but will start fifth again due to participation regulations, positioning the veteran as one of the drivers to beat today. Alex Speed (Birel) did a solid job working forward, advancing to fourth at the stripe, keeping his championship hopes alive. Speed ran alone on the track through the entire event and will start on the outside of row two.
Alan Sciuto (Birel) was the man on the move in the late going, working passed both Wilson and Kevin LaCroix (CRG) to take over fifth. Wilson followed Sciuto through to finish up sixth and he will occupy row three for the start of the main with Sciuto to his right.
Heading into today’s championship main, the top two drivers in the ICC title hunt are in the front three rows and each is poised to take a run at the crown. With 26 laps on the schedule for the final and each driver running the same Birel/SwedeTech Pavesi combination, chassis set-up will most likely be the difference. Each driver has the skills so we’ll have to see which kart has what it takes to be fast at the end.
 | | ICA Prefinal winner (Photo: SKI) |
Two players stepped into the ICA spotlight at the Disney venue on Saturday, but only one of them is in the championship hunt. Italian Motors’ Jordy Vorrath and his team have rebounded impressively from their Friday chassis battles to put a great car on the racetrack today. After winning the ICA pole in qualifying, Vorrath watched as Birel hotshoe Joel Miller controlled the opening corner from his off-pole grid slot, leading the field through the opening complex of corners. Miller would go on to pace the entire race from flag-to-flag, but Vorrath stayed consistent in his pressure and kept Miller pushing through the event.
At the green flag, Miller and Vorrath pulled away cleanly, but the same could not be said for championship contender Michael Giessen (Birel) as the Deer Park, NY pilot got caught up in an opening lap skirmish that put him at the tail of the field. Giessen would recover to work up to 20th, but his title chances were severely damaged.
Behind the lead duo, Helmet Sanden (Mach 1) and Italian Motor’s Colby Jenn (Italkart) battled for third and fourth with Sanden coming out on top. Making a big move was Lorenzo Mandarino (Mach 1), who had to start from the back of the field after being disqualified for carburetor problems. Mandarino was aggressive in his attack on the field and would advance to tenth by the checker.
Reigning ICA champion Robbie Pecorari’s weekend went from bad to worse in the Prefinal when he spun on the formation lap after being underweight in qualifying.
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